Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 186-190

 Chapter 186

 

“…”

“…”

There was a strange atmosphere in the gambling hall of the Black Market.

In the meantime, the exciting atmosphere where humans were fighting and betting with each other was no longer there. The demons in the VIP room no longer paid attention to the game, and all their attention was focused on the sudden appearance of the demon aristocrat, ‘Vulcan’.

‘oh my god. Lord Vulcan was alive.’

‘A real demon noble.’

‘As long as I can learn how to make Bloodstone, I’ll become a demon noble.’

Numerous eyes kept glancing at Vulcan, no, Suho. A pure desire was clearly felt. The primary and blatant emotion of pursuing that power was like gluttony to demons. However, even in such a thin cold atmosphere, Suho himself was still watching the underground fight with a relaxed look.

Like a male tiger lying down in the middle of the jungle and enjoying the sun. It looked like the dignified appearance of a true demon aristocrat. At least in the eyes of the other demons.

[Is it really okay to do this?]

?What?’

[Do you really need to take such a risk?]

Esil had been worried for a while.

[Do not forget. The reason our family was destroyed was all because of the rebellion of the lower demons. Right now, they might just be surprised after seeing the Bloodstone, but they could soon attempt to attack you and eat you at any time.]

‘Yeah, I know. But I’ve been curious about something.’ Suho looked around the underground arena with a relaxed gaze and asked Esil. ‘In a demon realm with such a clear hierarchy based on power, how on earth were the lower demons able to exterminate your family?’

[That’s because we were outnumbered.]

‘Are you sure? Is that really the only reason?’

[…What are you trying to say?]

Esil was a little furious. What Suho was saying now sounded like he was blaming the Radir family for being weak to the point where they could be eaten by such low-level demons. However, Suho’s words were not over yet.

‘I’ve become quite strong compared to before, haven’t I? That’s why I realized that…’ As Suho’s gaze swept over the demons around him, the demons caught in his gaze flinched. ‘…No matter how many times these guys try, it doesn’t seem like I’ll ever lose.’ Suho’s eyes grew cold, like a lion looking at a pasture with hundreds of sheep.

[What do you mean? Is this about the Itarim? Are you saying that they must have been behind the rebellions of the lower demons?]

‘Doesn’t that make more sense than saying that the lower demons simply ate the demon nobles?’

Suho was almost certain. It was already like that during the Blood-eyed Tyrant Demon, and demons were the perfect race to become Itarim’s slaves in the first place. Besides, their souls were made from uncontaminated mana, so the power of the Shadow Monarch wouldn’t work on them. From the standpoint of the Itarim, where else could there be a better race to deal with the Shadow Legion?

[…Its possible.]

At Suho’s persuasive words, Esil could only nod. ‘Well, then.’ Suho smiled meaningfully and opened the inventory. ‘From now on, let’s take everything from these guys.’

Ding!

“I bet on that man.” Lotto, who suddenly received a package of Stardust from Suho, couldn’t help but be flustered by its heaviness.

“Lord Vulcan, are you sure you want to spend this much in one game?”

“I can’t?”

“It’s not a problem in terms of regulations, but if the stakes are high, other guests will have to agree…”

At Lotto’s words, Suho’s gaze slid over the other demons. Then, without saying anything, the demons scrambled to nod.

“Yes, I agree.”

“Hmm. Oh this? Yes, it’s not a big deal.”

As expected of demons with strict hierarchical order, from the moment they saw Suho using the Bloodstone, honorific words automatically came out of their mouths. Seeing that, Lotto smiled bitterly.

‘This… is not good.’

After all the nobility disappeared, the demon realm became a truly egalitarian society. Of course, that look was a little far from the democracy that humans talk about. A fair world where anyone can eat each other equally and be eaten. The weak are bitten and eaten, and the strong, if they find a loophole, bite their necks and suck their blood. In this endless hell-like disorder, demons were scrambling to do anything to create a new order for themselves.

One of the representative orders was here, the black market.

‘…But all of a sudden, a demon aristocrat whom I thought was extinct appeared?’

Now, just when a new order was about to be established, the old order suddenly returned. They couldn’t help it. They had already seen him make Bloodstone right in front of their eyes. And since he’s given room to teach everyone here how to make Bloodstone…

‘Psychologically and realistically, it has become an absolute relationship between superior and inferior.’

In this way, a proper gambling could not be made, and the alarm Lotto felt had immediately become a reality.

“…Well then, I will also bet on the human that Lord Vulcan bets on.”

“Just by the looks of it, that human seems stronger.”

“So will I…”

The demons rushed to the same side as Vulcan and started betting. Not one demon wanted to stand on the other side of Vulcan. Eventually, the bet was lost. Lotto sighed, rubbing his throbbing forehead.

“Guests, we can’t start the game if everyone bets on the same side.” But these words did not work at all.

“Still, even in my judgment, that human will win, so what can I do?”

“Nothing.”

“Besides, I can’t doubt Lord Vulcan’s keen eye.”

“…” Looking at the demons shrugging their shoulders with shameless expressions, as if asking what was wrong, Lotto gnashed his teeth inwardly. It was then…

“Tsk. This is no fun.” Suho, who was leisurely watching the scene from behind, suddenly clicked his tongue briefly. Then, with a faint smile on his lips, he murmured softly. “Hmm. Could this make it more fun?” A shocking declaration suddenly jumped out of his mouth.

“I will teach the Bloodstone recipe to the guy who picks up the most Stardust against me here.”

…?!

At that moment, the stiff eyes of the demons were frozen in astonishment. Suddenly a tremendous desire began to boil.

“Bah, are you serious about what you just said?!”

“No, I don’t doubt Lord Vulcan’s words but…!”

“Wait a minute! guests! Please calm down!”

Lotto tried his best to calm the heat of the demons, but the atmosphere was already chaotic. However, Vulcan’s proposal was so enchanting that even Lotto himself was greedy.

“This is going to be fun now.” Pleased with the hated atmosphere, Suho opened his inventory.

Ding ding ding!

“…!”

“…?!”

Huge stakes. Suho, who had piled up Stardust pouches on the table, said with a meaningful smile. “Then let’s start the game.” The sourc𝗲 of this content nov(𝒆l)bi((n))

Woooo!

Thus began the gamble of a lifetime for the demons.

***

What does it take to win at gambling here? Great luck? Huge stakes? Or, a great eye?

‘None.’

In fact, the demons were confident of defeating Vulcan in this underground arena because this wasn’t just a place to fight and watch humans. After all, they are just VIPs here. The real guests here, no, the watchers were human guests.

Whoaaaaaa-!

The spectator seats are wrapped around the bottom of the VIP room. Hunters using the black market gathered there and betted money on the outcome. The odds of winning are practically 5 to 5. A very simple bet where one party wins or loses. But that was only a superficial win rate.

