Chapter 73: Nachalsawon
Yeah. The truth is…
Their real plan was to collude with the politician watching their backs to influence the political scene.
But isn’t it a bit much to try and kill an S-Class Hunter, causing national chaos?
There was no choice.
Member Kim was in such a desperate situation that he needed a shocking incident like that.
“Lead the way.”
“Yes! Member!”
In a small villa deep in the mountains.
Not long after, a secret meeting was held in the reception room.
And a little while later…
“I’ll be taking my leave now~”
Thud.
Su Ye-hwi stepped out of the reception room, lightly stretching her shoulders.
From now on, she had to leave everything to the cult leader.
That politician tended to ignore the words of someone young like her.
“When did the golden badge fall off? The Member is going to freeze to death.”
Grumbling her complaints under her breath, Su Ye-hwi walked down the corridor.
*
Member Kim.
To talk about that man, one must go back seven years.
The Dungeon Shock of the past truly changed many lives.
The only daughter of a well-off family became an orphan in an instant.
A shut-in turned into the savior of the world.
In this way, Member Kim was one of those whose lives were changed by the massive trends of the era.
Not in a good way, though.
[Modern ‘Frontier’……. Four Members of the ☆☆ Party flee abroad. Citizens “Furious”]
When the Gates first appeared.
Member Kim heard special reports that the Korean military’s weapons didn’t affect the dungeon monsters, leading him to make a decision he would regret for life.
He left for Germany, the only monster-free country where no Gates had formed.
Monsters began pouring out.
The guns didn’t work.
Moreover, just three days into the shock event, even the underground bunker of the Blue House was occupied by those of a different kind; what could one trust now?
Survival of the fittest.
Member Kim thought he was just doing his best to protect himself and his family.
[Breaking News: [Full Video] Major phenomena detected in cities like Texas and Washington]
[“The existence of a ‘Supernatural Being!!’”]
[…The Global Security Cooperation Organization announces international designation as Awakener]
Awakened.
Until that concept appeared…
“Damn it!”
In elementary school, they taught that the emergence of Gates and Awakened individuals happened at the same time for convenience.
But if you closely examine the sequence of events, the birth of Awakened beings was actually much later.
Humanity began its first evolution ten days after the dungeons appeared.
“How can I enter politics, yet be dealing with such nonsense…!”
For Member Kim, nothing could be more bewildering.
[Breaking News. Thanks to the efforts of the new Awakened Choi Jin (22), the operation to reclaim the northern boundary of Seoul on the 7th was successful…]
The frontlines of the Korean Peninsula, which were like a living hell, were turned upside down by a single Awakened.
[The trend of ‘Dungeon Shock’ continues to decrease]
Imagine, the relentless onslaught of monsters seemed to suddenly falter without warning.
“Ugh!”
Seeing the changed situation, Member Kim hurriedly returned home.
But a moment’s mistake left an indelible stain.
Not long after, during a by-election, it was revealed that he had fled abroad during the Dungeon Shock.
[-Run-]
[When lives are at stake, people’s true colors show. It’s truly disappointing.]
[When the country was in chaos, this guy fled for his own life. Can we not retrieve the monthly salary he received until now? –]
Member Kim lost in the last election.
Moreover, this could potentially end his political career.
In a great disaster like the Dungeon Shock where everyone lost so much…
Everyone had no one to complain to.
Cursing the dungeon beasts wouldn’t change anything.
Citizens poured their anger completely on him. They wanted someone to take responsibility for this crisis.
“Waaah…”
Member Kim fell into despair.
If things continued like this, his political path seemed to be completely severed, plunging him into deep depression.
And during this most unstable and turbulent period, the person he met was…
[Tak Kwang-jo ☎]
One day.
He received a call from a high school classmate he had forgotten.
Tak Kwang-jo.
The current leader of the Nachalsawon cult called him.
*
Colluding with politicians.
That sounded good.
Having close relationships with powerful figures could yield far greater benefits than the initial investment.
“If our sect’s votes and blind money combined could influence one person’s election results…”
Su Ye-hwi thought briefly as she adjusted her raincoat.
“Especially if it’s a by-election with low voter turnout…”
Who would have guessed?
The monsters are angels testing humanity.
A new holy place is to arise in this world.
Or so this religion claimed, spouting nonsense about accruing virtue to enter the glorious 4444.
To create a Dungeon Break terror act.
↓
To assassinate politicians using monsters amidst the chaos.
↓
To conduct a by-election and manipulate public opinion regarding Member Kim’s faction.
In this way, their main goal was to increase Member Kim’s chances of winning.
The previous terror acts were merely rehearsals for this plan.
In fact, apart from this cumbersome method, there were options to grab hands with figures already firmly established in politics…
But the Nachalsawon was very much a latecomer in the game.
They could symbiotically cohabit with cults, but the so-called power players already had deep connections with indigenous religions, leaving no gap for them to worm in.
Thus, they had no choice but to pick up lost ducks like Member Kim.
As people who had once made names for themselves, reviving them could be beneficial in many ways.
Su Ye-hwi had put in considerable effort.
Thoroughly concealing Member Kim’s existence from the members of the same sect.
Keeping knowledge about handling Gates to themselves.
To their believers, merely saying, “This is essential for the new era” gave vertical orders.
“Hmph.”
So far, this had been decent.
