Chapter 138

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 138: Distortion (1)

‘Are you telling me to kill Kim Jong-un?’

Yeongwoo blinked as he looked at the new Dogo Quest report titled ‘Will of the Dead.’

Of course, there was nothing that couldn’t be killed.

If that guy ever came down to South Korea, he would be the first to act without anyone’s orders.

But seeing the assassination order that came from another realm was a bit strange.

[Reward] Dogo Special Equipment

“….”

But it was indeed an irresistible proposal.

‘However, there is one problem.’

Yeongwoo looked northward.

And that problem was precisely…

‘If by any chance, Pyongyang’s Strongest Sword kills Kim Jong-un first, then that quest becomes invalid.’

However, it wasn’t feasible to just storm into Pyongyang claiming to have monopolized Kim Jong-un.

Who knows when Kim Jong-un might come down and knock on Pyongyang’s door.

“Could it be that Dogo wants that scenario?”

Yeongwoo shook his head.

‘For now, let’s do what we can immediately.’

What they could do immediately was to cut off the head of the last Strongest Sword demanded in ‘Headhunter.’

“Yeongtae!”

As Yeongwoo called out the name of his first friend, Sooin, who was rummaging among the Strongest Swords, raised his head.

「Yeah? What’s up?」

Yeongwoo ordered casually.

“We have to spare one person. I need to cut their throat.”

It was simply stating the truth, but to the listeners, it sounded truly villainous.

“What…?”

“What did you just say…?”

Even the South Korean Strongest Swords, who were allies, were suspicious of their ears.

So, what about the Strongest Swords from North Korea, who were the targets of beheading?

“Heh… hee hee!”

“Save me!”

Starting from Yeongwoo’s words, everyone began to scatter in all directions.

It wasn’t just because of the idea of cutting throats, but also because they decided to flee upon realizing that the Joseon’s Strongest Sword, the vanguard, would invade in earnest.

It was already a done deal.

Snap!

Of the North Korean Strongest Swords still surviving, there were only three.

And none of these three dared to challenge Jeong Yeongwoo.

He just started running because he thought that one of the three might survive, even if it was only at a low probability.

“Aaah!”

「How dare you!」

One of the first swords running to the northwest was handed over to General Kim Younghyeom.

In response, Hyeon Changsoo, the Changdo’s Strongest Sword who courageously chose to head due north, looked sideways at his comrade who had just been bitten by a tiger and made a horrified expression.

‘This is hell.’

An expeditionary force that included three Strongest Swords, renowned for their exceptional martial arts skills.

That’s why they joined the battle with the thought of joyfully plundering, but they never expected such an outcome.

‘What will happen now? Is our North Korea doomed?’

Even amidst the urgency of his own life, he thought about the future of his country, but soon his consciousness faded away.

Splat!

Yeongwoo, who had followed him like a shadow, slashed his throat in one swift motion.

Thunk!

Hyeon Changsoo, who died without even leaving behind a last breath, became the final piece of Yeongwoo’s quest, received from another realm.

Ping!

[Quest Complete – “Headhunter”]

[Reward Received]

| 7,000,000 Karma

‘Ah.’

Finally, Headhunter complete.

Then a terrifying noise came from the sky.

Ssssshhhh!

It was the sound of a Dogo Credit Card descending.

A black metal object, almost exactly the size of a credit card, coming down.

Sshhhht!

From beyond the darkened sky, the card that was the source of the problem streaked across the sky and landed at Yeongwoo’s feet in the blink of an eye.

‘… 7,000,000.’

As Yeongwoo picked up the card, which was about a meter away from the ground, the number ‘7,000,000’ appeared on the surface of the black metal.

In addition, he had earned a whopping 1.6 million Karma from the Wyvern hunt in Gwangjin-gu.

‘Now I have a total of 8.6 million in cash. I can buy all the abnormal climate equipment and still have plenty left.’

The reason Yeongwoo saved Karma even before the North-South confrontation was purely to take down tonight’s abnormal climate.

He didn’t even consider losing to the people who came down from the North.

And meanwhile.

Thunk!

As the lone survivor from the North, who had been running northeast, three pursuers followed closely behind.

They were none other than ‘friends’ Hong Yeongtae, Songpa’s Strongest Sword Oh Yeonhee, and Seocho’s Choi Namhee.

「What……?」

At Yeongtae’s questioning expression of ‘Why bother?’ as he looked at the two Strongest Swords, Choe Namhee smiled awkwardly and exchanged eye contact.

“Um… Can I ask for a concession? It’s kind of awkward to just stand here, and I feel sorry for Mr. Yeongwoo.”

In other words, it meant requesting a chance to fight to add some excitement.

「Huh? We already fought at the beginning.」

However, the circumstances of the two strangers were not a consideration for Yeongtae, who was busy with his work.

「If you want to fight more, get permission from Yeongwoo first.」

With that, Yeongtae deliberately made a grand gesture and increased his speed.

Crack!

A signal that even the use of force would be followed if they continued to follow.

And so, in the end.

“Oh, it’s not gonna work out.”

“….”

The two had no choice but to stop in their tracks.

Then, from the other side, Yeongtae was seen swinging his claws towards the last enemy.

Finally, the battle ended up being dominated by Jeong Yeongwoo and his friends.

“…But still, you’re not going to give us anything? We came all the way here.”

Choe Namhee looked at Oh Yeonhee with a disappointed expression.

In response, Oh Yeonhee sighed and gently touched her throat.

“Well, I’m not sure. He’s such an unpredictable person.”