What kind of place is a gambling den then? A place that grants you an illusion where you can win money, but then makes you fall into a greater debt, making it impossible to escape. That is the mechanism of the gambling house.

‘It’s a game where the winnings can be manipulated.’ The moment he heard Vulcan’s declaration of shock, Lotto struggled to hold back the blatant ridicule that rose to his lips and secretly gave instructions to the attendants in the underground arena.

“Use the rabid-blood poison.”

Nod.

Seeing the nodding demon attendants, Lotto smiled meaningfully without Vulcan’s knowledge. It was for this reason that they dug the floor of the gambling den to create an underground fighting arena. There was quite a distance between the VIP room and the underground arena, so it was only a matter of deceiving the eyes of demons and playing tricks on opponents.

‘No matter how dominant the demon nobles are, they can’t notice the rabid-blood poison from this distance.’

After instructing the attendants to manipulate the game appropriately without being seen, Lotto approached and sat next to Vulcan with a friendly smile. Seeing that, Vulcan looked at him as if he was having fun.

“Are you sure you want to participate in gambling yourself?”

“Of course. An event such as this rarely happens, but to be honest, what demon isn’t greedy for a plate of Bloodstone? Oh, don’t worry too much. No matter how much I am the host of this place, the people who participate in the underground fighting arena change every time.”

“Are you saying there is no way to manipulate the match?”

“That’s right.” Lotto smiled at Suho’s words and added his own stake on the table. He tried to stay calm, but his eyes were already burning with ambition.

“I will learn how to make Bloodstone.”

“Well, it’s good to be honest.” On the other hand, Suho smiled and muttered as he cast his gaze back to the underground arena.

“Yes, this will certainly be fun.”

It was then…

[The Queen of Insects, the Plague Monarch, smells the rabid-blood poison and licks her lips.]

‘As expected, he used the rabid-blood poison.’ Suho smiled and muttered to himself at the just-in-time message from Queresha.

‘Queresha, detoxify it.’

She did so.

[‘Debuff: Rabid-blood poison’ has been detoxified.]

The debuff disappeared from the hunter who was poisoned with rabid-blood poison by the demon servants.

‘Beru.’

[Did you call for me?]

‘Use your skill as well.’

[Kihehe.]

At Suho’s words, Beru’s meaningful eyes lit up as he secretly went down to the underground arena. Beru hid in the shadow of the hunter Suho had bet on.

Quite coincidentally, this hunter was that same hunter with the Beast Mode skill, who had become broke earlier.

[Beru uses ‘Skill: Harsh Command’.]

[‘Skill: Harsh Command’ increases the target’s stats by 50%.]

[As a side effect of ‘Skill: Harsh Command’, the target is cursed with madness.]

“…GRRR.”

Gradually, the hunter’s eyes turned red.

Chapter 187

 

There was no one who could stop the Plague Monarch, the Queen of Insects: Queresha, whose protection she had given to Suho.

[Quay uses ‘Debuff: Paralysis Poison’.]

[Quay uses ‘Debuff: Sleep Poison’.]

[Quay… … .]

When Suho made up his mind and started manipulating the match, the match in the underground arena started to flow very biasedly.

“Wait, what!”

“Why is that human suddenly limping?!”

“Hmm. He must have sprained his ankle somewhere. After all, humans are weak.”

“?Ah! Why did that human suddenly lose his eye? He was fighting so well!”

“Hmm. He must have had a hard time sleeping last night. After all, humans are weak.”

“…?”

“…?”

“Huh. Is this my victory again?”

Swoop.

Suho pulled all the stakes gathered on the table to himself with a really shameless, no, solemn expression. Looking at the Stardust pouches gradually piling up in front of Suho… “Oh, it can’t be.” The demons who lost the bet had no choice but to look devastated. In this atmosphere, Suho calmly looked at the situation and had a conversation with Esil.

[…Surprisingly, they don’t make them fight to the death unlike in the Colosseum. Even a healer is prepared.]

‘Of course. If people die here, rumors will spread that hunters keep disappearing in Yangpyeong. Even the black market wouldn’t want that.’

[Then what is the real purpose of these guys? Unless they are using the corpses of hunters who died here as ingredients for Stardust…]

‘Isn’t that what we are trying to find out?’

All the demons here were low-level demons who were much weaker than Suho. Still, there was a reason why Suho didn’t kill them right away and took such a cumbersome method. ‘Even if I kill a demon, I can’t extract their soul.’ Against the demons, he couldn’t try to talk to their shadow after killing them like in the case of Quay or Harmakhan. So, he had to create an atmosphere where they could freely share information by their own will while keeping them alive as much as possible.

And one more thing here. While the attention of the demons in the black market was increasingly focused on the gambling hall, Beru had been diligently looking around for Sung Il-Hwan.

Although he would sometimes…

“Uh? Where did the magic stone that was here go?”

“Ah, there’s a thief!” – By avoiding people’s eyes, he would sometimes steal and eat the magic stones that were on the stalls one by one.

‘Oh, am I gonna get a reaction?’ Just as Suho said, Lotto, who was watching the situation, chewed his lips with a complicated expression.

*’How could this happen…’*He couldn’t help but be perplexed. Originally, all the hunters who participated in the underground arena fought each other without equipment, and with similar grades and physiques. That’s why this game was more fierce than usual, and the game was overturned even by a moment’s carelessness or poor physical condition.

But for all the competitors to have such weakened conditions… Isn’t this more than coincidental?

‘How is it that each of the guys who Lord Vulcan betted against were in such bad shape?’ Could this be the keen eye of a real demonic aristocrat? ‘No.’ This was more than a little–no– this was very suspicious.

“How about you choose a hunter first?”

“…”

“…”

Yes. Vulcan had never chosen his opponent first. Unconditionally, only after all the demons had staked their bets on both sides, did he make the last bet. That’s only a reverse bet with a high dividend because the bet is small. It was very shameless, as if he already knew the outcome of this game.

As a result, in front of Suho, there were more than three times as many bags of Stardust piled up than when he first entered this place.

Lotto gnashed his teeth. ‘It’s clear that you’re cheating here… So what is your intention?’ From a while ago, Vulcan had been playing tricks very proudly. Honestly, If you rather cheat at least have some losses too so you can keep up the facade! But the problem is…

There was no evidence to incriminate his cheating. In fact, his side was also the one who was cheating as well. However, even though the organizers were determined and kept fixing the match while using the rabid-blood poison, the winner was always the human chosen by Vulcan.

‘In addition, people who were poisoned with the rabid-blood poison are already detoxified. I haven’t heard any rumors that Vulcan has this ability.’

