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Chapter 23: Star, Home (8)
Chapter 23: Star, Home (8)
Chapter 23: Star, Home (8)
Before Chang-Sun forced his way into the Bonghwasan Mountain, he had done some digging about the Highoff Clan and reached a conclusion.
‘They’re a bunch of trash,’?Chang-Sun thought, describing the Clan in one sentence.
He had just searched for information about them on the internet, but it was easy to see how infamous the Highoff Clan was. Reporters raised questions several times a year about how the Highoff Clan’s Players were involved in all kinds of violent crimes. Several of them had gone missing while trying to investigate the Highoff Clan.
Visiting illegal entertainment venues; drug and human trafficking; kidnapping; contract killings… Several Players from the Highoff Clan had actually been arrested for such crimes. They were also often hired as muscle to fight in Dungeon-related conflicts.
Despite all that, the Clan was not classified as a criminal organization. The Clan members were not only good at evading the law, but also at presenting a clean public image. The Highoff Clan often hosted charity events and conducted fundraising events.
.
As such, Players naturally tried to avoid getting involved with them.
‘In that case… It’ll be fine if I take them all out,’?Chang-Sun thought as he slashed through the knee of a Player leaping at him.
Chang-Sun’s actions could also be considered crimes, but he had spent hundreds of years in a lawless world. There was no way he would care about the laws on Earth. He only maintained his own sense of justice. Underneath the Hahoe mask, his eyes shone brightly.
* * *
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ greatly enjoys your bravery.]
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ watches the current situation with great interest, surprised by your recklessness.]
Boooom! Boom!
Rrrrumble?!
“Argh!” a Player groaned.
“This is unbelievable…!” another Player frantically yelled as he crawled across the floor.
If there was one mistake the Highoff Clan had made, it was that they had not focused on defending the exterior of the Dungeon. However, that was understandable. Korea was one of the safest countries in the world. Clans had long since been industrialized, and people considered Dungeons and Gates to be their property.
That also applied to the Bonghwasan Gate, so the Highoff Clan did not need to worry much even if they put minimal security around the Gate. Who would have thought someone would dare to trespass on their property? Even the most audacious demon would never do so.
Chang-Sun’s plan had been based on that belief. Most Players would have gone home at night, leaving only minimal security. The guards would also just be killing time, creating a perfect opportunity for him to ambush them. That was why the Highoff Clan was helpless against his attack.
[You have entered the Dungeon ‘Bestla’s Tomb.’]
Chang-Sun entered the Dungeon, breathing in its stuffy, musty air. He found himself inside a stone chamber with no light coming in from outside. The only thing he could see was a large open space with a uniform brick floor that extended into a long, narrow hallway.
There were torches mounted on the walls at regular intervals, but their light was so dim that they left most of the room in shadow. However, Chang-Sun had no trouble examining the tomb in detail.
[You are now able to see using the ability of the ‘Smiling Hahoe Mask.’]
‘He lent me this for a reason,’?Chang-Sun thought as he looked up, smiling in satisfaction.
Thankfully, no one had decided to pursue him. They were no doubt trying to purge the Ice Toxin that was eating their bodies away. However, Chang-Sun was certain that no one would survive.
‘It isn’t just ordinary Ice Toxin, because my Blood Toxin ability made it much stronger.’
It was possible that some would be lucky enough to survive, but they would never be able to use their magic circuits again.
Some would likely believe Chang-Sun had been too cruel; however, he cared little for that. These were the people who had blinded Choi Bu-Yong, after all. It was only natural that if people earned a grudge from someone, it would come back to bite them.
Chang-Sun planned to enter the final room while the Highoff Clan’s guards were left in chaos.
‘Bu-Yong said they just brought a furnace and set up a workshop in front of the boss monster’s room to create keys constantly.’?Chang-Sun thought as he recalled the conversation.
It was common to install an independent workshop inside a Dungeon if it was too difficult to finish after a few days. Such workshops would be primarily used to repair the Players’ gear and manufacture consumable supplies. With that, they would be able to create new items whenever they needed to, which would free Players from the trouble of requesting supplies from outside. That kind of workshop was referred to as a ‘portable workshop’.
One such workshop had been installed in ‘Bestla’s Tomb,’ and Bu-Yong’s former ‘Senior Brother’, Jin Dae-Hwan, worked as its Chief Craftsman. Thus, Chang-Sun planned to head directly toward it. Although he had subdued all the Players outside, the clan members were no fools, and they would soon find out what had happened. His plan was to retrieve the hammer and escape before reinforcements from the Highoff Clan arrived.
‘I want to take the burial goods inside the boss monster’s room… but I guess that’ll be difficult,’?Chang-Sun thought, clicking his tongue.
