Chapter 101: The Rampaging Great Guardian

I was living an ordinary life.

When I opened my eyes in the morning, I’d dash off to school for classes, then chat and play with friends over lunch.

In the afternoon, I worked a part-time job—such was my daily routine.

“One iced Americano, one matcha latte, and a Devil’s Chocolate Cake, please.”

“Yes.”

Won Taerang pressed the ground coffee firmly into the machine and took a chocolate cake from the display case to prepare the order.

“Honey.”

“Oh, you’re here? I’ve already placed the order.”

“Really?”

They seemed happy just to look at each other.

I let out a sigh as I watched the affectionate couple.

“Sigh.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Of course I am.”

Without realizing it, Won Taerang answered, then quickly turned his head.

A customer was standing at the counter.

A man with a perfectly normal appearance smiled at him.

“Ah… Please wait just a moment. I’ll finish preparing this and take your order.”

Realizing he’d responded to a stranger’s question made Won Taerang’s face flush.

Sheesh.

So embarrassing.

He swallowed his feelings, hurriedly finished up, and moved to the new customer.

“Would you like to order?”

“One iced Americano.”

“I’ll have that ready right away.”

“Take your time, I’ve got plenty of it.”

The customer stood at the counter, watching Won Taerang the whole time.

Feeling uncomfortable under the gaze, Won Taerang awkwardly pressed the ground coffee.

“So, you want to make lots of money, get a pretty girlfriend, things like that?”

“Well. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Hahaha.”

Won Taerang glanced away and clenched his teeth.

“But why not become a Hunter? If you did, you’d make a lot of money, and women would be lining up.”

“I don’t have any talent.”

“What? No talent? Who? You?”

The man’s genuinely shocked expression made Won Taerang scratch his head awkwardly.

“I took the test at the Association, but I failed because I wasn’t qualified.”

“So you must have awakened after that.”

“Huh?”

“Let me see your hand for a second.”

As Won Taerang hesitated at the stranger’s request, the customer lifted his own hand first.

Crackle!

Ice crystals formed at his fingertips.

Magic.

Only Hunters could use magic like that.

“Uh… Are you a Hunter?”

“Now do you believe me? Give me your hand.”

I always wanted to become a Hunter.

Every time I dreamed, it was of becoming a Hunter.

With a trembling heart, Won Taerang reached out his hand.

A tingling sensation, something new coursed through him.

And then, something was created.

Water from around him flowed into his hand and froze. Pure white frost spread out, forming a blossom of ice.

[You have learned Ice Magic.]

[You have awakened your Status Window.]

Staring at the message before his eyes, Won Taerang was speechless.

“Whaaaaaat!”

He inhaled so sharply he nearly choked.

Seeing Won Taerang’s reaction, the man curled his lips up.

“See, you do have talent.”

“Wh-who are you?”

The man drew closer to Won Taerang.

He whispered quietly into his ear.

“Imemaengnyang, the Dokkaebi’s direct organization.”

“Gasp! Why would I—”

“We’re gathering talented people.”

While Won Taerang stared at him, covering his mouth, the man took something out and handed it over.

“Here, a gift for joining. Go ahead, open it.”

What he handed over was a small box. Won Taerang took it, heart pounding, and opened it right away.

Flash!

A brilliant white light burst out.

“Ugh!”

Shielding his eyes in panic, he opened them again to find himself in an unfamiliar place.

A dark cave.

A pitch-black place where not even a sliver of light entered.

“Um… Hello?”

“Is anyone here?”

No matter what he said, there was no answer. A strange, indescribable sensation made his body tremble.

Soon, the cold seeped into his fingertips and toes.

As his eyes began to close from the chill,

A new message appeared before him.

[You failed the Retest imposed by the Sealed Sacred Relic Box.]

[The Guardian of the Great Lord who resides within the sacred relic descends into reality.]

Suddenly feeling warmth, he looked around and found himself back in the café.

“Uh… Huh?”

Relief at surviving was short-lived.

Something caught Won Taerang’s eye.

A massive giant with four arms let out a deafening roar, tearing at the very air.

“Gooooooo!”

At the sound, everyone nearby clamped their hands over their ears and collapsed to the ground.

Cracks began forming in the building.

“…Ah …ah.”

Realizing all this was happening because of him, Won Taerang’s hands trembled in fear.

What have I done?

I… I only opened a box.

Boom!

Kaboom!

Explosions erupted everywhere, people fell, and some were hurt.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

“…P-please save me.”

Biting his lip hard as the university district turned into chaos.

When the buildings, riddled with cracks, seemed on the verge of collapse—

Flash!

Clad in golden robes, figures appeared with pure white light.

“Evacuate the citizens as your top priority.”

They cast spells to prop up the collapsing buildings and helped evacuate injured or immobilized civilians.

“…I’m sorry. I… I…”

“It’s alright.”

A warm voice whispered in Won Taerang’s ear.

“When you open your eyes again, you’ll forget it all.”

Guardian of the Great Lord.

I had faced them many times while conquering the Sealed Sacred Relic Box, but each time a different one appeared.

The one before my eyes was no different.

A giant with four arms.

Each arm wielded a weapon.

Two swords and two shields.

But this one felt different from the Guardians I’d faced before.