At this point, he had no choice but to admit it. In the first place, Vulcan had no reason for him to play around with them like this, he could tear them apart and eat them whenever he wanted. Which is what made his intentions even more suspicious.

‘No way… Did you come here after already knowing everything?’ Lotto’s eyes that were set on Vulcan gradually narrowed.

It was a widely known rumor in the demon world that Vulcan was originally an insignificant creature who could not speak. Then, after accidentally picking up a branch from the World Tree and eating it, he suddenly became the ruler of a region and became a demon noble.

That was Vulcan.

However, a half-demon noble who was thought to have died in that war suddenly appeared with the ability to make Bloodstone, and he could even speak?

‘…It’s not just about having language skills. His intelligence has also improved.’

This demon with such complex thoughts came to this place without hesitation and in an instant led the atmosphere of the gambling hall to his own will.

‘Could it be that Vulcan is still evolving?’

‘Did he barely survive the war because of the protection of the World Tree?’

‘The World Tree that gave birth to the rulers would do it…’

A lot of thoughts were floating around in Lotto’s head. At the end of it, Lotto eventually decided to step back.

“Hah. I understand, Lord Vulcan.”

“… Hmm?” When Roto suddenly spoke to him, Suho, who was excitedly sweeping up the Stardust, turned to him.

“If you want Bloodstone, you’re saying that we should start sharing all the cards we have.”

“…” At that, Suho stared at him without a word.

Lotto smiled bitterly as he looked at the Stardust piled up like a mountain in front of Suho. “If you had that thought, you could have told me from the beginning, before trying to play such mischievous pranks on me.”

“…”

“A Star Piece. Did you come here because you wanted that from the beginning?”

‘?A Star Piece?’

[Star Piece?]

For a moment, a question mark appeared in Suho’s mind, but he never showed it. Then Lotto suddenly tore off his jacket and showed Suho the blue jewel implanted in the middle of his chest.

“That’s right. As Vulcan predicted, our real trade is these Star Pieces. It is on a different level than the unfinished Stardust.”

[So what is a Star Piece?]

‘I don’t think they’ll show it off so arrogantly if it was made by simply hardening the Stardust.’

Answering Esil, Suho kept his expression as nonchalant as possible. Finally, useful information began to emerge. Well, from now on the real deal appeared. Suho opened his mouth in a low voice.

“The Star Piece… Could it be a substitute for a Bloodstone.”

“Hoho. Could it be now? I guess you must be curious about the performance of the Star Piece if you said such a thing.” Lotto stroked the star fragment transplanted to his chest with an infinitely proud expression. “If you thought our Stardust necklaces spread among humans was the real deal then you are very mistaken. Things like that are just by-products thrown away in the process of refining Star Pieces. Although they are useful in their own way.”

‘They are useful? Are you saying there are other functions besides them being a black market pass?’ Although he was sticking to his laid-back attitude, Suho’s head was spinning with many thoughts.

“Of course, we first started researching ways to simply imitate Bloodstone. But then we demons began to grow curious as to what kind of synergy will occur when the god of the outer universe dwells in the blood of a demon.”

The magic of a deity from an outer universe. That was the Blue Mist flowing from the gate. The Blue Mist is magic sent from outer space to melt the dimensional walls. In other words, it was the power of the Itarim.

“Well, that sounds interesting.” Suho leaned back leisurely again and pointed at the Stardust piled up in front of him with his chin. “Then I’ll trade all of these in exchange for a Star Piece.”

Hhaha. That seems a bit difficult. No matter how much Stardust you trade, it cannot be compared to the value of a Star Piece. In the first place, the trading units are different.”

[Eh, Does he want a transaction?]

Hearing those words, Esil’s angry voice came to Suho. Considering this was the attitude of a nobleman, Suho decided to follow Esil’s heart.

“… You want a deal. That’s quite a funny word.” The moment Suho smiled–

[Use ‘Skill: Bloodlust.]

Fwoom!

“…Agh, how can it be so powerful?!” Lotto had no choice but to step back with a pale complexion due to the tremendous amount of bloodlust emanating from Suho’s entire body. The other demons were also frightened and hurriedly lowered their stance. Another demon had also accidentally fallen flat on the floor and bowed to Suho.

“…Even in this world, there are some things that will never change.” Suho slowly got up. Then, with the most nonchalant expression on his face, he slowly approached Lotto. “Nobles don’t make any deals. We just give orders.”

“…”

*Rub, rub*

Even as Suho touched the Star Piece implanted in Lotto’s chest with his hand, he was oppressed by the bloodlust and could not move. It seemed as if he would tear off the Star Piece from his body with his violent hands and chew it up.

But Suho didn’t.

If this guy dies, there will be no way for him to find more information.

Suho raised his hand and said. “The reason I am responding to the play you made is just for entertainment. If I was truly hungry…”

Growl~

Just in time, all the demons in the gambling hall were startled by the sound that echoed from Suho’s stomach.

‘This is a big deal!’

‘Vulcan is hungry!’

‘I’m going to get eaten… … !’

The greedy demon Vulcan’s eating habits were a tremendous fear to the lower level demons. However, Suho…

‘Hmm, come to think of it, I was so busy today that I might have skipped a meal. This wasn’t what I intended.’ In the midst of Vulcan’s method acting, Suho felt a bit embarrassed. But that’s how it happened.

*Lick*

It was Suho who licked his mouth.

“…!!” At that moment, Lotto had to fight the survival instinct of wanting to run away from here right away since he was still the manager of the gambling house.

‘?No! If Lord Vulcan wanted to eat me, I’d be dead by now! I’m sure he came here because he wanted something…’

Gulp.

‘There has to be…’ Another mouth-watering Vulcan. ‘Does he want to… eat it?’ Vulcan, the demon of greed, is a guy who immediately tries to put everything in his mouth as soon as he sees it, no? The sourc𝗲 of this content nov(𝒆l)bi((n))

“Ah, I see!”

Lotto finally closed his eyes and shouted. As if the Star Piece planted in his chest was his lifeline, he eagerly grabbed it. “Then, how about a duel between the great warriors that have a Star Piece? It will surely be good entertainment!”

“A great warrior duel?”

At those words, Suho’s bloodlust instantly disappeared.

“Yes. There are hunters who have been implanted with Star Pieces for experiments! Choose one of them, Lord Vol—.”

“Did you mean that even where humans experimented for the usage of Star Pieces?!”

“!!!” At that moment, Suho’s angry hand grabbed Lotto’s neck. Lotto screamed in surprise as if he had been struck by lightning.

“Ah, most of them are just a waste, but we still gave them one for the study of the Star Pieces! Even the Foreign Religion missionaries agreed!”

Suho rose.

