Chapter 57 Utopia (2)

Fahur, who had gone through the trial on the sixth floor three times, was said to be the top-ranked challenger here. Perhaps that was why the other challengers who were based here didn’t seem to have a high rank. However, the other party didn’t seem to think so.

“Hey, you must have a lot of guts? Thanks to you, I don’t have to waste time looking for you.”

“Shin Sang-hyun, don’t let your guard down. It’s scary, even if the information the hospital gave was half true. The team leader Lee Do-sung was killed without doing anything.”

“Uncle, don’t you know me? Don’t worry about it. And Lee Do-sung, I knew he’d end up like that one day. He didn’t even practice with his skills but always went drinking with the superiors.”

Of the hundred or so people who came out to meet him on the roof, there was a person in his early twenties who stood out as confident. His name was Shin Sang-hyun.

“I’m really curious. What floor have you reached to act up?”

Shin Sang-hyun, who walked out and stood in front of the crowd, suddenly asked Yoon-seok. Not feeling the need to justify himself, Yoon-seok remained silent. Perhaps he intended to brag; he babbled on.

“Oh, that’s why a noob like you won’t work. But you don’t know your place? I’m Shin Sang-hyun, a 10th-floor challenger. And unlike team leader Lee Do-sung, I’m an Explorer.”

After checking with Eyes of Truth, it was true that he was a tenth-floor challenger and an explorer. Yoon-seok’s brow furrowed. Aside from the fact that the number of floors was much higher than expected, the equipment Shin Sang-hyun was wearing seemed to have come from the Tower.

‘Can we bring along our original equipment once we get to the tenth floor?’

It was different from the swords taken from the challenger in the hospital. His was a sword made from modern manufacturing technology. But Shin Sang-hyun’s was different. The exterior was antique, and above all, he could feel magic radiating from the weapon.

“Ah, **. You’re not a dumbass, but why aren’t you answering? Anyway, all I have to say is, you’ve **ed up.”

Unlike the frivolous attitude, his floor was three higher than that of Yoon-seok. Plus, he was also armed with equipment from the Tower. No matter how easy explorations were compared to duels, he couldn’t let his guard down this time. But they would find out soon which side of them was the one in trouble.

Swoosh!

Shin Sang-hyun smirked and pointed his spear at Yoon-seok as he gathered energy on his sword.

“Sword energy? I guess it’s basic, though. Aura Spear.”

When he chanted the command, a dim light glowed on Shin Sang-hyun’s spear. Like Yoon-seok’s energy, he seemed to have learned the art of enhancing weapons using magic.

“What are you all doing? Not gearing up?”

When Shin Sang-hyun said something to his surroundings, the challengers began to scramble and chanted commands.

“Expansion!”

“Blessing of the Fire Spirit!”

“Strength!”

Was that why they were all gathered here in the first place? Dozens of buffering skills overlap in their cries. Shin Sang-hyun giggled as if he was high on drugs.

That was his last moment.

Slash!

His body, which had been emitting colorful auras due to the overlapping buffs, was split in half. Those who were watching the scene had question marks in their eyes. Did that just happen?

T-thud.

In their eyes, Shin Sang-hyun’s body split in two and slid to the floor. Everything came to an abrupt end.

“…”

If he had focused on his sword instead of giggling, he might have blocked the attack at least once. Then, if he had used his equipment or skills he hadn’t used yet, they might even have fought a serious battle.

But it was all a meaningless assumption.

Shin Sang-hyun somehow looked down on Yoon-seok’s skills and let his guard down. On the other hand, Yoon-seok didn’t miss the moment when an opening was visible and went all out.

Whoosh!

The air became far colder. Then suddenly, a fragmented light particle began to emerge from the body that had been split in half. When he looked closer, Shin Sang-hyun’s equipment crumbled and was floating up.

‘Does it mean that items taken from the Tower will not remain?’

It was a very alluring and beautiful scene, but at the same time, it was a spine-chilling sight for a challenger like Yoon-seok. He didn’t know where it was headed, but the fragmented light particles rose into the sky and soon disappeared from view.

“…”

Yoon-seok quietly lowered his gaze from the sky. More than a hundred people on the rooftop ran away as soon as Shin Sang-hyun was cut in half. Yoon-seok didn’t run to catch them. No one could escape without Yoon-seok’s permission anyway.

So there was no need to rush.

「Returning in 21.42.13.」

There was still plenty of time left. Yoon-seok shielded his parents’ bodies with energy. Then he hoisted them in the air and carried them behind him. Although it’s uncomfortable since he had to always look back, there were no other better alternatives. It was impossible to leave his unconscious parents here.

After all, it was safer to keep them next to him.

Thump. Thump.

Yoon-seok slowly went down the stairs and scanned one floor at a time. All floors were well-lit with no sign of life. But he was neither nervous nor in a hurry. He could predict where they would be.

As expected, about three hundred people were standing in front of the entrance when he arrived on the first floor.

