Chapter 88: However, it had become my hideout (2)

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Grab your popcorn guys, it’s gonna be a loooong read.

The chapter party, Begun!

The energy wavelength of the dead spirit’s floating garden was S rank. A S rank dungeon was never easy. Normally, a team consisting of several S rank superhumans was needed to clear it. I wouldn’t be able to guarantee success if I entered the dungeon alone.

Thankfully, I have S+ rank Taylor Nine and SS+ rank Ha Sun-young, so there was no problem at all.

However, as time passed, the dimension gradually lost its power. Thanks to that, it should be easier for me. Anyway, I could eat the floating garden more easily.

“Let’s not kill the spirits.”

“Why? No matter how I look, they’re nothing but a bunch of Ether crystals.”

“After conversion, it won’t amount to much. They look like a lump of magic for my eyes.”

“Is that so?”

Taylor and Ha Sun-young still looked like they didn’t understand, but they still followed me and we moved forward while suppressing the spirits without killing them. Thanks to this, the raid slowed down considerably. And after some time, we safely reached the point where Spirit King, the boss monster of the dead spirit’s floating garden, resided.

It was neatly chopped with the sides of the bat and sword, so that it was wide enough not to die.

-Die!!! You evil guys!!!

Unlike other spirits, the Spirit King of the floating garden still had his consciousness. Thanks to that, the conversation went well.

“Take this.”

-What is this…?

“It’s a contract. I will provide the necessary energy needed by this dimension, so hand over your land documents.”

-Th…that’s!

“I will save your men too. So, in the future, work for me.”

-······!

For reference, I didn’t have any power to do that.

But, didn’t I get a ‘Lifeforce’ for completing every quest?

[3000 days of Lifeforce has been deducted.]

[Giving energy of life to the spirits of the floating garden.]

There was a time when I was struggling to live for one more day. However, I could earn lifeforce anytime I want now. And it’ll soon become my second currency.

In the first place, I could only get a small Guild HQ with the money I have in my hand. Spending some life force for this whole dimension was a profitable business.

-Uh…

-This is….

-Spirit king!

The total number of remaining spirits in the floating garden were 100. In fact, there was no need to revive them all. However, it was inevitable because I needed a lot of manpower for the HQ ‘interior’ in the near future.

As the spirits began to wake up one by one, the Spirit King knelt in front of me with a thrilled expression.

-Thank you, thank you very much!

“Don’t mention it. You just need to work hard from now on.”

Perhaps it was because of the energy I gave them, the spirits listened to me well. And with the help of the ‘Library of the White Witch’ I was able to study how to extend the life of the spirits who got their life back.

[….These spirits are a kind of ‘Elemental Spirit’. They’ll grow by receiving the energy of nature itself. For example, the spirit of rain gets their energy from rain, the spirits of thunder get their energy from thunder strikes, and the spirits of flames from a fire…]

Their nutrients were natural phenomenons that exist in this world. However, after the end of the world, the spirits who fled to the floating garden were unable to get such energy and eventually their lives were completely taken away.

I wasn’t God so I couldn’t make a thunderstorm instantly, but at least I could plant flowers to create a small flower garden, forest, or an artificial river.

“…..So. In this dungeon, we are going to plant flowers and trees and make an artificial river.”

“You are also planning to create an internet connection, an etheric radio pole, and toilet?”

“Yes. Ha Sun-young, what do you want? Shall we even make a swimming pool?”

“No, crazy. You don’t have to.”

“It’s okay. The housing price is cheap around here. Don’t be burdened and say it”

“I don’t need it…….”

So, I started to completely flip the inside of the dungeon. All the buildings were left as it is while all the free spaces were fully utilized to create a natural environment where the spirits could at least obtain natural energy, and even a plastic house was built.

In addition, I paid another 500 days of lifeforce in order to create a portal that could communicate with the outside world. And a ‘Dimensional pass’ was engraved on all the girls.

“If you have this tattoo, you can come to this place anytime you want through a ‘Point’ near Gangnam Square.”

“Oh… Amazing!”

Although it has consumed a considerable amount of lifeforce, it can’t be helped. Creating a portal was necessary in order to let all guild members to freely enter the HQ as well as to allow the Internet, electricity, and radio waves to get through..

At first, Taylor, Ha Sun-young and Ye sa-hye only showed a lukewarm reaction, but three months later.

“I love it so much! I think it’s romantic!”

At the moment, all the necessary construction was almost completed. All the buildings inside the floating garden were already rebuilt into a modern style building. And Ye Sa-hye was the one who expressed her liking first.