‘I found it, these bastards.’ At that moment, Suho’s eyes flashed.

Chapter 188

 

“They are from the Foreign Religion!!”

Hearing Lotto’s cry, Suho’s expression quickly cooled. He had all sorts of thoughts going through his head right now, but he had to stay as calm as possible. “How interesting.”

Shook.

When Suho let go of his hand, Lotto’s body collapsed to the floor as if he was crumbling. “Ugh!” Lotto hurriedly confirmed that his neck was still attached and looked at Suho with a servile expression. Suho looked down at him with a lofty gaze and thought that the demons here naturally misunderstood that ‘Vulcan’ already knew everything. So what to do in this situation? He only had to reduce the number of words as much as possible, and only repeat what these guys say like a parrot.

“Foreign Religion… So you made a deal with them?”

“Yes, yes! Upon cooperating with us, they will be able to increase their followers on Earth!”

“Increase followers… So, is that the only result?”

Suho’s gaze scanned the messed up gambling hall. Then, the manager of this place, Lotto, replied with a slightly flustered expression.

“Not just that! The black market isn’t just here! Even now, in cooperation with Foreign Religion, we have started to spread Stardust all over the world using various methods!”

“This cooperation…” Suho smiled at the corner of his mouth and provoked him. “It seems to me that you guys have become their slaves instead.”

“?No!” Could this be a trigger? Lotto shouted in a fit, forgetting that he had just been begging for his life a moment ago. “We were the first to develop Stardust and we were the ones who succeeded in manufacturing the Star Pieces! Rather, they are being used by us demons!”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Hmm.” It was only now that a satisfied expression appeared on Suho’s lips. Suho’s heart was sincere as he looked at Lotto with admirable eyes. How could he not admire him?

‘After all, I learned quite a lot thanks to this guy.’

[You’re kinda… cool?(1)]

‘Where did you learn that word?’

[On the Internet.]

Esil’s voice was genuinely admiring. Isn’t this enough to make us believe that Suho is not actually a human being, but a real demon aristocrat?

[Tell me honestly. Are you actually Vulcan?]

‘So noisy. This is just getting serious.’ Suho skipped over Esil’s words and raised Lotto’s body back up with Ruler’s Authority. Then, Lotto realized that he had just fought against the Demon Noble, and became contemplative.

“If what you say is true,” Suho commanded him solemnly. “Then guide me to them. Now.”

“!!”

“I will meet the Foreign Religion missionaries myself.” Lotto closed his eyes tightly as if he had expected him to say that. However, at the same time, elaborate calculations were running in his head. ‘No, maybe this is for the better. Slowly they were getting out of control. From the beginning, Vulcan must have known everything and came to us.’

He finally answered. “I will guide you right away. To the temple of the Foreign Religion–”

“There is no need for that,”

!!!

Then, all the sudden, a series of people entered the gambling hall, emitting tremendous power.

“Because we are already here.”

* * *

[Hunter Association]

-Yangpyeong Branch

“… Is it true?” Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok, who ran after receiving a call from Suho, was shocked to learn all about what had happened at the Yangpyeong branch.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz!

Numerous bees flew around the Yangpyeong branch as if besieging them. Arsha’s alter ego, a woman with an alluring smile, was touching her lower lip with her fingertips, acting all cute. She smiled and nodded at team leader Han Jae-Hyeok’s words.

[Yes. It’s all true. Right, everyone?]

Eeek!

When Arsha looked back, the Yangpyeong branch staff who were sitting there shivered at the same time.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz!

Bees hovered around them like piranhas. These countless bees, each of which felt ominous magic, were ready to attack them and sting all their blood vessels at any moment if the woman so much as flicked her hand.

‘What, what kind of skill is this…’

‘Where did this woman suddenly come from?’

Because of Arsha’s skill(?) that Suho had called for while leaving for the black market, the employees of the Yangpyeong branch had been imprisoned in the Yangpyeong branch office. They had stayed like this until the Association Surveillance Division arrived to arrest them. This was due to Suho’s judgment that some of them might be in contact with the black market.

[Branch manager, all of what I said is true, right?]

“Oh, that’s right! All right!” Branch manager Min Dae-Seok nodded in succession with a pale face at Arsha’s kind urging. Seeing this, team leader Han Jae-Hyeok opened his mouth to let out a sigh while holding his throbbing forehead.

“…Arrest them.”

“Yes!” At his words, the surveillance and hunters who came with him arrested all the employees of the Yangpyeong branch. ‘Just how did this all happen?’ Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok, who heard the whole story, was really dumbfounded.

An Association that hides the black market. ‘The Association is running well, really. How long has it been since the President of the Association was away…’

In fact, it was likely that any organization with a large number of people would fester from within and cause corruption. However, the Hunter Association was only two years old. It’s really unbelievable that something like this is already happening. It was almost suspected that someone had intentionally infiltrated the Association.

“No way… Who would have thought that the Stardust necklace was made for the purpose of acting as a black market pass.” Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok sighed and lowered his gaze. Right away, he grabbed the Stardust necklace hanging from his neck with his hands to tear it off. The Stardust necklace, which started as a memorial for the victims of Stardust, was actually quite a driving force on the side of the Hunter Association.

Of course, it wasn’t like an organized event by the Association, but literally, ‘No one said anything about it at first’, they started to wear one by one around their necks… However,

Stop.

Why?

“…” His hand, which was about to take off the Stardust necklace, suddenly stopped. New thoughts came to his mind at the same time.

‘…Hmm. I bought it with money anyway, so why don’t I just hold on to it a bit longer? I might need it to sneak into the black market later anyway.’

[Huh. Why did you hesitate? Could it be that you suddenly don’t want to throw away that necklace?]

“…!” Startle. At that moment, team leader Han Jae-Hyeok raised his eyes wide and raised his head forward at the alluring voice that pierced his ears. Then, right in front of him, Arsha was looking at him with a strange smile. She whispered to him as if she had just seen through his thoughts.

[Have you ever thought about it? If it’s just for the purpose of commemoration, you can just buy a necklace and leave it at home, but why does everyone bother to wear it around their necks?]

While saying that, Arsha touched the Stardust necklace that team leader Han Jae-Hyeok was wearing with her soft hands.

Crack!

As the chain of the necklace was forcibly ripped off by that touch, a momentary light of regret passed through team leader Han Jae-Hyeok’s eyes.

[Did you think it’s a waste to throw it away?]

“Ah!” Only then did team leader Han Jae-Hyeok come to his senses, and his eyes widened. Then, Arsha wrinkled her nose with a mischievous expression, gently shook the necklace in front of her and said.

[Be on alert. If this necklace comes to the hands of ordinary people, won’t they become possessed?]

