Chapter 11: Everything Related to the Shinhwa Guild

“You…!”  

In the end, the mask that had been held up all this time shattered.  

The face behind the broken mask was cold, filled with an arrogance that seemed to look down on everyone else.  

That figures.  

From the very first appearance until now, he had always been at the top.  

The moment he realized he was special, other people must have ceased to be seen as equals.  

They were nothing more than inferior beings to be dominated.  

But he had no choice but to hide that nature and keep up the act.  

He had to capture me—someone who had cleared a very difficult floor—no matter what.  

Still, I can guarantee this.  

‘He must have tried to dominate me and use me as a pawn for his own purposes.’  

At first, he acted as if he would give up his liver and gallbladder for me, but well.  

How long can a pathological personality born to dominate others keep up such behavior?  

He must have pulled every trick to make my information and power his own.  

Hypnosis, brainwashing, or any coercive method imaginable.  

But I saw right through it.  

For hundreds of years.  

Hundreds of years of rolling among people, I could read the hearts behind their expressions and gestures.  

To me, acting?  

It was useless against someone who could see right into his soul.  

The main reason I refused his sweet offer was Ha Yeon Lee, but his nature also played a part.  

…So, this is how he’s going to come at me, huh?  

All respect and politeness were gone.  

The man, now showing his true nature, glared at me with a face void of any emotion.  

His hand moved toward his waist.  

“Planning to have a match?”  

What was visible at his waist was a sword.  

Could anyone not understand what it meant when a renowned swordsman like him drew his blade?  

No answer came.  

Indeed, Chulwoo Shin.  

South Korea’s top Breaker and guildmaster of the powerful Shinhwa Guild.  

Even though so many people were gathered around, including reporters, he still intended to use his hands.  

He was confident.  

No matter how many people were present, he could silence their voices.  

Well.  

At least in South Korea, he wielded the power and authority to turn cats into dogs.  

Knowing that,  I was the same.

“If you can, then by all means.”  

I gripped the Knight Sword in my hand with force.  

“Buzz!  “

Not a faint glow, but a vivid light radiated from the emblem.  

It wasn’t just light.  

[Strength Enhancement]

[Swiftness]

Although it was a servant’s weapon, it bestowed several special powers just like an official Knight Sword.  

The abilities I activated just now were Strength Enhancement and Swiftness.  

They compensated for what might have been lacking in my skills.  

And then.  

“Sleek.”  

I naturally bent my lower body and straightened my upper body, taking a stance ready to strike at any moment.  

If I still had my full power from when I was at the top of the Knights, I wouldn’t even need to take a stance—I could maintain an optimal state anytime.  

But unfortunately, that wasn’t the case now.  

I needed a drawing stance, and because of that, I turned the surrounding area into a gap for my attack.  

That was the Domain of Gong.  

Though its level wasn’t very high, it formed a perimeter about two meters around me, and at that moment,  Chulwoo Shin’s expression, as cold as ice, changed.  

‘Did he feel it? No, that damn System must have told him.’  

Awakeners receive help from a System.  

There are various types.  

Status Windows that quantify their abilities.  

Alerts for Buffs and Debuffs.  

The Domain of Gong must have sent him a warning, like a Debuff.  

‘What a totally broken ability.’  

Friendly guidance every time the situation changed.  

What a convenient, practical, and amazing power.  

If I had such System support, I wouldn’t have had to struggle for hundreds of years.  

Unfortunately, as a non-Awakener, I couldn’t rely on such a System.  

But does that mean I’m weak? Not at all.  

Even just by watching Chulwoo Shin’s hesitant movements, it was clear.  

He stepped inside my Domain of Gong, into that gap.  

That was like stepping into a deadly trap, and his System must have been warning him of this.  

Of course, as someone at the pinnacle of a nation, he wouldn’t be easily defeated, but he couldn’t be sure he’d get through without any harm.  

That was why.  

“Enough…….”  

He seemed ready to back down, opening his mouth to say so, but  

“Kill him!”  

Ha Yeon Lee cut in.  

“If he’s only going to be useless and just a hindrance, then just kill him right here.”  

She spoke without hesitation, despite my watchful eyes and ears.  

“You clueless bastard. I gave you a chance, and you just kick it away like this? Moron. That’s why you got dumped.”  

Was she always like this?  

Or did she change the moment she gained power and authority?  

I don’t know which came first, but one thing was clear.  

She must have struggled to hide her true nature all this time.  

There’s a saying that position makes the person.  

But I don’t think that’s true.  

People make the position.  

She, Ha Yeon Lee, must have always had a ruthless streak.  

The moment she grasped omnipotent power, her hidden nature must have come forth.  

In that sense, they were strangely alike.  

‘This must be what they call a match made in heaven.’  

Chulwoo Shin and Ha Yeon Lee.  

Both are utterly arrogant and disdainful.  

That’s their shared trait.  

If you call this a fated meeting, a match made in heaven, it fits.  

The only difference was that one sensed the danger while the other was clueless.  