After Ye Sa-hye, the other two also showed their approval through their expression.

“Hm…If it’s here, it’s perfect for training. There are no people, and you don’t have to worry about the noise.”

“Well, it’s more comfortable than the former union building.”

Ye Sa-hye said she wanted to work in a place like this, Ha Sun-young said it was a good place for training, and Taylor just liked the night view. It became a very good hideout.

There are still many things to attend to in the future such as building additional facilities, but there is no problem whatsoever because we wouldn’t run out of space anytime soon. All I needed to do was utilize all of the remaining space.

“Hey, Seodam. I am not a member of your guild, is it really okay to give me a pass?”

“Think of it as a love call.”

“This crazy guy. Do you know how long I have been in the Villain Hunter Alliance?”

“It’s a love call. Just think about it slowly.”

Taylor sighed, then said with a murderous smile.

“All right, you bastard. Once I go back from taking care of some housework, I will think about it.”

When Taylor said she was going back to Russia, I remembered Yekaterina. 

Since we even built a guild hideout, we could act as a real guild now. The half year that Yekaterina had promised was almost over, so it’s time to pick her up.

‘But, before that, I should go to America first.’

* * *

Washington, D.C. U.S.A

Seol Jungyeon was active in the United States as a leader of the New Murim League. A SSS rank superhuman who showed up with great ambition!

SSS rank superhumans had only appeared a few times. That was why Seol Jungyeon’s appearance drew a lot of public attention. Most of the SSS rank hunters that appeared before her were already in retirement even before they hunted and had never been interviewed on TV due to reasons such as unstable abilities or personality. 

Also, Seol Jungyeon didn’t shy away from the limelight. She revealed herself to the world and showed her presence strongly so that the world would recognize the existence of ‘Jungwon Murim’.

A world where people of Murim could freely operate without interference from any country.

Besides, it was good to show his face and act as well…

“···Master. There were also people outside.”

“Ugh….”

“Those damn things have come again.”

Thanks to her subjugation activity for the past few months, Seol Jungyeon was able to set up a large office in Washington, D.C. However, this place wasn’t free of troubles. People were camping outside to see a glimpse of her beauty.

With platinum hair that gives a gloomy feeling and pink eyes that look like lotus flowers, her appearance was very different yet mysterious and beautiful. On top of that, she is also a SSS rank Murim warrior as well as a DR. Isn’t she really the right girl to steal people’s hearts?

Head of Murim was a sacred position. The fact that the people of the Earth saw Seol Jungyeon as a celebrity made some Murim elders fume in rage. 

If it were before, the elders wouldn’t hesitate to kill any civilians because of their impudence. However, this was the modern era and they had to live according to the times. The elders didn’t have any choice but to endure. They were no longer people of Murim, but modern Murim.

“Let it go.”

As Seol Jungyeon said so with her tired eyes, Shin Hye-ji nodded her head. 

As a person who knows modern laws better than anyone here, she was following Seol Jungyeon under the instruction of Park Songho, who worked as the secretary of the new Murim league. And she was absolutely loyal to Seol Jungyeon’s words. She showed a strong willingness to really kill herself on the spot if Seol Jungyeon wished for it.

“They come here because they like me anyway…”

Outside the window, quite a few people were holding banners with Seol Jungyeon’s face printed on it. Some of them even screamed to make her look towards them,

Those people were commonly referred as ‘hardcore fans.’

“If Joongwon Murim became independent, we wouldn’t see them anymore….”

Unfortunately, people of Murim were scattered around the world because they could not be gathered and there was no place for them to gather.

It was an unavoidable reality. They just accepted it and lived.

And suddenly,

“Master. A guest has come.”

“Who is it?”

“He is hunter Yoo Seodam.”

“…..! Let him in.”

Yoo Seodam was someone who held the seat of New Murim League’s Military advisor. He had the authority to participate in any meeting. However, before the elders could even react, Seol Jungyeon let him in right after hearing his name. It was a rude gesture towards the elder and they expressed their disapproval and Seol Jungyeon also looked embarrassed. 

She realized she made a mistake.

“…I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

Yoo Seodam, who walked through the door, noticed that people inside the large conference hall were looking at him with ugly faces.

‘What’s wrong with them?’

Seol Jungyeon said in a subdued voice while pressing at her temple.

“Let’s finish here today. Elders please go back.”

“However, we have not yet decided on the participant of the upcoming SS Rank Great Rift and SS Rank Monster Subjugation .”

“You take care of it.”

