Chapter 68
Is this what they mean when they say the world is shaking?
The small ripple that started in front of the Rogue Guild became a momentary tremor that shook the world.
[Legendary Title Holder! His Identity Revealed!]
[The Appearance of the Veiled Legendary Title Holder, ‘Bang Hyuk-min’!]
The media all over the world was in a frenzy.
In South Korea, dozens of articles were published per second, but on a global scale, hundreds of articles per second flooded the internet like mad.
[Whoa… what? He’s young?]
[I think I’ve seen him in the Tower before.]
[Liar lololol]
[I just thought he was a hard-working guy, but wow… he was a Legendary Title Holder? This is insane.]
[Anyone see the American newspapers? Wow, I’m bursting with national pride.]
Everyone who saw the articles was shocked, but it was clear who was the most shaken.
Park Chung-ho, who had stopped at nothing to find the Legendary Title Holder.
“That son of a bitch….”
Grit.
Sogoe, and a few members of Baeksan Guild who had clashed with him over Hyun-jung.
“That guy… was really the Legendary Title Holder…?”
Park Jae-hyun, who had most strongly suspected Hyuk-min, and Jang Han-bit, who had clashed with him the most.
“Park Jae-hyun! What is this….”
“Did Black Label know…”
Everyone was stunned, but the people who took the biggest hit were somewhere else.
“Ah….”
Just as Hyuk-min had told them after vanishing, they were watching the 9 o’clock news.
Hyuk-min’s family.
“No way….”
The shock that swept over them in an instant left them all speechless. Even after the 9 o’clock news ended, none of them thought to turn off the TV.
Only a heavy silence, wrapped in disbelief, lingered in the family’s embrace.
= = =
Near the Rogue Guild, in front of the motel where Hyun-jung was staying.
Without a trace of his presence, No Death appeared out of thin air, wearing the Death Knight’s Helmet.
And right behind him.
Whoosh!
With a small gust of wind, Hyuk-min—the one who had dropped a shock bomb on the entire world—appeared.
“You….”
The moment he took off the Death Knight’s Helmet, No Death approached and asked,
“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”
“I was planning to reveal it as soon as this was over. I’m not the type to do things without thinking, you know.”
“Still, you should have told me! Don’t you have a family? You’re not ignorant of the fact that once the hyenas who find out you’re the Legendary Title Holder fail to tear you apart, their eyes will naturally turn to your family, are you?”
Hyuk-min replied with a relieved smile.
“There’s nothing that can touch my family. If you’re curious, try using Black Label. Even they won’t be able to find them.”
“Where is this confidence coming from? Until recently, Black Label knew your family’s whereabouts… their whereabouts….”
No Death was an agent of Black Label.
Naturally, he had Hyuk-min’s home address memorized.
But.
“What the.”
Strangely, he couldn’t recall it.
He was sure he remembered it. He’d even been there himself….
“What is it? I can’t remember.”
It was as if someone had entered his mind and carved out that specific memory; he couldn’t recall it at all.
In this crazy situation, Hyuk-min looked utterly self-assured.
“What did you do. What in the world.”
“Among the items I was trying to get, there’s one that erases a desired location itself. It cleanly wipes everything related to the house so that no new person can find it. I used that to get rid of the house’s location.”
“Then….”
“The house is there. It’s just that no one can remember it. No one can remember it except for me and the family members I’ve designated.”
A deep sigh escaped Hyuk-min.
“Hoo, that’s a relief. Besides, Black Label was starting to hit its limits anyway, weren’t they?”
At words that made it sound like he knew everything, No Death couldn’t answer.
Everything Hyuk-min said was true.
A considerable amount of time had passed since the national order was given.
The government was gradually beginning to suspect Black Label’s intervention and discuss punishment for it. Black Label was cornered, unable to do anything.
“Like I said, Black Label isn’t just some Information Guild to me. They’re comrades I want to move forward with.”
“…..You monster. How am I supposed to win against you?”
“The die is already cast. Even if you’ve made all the preparations—like laying down a sponge and filling it with water—no one can predict where the falling weight will go.”
Shaking his head, No Death slumped to the ground, breaking into a cold sweat.
“Ah, I’m drained. Even when you set off a bomb, it’s always things I can’t handle. More importantly, since when is there something you don’t know? I’d think you’d know the path of not just the weight, but the water too.”
