Chapter 189
After the Cataclysm, there was hardly any need to elaborate on Chairman Woo Jincheol’s track record.
He was a man respected by every Korean.
At the same time, he was a figure who divided opinions sharply.
Looking back, his choices were always right, but the paths he took were reckless and bold.
Naturally, he often drew widespread criticism behind the scenes.
Among the issues most resented by Hunter guilds—there was one that stood out in particular:
The issue of talent recruitment.
“What? The Chairman snatched another one?!”
“Yes. As soon as the person awakened, the Association somehow found out and reached out first with a recruitment offer.”
“What the hell?! That Awakener hadn’t even gone in for a mana test yet! How the hell did the Association even know they awakened?!”
“Exactly. Geez. Just how powerful is the Association’s intel network…”
Indeed.
An incredible intelligence network.
Chairman Woo Jincheol had a near-supernatural knack for finding promising Awakeners before anyone else and bringing them into the Association.
For Hunter guilds that wanted to grow their power by recruiting talent, his actions were more than enough reason to despise him.
In particular, when he got to S-rank Hunter Choi Jong-In first, the entire Hunter community famously beat their chests in regret.
And—
“…Senior Kim Cheol was one of the talents the Chairman personally recruited.”
Team Leader Han Jaehyuk recalled the memory as he spoke to Arsha.
The meeting between newly awakened A-rank tank Kim Cheol and Woo Jincheol had become a well-known anecdote.
‘What kind of Hunter do you want to be?’
When asked that by Woo Jincheol, Kim Cheol had responded with a question of his own.
‘Chairman, do you know what my life motto is?’
‘What is it?’
‘Live kindly.’
Grin.
Kim Cheol had always cherished that motto since adolescence, and he said it with a pure, boyish smile toward Woo Jincheol.
Though middle-aged by then, his grin still held the innocence of a teenage boy.
Seeing the sincere sense of justice in his eyes, Woo Jincheol smiled contentedly and asked again.
‘…So, you want to be a good Hunter?’
‘Yes. Since I’ve become a Hunter, I want to fight with pride to protect the world.’
‘That’s a truly admirable mindset. Come join the Association. I’ll entrust you with a vital mission to protect the world.’
‘I look forward to working with you.’
Firm handshake.
And just like that, Kim Cheol joined the Hunter Association without hesitation.
However…
“In the end, Senior Kim Cheol became deeply disappointed in the Association.”
Han Jaehyuk muttered with a bitter expression.
And honestly, who could blame him?
He joined with noble ideals of protecting the world—
“Only to be assigned to the Yangpyeong branch.”
[Aah.]
Arsha nodded in understanding at his words.
Yangpyeong was far too quiet and peaceful a place for a Hunter with grand ambitions of defending the world.
In fact, the area had so many wealthy residents that some lowlifes even mocked the branch chief as a watchdog for the rich.
“…Eventually, Senior Kim Cheol left the Association of his own accord. The rumors about him falling into a cult… many figured that was just an excuse or nonsense.”
[…]
Arsha passed everything she heard from Han Jaehyuk straight to Suho.
* * *
Receiving Arsha’s message in real-time, Suho was quietly surprised.
‘Chairman Woo Jincheol personally assigned him to Yangpyeong?’
According to Beru, Kim Cheol had once been one of Sung Jinwoo’s shadow soldiers, known as “Iron.”
But with Earth’s time having rewound to before his death, he was reborn and given a new life.
Just like “Grid,” the shadow soldier who had become the S-rank villain Hwang Dongsoo.
And now Kim Cheol, once a shadow soldier, had become a Hunter Association branch chief in Yangpyeong, where Suho’s grandparents lived?
Could that really be coincidence?
‘No, not a chance.’
Suho immediately pieced things together.
‘It was for my father.’
Chairman Woo Jincheol was someone who remembered everything about Suho’s father’s past lives.
Which meant—
‘He was protecting my grandparents in case something happened to my father. He assigned someone trustworthy to watch over Yangpyeong!’
Who could be more trustworthy than Kim Cheol, once his father’s loyal shadow?
‘And yet… Kim Cheol became a priest of Itarim in some godforsaken cult?’
Even the great Woo Jincheol probably hadn’t seen this coming.
“…You’re saying you’re a priest of the Outer Faith?”
“That’s right.”
“If your name is Kim Cheol, then you must’ve been the Yangpyeong branch chief, no?”
Suho’s question struck straight to the heart, and Kim Cheol nodded with a benevolent smile.
“Hohoho. Lord Vulcan truly knows everything, doesn’t he? Yes, I once served in the Hunter Association.”
“And now you’re here. Why?”
“Hoho, what a hurtful question. Do you doubt me simply because I was once with the Association? Or… do you doubt the power of this Star Fragment?”
Smiling gently, Kim Cheol raised his large hand and stroked the blue Star Fragment embedded in his forehead.
From it, a sacred azure aura slowly flared to life—and in the gap between his fingers, his eyes flickered with madness.
A crooked grin spread across his lips.
“Our Outer Faith only bestows the blessing of the Star Fragment—no, the Outer Stone—to those whose faith has been proven. So you need not doubt me. I simply believe the Outer Faith does more for the world than the Association ever—”
[Please kill him now. There’s no need to hear another word of that nonsense.]
