Chapter 576
– Can we talk for a moment? It’s urgent. Click.
The short call ended. The signal from the smartphone stopped, but the hand pressed to his ear didn’t come down easily.
Choi Minwoo crossed the Nokjiwon in front of the Blue House Residence with conflicted eyes.
His slower steps, unlike at first, were because of the thoughts filling his mind. ‘Song Cheonwoo wants to meet me. And right now.’ Song Cheonwoo. The Trojan horse that would let him into the fortress called the Ares Guild. He had been waiting for this contact, but of all days, it had to be today. He didn’t expect it to be this urgent.
Choi Minwoo recalled the brief call and muttered inwardly.
‘What should I do.’ At that moment, Choi Minwoo stopped in his tracks.
Before him, the road split into two. Just like the crossroads that had appeared in his mind.
‘Busan. And Song Cheonwoo.’ There was no time. He had to choose. Staring deeply at the two paths before him, Choi Minwoo finally moved.
Crunch. The frostbitten grass crumbled beneath his heel. Even though the path split in two, all roads led to an exit in the end.
Outside the main gate, connected to the Blue House security office, a familiar face was waiting.
“Young master.”
Choi Minwoo nodded to Butler Kim and left through the main gate.
A well-polished limousine and five black SUVs were parked by the roadside. About twenty hunters were waiting as well.
They were all elites, among the best that the Peace Guild could offer.
The equipment they wore was proof that they were ready for battle.
Butler Kim’s next words confirmed Choi Minwoo’s guess.
“We were waiting to escort you.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t check since of where I was. By the way, I heard Jin Taekyung defeated the named monster. What’s the situation now?”
“As you said, the named monster, Kraken, that appeared in this wave, has been eliminated. Over a thousand Mermen have spread out toward Haeundae and Gwangalli.”
Hearing Butler Kim’s report, Choi Minwoo murmured quietly.
“The damage must be severe.”
Though not as large as Seoul, Busan is the second largest city in Korea, with a population of nearly five million. For a thousand stronger monsters to appear there was truly a disaster.
But Butler Kim calmly shook his head.
“It’s not something to celebrate… but fortunately, the number of casualties is far lower than expected.”
“Even if Jin Taekyung defeated the Kraken, there’s no way to stop a thousand Mermen alone.”
“Skel—no. Stone King was there as well.”
‘Ah.’
The arrogant, confident face of the blond foreigner came to mind. Choi Minwoo nodded slightly.
‘If he’s there, it’s possible.’ The existence of an undead monster who suffers from an identity crisis between monster and American is a secret known only to a few.
And Choi Minwoo knew he was not inferior to any S-rank hunter.
“Yes. Thanks to those two, the damage was minimal.”
It could only be called fortune. Jin Taekyung and Skeleton King were both strong enough to be called one-man armies.
Moreover, unlike Skeleton King who had various restrictions despite his strength, Jin Taekyung was among the best not just in Korea, but the world.
‘…Except for one person.’
Choi Minwoo, muttering inwardly, spoke.
“What about our Peace Guild?”
“About five minutes ago, our emergency rescue team and three prepared teams were dispatched to Busan. All the guilds and hunters in Busan, as well as outside support, are working to stop the spread of damage.”
Choi Minwoo, who knew the number of gates, guilds, and hunters across the country, quickly calculated in his head and spoke up.
“At least two hours to complete the suppression. Correct?”
“Yes. Of course, even after that, it will take time to rescue victims…”
“Then for now, it’s impossible to call Jin Taekyung or Stone King here.”
“Excuse me, young master, but what do you mean by call?”
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
Unlike his low, decisive words, as he walked toward the limousine, Choi Minwoo’s lips barely moved.
Now, what was once called message magic should rightly be called sound transmission. It quietly reached Butler Kim’s ear.
– He requested a meeting.
Butler Kim’s eyes trembled. Even without saying a name, he understood who ‘he’ was.
– You mean Song Cheonwoo?
– Yes.
– Young master. It might be dangerous. The Busan monster wave is almost over anyway, so maybe the guild house…
– He wants to talk about my maternal grandfather’s safety. He also mentioned Seok Gojun is setting a trap.
Choi Minwoo, looking at Butler Kim’s hardened face, quietly continued.
– I have to meet him. Right now.
—
The B-rank gate, [Yeti’s Winter Mountain Range], in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, was not a particularly attractive raid spot for hunters.
No matter how good your physical abilities or magical gear, fighting giant hairy beasts on a snowy mountain where your feet keep sinking isn’t pleasant.
Still, not everyone avoided [Yeti’s Winter Mountain Range].
Even as magical power continued to rise, there were hunters who came here. The group that just got off the lift was among them.
“Damn. They suddenly banned entry.”
“Yeah. But, Captain, are we getting paid today?”
“…Worse than a yeti, really. We didn’t even get to enter the gate because of the magic surge, but you still want payment? Have you no shame?”
“Come on, I was just hoping. But who were those people up there? That handsome guy in the mask looked kind of familiar.”
“No idea. How would I—huh?”
About thirty hunters grumbled as they walked down. The team leader at the front suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Someone was coming up the trail—not quickly, not slowly.
