Murim Login - Chapter 432

Magic Johnson is a good person.

Both in battle and in society, it’s the same.

He’s always cheerful and never loses his smile, no matter the circumstances. Especially toward me and Manager Choi, he has shown special favor, even solving the Skeleton King issue in secret for us.

But now, in Magic Johnson’s gaze directed at me, there was no trace of playfulness or laughter.

He silently stared at me with eyes filled with complex emotions before he suddenly spoke.

“Where does the truth begin and end?”

“From start to finish. Everything you saw and heard.”

I emphasized the word “everything.” And Magic Johnson was not so dull as to miss the meaning behind my words.

“You knew from the beginning, didn’t you?”

“As you know, I’m a bit sensitive.”

“And yet, it didn’t matter?”

“I didn’t think you would follow me. But now, I think it might not be so bad.”

“I was curious. And, on the other hand, I was worried. It was obvious that you knew something about that mysterious symbol but were hiding it.”

Before parting, when Magic Johnson asked about the magic circle, I had made an excuse, saying it seemed like something I had seen in a dream.

Of course, it wasn’t meant to be believed, but rather a subtle way of saying not to ask further for now.

“So, out of a vague hunch, I followed you…”

Magic Johnson trailed off, looking around at the blood-stained surroundings.

“It seems I did something unnecessary.”

A major incident where two S-class hunters, who were the face of a nation, had died—one of whom had once fought alongside Magic Johnson on the battlefield.

Some truths can feel uncomfortable. This place, at this moment, was surely that for Magic Johnson.

“Do you regret it?”

“A little. Maybe it would’ve been better not to know.”

Magic Johnson exhaled a low sigh and looked straight at me.

“Jin, what’s your purpose in telling me all this?”

“Who knows?”

“You were the only one who knew the truth. If you wanted, you could have concealed it. The same goes for that person.”

I glanced at Seok Go-jun, who was unconscious, and shook my head.

“This wasn’t something that could be hidden. No matter how much I denied it, that guy wouldn’t have believed me anyway. Lee Jeong-ryong, and that one too, were ticking time bombs. Dangerous enough to threaten my people.”

“You… you were already enemies with them, weren’t you? Since long ago.”

“Yes. If I couldn’t eliminate them, I had to make them fear me enough not to cross me again. A defused bomb doesn’t explode.”

“Then what about me? Why did you tell me this?”

“You know, don’t you? In situations like this, there are only two kinds of people you can choose.”

I spoke slowly, articulating each word.

“Enemies. Or friends.”

“…!”

“I thought you’d trust me. Because you’re my friend.”

Magic Johnson looked at me with a mixture of emotions in his eyes.

“Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean I believe everything, Jin.”

“But you did. Not once did you doubt me during this conversation.”

“…”

“Help me. Protect my people and give me the strength to grow.”

At some point, I could feel everything around me changing.

In Murim, dark forces were stirring, while in the modern world, the unprecedented Arch Lich, a named monster, had massacred millions and brought calamity.

And the mysterious symbols and signs appearing in both worlds. Perhaps it was even something known as ‘black magic.’

‘Is it all just a coincidence?’

Everything happening in the world is connected by unseen links. To stop the dominoes from falling, preparation is necessary.

And for that, I needed an ally.

“Damn.”

Magic Johnson, who had been silent for a moment, let out a deep sigh.

“Do you know?”

“Yes?”

“That day. If you hadn’t asked me to teleport you to where the monster horde was waiting, I might have doubted you.”

That one word of agreement.

Seeing my face light up, Magic Johnson couldn’t help but laugh.

“Damn it. It’s come to this, so we have no choice. Let’s clean up before the patrol arrives.”

With a wave of his hand, the blood spattered around us vanished without a trace.

Using cleaning magic, Magic Johnson tidied up the surroundings in an instant and then frowned at the unconscious Seok Go-jun.

“He’s the problem… I’d erase his memory completely if I could, but it’s a tricky situation.”

“What?”

His words made my ears perk up.

I suddenly remembered when the Ares Guild’s mages used memory manipulation magic on the members of the Myeongdong Guild during a past raid.

“Can you do it?”

“It’s difficult, but not impossible. However, the target’s mental strength matters, and it gets harder depending on the scope of memories that need altering.”

“Ah…”

“This guy looks pretty strong. If it fails, there might be traces left, revealing the attempt.”

Seok Go-jun was strong enough to be considered among S-class hunters.

Unlike Wu Haixing, he had a sturdy spirit, so any careless attempt could be risky.

“Leaving traces would be a problem.”

“Right. If caught, there’d be no avoiding punishment. Memory manipulation magic is a severe crime.”

Yet Lee Jeong-ryong and the Ares Guild had done it without a second thought.

Even if someone noticed, they wouldn’t dare question it, knowing the power and influence they wielded.

“But if we try and succeed…”

“Want to bet on at least 100 years in prison without parole under federal law?”

I answered without hesitation.

“No.”

“Good boy. Smart decision.”

A minimum sentence of 100 years without parole?

