31.
“You failed.”
In the dark-coated car, the face of the man sitting next to the driver, who was holding the steering wheel, was severely distorted.
“Damn it.”
He clenched his teeth and let out a deep sigh.
“I’m glad you failed. After all, some people were captured by Iwamoto’s side.”
“Can’t you get them back?”
“Like that would be easy. Although the Deputy Guild Leader is criticized for hiding behind Ji Seon-woo, he's still an S-class Awakened. He can’t be taken lightly.”
“What if we just take on him?”
“It’s not easy either. Not just that, why did Japan and America appear here? At least Russia was not involved, so it’s a bit of a relief?”
“I was quite unlucky. By the way, is Ji Hyeon-woo the person you tracked down earlier? There would be no way for him to get out of the guild easily.”
“Maybe, or he was bait if you were unlucky.”
What a time it was. Awakened with strange abilities and items appeared. There could have been items that imitated faces or caused confusion. Besides, the opponent was the Seon-Hyeon Guild. They boasted enormous power and wealth, so it was likely that they would have it.
“This will be difficult.”
The man placed his hand on the car door handle and raised his glasses as if it was a habit.
“We need to think about our next plan.”
There was silence in the car for a moment.
***
Within a wide communal area, huge ice flowers began to bloom. The fast-growing ice flower soon stopped growing, then shattered and scattered all over.
“Kyieeek!”
The ice shards shot at a frightening speed destroyed all the large-scale monsters in front. It was a lackluster ending for the triumphant crowd.
“Clean it up!”
When Seon-woo stepped down, Team 1 began to quickly clean up the monsters that had fallen after killing.
Meanwhile, Seon-woo took out his unconnected phone and looked at it with a nervous expression. He was optimistic, but again, the electronics didn't work inside the dungeon. Kero sat next to him, clenched his front paws, and yawned.
“Kyaang!”
A smile appeared on Team 1’s faces, as they looked at the cute figure. But after a while, the tension began to rise again. It was because they realized that Kero was a different being than they'd seen.
Because it was Kero who played an active part in meeting the mid-boss. The huge wolf-shaped mid-boss was smashed by Kero after jumping in.
He had bitten its leg and ripped it off, spewing blue-white flames from his mouth, melting its body. Just by looking at him running wild like that, he seemed crazy. Seon-woo even wondered if he would have to subdue Kero. Fortunately, after dealing with the mid-boss, he got smaller again and followed him at a regular pace, but his appearance was not forgotten.
“Isn’t it a bit strange, by the way?”
“What?”
“I know I said it was an S-class or higher dungeon, but it doesn’t feel like that.”
A grade, if you pushed it. It was a dungeon like that. If it had been a higher-grade dungeon, Ji Seon-woo would not have been able to clear it this easily. And Seon-woo was also feeling the sense of incongruity they felt.
‘Strange.’
It felt like the dungeon grade was lower than he expected. Even considering that it was a country with few awakenings, the level was too low. At least three S-class saints were present, but they did not actively participate. Like a time stopper which had run out of time.
“Oh, that’s great! It could have been just a rumor.”
“Really. Even if we don’t touch it, it looks like we can clear the gate soon.”
It was annoying to see him talking.
I thought it would be more dangerous because he was desperately hanging on, but it seemed like it could have been solved if only Kero and Team 1 were deployed. Of course, dungeons were always in flux, so I wouldn’t leave them that way.
Seon-woo put the phone in his arms and said.
“Let’s speed up more.”
“Yes!”
First of all, clearing through the dungeon as quickly as possible was the top priority.
***
On the other side.
Every time the dagger was held in the reverse position, the monster fell down. At that sight, the other Awakened who had also entered the dungeon looked surprised.
The Guild Leader of the Peace Guild. As the guild leader of a guild that stayed in the top 5 in Korea, he was expected to be somewhat strong, but this was beyond that. Han Do-jin was an Awakened with more power than people thought.
“What the heck. Since when did he become so strong?”
Hye-sun, who was standing in front of him, asked her own guild member with a trembling expression.
“If the Guild Leader doesn’t know, how am I supposed to know?”
“No—, well that’s true too.”
Recalling the time where I first faced Ji Seon-woo, I don’t think Do-jin was this strong compared to him. Had Do-jin been hiding his power? Hye-sun scratched her head, then vigorously stepped forward with her feet and began to push a monster with her shield.
“Hey!”
If everyone hides their strength, will an honest person be able to live properly! Her desire for power grew even greater.
