Chapter 405

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 405: Gift Breakthrough (9)

‘What the hell? These guys are more useless than I thought.’

After knocking down all of Voltak’s wandering merchants and dashing along the virgin road, Yeongwoo’s sight caught the sight of Shelbir’s knights struggling against some boulders.

“What are you doing still stuck here? Where’s my father?”

Yeongwoo asked the knights, and someone pinned to the ground barely managed to respond.

—H-He went ahead!

The knight, still grappling with the boulder, was merely holding it in place rather than overpowering or subduing it.

‘…This is why virtuous people are useless.’

Shaking his head, Yeongwoo kicked one of the boulders hard.

Thud!

A knight who had been trapped beneath it twisted his head around and looked up at Yeongwoo.

—Agh… treating wedding guests like this…

“These guys aren’t my guests during the wedding gift breakthrough.”

After saying that, Yeongwoo kicked another boulder out of the way.

Smack!

“What are you all doing? Get up already! Are you not going to support the breakthrough?”

As Yeongwoo pointed forward along the virgin road, he saw his father surrounded by red silhouettes.

Luckily, he hadn’t dropped the wedding gift box, but he also hadn’t gotten very far.

“This is driving me crazy.”

After making sure the knights were hesitantly getting to their feet, Yeongwoo sprang forward.

Taah!

All the wedding guests were focused on Jeonggu, who was carrying the gift box, so Yeongwoo’s arrival went unnoticed.

In fact, if they had wanted to reclaim their congratulatory money, the better strategy would have been to stall Yeongwoo while only a few targeted the wedding gift box.

‘In a way, the bounty on the wedding gift box is working in my favor.’

As Yeongwoo quickly closed in on his father, he saw his brothers clashing with the Cerium devotees.

And among them, he spotted a reddish-brown robe cautiously approaching from the side.

It was none other than Daouk, the senior executive of Osaek Credit.

“Wait, are you insane, Senior Executive?”

At Yeongwoo’s loud call from behind, Daouk flinched and stepped back in surprise.

—N-No… I was just checking if the wedding gift box was still safe.

He then spread his arms wide in a gesture of surrender.

‘Well, 2 billion won is a lot of money even for Osaek Credit.’

At least one obstacle was removed.

Jeonggu, noticing his son’s arrival, beamed.

“Yeongwoo!”

Yeongwoo immediately grabbed his father’s arm and charged forward.

Tat-tat!

“There’s no time to stay here. I didn’t kill the guests, so they’ll be coming after us soon.”

Of course, allies like Prince Aldo, the knights, and Master Bang would continue to hold back the guests, ensuring a stalemate for some time.

But it wasn’t just those left behind who were a threat.

Swish!

As expected, before long, a long shadow stretched across their path.

“Damn it, they just keep coming.”

This time, their opponent was none other than the Hammers of Kwaya.

Standing in their way were Kobu, Tobu, and Chobu—the very ones who had built this wedding venue.

“……”

Seeing the three hammers standing side by side, a mix of emotions crossed Yeongwoo’s mind.

Then, Kobu stepped forward and spoke.

—Apologies, but this is part of the ceremony.

“You’re not just after the 2 billion bounty?”

—…I won’t deny it.

At that, Tobu and Chobu moved to the sides, subtly forming an encirclement.

‘So while Kobu keeps me occupied, the other two will go after the gift box.’

Crack.

Yeongwoo clenched his fist.

After all, when else would he get a chance to throw punches with the designers of the universe’s prisons?

—Then, excuse me.

With that ominous remark, Kobu nodded.

At the same moment, Tobu and Chobu dashed forward at incredible speed.

Shwaaa!

Just as predicted, they were targeting Jeonggu.

‘These bastards, their martial skills are no joke.’

Seeing the sudden flash of a holographic warning before his eyes, Yeongwoo quickly kicked his father backward.

Thud!

Then, he lunged into the space where Jeonggu had been, throwing a punch at Tobu.

Whoosh!

—Ah.

Tobu, sensing the attack, twisted his upper body to dodge.

“What the…”

At that moment, Chobu, approaching from behind, spread his arms wide and grabbed Yeongwoo in a tight embrace.

Clench!

“You bastards!”

Yeongwoo furrowed his brow, struggling to shake Chobu off, but his strength was formidable.

If he used his gear, it would be over in an instant, but using lethal force against someone he couldn’t harm was excessive.

“I have no intention of yielding. If you push me, I’ll have no choice but to cross the line!”

Despite Yeongwoo’s final warning, Kobu was already charging at Jeonggu.

Left with no other option, Yeongwoo shut his eyes and prepared to draw his sword.

Shwaaa!

Just then, a swift presence surged from above, followed by a heavy impact.

Thud!

When Yeongwoo opened his eyes, he saw Taru, the elemental-immune golem, crushing Kobu beneath him.

“What the…”

Dumbfounded, Yeongwoo gaped.

Then, from the sky, Amana descended, wrapped in fierce winds, and pointed forward.

—We’ll hold them off here! Hurry on ahead!

The entire Squad 023 from the Promotion Exams had joined in to support the wedding gift breakthrough.

—This is the reward for your virtuous deeds, Yeongwoo!

At Taru’s declaration, the two virtuous warriors and the three hammers became entangled in a fierce brawl.

Though it was clear the virtuous warriors were at a disadvantage, they had bought enough time for Yeongwoo and Jeonggu to escape.

“Hurry! They won’t hold out for long!”

At Yeongwoo’s shout, Jeonggu, still in shock, stumbled forward.

“What… what the hell is all this? Why is getting married this hard?”

Dashing along the virgin road, the bewildered groom muttered.

Yeongwoo grabbed his father’s arm and replied.