“…..Yes? yes!”

As Seol Jungyeon, who seemed to be in a somewhat sour mood, slowly crushed the atmosphere with her qi. the elders glanced towards each other and walked out from the hall. However, Shin Hye-ji was still sticking to Seol Jungyeon without a change in her expression.

Seol Jungyeon also said to her.

“You have suffered a lot too. Go and relax a little.”

“Thank you.”

Eventually, once everyone left the conference hall and there were only two left, Yoo Seodam sighed while stealing a glance towards her.

“With what kind of look you are trying to kill a person….”

“Pheww…. it’s originally like this. By the way, for what purpose did you come?”

Seol Jungyeon’s mood had changed significantly from the previous one, she smiled gently and spoke to him. Yoo Seodam sat down across her.

“I heard that there are many troubles regarding the independence of Jungwon Murim.”

“…..right.”

Seol Jungyeon’s expression hardened slightly. However, Yoo seodam failed to notice it and continued.

“I think I can fix that for you. Perhaps, I could find an environment that resembles Jungwon Murim.”

“…Is there such a place in this world?”

“Yes. But it’s not exactly in this world, it’s in another world.”

“Huh?”

As Seol Jungyeon made an expression as if telling him to elaborate, Yoo Seodam explained to her.

“There’s a small bubble world that transcends dimensions, and it was located in a hidden space between worlds. Earthlings can’t see and recognize it.”

“….”

“Well…. Let’s say we turned the earth upside down. And there’s a very large place there. It’s a place no one has ever found and I can go there by creating a door. Is it awesome? Isn’t that great?”

“I like that.”

Seol Jungyeon couldn’t understand half of his words. However, the appearance of Yoo Seodam who eagerly explained it while moving his hand in the air was somehow interesting and cute. Seol Jungyeon simply listened to his explanation with her hand stuck on her chin.

“In any case, I’ll show it to you soon. Probably, if we put multiple exits, Murim people from all over the world can gather at any time.”

“…Yeah, thank you very much.”

Seol Jungyeon felt sincere gratitude for the consideration that Yoo Seodam showed even though she didn’t really understand his words. Anyway, what she could infer from his words was he would give Murim people a space for free activities.

Probably, the Murim people may be able to recover their minimum self-esteem and work as freely as before.

Of course, Yoo Seodam hadn’t yet found the space that could be used as the new Jungwon Murim. Therefore, he wanted to take Seol Jungyeon around to find a useful space. 

According to the system’s words, there are quite a lot of dead dimensions on earth.

The New Murim Alliance was also a part of Yoo Seodam’s force, so it would be great if he could help them to work freely.

After that, Yoo seodam elaborated more about the new space that would be used by the people of Murim. And after some time passed, both of them shut their mouths together to conclude the discussion.

After few moments of silence, Seol Jungyeon spoke,

“And. Do you have anything more to say?”

“Hm? About the monster subjugation request….”

“Not that.”

“Hmm…. For the re-establishment of martial arts in modern society…”

“Not that.”

“…..How is the weather today?”

“Not that.”

Seol Jungyeon got up from her seat and gradually approached Yo Seodam while gently sweeping the table. Then she put her hand on his chest and squeezed his face. Yoo seodam gulped when her face was only a breath away from him.

“Do you see me only as a Leader of Murim people?”

“Ah, no…?”

“I gave up the name Cheonma because of you. However, I lead a new Murim alliance for your sake, not for their sake. I am very grateful for all your help to Murim.”

Seol Jungyeon places her thighs on his lap. She was a pretty petite girl, Yoo seodam couldn’t feel any weight from her. 

“It’s been a long time since we met each other and you just talk about work. At least, when such talk is over, how about sharing a private story? What an unattractive man you are.”

“….Sorry.”

“Are you sure you’re really sorry?”

“Yes..”

Then Seol Jungyeon smiled brightly and hugged his neck.

Seol Jungyeon was someone who always had a cold expression wherever she went. However, that wasn’t the true form of Seol Jungyeon. Her cold, sharp, heavy, and gloomy expression was nothing but a façade.

It’s the duty of the strongest of the Murim alliance to maintain such a cold and heavy atmosphere. Because, by doing that, the seat of the Murim leader will not be insulted.

But when she came into a place where she could throw away all of those façade. A place where she wouldn’t have to care about anyone’s eyes looking at her.

“When I am with you, I am not the Master of Murim.”

“······.”

“I’m just Seol Jungyeon who burns in loneliness.”

She could throw away that façade at any time when she was there.