As she turned around, she saw Jeong Yeongwoo walking towards the battlefield littered with corpses.

“Hmm.”

Just the number of Strongest Swords killed in this spot alone was eleven.

So, how much loot was there?

Even Oh Yeonhee, who valued her dignity, couldn’t help but feel greedy for the loot.

“Shall we go for now? We should at least try to beg for travel expenses, even if it’s a little embarrassing.”

* * *

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

「Is it over now?」

Kim Younghyeom, a former general and a mutant, squatted like a mountain, looking at Yeongwoo.

Although it didn’t seem like it, it was Kim Younghyeom’s own way of giving a friendly signal.

He minimized his size to reduce the intimidation he emitted.

In other words, he didn’t want to fight Yeongwoo anymore.

Before being a formidable opponent, they had fought together against the North Korean army, after all.

Regardless of the opponent’s intentions, Kim Younghyeom had already developed camaraderie.

Perhaps it was because he was a former soldier.

Anyway, such emotions couldn’t be blocked by willpower.

「…..」

Kim Younghyeom stared at Yeongwoo, suppressing the momentarily rising temper, as if he had forgotten about it, and threw out words indifferently.

「Is it over now? You’re not even answering. What are you doing?」

Ignoring the general’s words so blatantly, despite his outstanding martial arts skills, was audacious.

Kim Younghyeom stared at Yeongwoo with an intense gaze, momentarily restraining his rising temper.

Then, as if he had forgotten, Yeongwoo turned his head and looked at the massive white beast.

“Ah, sorry. I was just wondering if there’s anything that guy missed picking up.”

The ‘guy’ Yeongwoo referred to was…

-Keek! Keeeeet!

The golden goblin leaping over the corpses.

And now, in Yeongwoo’s hand…

-Shhhht.

There was the Epic-grade compass, Serpent of Greed.

「Serpent of Greed」 – Epic Compass

【Always seeks rarity.】

‘It doesn’t seem like there are any hidden items.’

Thanks to the golden goblin, they were able to gather all the loot in one place, but there was a slight disappointment.

Most of the equipment had been damaged due to the ability damage.

It was similar to when he fought the singer Lee Seonho with a long-range shot, breaking his sword and armor.

Due to Yeongwoo’s long-range attacks weakening the equipment of the North Korean Strongest Swords, some of their equipment was damaged during the subsequent battle.

‘Not just mutants, but this seems to affect others as well.’

It was indeed a remarkable effect, but when there was a need to preserve loot like today, it seemed necessary to use the bow cautiously.

‘The higher-grade equipment seems to be intact. Does durability vary by grade?’

As Yeongwoo examined the loot spread out by the goblin, he realized that, generally, higher-grade items were less damaged by the ability damage.

Most of the severely damaged equipment, with tooltips half-broken, were relics or lower-grade.

And thinking deeper about it…

‘Considering that the Strongest Swords mostly have relics and lower-grade equipment… does this mean that ability damage is practically the bane of Strongest Swords?’

Mutation-grade equipment, which could be considered the Strongest Swords’ supply-type equipment.

An attack property that destroys such equipment completely…

“….”

As Yeongwoo looked at the bow he had been carrying over his torso for a moment, General Kim Younghyeom, who had been waiting with his body still crouched, spoke again.

「Is that golden monster also your friend?」

Then, the golden goblin, which had been laying out loot in front of Yeongwoo, pointed at itself with its finger.

-Keet! Keeeet!

Upon seeing this, Yeongwoo glanced at the goblin for a moment and nodded.

“Um… Although it’s a bit different category-wise, it’s still close to being a friend.”

After saying this, Yeongwoo realized that Kim Younghyeom had been talking nonsense since earlier.

‘Ah, right.’

Now that the battle was completely over, Kim Younghyeom, a mutant, was alone in this place.

He wasn’t a ‘friend’ of Yeongwoo like Yeongtae or Taejoon, nor was he a Strongest Sword from the South.

Moreover.

Thud!

On the other side, Oh Yeonhee, Choi Namhee, and Yeongtae were returning after completing the pursuit of survivors.

Now, if they wanted, they could kill Kim Younghyeom, who could be considered the last loot here, and leave.

And in reality, if it were an ordinary group of Strongest Swords, that’s what they would have done.

However.

〔Your achievement tendency is “Stubborn.”〕

The current holder of power in this place, Jeong Yeongwoo, was officially recognized by the system as stubborn.

Furthermore, as a ‘special social worker’ collecting mutants, he was able to sense Kim Younghyeom’s signal, albeit belatedly.

“Thank you for your hard work, General.”

As Yeongwoo bowed to Kim Younghyeom, the South’s Strongest Swords, who were already wary of the large white tiger, looked at him with surprised eyes.

To them, even exchanging polite conversation with mutants was unfamiliar, let alone greeting them.

Of course, Park Jeongjin, the Strongest Sword who owed his life to Kim Younghyeom, was an exception.

“Uh, you really did a great job, General!”

As he stuttered, General Kim Younghyeom smiled as if showing his long fangs.

Now it was time to get to the point.

「Now, what happens to me from now on?」

Then, the murmurs from the South’s Strongest Swords subsided all at once.

If Yeongwoo didn’t accept Kim Younghyeom like he did with the ‘friends’ in the whistle, the only remaining development would be another battle.

However, without hesitation, Yeongwoo extended his hand to Kim Younghyeom and said:

“I suppose I’ll need your help, General.”

「What…?」

“We’re going to assassinate Kim Jong-un.”

「Oh.」

Then, for the first time, Kim Younghyeom smiled broadly.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]