Chapter 168

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 168: Pandemonium (3)

Even the doctors in the operating room were informed of Aeon's attack.

“L-Lady Takamine… What should we do?”

Multiple CCTV monitors lined along one wall of the procedure room were broadcasting the battle unfolding throughout the hospital in real time.

Takamine Ryoko stared silently at the screens. The medical staff were in complete disarray. She was the only one keeping her composure.

“Lady Ryoko!”

“Please wait a moment. I'm thinking.”

There was a barrier erected around the hospital. The intruders had entered using some strange technique.

These weren’t Hunters. Takamine Ryoko suspected they were mages.

If that was the case, then there were only a few organizations capable of commanding such a large number of mages.

Aeon.

The group composed solely of mages.

“Lady, this isn’t the time to be calm!”

The same doctor from earlier raised his voice again, breaking Ryoko’s concentration.

“They’re insane enough to attack even while Hyukcheon is protecting us! What do you think they’re after? It’s obvious—it’s the authority inside this room!”

Takamine Hospital specialized in using relics to treat Hunters, and thus housed many expensive relics.

Because of that, break-ins from thieves weren’t uncommon. But never had there been an invasion on this scale.

“They're definitely coming for this procedure room! If we stay here, we’re all dead! We have to run!”

“H-He’s right! If they dared attack Hyukcheon, what chance do we have?”

“I-I don’t want to die like this! Tomorrow is my daughter’s birthday!”

Takamine Ryoko glanced around at the gathered doctors. All of them were terrified.

“If we run, what happens to Lord Kwon Hanul?”

Artificially triggering a complete Rebirth was no simple task.

The patient’s condition had to be constantly monitored, with precise administration of necessary substances at every moment. Even the slightest delay or mistake could cost the patient's life.

“But we’re about to die! Is that guy really more important than us?”

“We need to survive first! Isn’t that only natural?”

“Lady, you know full well how great a loss it would be to the Japanese medical world if the people in this room died!”

Ryoko barely held back a laugh.

Sure, it made sense to want to survive—but invoking the “Japanese medical world”? Really?

“I understand how all of you feel,” she finally spoke, addressing the medical staff. “You’re scared. Terrified, even. Anyone would be, with their life on the line.”

The staff’s expressions brightened slightly. It seemed they thought she was finally speaking sense.

“But I cannot allow it.”

The very next moment, her tone turned resolute.

“I won’t spout idealistic nonsense about how doctors must never abandon their patients. Instead, let me ask—what benefits did you all receive from taking part in this procedure?”

The hospital had provided every possible convenience. And the Hyukcheon family had done even more—personally visiting each staff member, offering overwhelming sincerity.

“If you’ve already taken everything they gave, it’s time to repay the debt. Whether you live or die, you must remain here.”

The doctors exchanged uneasy glances. One of them suddenly shouted, “Screw this! I’m getting out of here!”

“You think we’re just going to follow orders like sheep?!”

They scattered, grabbing their belongings in a panic.

Takamine Ryoko let out a long sigh.

“How short-sighted you all are. Do you really think Hyukcheon will just let you walk away?”

At that, everyone froze.

“When even a distant branch of the family is killed, Hyukcheon hunts the killers to the ends of the earth. And you’re talking about a direct bloodline… a true heir. Do you really think they’ll forgive those who stood by and let him die?”

The staff turned to her, their faces stiff with realization.

They’d been so caught up in panic, they hadn’t stopped to think about who exactly was lying in that bed.

“You’d be lucky if only you were punished. But your families? They might not get out unscathed either.”

Their eyes began to tremble with fear.

At that moment, a loud crash erupted from the door.

The entrance to the medical room shook under the force of a violent impact. The doctors screamed in unison.

“Th-They’re here! They’re really here!”

“Somebody help!”

Ryoko turned her gaze toward the CCTV monitoring the outer corridor.

A group of naked men were relentlessly pounding on the door—mages from Aeon.

“Everyone, quiet!”

Her commanding voice boomed across the room, startling the staff.

“This entire room is surrounded by relics. Once the doors are closed, the relics automatically activate. No one can breach it.”

Only then did the doctors realize that while the door trembled, it had not broken.

“Now do you understand? This is the safest place in the entire hospital. If you go out now, there’s a high chance you’ll be killed. The best course of action is to stay here, continue Lord Kwon’s procedure, and wait for Hyukcheon to prevail.”

The trembling in their eyes gradually subsided. They were regaining their composure.

“If you understand, then get moving!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

The staff rushed back to their stations, checking Kwon Hanul’s condition and preparing the next set of medications.

Ryoko exhaled deeply and turned back to the CCTV.

There was something she hadn’t told the staff.

The relic protecting this room wasn’t absolute.