[Activating Golden Dragon Eye.]

[Clone of the Great Guardian (??)]

-A clone of the Guardian who once served the Dragon Lord. Its soul is no longer present.

-In a berserk state.

-Total Stats: ???

-Potential: SS

-Possessed Items: Dragon Bone Sword, Dragon Bone Shield.

-Possessed Skills: Dragon Lord’s Blessing (SS), Overwhelm (S)… Magic Resistance (SS), Physical Resistance (SS), Mana’s Blessing (SS).

The phrase ‘in a berserk state’ had been added.

A state where will is lost, destructive instinct is amplified, and strength is doubled or more.

‘At least twice as strong, huh.’

The reason the rank and stats were question marks was likely because they couldn’t be measured.

“Goooooo!”

With a roar, the protective spells I’d set up beforehand all shattered to pieces.

Without protection, ordinary people were injured.

‘For now…’

Rather than dealing with the Guardian clone, stopping civilian casualties took priority.

Fortunately, there was a way.

With the tower’s recent level-up, I’d gained a skill. Just as I could Summon Guardian, I could now summon mages of the Golden Tower.

“Summon Golden Tower.”

With a flash of white light, the mages of the Golden Tower appeared.

I gave instructions to Yoo Seolha, Master of the Tower.

“Evacuate everyone for now. I’ll hold this one off.”

“Understood.”

Yoo Seolha led the mages in evacuating the citizens scattered throughout the area.

I focused back on the Guardian’s clone.

On its shoulder sat a Lower Apostle, smiling broadly.

“Kill.”

At the Lower Apostle’s command, the Great Guardian moved. It crossed its swords, gathering mana, then swung them down.

A cross-shaped sword aura surged forth with a mighty gust.

“Absolute Barrier.”

I spent mana to conjure a massive shield, blocking the attack.

Boom!

The attack was stopped, but the shockwave swept the area. Several Golden Tower mages and civilians were caught in the aftermath.

It was too early for an all-out war with all the Guardians.

If only I could use large-scale teleportation to send all the civilians away…

But they wouldn’t give me the time to prepare.

For now, I had to hold off the Guardian.

And hope the mages of the Golden Tower did their job.

“How is it? My creation? A masterpiece, right?”

With a flick of the Lower Apostle’s hand, the Great Guardian slashed its swords, sending buildings flying.

Boom!

Crash!

Like smashing sandcastles.

Buildings crumbled with ease.

Letting it move any further would be dangerous.

I cast a spell at the Great Guardian.

“Ice Maiden.”

A fierce wind of frost enveloped the Guardian, forming a coffin made of frozen dolls.

Crackle!

Chains of ice appeared, wrapping the coffin tight.

But—

Boom!

The ice coffin burst apart into powder.

From within, the Great Guardian swung its swords wildly.

To stop the Guardian from destroying everything, I poured out mana without holding back.

If it could even hesitate for a moment, I spared no effort.

“So, you’re stalling for time? Letting those people all escape?”

“……”

“As if I’d just stand here and watch?”

The Lower Apostle smiled, placing a hand on the Great Guardian’s head. Its gooey body slipped into the Guardian’s skull.

The Great Guardian paused for a moment.

Then, after a brief silence, it snapped its eyes open and curled its lips up.

“The first Hunter can aim for a worthless successor. The second one’s abilities are known, so they plan accordingly and hunt. The fourth can see the big picture. That’s why the third’s order is so ambiguous. Lower Apostles usually can’t handle it. They just end up dead.”

“……”

“So I figured I’d just die pointlessly… But now I have a chance? You must be something special, huh? If the Dragon Gods all agreed to give this chance.”

“Am I really?”

“Heheheheh. A sharp awl will pierce through any pocket. You overdid it. That’s why you’ll die.”

With a wicked laugh, it swung its swords.

A violent sword wind spread in all directions.

“Everyone’s evacuated!”

Right then, Yoo Seolha’s voice came, and I let out a short breath.

Now, the turn was mine.

“Summon Guardian.”

On the devastated ground, all the Guardians were summoned.

The Guardians appearing around me all stared down the Great Guardian.

【You called for us.】

A dependable Orc.

【Wow, electrifying! What’s that thing?】

Leah, still excited for battle.

【I… was eating…】

Pedrias, disappointed.

【Hey, Pedrias. Why do you always bash me, but with her it’s… huh?】

Rynne, full of jealousy.

【Cheon Yongje-nim, let’s talk later. Privately.】

And Irellin, smiling but not really smiling.

Anne and Ropenheim were currently undergoing treatment and couldn’t be called. The Giant Tribe lord was also recovering, and the Goblin was still in training.

This was the best I had available.

But with the mages of the Golden Tower as well, it should be enough to hunt that thing.

“Buy as much time as you can.”

【Understood.】

【Got it.】

…

…

【Sure.】

“Oh, Rynne, come over here a second.”

I called the Vampire Lord over to drink my blood.

【I-I’m getting drunk!】

With blood in her veins, fear vanished from Rynne’s face as she charged at the Great Guardian.

Whew.

With just these Guardians, killing the Great Guardian was impossible.

In berserk mode, with a Lower Apostle merged in.

To finish it for sure, I needed a spell to match.

[Using Transcendence.]