Even while talking with Arsha, team leader Han Jae-Hyeok had a blank expression. His spine was cold. Looking back at the emotions he had just momentarily felt, they were all so strange.

‘…I wanted to take it back. I didn’t want to lose the necklace.’

[Hmm. Don’t worry too much though. From what Suho found out, the effect of the Stardust Necklace disappears quickly if you keep it away from your body.]

Arsha’s alter body is the one present right now. The true body of Arsha was in the shadow of Suho, who was still imitating Vulcan in the black market. Thanks to that, Arsha was able to convey the information Suho found out to team leader Han Jae-Hyeok.

[The Stardust necklace seems to be a by-product of the process of making Star Pieces. However, no matter how weak it is, if it falls into the hands of ordinary humans, it is said that strangely, they want to keep it by their side and develop some vague faith. Itarim, a foreign deity, is literally a ‘god’.]

So, people who come into direct contact with the power of the gods develop faith in the unknown god. “…Wait a moment. A foreign deity?”

At that time, there was a certain memory that suddenly popped into team leader Han Jae-Hyeok’s head. “Foreign? I’m sure I’ve heard of it somewhere…”

[The Foreign Religion?]

At those words, a curiosity came to Arsha’s eyes as well.

[Has the team leader ever heard of the Foreign Religion?]

“Foreigners? Foreign Religion?… Ah, the Foreign Religion!”

Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok opened his eyes and looked around. Where is this place? Yangpyeong branch of the Association! He looked at the branch manager Min Dae-Seok, who was arrested by the Surveillance Division.

“I-I see!” Branch manager Min Dae-Seok was the one who had been suddenly assigned here a few months ago. The reason was that the branch manager, who was originally in charge of the Yangpyeong branch, suddenly quit the Association due to personal circumstances. The former branch manager…

He was an A-rank hunter who had been directly selected by Woo Jin-Chul, the president of the Association and assigned to take charge of the Yangpyeong branch. At the same time he had also been Han Jae-Hyeok’s senior whom he greatly respected.

[…Why did the former branch manager quit?]

Hearing the words of team leader Han Jae-Hyeok, Arsha tilted her head and asked. He gritted his teeth as he recalled the memory of that time.

“I have only heard rumors, but that senior suddenly joined a pseudo-religion and disappeared…”

[Hmm?]

A person who is an A-rank hunter has fallen into a pseudo-religion? If you hear it like this, it sounds really absurd, but when the subject is about the Foreign Religion, the problem becomes quite different.

“He was always such a nice person. But all of a sudden he…”

* * *

The Foreign Religion.

With cold eyes, Suho glanced at those who entered the gambling hall. People wearing priestly clothes. All of them had blue Star Pieces on their foreheads. A middle-aged man in the middle of them stepped forward and looked at Suho with an infinitely benevolent smile.

“Welcome. Are you the demon noble named Vulcan?”

“Who are you?”

“I am a priest serving the Great Foreign Religion. But in this secular world, I go by the name of ‘Kim Chul’.”

[Kieek?]

At that time. Beru, who had returned from exploring the surroundings, exclaimed with a bright smile.

[Iron is back!]

———————————-

1: The translation literally was [? ?… ???] “you are quite the… hit” and uh, it’s slang, so the translation might be off from what it’s intended.

Chapter 189

 

After the cataclysm, it hurts to talk about the steps taken by the president of the Association, Woo Jin-Chul. He was a person that everyone in Korea respected. At the same time, he was also a person with sharply divided likes and dislikes. Looking back, his choices were always right, but the process seemed to always be reckless and bold. So, inevitably, a lot of resentment had been built behind the scenes.

Among them, there was one problem that the guilds were dissatisfied with…

It was the ‘recruitment of talent’. nove(l)bi(n.)com

‘What? You said he was stolen by the president of the Association? again?!’

‘Yes. As soon as he awakened, the Association found out who he was and offered a job proposition.’

‘No! This Awakener hadn’t even gone for a rank test! How the hell did the Association find out about the awakening!?’

‘I know. Haha. The Association’s recruiting department must have a lot of information…’

Yes. Truly an incredible amount of information. Woo Jin-Chul, the head of the Association, used to go before anyone else and somehow attract them to the Association. His ability to act was enough reason for the guilds, who wanted to recruit talented people and increase their power, to hate him. Among them, when Woo Jin-Chul first took the S-rank hunter ‘The Ultimate Soldier’, there was a famous anecdote about the many guilds that hit the ground in regret upon having the S-rank be snatched away from them.

The same went for another hunter.

“… Senior ‘Kim Chul’ was also one of the talented people recruited directly by the president of the Association.”

Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok was talking to Arsha and recalling the memories of that time. The conversation between Kim Chul and Woo Jin-Chul, who had just awakened as A-rank tanks, was a very famous anecdote.

‘What kind of Hunter do you want to be?’

Was the question Woo Jin-Chul gave. Kim Chul said instead of answering, had asked back.

‘President, do you know what my motto is?’

‘What is it?’

‘To live kindly.’

Grin.

Kim Chul smiled brightly at Woo Jin-Chul, saying the motto he had always had in his heart since his adolescence. Kim Chul was already in his middle age, but his smile had the innocence of an adolescent boy. Faced with a sense of good justice that was clearly felt in his eyes, Woo Jin-Chul asked again with a satisfied smile on his lips.

‘…Does that mean you want to become a good hunter?’

‘Yes. Since I have awakened, I want to fight to protect this world with pride.’

‘What a wonderful mindset. Come to the Association and I will entrust you with an important responsibility to protect the world.’

‘I hope it goes well.’

So Kim Chul held hands with Woo Jin-Chul and entered the Hunter Association without hesitation. But…

“Senior Kim Chul, who joined just like that, later said he was deeply disappointed in the Association.” Team leader Han Jae-Hyeok muttered with a bitter look. In fact, he couldn’t help but be disappointed. Kim Chul joined the Association because he wanted to become a great hunter who protects the world.

“And the job the president of the Association had entrusted to that senior was to directly manage the Yangpyeong branch.”

[Ahh.]

It was Arsha who nodded in agreement with those words. Yangpyeong was a very quiet town for a Hunter with an aspiration to protect the world. There are even a lot of rich people living here, so bad commenters go so far as to say that the Yangpyeong branch manager is a dog that protects the rich.

“Eventually, Senior Kim Chul left the Association himself. There were many speculations that he fell into a cult of sorts, but rumors are just rumors.”

[…]

Arsha conveyed what he heard from team leader Han Jae-Hyeok to Suho.

* * *

Suho, who received Arsha’s words in real time, was a little surprised inside. ‘The president of the Association, Woo Jin-Chul, personally selected and entrusted the Yangpyeong branch to him?’