“It won’t hold for long…”

It was designed only to buy time in emergencies until help could arrive. And considering the caliber of the intruders, it could be breached at any moment.

“But abandoning Lord Kwon is not an option…”

The memory was still vivid in her mind.

After the sudden death of her parents, the hospital director had begun stripping her of her authority, bit by bit.

To make matters worse, she had nearly been killed by one of Pandemonium’s villains, hired by that very director.

If not for the Hyukcheon family’s loyalty to their former patriarch—if it hadn’t been Kwon Hanul lying in that bed—Ryoko would be dead by now.

“…Ah.”

A crack had appeared in the entrance door. She stifled a gasp.

If the staff noticed, everything would fall apart.

“Please…”

Just as she whispered her prayer—

A black ring appeared above the heads of the intruders. In the next instant, their bodies were crushed as though under a giant press.

In a flash, five or six intruders were wiped out. In their place stood a woman.

–Can you hear me?

She looked into the CCTV and spoke.

–Apologies for the delay. I’ll secure the area from here. Please continue with the procedure.

Joo Hayun declared, magical energy flaring in both hands.

* * *

Kwon Cheon.

At the sound of that name, the young man couldn’t help but shudder.

Who was Kwon Cheon?

The infamous second son of Hyukcheon patriarch—a monster who had single-handedly cleared a Gold-grade dungeon.

And it had been years since then. Surely, he had only grown stronger.

“I’ll admit, it’s impressive you found this place… but how arrogant to come alone.”

“Oh, I didn’t find it. Our informants did. No need to give me any credit.”

The young man fumbled for a response.

“What?”

“It wasn’t me. I’d feel guilty accepting praise for something I didn’t do.”

It was a fair point—but an awfully casual thing to say in the moment.

He bit his tongue before it slipped out.

“Excuse me, sir.”

Sir?

The unfamiliar address caught him off guard.

“Do you know who you kidnapped? That’s Bae Cheol-su, heir to the Bae clan—an allied house of Hyukcheon.”

“I know. Found out after the fact.”

“Then why didn’t you release him immediately?”

There was no grand reason.

The young man had faith in Aeon’s mages. They weren’t great fighters, but they excelled at covering their tracks and deceiving others.

But he couldn’t say that aloud—not with the murderous aura Kwon Cheon was emitting.

“Honestly, it’s partly Cheol-su’s fault too. How does the heir of a noble house get himself kidnapped like that?”

“You idiot! Is now really the time for that?!”

Cheol-su protested, but Kwon Cheon simply clicked his tongue.

“And yet you didn’t let him go. What were you thinking? Or did you really think you could take Hyukcheon lightly?”

Without realizing, the young man stepped back. The killing intent pouring from Kwon Cheon was overwhelming.

“You crossed the line. Now it’s time to pay the price.”

Kwon Cheon clenched his fist. The young man summoned his mana in response.

“The price? You’re the one interrupting my experiment! You’ll pay for that!”

And then, Black Dragon martial arts and magic clashed.

The victor: Kwon Cheon.

At first, the battle had seemed even. But by the midpoint, Kwon Cheon had completely overwhelmed him.

“Tch. Got away.”

Just before the finishing blow, the young man had used an unfamiliar relic to escape. Kwon Cheon stared at the spot where he vanished and sighed.

“Father’s going to be furious. He told me to bring in the mastermind.”

He let out a breath and approached Bae Cheol-su. With a tug, he ripped the chains off him.

“Ugh… Finally, I can breathe.”

“You sure it’s time to relax?”

“What now?!”

“Do you know how angry your father was when he found out you’d been kidnapped? He’s planning to kill you the moment you’re back.”

Cheol-su’s face turned pale. Clearly, his father terrified him.

“How’d you get kidnapped anyway?”

“I’m not exactly sure. I overheard them talking about how the vessel activated a bloodline because I was nearby or something.”

”The vessel?”

Cheol-su pointed to the corner of the room.

There, a young girl was huddled, trembling in fear.

“Who are you?”

Kwon Cheon approached her. She said nothing, just shivered.

He examined her carefully, then opened his subspace and pulled out a blanket and a thermos.

He draped the blanket over her shoulders and poured the contents of the thermos into the lid, handing it to her.

A fragrant scent rose up, catching the girl’s attention.

“It’s mint tea. My mom always said tea helps calm you down when things get tough.”

She took the tea cautiously and began sipping.

“Who carries tea in a subspace, seriously.”

“Shh. You should be worrying about how father’s going to punish you.”

Kwon Cheon waited until she had finished her tea.

“Want another cup?”

She shook her head. She looked much calmer now.

Kneeling to meet her eyes, Kwon Cheon asked, “What’s your name?”

She hesitated, then whispered, “Lee...”

“Lee?”

“Lee Da-hae…”

“So you’re Korean too.”

Kwon Cheon held out his hand.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]