Chapter 19 (1/2): So, who’s the rat trapped in the poison now?

At the very center of the current world, the proud head of Japan—the powerhouse among the Four Greats—had finally bowed.  

This news, delivered by a Knight and broadcast live at a press conference, quickly drew Awakener from South Korea flocking to the Awakened Bamboo Grove.  

—Shout out: God Siwon!  

—I have no doubts.  

—Heaven to those who believe, hell to those who doubt!  

—God Siwon, if only you weren’t here…  

—Please, just 3 centimeters!  

—Originally, I was wary of Kim Si-won, thought he was just a loudmouth flexing his strength… but shout out God Siwon!  

—Did you see those Jap bastards tailing off? Never thought I’d live to see this day!  

The atmosphere now was completely different from when weekly rewards were given.  

Back then, Kim Si-won had a reputation as a troublemaker, drawing criticism.  

Now?  

Not at all!  

He was being praised nonstop.  

Of course, there were still a few who begrudged him, like the saying goes—”even if your cousin buys land, you get jealous.”  

– No way the Great Japan would back down just because of a bastard. They conceded only after confirming the imposter’s audacity. Damn this bastard never learn. If Japan had kept ruling here, no one would be calling this Hell , and we’d all live in peace.  

—Netwanyong has arrived!  

—Make way, you lowly trash. Huh? It’s me.  

—Ugh, bastard. Impostor my ass. He tried to kidnap me but got wiped out because he was too strong.  

—Great Japan? To a nobody? Ridiculous.  

—That Great Japan can’t climb the Tower for three days, right? Scared shitless of God Siwon, speechless, huh?  

—(Comment hidden)  

—Kkkkkkk.  

Of course, the moment this post went up, the God Siwon faction grew rapidly and all their souls got totally sucked dry.  

What this one case showed was clear: despite his previous exploits, the widespread dissatisfaction with Kim Si-won had begun to fade.  

What was once a sharply divided public opinion had now shifted overwhelmingly to support him.  

But still—  

—What the hell is wrong with the government? Seriously handing over their own citizens?  

—Yeah. They just growled once to scare us, and the dogs got scared and willingly handed them over. At least investigate what happened first. Selling out your own people because of Japan’s word? That’s class right there!  

—I never felt ashamed to be Korean before, but yesterday was really embarrassing.  

—There’s a reason people call him bastard.  

—The government’s bad enough, but that Shinhwa Guild scum too? What? Actively cooperating with the government? Bullshit.  

Criticism against the government, who bowed to Japan, and the Shinhwa Guild was fierce.  

It couldn’t be helped.  

It wasn’t just any country involved, but Japan!  

Japan—an uncomfortable nation.  

There were longstanding bitter ties from the past, but ever since becoming an Awakening powerhouse, they had openly pushed their illegal occupation of Dokdo, the comfort women issue, and historical distortions of the independence movement.  

Until now, we endured.  

We understood the government’s bowed head.  

Because there was no other way.

Japan was one of the Four Greats, a world-leading Awakening power.  

In a world ruled by the logic of strength, South Korea simply couldn’t stand against Japan.  

But those grievances had quietly piled up.  

Then this incident exploded.  

Kim Si-won’s sharp and clear warning to Japan, cutting through the long-standing blockage.  

The government and Shinhwa Guild’s announcement to the media that they would immediately hand over their citizens at Japan’s word.  

There was no need to debate who was right or just.  

As Kim Si-won and his God Siwon faction surged wildly,

—Do you think it’ll be okay? They just cleared the 4th floor, and now it’s the 5th floor.  

—True. The 5th floor marks the start of the Union Floor. No one will want to form a party because they’re all watching Shinhwa Guild’s every move.  

—Maybe they’ll lower the difficulty by one or two levels this time? No one wants to get hurt by trying stubbornly.  

—Yeah, that’d be better, but the Union Floor rewards are insane. Kind of a shame.  

The floor Kim Si-won had to challenge next was the 5th floor, the Union Floor, where parties were mandatory.  

Yet, Awakeners still under the overwhelming influence of Shinhwa Guild wouldn’t dare party up with him.  

That would be a death sentence.  

Because recently, the government and Shinhwa Guild’s moves to capture Kim Si-won had become increasingly aggressive.  

In this anonymous place, they could cheer for God Siwon, but in reality?

Impossible.  

Even if that wasn’t the case, no one would willingly challenge a Very Hard difficulty level.  

The Union Floor was notoriously brutal even at normal difficulty.  

A Very Hard difficulty on top of that?  

No one valuing their life would dare attempt it.  

Everyone expected Kim Si-won to go for either Hard or Normal difficulty this time, not Very Hard.  

***

I know what the world thinks.  

Because the Union Floor is notoriously hard even on Normal, everyone assumes the difficulty will be lowered this time.  

Frankly, I don’t care what they say.  

But one thing is certain.

Their prediction is wrong.  

Because if it’s not Very Hard, it’s not worth conquering.  

You can’t claim dominion over the floor, nor obtain the Forgotten Knight’s Package.  

For me, Easy, Normal, or Hard are practically the same—non-difficult levels.  

Even if it means risking my life, I must conquer the Very Hard difficulty.  

But that’s easier said than done.  

A soft rustle.  

I lifted my head and looked straight ahead, scanning a fairly distant spot.  

What came into view, beyond human reach, was the Tower standing tall toward the sky, surrounded densely by personnel.  

The emblem on their chests?

The Shinhwa Guild.  

“They’ve made up their minds.”  

As expected.  

Those weakened by the Stat Reduction Ticket guarded the Tower’s surroundings fiercely.  

Their goal was to stop me from entering.  

If I can’t enter the Tower, I can’t get the rewards.  

Cutting off the supply of attack tools like tickets also blocks my growth.  

Sure, I could move using Entrance Tickets like before, but those are consumables, not unlimited.  

There aren’t many left anyway, considering they only managed to clear the 4th floor recently.  

And after several recent attempts, all had been exhausted.  

I had no choice but to enter through the Tower’s main entrance.  

That meant breaking through their tight siege.  

It might have been tough a while ago.  

But now—  

[Dive of Shadows ]  

A faint light glimmered from the armor I wore.  

“Sssslip.”  

My body blended into the surroundings, vanishing without a trace.  

“I was lucky. Getting another Attendant’s Armor on the 4th floor.”  

One of the rewards from clearing Japan’s 4th floor was the Attendant’s Armor.  

Owning duplicate equipment, it was now upgraded to Knight Armor.  

That armor was Umbra.  

The same armor used when the Malice Family was annihilated.  

Rapid and Umbra.  

Having obtained two Knight Swords and armor, I was fully equipped with the weapons once wielded by Malice Paladino.  

Moreover—  

“Is the power similar?”  

6% of my prime.  

That level was comparable to when I first earned the Knight rank as Malice Paladino.  

Holding the exact same weapons and strength as back then.  

Somehow, it didn’t seem like a coincidence.  

“Doesn’t matter.”  

Even if all of this is someone’s scheme, I don’t care.  

If I can make those connected to my revenge and Ha Yeon Lee suffer the destruction and pain I endured, I’d gladly make a pact with the devil.  

Even if it means falling to hell, burning forever in the flames, my resolve will never change.  

Thanks to the power within Umbra, I erased my traces.