‘I want to be strong too.’
I want to become stronger and stronger and stand on top. For that purpose, Hye-sun was thinking of doing anything. I didn’t want to be left behind.
Thud!
After the monsters that were being pushed down fell, they were stabbed with the pointed part under the shield.
“Let’s finish this!”
Awakened were energized by Hye-sun’s shout and began to move with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Do-jin went farther ahead.
***
“Dungeon’s cleared!”
After confirming that the last boss had fallen, the Awakened shouted loudly. The attack on the dungeon, which felt like it took a long time, had finally ended. As soon as the door to the outside opened, Seon-woo was the first to step outside.
No sooner had Seon-woo appeared than the waiting reporters began to flash their cameras. Awakened, who wielded violence in the dungeon, were the most sensitive when they came out of the dungeon.
They usually blocked access, but Seon-woo was different. Since he never showed weakness or was violent, reporters were allowed to cover his story from afar.
‘Yes, I did it.’
Today, the lights flashing everywhere were annoying. Seon-woo looked ahead with bitter eyes. I really want to turn everything off right now. There was no time to be tied down here. I have to go back to Korea and see my Hyung.
Seon-woo took out his phone again. The screen is black as if it was broken when fighting with the last boss. It felt like an ominous sign, which made him more nervous. And at that moment, a loud noise broke out from the side.
“Kyaoooh!”
Kero, who returned to his original form, was roaring at reporters. It wasn't as full-fledged as it was when tearing off the middle boss, but the non-conscious reporters huddled together.
“Monster! It’s a monster!”
“Run away!”
Some of the terrified fled, and the Awakened who were blocking them approached.Then Team 1 came out.
“Wait, wait!”
Team 1’s leader, Ain(아인), stepped forward and blocked the approaching arousal.
“It’s not an enemy. No! It’s a tamed monster!”
At those words, the reporters, that didn’t run away, got a twinkle in their eyes.
“You mean taming?”
“Did Ji Seon-woo tame it?”
“No. No, it’s not him. Back away, the monster can get excited sometimes!”
Ain shouted resolutely and waved his hand. A low stone wall was formed between the people and Kero. Then, little by little, people began to calm down their excitement.
“Guild Leader, what should I do?”
At that time, Ain sighed in relief and asked Seon-woo for his opinion.
“Ignore it.”
“What?”
Was that really okay? There was an image that Seon-woo had maintained so far. Ain was perplexed, but soon understood. It was probably because he was worried about his Hyung that he left behind. Ain was also one of those who had cried watching his documentary.
“Then I will go.”
Soon, Team 1 surrounded Seon-woo. Kero returned to his small form and followed Seon-woo.
“Ji Seon-woo-ssi!”
Some reporters called for Seon-woo, but he neatly ignored it.
“The interview will be done when I get back to Korea!”
Still, the reporters continued following without listening to his words. The guild members of the Seon-Hyeon Guild, who were dispatched to Kenya, returned to Korea.
***
“Dungeon’s cleared!”
The dungeon in Jeju Island faced a similar situation.
“Wow. No human could do that.”
As soon as Hye-sun left the dungeon, she panted and sat down. It was on the easy side for a dangerous dungeon, but the pacing was problematic. Although she had to take a break in the middle to check her condition, Han Do-jin kept running wild in front of her, thus her speed increased without realizing it.
That was why, after clearing the dungeon, she didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. Hye-sun, who was an S-class Awakened, was already like this and the condition of the others was worse. Some even fainted as soon as they came out.
“Then, I’ll get going now.”
As soon as Do-jin came out, he reported to Hye-sun and disappeared before he could be caught.
“No! If you go like this—!”
Anyway, the leader was Hye-sun, a tanker, but that’s why it was difficult.
“Uwghaaa!”
Hye-sun screamed, and she laid down on the spot. The sky was particularly blue today.
“Those monster bastards.”
Ji Seon-woo and Han Do-jin were monsters. When will I be able to catch up with them? Hye-sun took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
“Ah, Guild Leader! You can’t sleep in a place like this!”
“I don’t care, just let me sleep a little.”
And then she fell asleep with a snoring sound.
------
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Davine
Yaagrabrag: Hello all! I’m a new editor joining the team and I’m pretty excited. It’s my first time doing so, but I’ve read many translated web novels and I’m happy to be able to contribute back. I also can’t wait to see Hyeon-woo actually display his power for the first time.