“Tsk. He’s going to be disappointed, too.”
Anyone could tell he came for the raid. The team leader, thinking the man looked about forty, called out.
“Yeti. Raid?”
The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then nodded in silence at the two-word question. Clicking his tongue, the team leader continued.
“Looks like your side is out of luck too. Don’t go up. It’s blocked up there.”
“They say the magic level spiked. Entry is forbidden. We’re leaving because of that, too.”
“…Hey? Didn’t you hear me?”
When the team leader noticed something odd, the man just brushed past them, not saying a word.
Step, step. As the man walked away, the team leader muttered.
“What’s up with that guy?”
But for the middle-aged man, the team leader’s concern was just pointless meddling.
Clunk.
He rode the lift up, and soon dozens of eyes were on him.
One hunter, who looked quite skilled, stepped forward to block his way.
“Sorry, but due to the magic surge, you can’t enter the gate…”
“He’s my guest.”
At the sound of a low voice, the twenty hunters blocking the way stepped aside.
At the end of the path they opened, two people stood.
“You’re late.”
At Choi Minwoo’s emotionless greeting, the middle-aged man transformed by illusion magic—Song Cheonwoo—opened his mouth.
“I had to be careful. And besides, you picked the place, didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t the one who suggested meeting at a gate.
So I think I can at least pick the location.”
“We had to avoid eavesdropping or surveillance. Once we’re inside the gate, none of that matters.”
“Then there shouldn’t be any problem. This gate belongs to the Peace Guild. It’s the perfect place to be careful.”
“…Both of us? Are you saying you don’t trust me?”
Butler Kim answered instead of Choi Minwoo.
“Why should the young master trust you?”
“Come on, Hwajong.”
“Don’t call me by name. Our relationship ended long ago.”
“…”
Song Cheonwoo’s eyelids trembled at the icy stare.
They’d once called each other brothers, but they parted ways at the crossroads of loyalty and ambition.
A cold air settled between them until a soft but sharp voice broke the silence.
“There’s something we should discuss first.”
As he spoke, Choi Minwoo looked at the two and then turned to the gate’s entrance, where the magical field shimmered.
“The two of you will come into the gate with me. The other guild members will block any outside intruders.”
Choi Minwoo walked in first, with Butler Kim and Song Cheonwoo following.
Ssshhk.
A cold, sticky magical energy wrapped around them. When they opened their eyes again, a world of pure white spread before them.
Yeti’s Winter Mountain Range.
Surrounded by snow and steep slopes, monster cries echoed from somewhere.
– KWAUUUUU!
But the three of them were unfazed by the harsh cold and eerie roars.
To be afraid of mere yetis, they were far too strong—and they were here not for a raid, but for a secret conversation.
“You can speak now. About my grandfather’s safety and the trap Seok Gojun is preparing.”
At Choi Minwoo’s direct words, Song Cheonwoo gave a bitter smile.
“I couldn’t watch over him for long… but you haven’t changed.”
“Just keep it brief. That’s all I ask.”
Song Cheonwoo let out a shallow sigh, his white breath mixing with his suddenly aged voice.
“Will you walk with me for a bit? I want to talk alone.”
Butler Kim frowned, and Choi Minwoo replied flatly.
“Is that really necessary?”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I have no reason to.”
“This gate belongs to the Peace Guild, not Ares or me. You picked the location, so how could there be a trap?”
“I’m not dumb enough to plot against my only partner.”
Choi Minwoo looked at the unwavering eyes of Song Cheonwoo for a long moment before speaking softly.
“Fine.”
“Young master.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t go far.”
“…Then I’ll follow from a distance.”
Song Cheonwoo nodded and slowly drew the weapon at his waist.
“I can’t stop you from doing that. Do as you like.”
“You…”
“Don’t misunderstand.”
Thud.
What Butler Kim feared didn’t happen.
Instead, Song Cheonwoo drove his weapon deep into the snow for all to see, and Choi Minwoo stepped forward.
Crunch, crunch.
As the two walked side by side, the snow crumbled beneath their feet.
After a few steps, Song Cheonwoo finally spoke.
“There is a secret zone in the main Ares Guild building, known only to a few.”
“Are you talking about Area A?”
At the unexpected response, Song Cheonwoo’s eyes widened.
Choi Minwoo spoke in a calm voice.
“I only knew there was a secret area and its name. I couldn’t get any more information.”
“…Impressive. How did you find out?”
“I went to greater lengths than you imagine. But I don’t need compliments now. What I need is detailed information. How is it related to my grandfather?”
“Because he’s there.”
Crunch. At those words, Choi Minwoo stopped in his tracks.
After a short silence, he started walking again.
“So it’s not certain.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because the branch manager was pushed out of the Ares Guild long ago.”
“…That hurts, but you’re right. It’s not confirmed.”
“And I can’t see any reason my grandfather would be there.”
“Reason…”
With a small sigh, Song Cheonwoo continued.
“You wouldn’t understand. No one knows what happened to him, including you.”
“What do you—”
Choi Minwoo froze at the next words he heard.