Chapter 116

The World's Crazies

“If you're looking forward to it, then I am too, Liam.”

Andrew Bailey's eyes darkened as he brushed back a few strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead and looked at Liam, who was humming.

Liam White. The next guildmaster of Baldur Guild, one of the major guilds in the United States. He is also the successor to the renowned White Corporation.

In the United States, major guilds operated like global corporations. Unlike in Korea, where guilds are typically supported by large corporations, American corporations actively developed their guilds from the outset.

They recognized guilds as another type of business even in chaotic situations. They likely viewed them as just another subsidiary—a profitable entity that could generate revenue while improving their image by ensuring public safety.

However, thanks to the active investment of companies in guilds, the United States was able to stabilise in a short time. This influence spread across the globe. Regardless of their intentions, it was evident that it provided benefits to people worldwide.

‘Well, I also benefited a lot from that.'

Andrew Bailey was once a young man with nothing, but he has now awakened as an A-rank hunter and has been assigned to assist Liam White, the heir to the White Corporation. His mission is to protect the naive young master, who knows little about the world, and ensure his safe return to the United States.

"I'm particularly curious about this person."

"..."

"I wonder what he’s like."

Liam tapped on the tablet screen as he spoke to himself. Andrew glanced at the tablet screen again with curiosity. Liam was fixated on the same YouTube video he had watched hundreds of times with a bright expression on his face.

‘Han... Yi-jin.’

Thanks to translation items, people around the world can now communicate without language barriers, but pronouncing names from other countries remains challenging.

However, compared to others, this name was relatively easier to pronounce. Andrew secretly practised his pronunciation by muttering the unfamiliar name to himself several times.

"I'm looking forward to it. The major guilds from other countries will probably gather this time, right?"

"Yes... That's right."

In addition to the Baldur Guild from the United States, the Ur Guild from the EU, the Skadi Guild from Russia, and the Vali Guild from China are all heading to Korea to conquer the final dungeon. This marks the first time in five years that major guilds from around the world have gathered in one place since the gate opened.

"I'm really looking forward to it."

"..."

Liam’s eyes sparkled like a child’s, completely unaware of what lay ahead. Andrew looked at him with a hint of weariness.

Liam White was a man whose behaviour often strayed from the norm—sometimes just a little, but other times quite a lot. This was likely due to his upbringing as the heir to the White Corporation, which set him apart from others since childhood. Occasionally, his actions went too far, making him seem as if he lacked common sense.

‘Will it be fine?’

Andrew was already worried after facing many hardships alongside him. But there was nothing he could do about it now. The die had already been cast and they were on the private plane heading to Korea.

‘I just want to return alive and feed my kids.’

Andrew rubbed his tired eyes with his hands as he remembered the pets he had left at his friend's house. He hoped they would safely clear the final dungeon that the Prophet had made such a fuss about and prayed that the young master beside him, who lacked common sense, would not cause too much trouble.

“...?”

However, Park Yoon-sung's reaction to my story was somewhat unusual. I anticipated a stronger response, but he merely nodded once and said nothing more. When I glanced at him in confusion, Park Yoon-sung spoke again with a serious expression.

"From now on, the dungeon rating anomalies will decrease. Thanks to your hard work, most of the large dungeons have stabilised. However...”

“However?”

“...The Prophet has made another prophecy.”

“Ah...!”

Delia Clemens, known as the Prophet, is the Guildmaster of the Norn Guild and its sole member. However, no one dares to disrespect her because her prophecies are real.

Nobody knows whether her prophecy is a skill or an innate ability, nor how it functions. In fact, no one has ever seen her true face, leaving it unclear if ‘Delia Clemens' is even her actual name.

The author has kept the existence of the Prophet a secret, likely believing this would enhance the air of mystery. However, as the possessor, I found the Prophet’s existence incredibly suspicious.

I couldn’t openly voice my suspicions about the Prophet, whom most characters believed in, so I glanced at Park Yoon-sung while trying to hide my skepticism as best as I could.

“What did she say?”

“...She said the final dungeon will soon open in Korea.”

“What...?”

A question mark floated in my mind for a moment. What? The final dungeon? The one filled with plot hooks that seemed poised to wrap up the novel? That dungeon with an immeasurable rank that hadn’t even appeared in what I read?

"I hope you will participate in the Primordial Dungeon expedition once you are fully prepared."

“No, that's...”

I was taken aback. Well, the story had already changed drastically since I possessed the character and stirred things up, but I was still puzzled that the dungeon meant to open near the end of the novel would appear so soon. Then I recalled the scene I had witnessed in Yggdrasil's Essence.

‘Chapter: Epilogue. Ragnarok.’

‘You have read the last page.'

The system window clearly stated that it was the finale, the last scene of the novel. A catastrophic ending, to be precise. It appeared that the main characters had failed to clear the Primordial Dungeon within the novel’s context.

“Hunter Han Yi-jin...?”

“Ah.”

As I broke out in a cold sweat and fell silent, Park Yoon-sung looked at me with a puzzled expression. I swallowed hard and met his gaze, unsure of what to say.

Should I tell him about the scene of destruction I saw? Unlike the Prophet, I didn’t possess any prophetic skills—would he even believe me?

Wouldn’t he just dismiss my words as nonsense? After a moment of hesitation, I finally opened my mouth to speak to Park Yoon-sung.