According to Beru, Kim Chul was a soldier named ‘Iron’ of the Shadow Corps led by Sung Jin-Woo a long time ago. However, as the Earth’s time returned to before he died, he came back and led a new life. Like Hwang Dong-Soo, who was once the shadow soldier ‘Greed’ and now lives as an S-rank villain.

But to think that Kim Chul would become a hunter of the Association and work as the branch manager of the Yangpyeong branch where his grandfather and grandmother live. Is that really a coincidence?

‘No, it could never happen.’

Suho realized the situation right away.

‘It was for my father.’

Woo Jin-Chul, the president of the Association, was a person who remembered his past life related to his father. So it means that. ‘He was afraid that my grandfather and grandmother would be in danger while my father was away, so the Association set out to protect Yangpyeong. Entrust the Yangpyeong branch to someone you can trust!’

Perhaps, in the mind of Woo Jin-Chul, the president of the Association, there was no other person as trustworthy as Kim Chul, who was his father’s shadow soldier in the past.

‘But maybe… He would never have thought that Kim Chul would have become a priest serving Itarim in such an absurd place.’ It seemed that even the great Woo Jin-Chul had not anticipated this variable.

“…Are you a priest of a Foreign Religion?”

“That’s right.”

“And if you are Kim Chul, you were once the head of the Yangpyeong branch.” In response to Suho’s question that hit the mark, Kim Chul nodded with a benevolent smile.

“Heh heh heh. Is there anything you don’t know, Lord Vulcan? That’s right. There was a time when I was involved in the Hunter Association.”

“But why are you here now?”

“Hehe, that is a very sad word. Are you suspicious of me just because I’ve been with the Association for a while? Or, do you doubt the performance of this Star Piece?” At Suho’s words, Kim Chul smiled benevolently and raised his large palm to touch the Star Piece on his forehead. Then, an auspicious blue energy slowly burned from the Star Piece, and mad eyes flashed between his fingers.

The corners of Kim Chul’s mouth went up. “We, the Foreign Religion, baptize only those who have proven their faith as Star Pieces, or ‘Outer God’s Jewels’. There’s no need to doubt it. I’m just saying that the Foreign Religions offer more to the world than the Associations…”

[Kill him now. I don’t want to hear any more nonsense like that.]

Beru whispered like a demon next to Suho.

kill him kill him kill him kill him kill him kill him–

[You must strike down and kill that fallen soldier, Iron, and bring him back to the Shadow Legion!]

“Haha. Lord Vulcan, please calm down for a moment. As you know, there is absolutely no reason for us to antagonize each other.” Kim Chul said while wiping the cold sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief, perhaps because of the energy emitted by Beru. After subduing Beru by stepping on him with his foot, Suho solemnly opened his mouth while looking at Kim Chul.

“I will ask, priest of the Foreign Religion.”

No matter how much he pretended to be Vulcan, he felt like he had to ask because he was really curious about this one thing.

“Haha. So there is something even the Demon Noble doesn’t know. Yes. You can ask anything.”

“If you plant a Star Piece on a human, are there any side effects? Like, hair loss?”

“…”

At that moment, Kim Chul’s smile, which had been benevolent all along, flinched for the first time. Kim Chul replied with a slight trembling of eyes. “This is just plain hair loss.”

“Right. Come to think of it, the other humans next to you have hair attached to them. Alright then, are there any other side effects of the Star Piece?” Suho pretended to know nothing and nodded. Then, a slight wrinkle wriggled on his forehead, where Kim Chul’s Star Piece was embedded before gritting his teeth and smiling.

“Please. How could there be any side effects in the first place? The Outer God’s Jewel is the very grace bestowed by God for lowly human beings like us.”

Woooshh!

With those words, the Star Piece on his forehead radiated blue energy.

“Huh.”

Kim Chul inhaled the energy and made a look of ecstasy. “Hehe. Do you feel it? If the Stardust was at a level that amplified the power it possesses, then the Outer God’s Jewels raises the owner’s power to a higher level. In short… You will be reborn as a higher being!”

Woooshh!

At the same time, he could feel Kim Chul’s Star Piece brimming with blue light and his energy gradually grew stronger. Undoubtedly, that energy was far beyond the magic limit of Kim Chul, who was known as an A-rank hunter.

[Unbelievable. By accepting the godship of an outer god into its body he has started to exude an aura close to an S-rank.]

‘It’s similar to the principle that I use when I merge Gray into my body.’

At a glance, Suho could understand the principle of the Star Piece. No matter how he misunderstood that expression, Kim Chul spread his arms toward Suho with a benevolent smile, mad eyes and smiled brightly. “So, would you like to join us, Lord Vulcan? Worshiping and praising Foreign gods is the mission and destiny of mortals.”

“If it is a mortal mission. Then what good is it to me?” As Suho smiled and made a small fortune, Kim Chul’s eyes flashed with a meaningful expression.

“You must already know, right? The real reason Lord Vulcan, a demon aristocrat, dared to visit us! You want to become the Demon King by using the Outer God’s Jewel, right?”

“…You are quite quick-witted.”

“Heh heh heh. It’s because I’ve seen many demons by my side. The lower demons say they want to become demon nobles, but if Lord Vulcan’s goal is to become the Demon King, of course we could grant that!”

[Hold on, really?!]

‘Why are you like this?’

Ignoring Esil’s surprised voice, Suho scanned the surroundings with a cool gaze.

‘For now, it seems my grandfather isn’t among them.’ After checking the faces of the Foreign believers, Suho asked Kim Chul, who was excitedly evangelizing here and there. “Are all the Foreign Believers here?”

“Oh no. All the other believers are offering sacrifices in the chapel.”

“Guide me.”

“Heh heh you showed interest in the chapel right away! My prediction was correct. Come with us to the chapel and accept the faith of the Foreign Religion!” Kim Chul never doubted Suho.

Vulcan was called the ‘Demon of Greed’ because he was more greedy than anyone else among the demons. Now that all the other demon nobles are gone, what he most covets must be the seat of the Demon King.

[So when do you plan to kill him?]

‘Wait. We will get everyone gathered so that no one escapes…’ Hearing Beru’s whispers to continue to ambush and kill Kim Chul from the side, Suho left the gambling hall and headed for the chapel following the guidance of the Foreign believers.

Before long, a huge door appeared in front of Suho. When Kim Chul placed his palm on the huge door, his Star Piece shone and the massive door opened by itself.

Crrreakk.

Then, a large dome-shaped room appeared in Suho’s field of vision. Inside, he could see Foreign believers lying flat on their stomachs, muttering prayers like crazy people. However, there was a reason why this incredibly large space felt cramped.

‘That’s…’

Suho’s eyes flashed.

The innermost part of the chapel. There, something huge, incomprehensible to common sense, was sitting on a chair as big as the place itself. A figure of an enormous size.