Getting caught would mean rotting away in prison. Even if I managed to escape, I’d be a lifelong fugitive under an international warrant.

I might end up with a bounty of 10 billion Beri on my head, living as a pirate on Somalia’s Grand Line or something. (TL Note : Lol, sly One Piece reference here.)

Just thinking about it was terrifying…

“Too bad. If it were in Korea, it might be worth a try.”

“Korea? Why?”

“Spread some money around, hire a former prosecutor-turned-lawyer with connections, and the sentence might not be that harsh.”

“Connections? What’s that?”

“It’s a thing. If you claim you were drunk after downing five bottles of soju and acted inebriated, you might even get a suspended sentence.”

Magic Johnson burst into laughter as if hearing an outrageous joke.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jin. What kind of country would allow that?”

“Seriously? Unbelievable.”

In any case, memory manipulation magic was off the table.

Leaving Seok Go-jun behind, I walked away. The three A-class hunters he had hidden were paralyzed by the Blood Points I had shot, unable to move as they watched everything unfold like statues.

“You saw everything, didn’t you?”

The three stared up at me, their eyes filled with terror.

Sometimes watching is more terrifying than experiencing it firsthand.

Having witnessed Seok Go-jun’s brutal defeat without lifting a finger, the three were half out of their minds.

“I remember all your faces, and it’s only a matter of time before I find out everything about you.”

It was the way powerful people always operated.

If I couldn’t kill them, then I would instill fear in the same manner.

So that they would never show their fangs again.

“If we meet like this again… you’ll die.”

Kwaaaah!

The murderous intent I exuded cut through the air and weighed on them.

Retracting my aura, I looked over the pale, statue-like faces of the three and suddenly reached out.

Gulp.

“Hah, hah.”

Finally released from the paralysis, they gasped for breath, their bloodshot eyes tearing up as saliva and bile dribbled from their open mouths.

“Ten seconds. Take him and get lost.”

It was clear who “him” referred to.

Before I even finished speaking, the three scrambled to their feet and ran to Seok Go-jun.

Grabbing their still-unconscious superior at lightning speed, they disappeared.

As they faded from view, I called out one last thing.

“Forget everything that happened today. And think carefully about which ship you’re on if you want to stay alive.”

The Ares Guild was a massive and sturdy ship.

But the great captain, Cheon Tae-min, had long disappeared, and even his successor, Lee Jeong-ryong, had met his end.

Now the ship that seemed destined to sail forever was starting to tilt.

The captain couldn’t abandon ship, but the hired sailors could.

If they wanted, they could find a new ship and a new owner.

‘I’m sure they understood.’

The three, who had hesitated for a moment, soon vanished into the shadows.

No answer, no noticeable reaction. But I knew they wouldn’t forget my words.

They would repeat them dozens, hundreds of times, spreading them to others around them, causing the hull of the colossal ship known as the Ares Guild to slowly fill with water.

“Oh, cunning human. Ohh.”

“It’s all part of the plan, you idiot.”

“To be so sly and scheming with such a poor head…”

“…This jerk.”

It’s true, but it’s infuriating.

After years as a hunter, I had picked up various survival tactics.

The magical ore was essential for advanced civilization. Naturally, it attracted massive investments, which in turn drew people, leading to all sorts of incidents.

‘Well, I’ve laid the bait… Now, let’s see who bites.’

In the modern world, just like in Murim, a guild’s prestige depended on how powerful its hunters were.

And Seok Go-jun could never fill Lee Jeong-ryong’s place, just as Lee Jeong-ryong couldn’t fill Cheon Tae-min’s void.

It was only a matter of time before the fish saw the next tempting bait.

“You’re being bold. Planning a war with the Ares Guild?”

I shrugged at Magic Johnson’s words.

“I could, but it has to look good.”

“Look good, huh?”

“The Peace Guild is about to soar. We have me, and Manager Choi has been attracting media attention.”

“Oh, I heard. Choi’s been doing great lately.”

The world’s spotlight was on me, but the more I avoided the media, the more attention Manager Choi got.

A member of the Peace Guild and one of the few allowed into my hospital room.

Not to mention, the outstanding achievements during the recent monster wave and his celebrity-like appearance.

‘The biggest secret hasn’t been revealed yet, though.’

If it became known that he was Cheon Tae-min’s bloodline, the media frenzy would be unimaginable.

“Anyway, the Peace Guild’s rise is only a matter of time. The Ares Guild’s influence will diminish.”

“Hmm. That’s certainly possible.”

Magic Johnson nodded and then spoke up suddenly.

“But, Jin.”

“Yes?”

“What do you know about the magic circle…”

“Oh, right. The club!”

“What?”

“You said you were going to the club with Skeleton King.”

“Wait, hold on, Jin!”

“Golgol, let’s go clubbing!”

– Yay! Grab your ribs and scream!

Ignoring Skeleton King’s nonsense, I hurried away. Staring at the faint moonlight, a thought crossed my mind.

‘It’s time to return.’

The time to return to the other world, to Murim, was approaching.