“I’m not a god or the System. There are definitely things I can’t predict.”
“For example?”
“How my family will take it.”
“Is it like how even Jeonsin is afraid of his own family?”
A chuckle slipped out at the comparison to Jeonsin.
“A result will come out one way or another. I just hope it’s a good one.”
“Is this why you told Hyun-jung not to come?”
Hyuk-min shook his head.
“If I reveal I’m the Legendary Title Holder, there’s no telling what the reporters will do in their frenzy. Do you think Hyun-jung would just stand by and watch?”
“Ah… it would’ve been a madhouse.”
No Death nodded, then seemed to think of something. He looked up and asked,
“Is that really the only reason?”
“That’s the biggest reason, but you know Baeksan Guild is still after Hyun-jung. There’s work to be done, and there are a lot of people around. I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
“Come on, they’re still the number one guild. You really think they’d start something in a place swarming with reporters?”
“There’s no such thing as 100 percent. Just like how no one expected Park Chung-ho to do what he did.”
“You don’t think Baeksan Guild will aim for a time when she’s alone?”
“Hyun-jung isn’t one to fall for that. She’s already given them a warning once.”
Hyun-jung had taken down everyone who invaded the motel by herself before.
And Hyun-jung now, with her stealth and all her other Stats raised, wasn’t someone who could be caught so easily.
The motel door opened, and Hyun-jung popped out.
“Speak of the devil. Seeing how you’re in a hurry, I guess you saw the news or the articles?”
“Huh? Uncle!”
“Hey, am I the only one you can’t see?”
Hyun-jung zipped past No Death and threw herself into Hyuk-min’s arms.
“Are you okay? The reporters were pushing and pulling at you. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Sigh, tsk tsk tsk.”
It was just as No Death and Hyuk-min had predicted.
“I’m fine.”
Hyuk-min gave an awkward smile. No Death looked at Hyun-jung and asked,
“I’m just curious, but aren’t you worried that the Legendary Title Holder’s identity has been revealed?”
“Huh? Why would I be worried? I’m sure Uncle had a reason for doing it.”
It was a pure expression, not worried in the slightest.
An attitude only possible from someone who trusted Hyuk-min 100 percent.
“You’re a true fanatic. I think I’m the only normal one here.”
Shaking his head, No Death asked with an annoyed expression,
“Hyuk-min! So what are you going to do now? You’ve caused all this trouble, you’re not telling me you don’t have a plan, are you?”
It was at that moment.
An unexpected person walked out from inside the motel Hyun-jung had just come from.
“You really set off a bomb wherever you go, don’t you?”
“Huh? Guild Master?”
It was none other than Hwang Ji-young.
Walking out confidently, she stopped in front of Hyuk-min with a surprised look.
“Hwang Ji-young, why are you coming out of there?”
“Why else? I wanted to confirm the facts.”
On Hwang Ji-young’s tablet PC was information about Park Chung-ho’s left and right hands, Yaksha and the Western Shaman.
There was even a picture of the Western Shaman with a bandaged thigh, and Yaksha being carried away on a stretcher, seemingly unconscious while clutching his bleeding stomach.
Having already heard the full story from Hyun-jung, Hwang Ji-young’s eyes were already filled with astonishment.
“I couldn’t believe it. But to think that little kid really put the Western Shaman and Yaksha in the hospital…”
Hyun-jung looked bright and innocent, as if asking what the problem was.
A laugh slipped out on its own.
“Are you starting to get a feel for why I chose Hyun-jung, even against Baeksan Guild?”
“I’m starting to get scared of you.”
“This is just the beginning. Hyun-jung is a child who will become a little monster.”
“Ha! That’s that, but what are you going to do now? You did prepare for how much damage will be caused now that you’ve been revealed as the Legendary Title Holder, right?”
Hwang Ji-young glanced at No Death.
“Did you two plan this?”
“Of course not. I’ve left Black Label. I receive help and give help, but I’m strictly a party member here, you know?”
“Good grief.”
At Hyuk-min’s persistently playful attitude, Hwang Ji-young shouted,
“Bang Hyuk-min!”
“Everything’s been taken care of, so don’t worry.”