“Dad, the cash alone is at least 35 billion won.”

“…What?”

“The total amount of congratulatory money at stake in this ceremony. So it’s not that getting married is hard…”

Swish.

Yeongwoo pointed toward the wedding altar that had come into view.

“…It’s that making 35 billion is hard.”

“…!”

“We’re almost there. Just a little more…”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Just as Yeongwoo, brimming with determination, was about to continue speaking, he suddenly fell silent, his expression darkening.

“What? What is it?”

Following his son’s gaze, Jeonggu turned his head—only to be met with a shocking sight.

"What the hell is that?"

Three colossal beings, each the size of a building, descended from the sky, blocking the path.

Kwaaaah!

Cosmic entities towering about 20 meters high.

Not only Jeonggu but even Yeongwoo felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of these figures.

They were none other than Planetary Review Team 9.

■ This planet remains unchanged.

Team 9’s leader, Gern, looked past Yeongwoo.

There, the guests that Yeongwoo and Jeonggu had left behind were tangled in a chaotic fight.

Yeongwoo took a quick glance back before turning to the three reviewers and greeting them.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Seeing you at the ceremony brings back memories."

Then, he confirmed that the wedding gift box was still safe in Jeonggu’s arms.

"However… I am quite curious as to why such esteemed figures have stationed themselves here."

As far as Yeongwoo knew, planetary reviewers held a government rank of Grade 11, and their existence level under cosmic law was a staggering Grade 4.

In simple terms, they were on the same level as Lemu, the Architect.

Of course, even within Grade 4, there seemed to be differences in strength.

But regardless, anyone at that level shouldn't be directly involving themselves in such a mess.

‘…Right?’

Yeongwoo discreetly checked on Lemu, who was still seated in third-class, watching the steadily worsening wedding chaos with amusement.

However, the examiners’ perspectives seemed different from Lemu's.

■ Haha, do you think we often get to witness such an extraordinary event?

■ A reviewer’s life is nothing but boredom.

■ But today… might be a little different.

One by one, the three examiners voiced their opinions.

In short, they wanted to stretch their muscles after a long time.

‘Damn it, I may be the Strongest Sword on the Korean Peninsula, but I know I’m nowhere near strong enough to take on Grade 4 beings.’

So then, what could he do?

■ 2 billion isn’t exactly pocket change either.

■ Hand over the wedding gift box.

With that, the skinny figure standing to Gern’s right curled his long fingers.

Creak.

Suddenly, Jeonggu’s body was lifted into the air and shot forward toward the reviewers.

Paaaat!

"Crazy."

Object Manipulation.

The thin man had pulled the wedding gift box toward himself, and since Jeonggu was holding it, he got dragged along with it.

Thud!

Thankfully, Yeongwoo managed to grab Jeonggu’s leg just in time.

But soon enough, Yeongwoo’s own feet began to lift off the ground.

‘Making money is seriously tough.’

It was only then that Yeongwoo realized something.

If the guests actively tried to block his escape, there was no way a low-ranking being like himself could do anything about it.

‘Damn it, if only I were Grade 4, this would be a piece of cake.’

Just as Yeongwoo was lamenting this fact and raising his head toward the sky—

Bang!

From the pitch-black ceiling of the wedding hall, an unfamiliar presence made itself known.

"……?"

Yeongwoo's pupils dilated in response.

At the same time, Team 9’s leader, Gern, tilted his head in confusion.

■ I've been feeling… uneasy for a while now.

A massive water-like entity standing to Gern’s left blinked its large eyes.

■ Yes… Unpleasant. What is this?

And then—

Crack!

From the ceiling, the source of that unease came pouring down.

Shaaah!

Three figures, made of pitch-black amorphous matter, descended.

Prisoners from Rohm.

The escapees leaped directly toward the heads of the reviewers.

―Kekek!

―Hihik…!

―Bureaucrats!

■ P-Prisoners…?!

For the first time, Gern sounded flustered as he pulled out a large hidden hand from beneath his cloak.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his fingers, a glowing, cuff-like energy construct formed between his hands.

He had prepared restraints to capture the unexpected intruders.

However—

―Kiyaaaak!

―Die…!

The prisoners from Rohm struck first, attacking before Gern could activate the restraints.

Their dark, writhing bodies engulfed the three reviewers.

"Ah—wait, hold on, sirs! No need to kill them…!"

Yeongwoo began to shout, but quickly shut his mouth when he saw Gern grab a prisoner by the neck and snap it in an instant.

This wasn’t the time to be worrying about the reviewers.

"Let’s go! Those guys won’t last long either!"

Yeongwoo shouted as he pulled his father along.

Jeonggu, however, hit him with the realest comment of the day.

"Seriously, why are all of your reinforcements one-time-use only?"

"……!"

There was no rebuttal for that.

If there was a reason for it, perhaps it was the karma of inviting reckless people as guests.

"Well… As long as we succeed, that’s what matters, right?"

Although the prisoners from Rohm would pay a hefty price by being recaptured, from a cosmic perspective, that was just their karma.

After all, if they weren’t wanted criminals, they wouldn’t have ended up in this situation in the first place.

‘Then again, if they weren’t criminals, I wouldn’t have met them either.’

Swish.

Yeongwoo glanced back.

The prisoners were already pinned to the ground, thoroughly subdued by the reviewers.

One by one, iron restraints were locked onto their arms and necks.

Even hardened convicts who had trained in combat from the depths of a prison had no chance against Grade 4 beings.

‘Thank you, Masters. This might just be your first good deed in the universe.’

Yeongwoo silently expressed his gratitude before resolutely turning forward.

At long last—

The altar, at the end of the Virgin Road, was finally within reach.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]