CH 216

Noticing Gi-Gyu's flabbergasted expression, Choi Chang-Yong answered his own question, “I can tell by your expression that the Caravan Guild really is your enemy.”

Tilting his head, Choi Chang-Yong continued, “Toward the end of your battle against the giant dragon, I saw Ha Song-Su.”

“...”

“And Ha Song-Su left without doing anything. The Caravan Guild considers you its greatest enemy, but he still didn’t kill you right then and there. So I couldn’t help but wonder if you and the Caravan Guild are actually in this together.”

Gi-Gyu nodded, as Choi Chang-Yong’s suspicion was logical.

Choi Chang-Yong added hesitantly, “Or perhaps… I considered the fact that maybe you and Ha Song-Su are almost equally powerful. This would explain why Ha Song-Su left to fight you another day. Well, whatever the reason, I do believe you have the potential to defeat Ha Song Su. And if you are definitely not on the Caravan Guild’s side, then…”

“So you’re interested in an alliance with me?” asked Gi-Gyu.

Choi Chang-Yong nodded and replied, “Yes, I want to be on your side.”

Gi-Gyu rubbed his chin quietly before asking, “Then I have a question for you. Are you certain the Blue Dragon Guild is not working with the Caravan Guild?”

While Gi-Gyu maintained his uninterested look, Choi Chang-Yong’s face crumpled in a fury.

Choi Chang-Yong gasped, “What…?”

Ignoring him, Gi-Gyu continued, “It is I who find it difficult to trust you. To come here so unexpectedly and ask to form an alliance… Don’t you think it sounds strange?”

“...”

“Guild Master Choi Chang-Yong, you have worked very hard to build the powerful Blue Dragon Guild. And you yourself are a high ranker…” Gi-Gyu trailed off.

Choi Chang-Yong wondered what Gi-Gyu was trying to say.

Gi-Gyu continued, “I’m certain someone like you can see how this actually puts me at a disadvantage. The whole world is against me. Everyone wants me dead. To you, it should be obvious who would win.”

Choi Chang-Yong nodded.

Gi-Gyu added, “So, why ally with me? That doesn’t make any sense. I know very well that you value your life, Guild Master Choi Chang-Yong. So what am I supposed to think?”

“Are you suggesting I’m a spy?” asked Choi Chang-Yong.

“Exactly.”

Choi Chang-Yong frowned but nodded in understanding. He had to admit that Gi-Gyu’s suspicion was also logical.

Schwing.

Suddenly, Choi Chang-Yong unsheathed his sword. Was it to attack Gi-Gyu?

Still, Gi-Gyu didn’t move a muscle.

Choi Chang-Yong answered, “I value my body just as much as I value my own life.”

Choi Chang-Yong respectfully continued, “I’m not asking you to ally with me because of what I’m about to do. I am doing this to thank you for saving my guild members and having this conversation with me. And I want to show you that I can be trusted. The rest is up to you.”

Without hesitation, Choi Chang-Yong plunged his sword into his eye.

***

A week before Gi-Gyu’s conversation with Choi Chang-Yong and not too long after his fight with Leviathan, a woman was sitting on a chair somewhere in the world.

Flinch.

Her slim arms shivered. Trying to stop them from shaking, the woman grabbed onto the chair hard, denting the arms of the metal chair. It was difficult to believe how powerful those fragile arms were.

When her body stopped trembling, the woman whispered, “See? I was right.”

A seductive smile followed her beautiful voice as she asked, “Right, Baal?”

Soo-Jung turned toward Baal, who maintained his usual blank face.

Soo-Jung continued, “Ha Song-Su finally made a move. He appeared in the Bukhan River area. Is this enough proof for you?”

“...”

Soo-Jung had marked Ha Song-Su during their last battle using a skill similar to the one she had used on Gi-Gyu long ago. The mark let her see through the marked subject’s eyes and figure out their location.

But this skill didn’t work perfectly on Ha Song-Su. She couldn't deduce his exact location since everything through his eyes just looked fuzzy to her.

But just now…

She had spotted Ha Song-Su in the area where Gi-Gyu was known to be staying. This had to be the proof that she was right. After all, how many powerful players in the Bukhan River area warranted a personal visit from Ha Song-Su?

So, she had no doubt this was Gi-Gyu. No one else was strong enough to force Ha Song-Su to appear.