Beru whispered beside Suho like a devil on his shoulder.
Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.
Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.
[That fallen soldier, Iron—he must be slain immediately and returned to the Shadow Army!]
“…Hoho. Lord Vulcan, let us calm ourselves. As you know, there is no need for strife between us.”
Perhaps feeling the murderous aura Beru exuded, Kim Cheol dabbed at his sweating forehead with a handkerchief as he spoke.
Suho subtly stepped on Beru to shut him up, then looked toward Kim Cheol and spoke in a solemn tone.
“I have a question, priest of the Outer Faith.”
Even while pretending to be Vulcan, this was something he genuinely wanted to ask.
“Hoho. So even a demon noble has things he doesn’t know. Yes, ask anything you—”
“When you implant a Star Fragment in a human, are there any side effects? Like hair loss, for example.”
“……”
For the first time, Kim Cheol’s benevolent smile twitched ever so slightly.
He replied, his gaze briefly faltering.
“…This is just regular male pattern baldness.”
“I see. Then it’s interesting that the other humans around you still have all their hair. So—no other side effects from the Star Fragment?”
Suho nodded as if satisfied and casually redirected the question.
A vein twitched on Kim Cheol’s forehead as he forced a smile.
“Surely not. Why would there be side effects? The Outer Stone is a divine blessing granted to us lowly mortals by our god.”
Fwoooosh—
As he spoke, the Star Fragment in his forehead began radiating long streams of blue energy.
“Hmmm…”
Kim Cheol breathed in the aura deeply, wearing an expression of pure ecstasy.
“Hehehe. Do you feel it? While stardust merely amplifies one’s existing power, the Outer Stone elevates the bearer to a whole new level. In other words… it rebirths us as a higher being!”
Fwoooosh—
At the same time, the blue glow from Kim Cheol’s Star Fragment intensified—and his power visibly surged.
There was no question about it: this energy far surpassed the mana limits of the A-rank Hunter he had once been.
[This is unbelievable. He’s accepted the divinity of the Outer God into his body and now radiates power nearly on par with an S-rank.]
‘It’s similar to how I invoke Gray into my body.’
Suho instantly understood how the Star Fragment worked.
But perhaps misreading Suho’s thoughtful look, Kim Cheol opened his arms wide and smiled brilliantly—his eyes burning with madness and false warmth.
“So, Lord Vulcan… will you not join us? Worshiping and praising the Outer God is the true calling and destiny of all mortals.”
“Calling of mortals, is it? And what’s in it for me?”
With a smirk, Suho casually played along. Kim Cheol’s eyes lit up meaningfully.
“You already know, don’t you? The real reason you sought us out, Lord Vulcan—the demon noble who wishes to become the Demon King using the power of the Outer Stone.”
“…You catch on quick.”
“Hohoho. I’ve seen many demons in my time. While lower demons aspire to nobility, someone like you must surely crave the throne of the Demon King!”
[W-Was that really your goal?!]
‘You too, Esil? Seriously.’
Ignoring Esil’s shocked voice, Suho calmly scanned his surroundings.
‘Grandpa isn’t here.’
He discreetly checked the faces of the Outer Faith members one by one, then turned to Kim Cheol, who was now rambling about salvation like a one-man revival preacher.
“So, are these all the Outer Faith members here?”
“Of course not. The others are in the sanctuary, offering their rites.”
“Take me there.”
“Hoho! So quick to show interest in the sanctuary! Just as I expected! Please, join us there and receive the Outer Stone’s blessing!”
Kim Cheol harbored not even a trace of suspicion toward Suho.
Vulcan was infamous among demons for his gluttony, even earning the title “Demon of Greed.”
Now that all the other demon nobles were gone, what else would such a being desire but the throne of the Demon King?
[So when are you planning to kill him?]
‘Wait. Once they’re all gathered—so none can escape…’
Ignoring Beru’s persistent urge to strike, Suho followed the Outer Faith members as they led him out of the gambling den toward the sanctuary.
Soon, a massive door appeared before Suho.
When Kim Cheol placed his palm against it, his Star Fragment glowed, and the immense door opened on its own.
Creeeeeaaaak—
And then Suho’s vision was filled with the sight of an enormous domed chamber.
Inside were the Outer Faith followers, pressed flat to the floor, murmuring prayers like lunatics.
But despite the sheer vastness of the space, it felt strangely cramped.
‘That’s…?’
Suho’s eyes sharpened.
At the very back of the sanctuary—
Sat something so massive it defied logic, seated upon a throne equally as colossal.
An enormous idol.
“Welcome, Lord Vulcan. This is our sanctuary.”
The moment Kim Cheol’s words ended—
Whip—
All the Outer Faith members lifted their heads in perfect unison and stared at Suho.
Then, smiling eerily in perfect synchronicity, they all began to speak in prayer once more.
“Worship the god. Worship the god. Worship the god. Worship the god.”
“Praise the god. Praise the god. Praise the god. Praise the god.”
“Prove your faith. Prove your faith. Prove your faith. Prove your faith…”
And then—
BOOM!
With a thunderous crash behind him, the sanctuary doors slammed shut.
From the front of the sealed doors, Kim Cheol flashed the brightest smile of all as he recited the final line of the prayer:
“Those who do not abide by the doctrine… shall not leave here alive.”