“H-here he comes! T-the monster is here!”

“What are you doing? Why are you not stopping him!”

The ratio of ordinary people to challengers was half and half. It was a high-ranked ordinary person who shouted. As Yoon-seok reached the first floor and a commotion erupted, a middle-aged bald man stepped in front of him.

“I am Han Jung-hyeok, the Minister of Challenger Management Department. You’re Choi Yoon-seok, right?”

He was calm even in this situation. He didn’t know if it was pretending, but at least that was what he looked like on the surface. Maybe he didn’t realize it since he hadn’t seen Yoon-seok slaughtering people himself.

“…”

Yoon-seok just looked at Han Jung-hyeok. He’d seen him on TV a few times. He used to be a minister of something else, but he didn’t expect him to be in charge of a secret place like this. So, after all, this guy might be the one in charge here…

Apart from the enthusiasm of working at the headquarters until this late hour, he would be responsible for what had happened so far.

“I heard you asked our agents to confess their sins.”

When Yoon-seok only looked at him without answering, Han Jung-hyeok grew increasingly nervous. He opened his mouth calmly, however.

“I’ll be honest with you. What do you want?”

Han Jung-hyeok had received a real-time report on the progress of the incident and sincerely couldn’t understand Yoon-seok’s behavior. This question would not have arisen if it were revenge for hurting his parents. But Yoon-seok forced the agents to confess their sins and be judged for them. It was the behavior of someone acting in their interest.

Then, what did Yoon-seok get from this? Han Jung-hyeok thought if he knew, he would be able to solve the current situation smoothly.

Foolishly.

“Those who deserve to die shall die; those who live shall live.”

“…?”

“That’s the only thing I want from you guys.”

Were the madmen that deserved the most fear the ones with faith?

Han Jung-hyeok was at a loss for words. There was no room for compromise in Yoon-seok’s dull voice. Han Jung-hyuk hurriedly continued.

“It’s our fault that we hurt your parents, so we’ll stop what’s been happening. There will be no revenge, and if you want, we’ll help you settle. It’s okay to go overseas. No one will stop you. So let’s end things here.”

Although there was no guarantee that the promise would be kept, it was an unexceptionally good offer since they would make everything Yoon-seok had done so far go away.

But Yoon-seok snorted. Who the hell was he to tell him when to stop?

“Have you sinned so much? Is that why you’re so scared of me?”

Flinching, he answered Yoon-seok’s question as if he was insulted.

“…Please refrain from baseless slander. I’ve come up to this position with integrity.”

“Then you don’t have to be afraid of me.”

Yoon-seok took a step forward as if he was glad, but Han Jung-hyeok’s face lost color as he shouted in a hurry.

“B-but!”

“…?”

“But these people can be different. Some may have committed crimes before. But everyone here has friends and family. Do you have to see blood?”

As he said before, those who deserve to die would die, and those who do not will live. It didn’t matter if they had family and friends who valued them.

“…”

Seeing how Yoon-seok was readying to swing his sword at any moment, Han Jung-hyeok became more desperate and abandoned his emotional appeal strategy.

“Choi Yoon-seok, we can all look like bad guys to you. No, I admit that some of us are. But without us, Korea will be in extreme danger!”

Yoon-seok stared at Han Jung-hyeok without saying a word, wondering what the hell he was babbling about. However, Han Jung-hyeok raised his voice even more because he thought he was curious about what he said.

“If we are gone, who will stop the invaders who might appear one day? Who’s going to deal with the crimes committed by the new unregistered challengers? The challenger is the core of the future state of affairs. If we disappear, Korea will suffer a huge loss in national diplomacy. It will be the people who bear the loss!”

Was it because he was a politician? Han Jung-hyeok expressed his flamboyant words with great enthusiasm. Yoon-seok laughed when he said that challengers were the core of the future state of affairs. Wasn’t it ironic that he was the one in charge despite knowing that?

“Is that an excuse for kidnapping my parents?”

Han Jung-hyeok nodded at Yoon-seok’s question.

“I admit it was an oppressive tactic. But the invaders continued to grow stronger, and an even bigger incident might happen compared to now. So I, Han Jung-hyeok, chose a great cause over my morals. To protect this country! To save more people! Are you saying this is wrong?”

If he hadn’t seen the hospital in person, he wouldn’t have known. Yoon-seok felt that it was just an empty load of bull**. Great cause over morality? So suppressing so many challengers wasn’t just about making money from the rich?

It was ridiculous.

“Stop.”

Boom, boom, boom-!

Yoon-seok destroyed the entrance to the building. Lady’s Commandment couldn’t lock them in the building, so he had to do it physically.

「By Lady’s Commandment, all beings within the realm cannot lie.」

Even though it was a lengthy persuasion, Han Jung-hyeok argued that they were a necessary evil. Soon, he would find out. Whether these people were necessary evils or social evils that should be dealt with soon.

For some reason, Yoon-seok felt he knew the answer already.