Soo-Jung repeated Baal’s name, “Baal.”

“You’re right. Kim Gi-Gyu is indeed in the Bukhan River region. According to my sources, the survivors left the gate right before the Blue Dragon Guild entered. And these survivors claimed that Kim Gi-Gyu was inside the gate,” Baal replied.

Soo-Jung’s smile deepened. She asked, “That should be enough for you, right?”

She tried to leave, but the displeasure on Baal’s face stopped her. She muttered, “What’s wrong now?”

“...”

“Baal,” Soo-Jung prodded.

“Just as you felt Ha Song-Su in the Bukhan River, I felt someone too. The Bukhan River is too far from here, so I understand why you missed it. But this presence is very familiar to me. I suppose it would be familiar to all demons.”

“What?” Soo-Jung looked at Baal in confusion. Surprisingly, she could see fear on Baal’s face; he had never shown such emotion before.

Baal replied, “Leviathan. The hell king was there as well.”

“...?”

“It’s too dangerous.” Baal sounded concerned as he argued, “Do you have to go? You have a mission; if you go now, you might…”

Baal seemed to fear that Soo-Jung might get killed. It was bad enough when only Ha Song-Su was involved; now, a hell king had also joined the fray. Was this what Baal feared? But Baal had never once been afraid of an enemy before.

Soo-Jung abruptly realized what was happening and became rigid. She whispered, “You’re turning into a human, Baal.”

Baal didn’t fear the enemy—he was afraid for her. Baal was afraid that Soo-Jung might die from this.

Soo-Jung argued in annoyance, “We have already planned for everything, including my death. So stop babbling and follow me.”

The smile reappeared on her face as she continued, “My mission… My pupil, who will take over my work, is in the Bukhan River area. Therefore, I must go there. I promised to give him a gift when he reached the 50th floor, so I must keep my promise.”

“Of course.” Baal adjusted his glasses, returning to his usual self.

Suddenly remembering something, Soo-Jung asked, “Oh, what about the others?”

“I’ve already contacted them.”

“Hmm…” Soo-Jung shrugged. If she moved fast, she could be the first one there.

***

Choi Chang-Yong stared at Gi-Gyu blankly.

“Guild Master Choi Chang-Yong?”

“Ah! I-I apologize.” Choi Chang-Yong was so flustered that his tone turned even more respectful. He asked cautiously, “What were we talking about?”

Gi-Gyu couldn’t help but grin. He knew exactly why Choi Chang-Yong’s attitude toward him had changed. It was because of his eye. Choi Chang-Yong had stabbed one of his eyes to prove his integrity. But at the moment, both of his eyes looked perfectly fine. This was because Gi-Gyu had healed him using Life. Usually, such a wound required the elixir, but Gi-Gyu had healed him easily, which changed Choi Chang-Yong’s attitude.

“You told me that if I let you leave the Bukhan River region, you will return with all those who want to fight on our side and their families.”

“Ah, right. Yes.” Choi Chang-Yong tried to hide his embarrassment and continued, “The reason we want to walk with you, Kim Gi-Gyu… I mean Ranker Kim… Umm…”

Choi Chang-Yong was having a hard time finding an appropriate title for Gi-Gyu. Realizing Gi-Gyu was staring at him again, Choi Chang-Yong quickly added, “The reason I want to ally with you, Mr. Kim Gi-Gyu, is that I, too, believe the Caravan Guild and the Iron Guild aren’t normal. And my suspicion was confirmed when I entered this gate.”

Choi Chang-Yong clenched his fists and explained, “I already knew they were stealing players’ bodies in other countries. But I had no idea that my own guild had already been targeted. At this rate…”

The future looked grim. Soon, no one would be able to trust anyone. It seemed that this was what Choi Chang-Yong wanted to say.

Choi Chang-Yong continued, “Anyway, others like me are afraid of what is coming. And it’s clear now that there are enemies deep inside my guild, so I need to clean up my house. I need to filter out all the bad seeds and accept only the legitimate applicants.”

“Do you think this is possible?”

“I must try.” Choi Chang-Yong’s answer was simple.

“It will not be easy,” Gi-Gyu said.