“You don’t seem to get it. Being a Legendary Title Holder is no simple matter. What are you going to do about your family, for starters?”
“It’s a pain to explain again, so I’ll tell you both at once. Hwang Ji-young.”
“What.”
“Where is my house right now?”
“What kind of nonsense is this? Of course, it’s… of course… of course….”
As if he knew exactly what that felt like, No Death nodded.
“What the!”
“Thanks to an item I used, my family can’t be found unless you’re someone who already knew them.”
Her bewilderment at the strange phenomenon was brief.
Hwang Ji-young’s eyes hardened as she snapped,
“This isn’t something you can think about so simply. There are more strange people in the world than you think. There could be crazy bastards who’ll do anything to get that Legendary Title.”
“Do you think I, and our party members, would be so easily taken down by something like that?”
His family was already out of the equation when it came to danger.
If even Hwang Ji-young, the head of Black Label, couldn’t find the location, who could?
More importantly—
‘Bang Hyuk-min, No Death, and Choi Hyun-jung…’
Having recently heard about their activities, Hwang Ji-young couldn’t answer easily.
The more she heard about their strength, the more she realized they were an astonishingly strong party.
But there was something she needed to nail down.
“I’m sorry, but while it’s true you guys are strong, you’re not that strong on a national scale. What will you do if people who are too strong for you to handle come looking for you?”
“Ah. Since everyone’s here, I was about to tell you the next plan.”
“Bang Hyuk-min, we’re not done talking….”
“We’re leaving South Korea for three months.”
Both Hwang Ji-young and No Death went momentarily blank.
“What!?”
“What do you mean, all of a sudden!”
Hyuk-min looked at Hwang Ji-young and said,
“For three months, we’re going to go somewhere no one knows us and come back. And when the interest has died down, we’ll return.”
“Bang Hyuk-min, you seem to be mistaken about something. Sure, if there’s no news for three months, the interest will fade and you’ll slowly be forgotten. But a Legendary Title Holder isn’t a simple matter. The same danger will surely be there when you return….”
Hyuk-min shook his head, cutting her off.
Then, with a confident expression, he said,
“After three months, no matter what danger comes our way, it won’t be able to stop us. Because we’ll have become monsters.”
At the word “monsters,” both No Death’s and Hyun-jung’s eyebrows twitched.
Who did they always call monsters?
Those who were at least one or two steps above the current Hyuk-min party.
For him to make that face while saying they would become monsters—
“What on earth gives you that confidence….”
Hwang Ji-young, who knew nothing, tried to talk him out of it, doubt thick in her voice.
But No Death was different.
“Guild Master?”
No Death rested a hand on Hwang Ji-young’s shoulder.
Then he said,
“I don’t know about anything else, but when that guy makes that face, believe him. Just ask what the process will be. No matter how crazy it sounds… it will become reality.”
“No Death…?”
For No Death, of all people, to say that—
Leaving the stunned Hwang Ji-young behind, No Death asked,
“Where are we going that we can become the monsters you mentioned? Are we going abroad to find a Hidden this time?”
Hyuk-min shook his head.
“We’re going to find something better than a Hidden. A fortuitous encounter you can only experience once in a lifetime. We’re going to meet that encounter.”
“A fortuitous encounter, what do you mean….”
“My master… no, I’m going to find the person who will become my master.”
A fortuitous encounter.
And a master.
“Right? Hyuk-min! You have a master, don’t you?”
Hyuk-min, who was about to nod, suddenly froze and shook his head.
But Hwang Ji-young and No Death didn’t miss it.
The master who taught Bang Hyuk-min exists!?
Hwang Ji-young licked her lips, unable to stop herself from prying.
“I had one. But not anymore.”
“What does that mean? If you had one, you had one. If you don’t, you don’t. Did they pass away?”
“Just think that I don’t have one. Stop asking.”
“You’re going to meet them, is that it? Alright.”
At Hyuk-min’s firm attitude, Hwang Ji-young didn’t even pretend to give up. She just smirked quietly.
It looked like she was planning to follow him.
Hyuk-min was shaking his head at that when the most important question came from No Death.
“What’s the next plan that requires us to become monsters?”
And then another bombshell dropped.
“There will be a great war in December.”
“…..?!!”
“A great war that will kill countless people… and one that the people here cannot avoid.”