From what he had heard, the Highoff Clan had already wasted two years in front of the boss monster’s room. The room would not open up just because he had arrived. Regardless, he still intended to try opening it if he had spare time. There would be no better way to infuriate the enemy than taking away the most important reward from the Dungeon they had finished with so much difficulty.
[Commencing the Dungeon Quest!]
[Quest Theme: Tomb Raiding.]
[Defeat the guardians who are protecting ‘Bestla’s Tomb,’ and escape after stealing the treasure from the final room where the tomb’s owner rests in peace.]
[The tomb is divided into three sectors. Many mechanisms are installed in each sector to protect the owner’s peace against tomb raiders, so be wary.]
[To complete the quest, every participant has been granted access to the <Inventory>, <Status Window>, and <Skill Window>.]
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ looks forward to your performance.]
Chang-Sun prepared to spring forward, but suddenly came to a halt.
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ asks what is wrong, tilting her head in confusion.]
Chang-Sun’s gaze fell on a small door, not the hallway. It was located in the most obscure corner of the stone chamber, so he would have missed it if he had not observed closely. He called out toward the door, “Why don’t you come out?”
…
However, no one answered.
“Aren’t you going to come out?” Chang-Sun repeated.
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ asks why you are doing that even though no one is there.]
“I have no other choice. If you’re not going to come out. I’ll just have to give my Recording Rights to the next Administrator I meet,” Chang-Sun said before turning away indifferently.
The tightly closed door suddenly opened with a creaking sound.
“My, my! You are one impatient Player, aren’t you? You should try relaxing a little, you know,” Herald the Administrator, the rabbit man in a fancy tuxedo, said as he appeared from the other side.
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ exclaims in surprise when she sees ‘that guy’ appear.]
Adjusting his monocle, Herald stared at empty air as if he were looking at somebody absent. He said, “My, my… This is unbelievable. It seems everybody else already knew I was here.”
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ asks angrily what Herald is talking about.]
“It is true,” Herald said with a gentle smile.
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ looks at other Celestials’ channels.]
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ shakes his head in apparent disbelief that such an idiotic Celestial exists.]
[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ stares at the Administrator ‘Herald’.]
[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ bitterly smiles and comforts ‘A Good Season to Hunt,’ saying that it is not impossible to make such a mistake.]
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ gapes, saying this cannot be possible.]
[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ compliments the Administrator ‘Herald’ for being able to hide well enough to fool a Celestial.]
“I have not tried to hide particularly well,” Herald answered politely.
“Quit dilly-dallying,” Chang-Sun interrupted, stopping the comedic banter between Herald and Pabilsag. He looked directly at Herald and asked, “You’ve been following me to write a <Report>, am I right?”
Chang-Sun’s question made Herald’s red eyes widen over his monocle. He asked, “Are you also aware of the <Report>?”
“The Tutorial is already over,” Chang-Sun said with a shrug.
“It did seem as if you had more knowledge than an ordinary novice—no, more than most rankers. I will have to write that in the <Report> too,” Herald said, confirming Chang-Sun’s speculation. He had briefly thought about denying it, but based on Chang-Sun’s level of knowledge, he thought it would be useless to hide such a thing from Chang-Sun.
The <Report>, put simply, was a written evaluation made by the <Management Bureau> about any subject Celestials paid a lot of attention to. It was a document that comprehensively explained the subject’s most notable characteristics, personality, and talents, as well as speculation about their future and which Celestials would be a good match for them. It was usually written right after a Tutorial, for subjects that had so much potential that going through one Tutorial was insufficient to fully understand them.
Administrators were usually responsible for writing a <Report>; thus, they normally had to do the legwork of observing a subject after the Tutorial. On top of that, Chang-Sun was the most famous rookie in Heaven at present.
There were many Celestials looking forward to the <Report>, which meant Herald had to record everything. He was already busy managing several Dungeons, but the <Management Bureau> had begun pressuring him to create a good <Report>. Thus, Herald had started to shadow Chang-Sun immediately after hearing that the rookie had entered a Dungeon, but had gotten caught almost immediately.
‘What should I do? He doesn't look like a person who’ll just let this go. Hmm!’?Herald thought, adjusting his monocle.
He had not expected Chang-Sun to be well aware of his value and how important the <Report> was. If Chang-Sun prevented Herald from writing a proper <Report> or gave the Recording Rights to other administrators, Herald would have gone on a wild goose… no, a wild rabbit chase.
He had worked hard in the Tutorial and already written half of the <Report>, so he would be incredibly depressed if all his efforts went to waste. In the end, he had to bite the bullet and agree to Chang-Sun’s offer.
“You can keep the Recording Rights,” Chang-Sun suddenly offered.
Herald raised an eyebrow in response, wondering ‘This must not be it, right?’
“But I want to ask you a favor in return,” Chang-Sun continued.