In fact, the group’s true objective had remained well hidden until now.
“This power given by God is indeed convenient.”
Now all that remained was to think about how to create a terror act capable of toppling the political realm.
Su Ye-hwi had long since found her answer.
Everything was set.
Yet, at the completion of the plan, she suddenly felt a sense of unease.
“Kim Gi-ryeo.”
Kim Gi-ryeo.
An unknown Hunter who didn’t even show up in a single article when searched online.
Su Ye-hwi couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had caught a whiff of something.
“The one who terrified Pyo Na-gil with his grade concealing skills…”
Thus, Su Ye-hwi made one decision.
“I can no longer hide within the shadows.”
Swish.
Su Ye-hwi took out a flip phone and made a call.
Click.
“Hello? Ah, Broker Teacher. It’s me, Ye-hwi.”
The place she contacted was none other than a broker connecting professional hitmen.
“You mentioned last time that you had a highly capable Awakened on your side, right? I’d like to see that person’s skills.”
She hired an assassin at a hefty price to deal with the intruder.
In short.
This was the reason Kim Gi-ryeo had a visitor at his house…
*
Crunch, crackle.
“Damn it!”
I cursed and looked up at the ceiling.
Even now, the barrier was slowly cracking away.
Of course, as long as the core’s energy was alive, the barrier could be restored multiple times.
“It’s driving me crazy…!”
Still, scary is scary.
Who would sleep peacefully when some jerk was trying to sneak into their house for four days straight?
I wrapped my head in tired eyes.
“No, some Awakened was trying to sneak into my house?”
“There’s none right now.”
“Well, that’s because they ran away upon seeing the police! They’ll definitely be back tonight. Please do catch that bastard.”
Although I had already called the police a few times, there was no progress.
The nameless visitor hastily vacated the premises whenever someone showed up.
“Sigh… Teacher. We’re busy too. There’s nothing we can do right now. So please, don’t do this, and contact us again when there’s a real problem…”
The police viewed me like a delusional patient, spatting out an irritable warning before leaving.
And they stopped responding to my calls.
“Damn.”
Was this why Kang Chang-ho would question trusting the police?
Crunch, crackle.
From the aura of the magic, the intruder seemed to be quite a high-rank Awakened.
Not S-Class, but about A-Class.
And if someone of that caliber is desperately trying to enter someone else’s home, the meaning is obvious.
“It’s definitely not for a good purpose.”
Either abduction or murder.
One of the two.
I pressed my palm against my forehead and sighed.
How long had it been since I got out of that cult, and here I am staring down death again?
“No, essentially, it’s because I’ve escaped from them that a hitman has come.”
I was getting an idea about the visitor’s backing.
Kang Chang-ho and Jeong Ha-seong.
These two individuals, in an uncomfortable relationship with me, happen to be S-Class hunters.
Surely, they wouldn’t entrust a petty assassin with these matters.
“If it’s an S-Class Hunter, they’d find it much more efficient to handle things themselves.”
The options were severely limited.
To be frank, the only ones left were that lunatic I met in the park, Jun-tae, and the Nachalsawon.
“Ugh…”
For a moment, I considered seeking Seonwoo-yeon’s help, but quickly abandoned the thought.
The intruder clearly seemed to possess far greater skills than Seonwoo-yeon.
If I clumsily involved an association employee, who knows how things could turn out.
Crunch, crackle.
At that moment.
Another part of the barrier broke away.
“…”
I stared at the damaged barrier’s magic for a while before muttering to myself.
“It’s done. What’s the point of all this trouble?”
It was a hollow voice.
“I quit. I’m tired…”
Alright, let’s assume I’ll somehow deal with this situation alone. Let’s say I managed to tough it out till now.
But would that actually change anything?
I was already pointed out as a thorn in someone’s side.
So even if I resolved this issue, another threat would soon emerge.
Then what next?
How would I handle the next one?
Would I ever be able to keep my safety intact?
“With this pathetic body of mine.”
The incessantly arising problems left people terrified.
Hence, I resolved not to struggle anymore.
Overwhelmed by the stress, I eventually decided to give up trying.
“After a long life in Alphauri and a few months on Earth. Isn’t that enough living?”
It’s fine.
Actually, on one side, I even thought it wouldn’t matter when I die someday.
Having tasted freedom in Kim Gi-ryeo’s body was already enough to fulfill my wishes.
“Alright. I guess I’ll just go ahead and die.”
Beep, beep, beep.
I pulled out my phone.
And I immediately contacted some Hunter.
“Wait, why is a guy who’s decided to die making a call?”
But the name of the Great Mage does carry weight. It’d be a waste to fall to some no-name scumbag.
My life will be devoted to something of greater value.
“Hello?”
Well, technically, I was gambling my life in a fit of rage.
Speak.
In due time, the call connected.
I calmly responded to the voice coming from the receiver.
“Hello. Hunter Kang Chang-ho.”
Thinking back, it hit me.
What Jeong Ha-seong had said before was spot on.
A magician with precious skills but no power. What does one like that need the most?
A bodyguard.
“Do you have a moment? I’d like to meet and talk about something.”
So, I thought, why not get a bodyguard while I’m at it?
“Is the offer you made last time still valid?”
Rolling the core, which forms the centerpiece of the barrier, in one hand, I spoke without hesitation.