“Welcome, Lord Vulcan. This is the chapel of our Foreign Religion Church.” As soon as Kim Chul had finished talking:

Tilt.

The heads of the Foreign believers who were kneeling in prayer in the chapel all raised their heads and looked at Suho. Then they all smiled brightly with the same expression on their faces. Still, the prayers flowed incessantly from their mouths.

“Worship God. Worship God. Worship God. Worship God.”

“Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God.”

“Prove your faith. Prove your faith. Prove your faith. Prove your faith…”

Slam!

The chapel door closed with a loud roar behind Suho’s back.

The last phrase of the prayer flowed from Kim Chul’s mouth, who was smiling brighter than anyone else in front of the door.

“Those who do not abide by this rule will not be able to return alive.”

Chapter 190

 

[Rules of the Cartenon Temple]

First: Worship God.

Second: Praise God.

Third: Prove your faith.

Those who do not abide by this rule will not be able to return alive!

T-ring!

[‘Itarim’s Blessing: Cartenon’s Discipline’ is activated.]

“Ah!!!” Suddenly, the atmosphere in the chapel changed drastically.

[Little Lord! This aura is from the Itarim!–]

[It’s a trap! I think this is!–]

Even before the urgent voices of Beru and Esil, who felt the change, were over…

“Praise the Itarim!”

Wooooo! Woooo!

…Along with Kim Chul’s booming voice, bizarre singing voices erupted from the mouths of the Foreign believers in the chapel.

[It seems like a place where non-Foreigners are sacrificed!]

“Worship and Praise!”

“Prove your faith!”

T-ring! T-ring! T-ring!

System messages appeared one after another in front of Suho’s eyes.

[Itarim’s protection limits the magic power of unbelievers.]

Fwoom!!

An unknown force suppressed Suho’s magical power.

[The protection of Itarim permits the use of magic to those who prove their faith.]

[The protection of Itarim grants divine power to those who prove their faith.]

“Kill Vulcan!”

Ahhhhhh!!

At Kim Chul’s order, all the Foreign believers focused their attacks on Suho with bright smiles on their faces.

Punch punch punch!

“Haha! Who would have thought that a demon noble would come to my feet!”

“No matter how demon nobles are, if their magical powers are blocked, they are nothing more than sacrifices!!!”

In that moment.

Gah!

Suho’s fist suddenly swung around, and the chin of the Foreign priest who had been attacking at the front turned sideways.

Bam!

His body ricocheted backwards far faster than he had come, crashing into the wall.

“!!!” The eyes of the Foreign believers, including Kim Chul, widened at the same time.

[Fitness Lv.7]

There, Suho was smiling, showing his teeth in such an enthusiastic manner. “Now, since I’ve confirmed that my grandfather isn’t among them…”

Fwoom!

Suho clenched his fists and walked forward. He checked the faces of the believers who attacked him one by one as his eyes lit up.

“I’ll kill you all first and then ask!”

Woosh!

Suho’s new model kicked off the ground and shot forward. No matter how much they tried to block his mana, some of Suho’s skills did not consume magic at all. In addition, the stats from the horns of Vulcan were still engraved in his body!

[Effect ‘Desire for Destruction’: Increases physical damage by 300%.]

Punch punch punch punch!

“?Aaaahhhh!”

The Foreign believers scattered in all directions like autumn leaves.

When Suho started rampaging in earnest, there was nothing to block his path. Kim Chul stepped forward. “Haha! It seems we are struggling quite a bit! As expected of a demon aristocrat, the offerings are very fresh!”

Swishh.

He radiated blue energy from the Star Piece on his forehead and swung his large shield at Suho.

Whoosh- Bang!

Fist and shield collided with each other. A huge shockwave spread out in all directions. Suho and Kim Chul’s eyes crossed in the air.

‘This is not an ordinary A-rank level!’

‘Is this the power of the demon nobles!?’ But for a moment he thought. ‘I’m going to destroy it!’

Suho’s fierce attack followed straight away like a shotgun.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo!

“Kuh!?!” Kim Chul gritted his teeth and endured all the attacks while swinging his sword with his other hand. Then, Suho immediately grabbed the horn of the Vulcan mounted on his head with both hands and swung it forward.

Kwaaaaang-!

Vulcan’s two horns, which returned to sword form in an instant, cut through the air.

‘The Ruler’s Authority!’ The power of a ruler which does not consume mana. Vulcan’s horn shot out of Suho’s hand.

Slice slice slice slice!

“Oh, no!” Kim Chul widened his eyes and took a step back. Every time he avoided Suho’s attack, other Foreign believers were mercilessly hacked to death instead.

“Ah!” The Foreign believers caught in the attack died vomiting blood from their mouths. At that moment, an amazing thing happened.

?Woosh!

The Star Piece embedded in the foreheads of the fallen Foreign believers began to radiate blue energy. The energy that spewed out like that wrapped around the bodies of the Foreign believers and soon created blue flames.

ROAR!

Right after. The blue demon took control of their corpses and raised them up like puppets.

“A Mist Burn?” No, it’s similar to Mist Burn, but different. The Foreign believers were only being ruled by the Star Pieces until they died.

“Ah!” The Foreign believers caught in the blue mist flew through the air and started attacking Suho.

[Little Lord! You must attack the Star Piece itself!]

Beru and Esil shouted.

[I think the Star Piece is the medium that connects Itarim and these guys!]

“So it’s that kind of priestly concept?” Hearing those words, Suho’s eyes lit up. “…Just like me.”

In that moment…

[The King of Beasts, the Beast Monarch, licks his lips.]

[The Queen of Bugs, the Plague Monarch raises her eyes.]

[The King of Snow Folk, the Frost Monarch is watching you.]

Even if the magical power was sealed, it had nothing to do with the souls of the monarchs who had already died and wandered the sea after death. Just as the energy of the Itarim, which exists far away in outer space, gives strength to the Foreign cultists through the medium of Star Pieces.

“Come out, Gray. Esil.”

Whoosh!!

“GRRRRR!!!”

At that moment, a huge wolf wrapped in silver suddenly jumped out of Suho’s shadow and attacked the Foreign believers.

BITE!

Esil, which was nestled in Vulcan’s horn, also jumped out and swung a spear at them.

“Wha- how– did all of a sudden?!!”

When Suho’s colleagues suddenly increased, Kim Chul couldn’t help but be exasperated.

[Iron, welcome.]

“?!?!?!”

Suddenly, a voice whispered from Kim Chul’s back. Kim Chul shuddered and hurriedly looked around, but there was nothing there.

‘A ghost?!’