‘There we go,’ Herald thought as he nodded to indicate he was open to granting a favor. ‘I should just give him something with no strings attached.’?
Besides, he could write most gifts off as a ‘business expense’.
“What favor do you want to ask me?” Herald casually asked.
“I’ll ask you something later,” Chang-Sun replied nonchalantly.
“…?” Herald frowned quietly, getting a bad feeling from the situation.
“I won’t ask you anything too difficult, and I’ll tell you before I get out of this Dungeon,” Chang-Sun slyly added.
Although Herald very much wanted to know what was going on inside Chang-Sun’s head, he could not nitpick, as he had far too much to lose if he did so. He just hoped that Chang-Sun was planning to ask a not-so-unusual favor.
“Phew… I have no other choice, so fine. However, just as you said, please tell me about your favor as soon as possible before you get out of the Dungeon. I also want you to understand that I cannot grant you a favor that is out of my authority,” Herald said, massaging his temples.
“You don’t have to worry about that. So, I guess we have a deal,” Chang-Sun said.
As soon as Chang-Sun finished…
Clink?!
…Herald heard the sound of invisible chains being wrapped around his heart—no, a part of his soul.
[The Player ‘Lee Chang-Sun’ and the Administrator ‘Herald’ have signed a Mana Pledge!]
‘He even knows about the [Mana Pledge]?’?Herald thought in surprise.
He was so dumbfounded that he no longer felt curious anymore. Instead, he was simply dispirited, as Chang-Sun had skillfully managed to use the system of vows often used by high-level beings, including Administrators.
A vow made through a [Mana Pledge] was effectively unbreakable; if one party in the contract broke their vow, their Mana Blessing would be removed immediately, making them completely unable to use magic.
At this point, it would be more appropriate to call Chang-Sun a veteran, not a novice.
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ is happy to see a snake who acts more slyly than him.]
Pah?!
However, Chang-Sun had already begun moving, seemingly indifferent to Herald’s question.
* * *
?A Report written by Herald, Class 4 Officer of Management Team 71.
?
Player Lee Chang-Sun is a very unique individual. Those unfamiliar with Chang-Sun would never guess that he was a novice just from looking at how he fights. His fighting skill made many Celestials watch him with great interest, including ‘A Good Season to Hunt.’
…Additionally, he is also showing his exceptional fighting skill in the current Dungeon…
Herald was very busy because he had many things to do, including writing the <Report> and going after Chang-Sun. He had no time to focus on one agenda.
‘What’s up with his speed?!’?he thought, grabbing his fluffy ears.
If things had gone according to plan, he would have been able to relax and watch Chang-Sun trying out various methods to escape the Dungeon’s traps. However, Chang-Sun was finishing the sectors too quickly; he was practically running forward without pause.
…I cannot even begin to fathom his potential, after seeing him pass through the first and second sectors in less than an hour. It was as if he memorized all the locations and the order of the hidden mechanisms…
…When a giant iron ball drops, he destroys it with one strike. He does not even look as he deflects arrows from a trap. Aside from his combat ability, he is also great at controlling his magic…
…As far as I remember, Dungeon KR-921 has not been cleared for four years, but I feel that this Player will be able to clear it. No, I know this Player will. My intuition, which I have developed over my long years as an Administrator, tells me so.
As he has been leveling up at an indescribably fast rate, I think he is worth paying close attention to, in order to see how strong he will get. He has everything—exceptional talents, keen senses, unique characteristics.
I assume the competition among Celestials to make him their priest—no, their apostle—will only become fiercer.?
Some may even consider replacing their current apostles. Perhaps great stars such as the Zodiacs or Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions will pay attention…
This exceptional Player Lee Chang-Sun reminds me of someone in the past…
Herald had been writing busily with his pen, but he suddenly stopped, wondering whether or not to write the thought that had just crossed his mind. However, he soon came to a decision. Although some would no doubt frown after looking at the <Report,> he felt that he did not need to change what he had decided to write.
No, I dare say that he is more talented than ‘that someone’. Divine Twilight. The star who shone brilliantly as he mocked countless Celestials, before eventually fading away.
1. ’Illegal entertainment’ is a common Korean euphemism to refer to brothels; visiting one alone is already considered a massive scandal, enough to prevent celebrities from appearing on TV for years if they get caught.
2. Bestla is a j?tunn (mythical beings otherwise known as frost giants) from Norse mythology. She is most commonly known as the mother of Odin and his two brothers, Vili and Vé.
3. The raw was ‘? ?? ?… ??, ?? ??? ?? ???? ????’. This is a pun that comes from the Korean idiom ‘? ?? ? ?? ????’, which means ‘A dog chasing a chicken looks up at the roof’ (because the chicken has flown up to the roof). It means the person’s effort has gone to waste. Since Herald is a rabbit-headed man, the author used ‘rabbit’ instead of ‘dog’.