Choi Chang-Yong didn’t deny it. It had been a week since the team of players had entered the Bukhan River gate. So far, no one outside knew what had happened. The entire Iron Guild team had been annihilated, so if Choi Chang-Yong and the others left now, they would be suspected of betraying the Iron and the Caravan Guilds.

Doing anything freely would become a challenge. On top of this, how would they weed out the demon humans from the humans?

When Choi Chang-Yong seemed troubled, Gi-Gyu smiled.

“What is it?” Choi Chang-Yong asked. He wondered if Gi-Gyu had remembered something funny.

“I’ll send El with you,” Gi-Gyu offered, making Choi Chang-Yong gasp.

“...!”

“And you don’t have to leave this place in secret. The Blue Dragon Guild won’t be suspected of anything.”

“Pardon…?” Choi Chang-Yong became confused. Did Gi-Gyu have an answer to all of his worries?

“I have someone inside the Caravan Guild.”

Choi Chang-Yong’s eyes widened in shock.

Gi-Gyu continued, “If you use him, it will be easy for you to do what you need to do. And you can leave with the Iron Guild members.”

“Pardon…?”

“Some Iron Guild players want to join us too. If you leave with them, you will remain safe. You’ll also be able to save more players,” Gi-Gyu explained.

Choi Chang-Yong couldn’t believe what he was hearing. When did Gi-Gyu get the time or the opportunity to plan all these things?

Gi-Gyu continued, “Tell them that the force inside the Bukhan River region was stronger than anticipated. Say that avoiding fatalities was impossible and that the surviving players were lucky to leave alive. People will see you as a failure, but the players that leave with you will praise you as a hero, Guild Master Choi Chang-Yong.”

Gi-Gyu grinned and added, “They will all state you are the sole reason they survived.”

Choi Chang-Yong pondered for a moment. This could work, but there was one thing that still bothered him.

‘Ha Song-Su…’ Choi Chang-Yong was worried that Ha Song-Su might have figured everything out. Ha Song-Su entered the gate at the last minute, so…

Choi Chang-Yong shook his head, deeming it impossible. The survivors had been evacuated to a far-away corner, so Ha Song-Su probably didn’t even notice them. And he suspected Gi-Gyu had put a barrier around them to hide their presence from him.

“All right,” Choi Chang-Yong replied.

“The Morningstar-Child Guild will also leave with you. What you have to do for us is very simple. You must work with El to filter out demons players and”—Gi-Gyu smiled—“bring the other Korean guilds to our side.”

“Ah, of course.” Choi Chang-Yong realized that Gi-Gyu had everything meticulously planned out. His worry and fear slowly disappeared.

It seemed that their conversation was winding down. Choi Chang-Yong whispered, “May I ask you one thing?”

The question was taboo in the player world, and one shouldn’t even consider asking a powerful player this question. But Choi Chang-Yong couldn’t control his curiosity.

Choi Chang-Yong stammered, “W-wh-what’s your level?”

A player’s level was considered sensitive and secretive information. They may have allied just now, but such a question could easily make Choi Chang-Yong look like a spy.

‘I’ve been thinking about this for a long time now… He’s definitely different from the other players.’ Choi Chang-Yong looked around nervously. This whole Bukhan River gate and all of Gi-Gyu’s creatures… Then there was Gi-Gyu’s power and abilities, including his healing skill.

“I’m Level 1.”

The room became hushed.

Choi Chang-Yong became speechless.

Gi-Gyu continued, “I’m Level 1. Is that all?”

Choi Chang-Yong looked dazed, just like when he had heard the news of his mother’s death.

Gi-Gyu didn’t wait for Choi Chang-Yong’s reply. Instead, he added, “There are two more things. Firstly, please keep in mind that I can kill you as easily as I healed your eye. So, please, don’t even think about betraying me.”

“O-of course.”

The truth was that Gi-Gyu didn’t have such power. He had used Life to heal Choi Chang-Yong’s eye. Perhaps he could have used Death on Choi Chang-Yong to accomplish the opposite, but he didn’t.

“And the other thing is…”—Gi-Gyu stood up—“I’ll be coming with you.”

“Pardon? But why?”

Gi-Gyu blankly answered, “I need to go to the Tower.”

gomi's Thoughts

Gomi: Ok, so the way Choi Chang-Yong showed his trust was just very random. Also, if I was Gi-Gyu, I would find this action even more suspicious