Kim Chul was startled and turned around to correct his posture. But why? ‘Welcome?’ He wanted to go there, no matter where it was. ‘What the hell is this feeling?!’ Confused! He was so confused! His subconscious was just delighted with that ghostly voice!

“Rise up everyone! They are few and far between! For the glory of the Itarim!” Kim Chul suppressed his unconsciousness and shouted at the believers as if talking to himself.

“For the Itarim!”

“For the Itarim!”

The followers raised their voices and the strength of their bodies.

“We may die!”

“Even if I live, it’s for Itarim!”

“Even if I die, I will become an apostle of the Itarim!”

“Kill Vulcan! If you have the blood of a demon noble, you can make a lot of Star Pieces!”

The Foreign believers that were alive as well as those who had died were ruled by the Star Pieces as they joined forces to attack Suho. Despite the enormous inferiority, Suho smiled. The corner of his mouth rose and he opened his mouth.

“All of you, arise.”

I can’t use magic, but what does that mean? Shadow Powers are all skills that do not consume mana. (1)

[Use ‘Skill: Monarch’s Domain’.]

[The stats of shadow soldiers fighting in the shadow of the caster increase by 50%.]

WOOSH!!!

With Suho at the center, his shadow spread out in all directions. And within it, the shadow soldiers following Suho rose up.

“Scatter and destroy the Star Pieces!”

[Yes Master!]

Fwoom!!!

Quay became a single spear faster than anyone else and jumped out and pierced them.

Slice!

Chachachachachak!

“Ahgk!!” As his spear pierced the Star Pieces embedded in the foreheads of the followers, they shattered into blue light dust. Along with that, the energy of the Itarim that dominated them was scattered and their bodies collapsed on the spot.

“Hey, what the hell is this!” Kim Chul, a priest of the Foreign Religion Church who was in charge of them, was greatly embarrassed and confused.

“Oh Itarim! save us! Us… Us… ?”

Incidentally: ‘… What is this feeling?’ Something strange happened. Terribly strange.

The shadow of Suho filled the chapel where the battle was taking place.

The skill, Monarchs’s Domain.

From the moment Kim Chul stood in his shadow. For some reason, Kim Chul was barely able to hold back his instinct from running towards Suho and kneeling down.

‘Why, why! What the heck! Could it be that the demon noble named Vulcan brainwashed my mind?’ If true, it was a truly diabolical ploy!

“Aagh! Trying to bewitch me, a priest who serves God! Do you think I will pass!”

Kim Chul gritted his teeth and charged at Suho. He concentrated his entire body on one point.

BOOM!

“Vulcan! die!”

[Iron.]

“Who are you?!” Again, at the voice of the ghost whispering behind his back, Kim Chul shouted and twisted his body to hit the back. Then, there was a real ghost there! A black shadow.

The ant-like evil spirit was smiling brightly at himself with the cruelest grin.

[Welcome.]

Stab!

“!!!”

That was the last thing Kim Chul saw before he died.

[Hm? Why is this strong guy looking away instead of fighting? Must have been because I was fast.]

Quay tilted his head after having pierced the back of Kim Chul’s, smashing the Star Pieces along the way. Beru giggled and looked down at Kim Chul’s corpse.

[Iron must have missed the Monarch’s realm for so long, Little lord! Come on, Iron, wake up!]

Suho was standing in front of Kim Chul’s corpse.

[Shadow extraction may be used on this target.]

‘Didn’t he say he was my father’s soldier?’ Maybe that’s why, even before Suho came closer, Kim Chul’s shadow was shaking. He hadn’t even extracted it, but it seemed like it would wake up on its own right now.

“Hmm. Arise?”

[Shadow extraction succeeded.]

?Woosh!

As soon as Suho finished his words, Kim Chul’s shadow surged up.

[Ha ha ha ha! I’m back!]

[Kieheek! You’re finally back, Iron!]

[Ha ha ha ha! I remembered everything! All my memories are back!]

[Kiehehekekekeek!!]

As soon as he became a shadow soldier, Kim Chul and Beru laughed at each other. He suddenly turned his head to Suho. Kim Chul, who once served Sung Jin-Woo as a shadow soldier, instinctively knew what kind of relationship Suho had with Sung Jin-Woo.

[Young Lord. My new lord…]

It was then–

Zap!

“…!!!” Suho’s sensory stat sent an ominous warning. At the same time he turned his head toward it with a frightened expression. Before he knew it, the two eyes of the huge god statue sitting on a chair in front of me were staring at him.

[Be Caref–!]

Before Iron’s desperate cry was over, Suho instinctively turned his body to the side. Almost simultaneously, blue rays emanated from both eyes of the statue.

SHING!

The light barely passed by Suho and caused a huge explosion.

VOOOOOOM!

A blue ray of light swept across the area and completely melted the bodies of the Foreign believers there.

“?Aaaaaagh!”

“??Ahh!!”

In the place where the beam passed, only the remains of the Foreign believers remained. The screams came not from them, but from the mouths of other believers who witnessed their end.

“I don’t think he is a very merciful god.” Suho smirked and looked ahead. The god statue, who personally killed the believers who had prostrated themselves in front of him and prayed, smiled brightly at Suho, cruelly.

[I never thought I would see the Power of the Shadows in a place like this.]

A grotesque echoing voice flowed from the statue’s mouth. The emotion felt in that voice was an obvious murderous intent towards Suho, with a distinct appetite, as if he had discovered delicious food right in front of his eyes.

[Ridiculous. Acting so arrogant about killing one priest.]

The statue of Itarim laughed at Suho and opened his mouth.

[However, there are many priests who serve me. Even those who are much stronger than that guy.]

The god statue smiled meaningfully and turned his head. Soon after…

CRACK!

One wall of the chapel was destroyed by the blue rays emitted from the statue of God. A Blue Mist was flowing from the hidden gate beyond.

[Come out, high priest.]

?Woosh!

At those words, a silhouette slowly revealed itself from inside the gate.

[Oh! It can’t be!]

Iron, who had just become Suho’s shadow soldier, suddenly recalled memories from his past life and shouted at Suho.

[Greed! The high priest of the Foreign Religious Church is the S-rank villain Hwang Dong-Soo!]

“!!!” At those words, Suho and Beru’s expressions hardened. Why did Hwang Dong-Soo appear here all of a sudden? And as the high priest of the Itarim no less! If the power of the Star Pieces were added to him, who was originally an S-rank awakened, it was clear that the power would be truly enormous.

Clomp… clomp…

[Kuahahaha!]

Together with the statue of God, Hwang Dong-Soo finally appeared at the gate.

However.

“Eh?!”

He didn’t walk out on his own.

He was being dragged out by a white-haired grandfather.

————————

1: Technically speaking, summoning them does not consume mana, just regenerating them, in case anyone gets confused.