“What are you doing? Just finish him off to avoid future trouble…….”  

She whispered toward the hesitant Chulwoo Shin.  

But.  

“Shut up.”  

A low voice poured out from the opened mouth.  

“W-what? beother, you’re…?”  

“If you don’t know anything, stay out of it.”  

If he had the chance to intervene, he would have done so already.  

But Chulwoo Shin had no intention of risking his own loss to start a fight.  

Unless it was something trivial, especially not if it could mean losing a limb.  

“There are too many eyes watching, so stop here.”  

The same man who moments ago was full of murderous intent now shamelessly said this.  

Along with that,  he withdrew his hand from the sword.  

Only after seeing that action, I released the Domain of Gong.  

‘…That was exhausting.’  

My breath caught in my throat.  

The Domain of Gong required intense concentration.  

If I were still at my peak, I could have used it effortlessly like breathing, but now, even maintaining it was a struggle.  

If I hadn’t gained some strength from the First Floor, I would have been in danger.  

That strength from the First Floor made this possible.  

If I hadn’t obtained it, the bottom would have been exposed right now, and I would have been in trouble.  

“I’m leaving.”  

After giving orders to the Shinhwa Guild members nearby, Chulwoo Shin turned away.  

There was no way left to persuade him (hostility had only increased), so he had no choice but to retreat.  

And then while retreating, Ha Yeon Lee stared at me with a face twisted like a demon.  

I could feel the grudge and hatred in her expression as if she wanted to devour me right then and there.  

What an interesting world.  

She dares to show such a face to me, who had to spend a year filled with pain and despair because of her.  

Well.  

That’s why she could shamelessly carry out such acts.  

***

‘She’s all fired up now, but how long will it last?’  

I’m glad.  

That she’s still on top right now.  

How miserable would it be if she fell from the top to the bottom?  

Losing what you once had is the most terrifying thing.  

‘Just wait a little longer.’  

And I can say with certainty that day isn’t far off.  

South Korea, a minor Awakener nation.  

Because of that, major events and achievements that attract global attention could only happen in countries like the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and so on.  

Thanks to that, South Korea had remained quiet without any special incidents.  

But today, an unprecedented, incredible event occurred that no one could have predicted.  

The world’s first!

The Wall of Lamentation, a very difficult floor no one was allowed to clear, has fallen!  

Despite countless attempts, no one succeeded.

Even those called the world’s greatest Awakeners had to shake their heads at this incomprehensible challenge.  

But finally, the barrier was breached.  

Of course, it was only a matter of time before the wall fell.  

It happened sooner than expected, but what was even more astonishing was this fact.  

[The first Awakener to clear the very difficult floor is an Awakener from South Korea.]  

Kim Si-won, the Awakener who appeared like a comet, but who was he?  

It was astounding that the one who succeeded in clearing the very difficult floor was a South Korean Awakener.  

Since ancient times, South Korea had been known as a nation thirsty for world-class achievements, often called “national pride.”  

Yes.  

Producing outstanding athletes in unique fields helped fill that pride, but recently, that had become difficult.  

That was inevitable since the country failed to respond swiftly to changes and missed its chance to advance.  

Awakening powerhouses like the United States, Russia, China, and Japan monopolized all achievements, and the gap grew larger over time instead of closing.  

While some still believed in the myth of a dragon rising from a small stream, at least in the field of Awakeners and the Tower, the dominant opinion was that South Korea would forever only chase their tails.  

But lo and behold?  

The very difficult floor was cleared.  

It was something even the world’s top Awakeners had refused to do.  

And it was done by a Korean.  

That alone was amazing enough, but another piece of news rocked the nation.  

Who was Kim Si-won? He was Ha Yeon Lee’s ex-husband, South Korea’s top Supporter.  

He appeared suddenly a year ago and grew into South Korea’s strongest Supporter, but he was Ha Yeon Lee’s ex-husband.  

At first, people hoped he was an outstanding figure who could restore their fading national pride.  

But Kim Si-won?  

Being Ha Yeon Lee’s ex-husband still left a stigma that couldn’t be forgotten.  

“A despicable criminal who tried to exploit his young wife. Can his achievements really cover up his past sins?”  

With great power comes great responsibility.

Kim Si-won was given power and responsibility far beyond what he deserved.  

“Citizens demand strict control and reduction of authority over powerful criminals.”  

Public opinion fiercely attempted to erase the world-first achievement as if orchestrated by someone.  

They emphasized that Kim Si-won was a shameless man who tried to exploit his young wife and that such power could be misused.  

Of course, behind it all was the Shinhwa Guild.  

They were not a place to leave those who opposed them unpunished.  

Controlling the media, they began efforts through various outlets to erase Kim Si-won’s achievements.  

The media is like a megaphone.  

No matter how great the achievement, if they release the bait, public opinion inevitably flows as they want.  

And as expected, Kim Si-won was spotlighted not as the first Awakener to clear the very difficult floor, but as a shameless man who tried to exploit his young wife.  

However, despite the efforts of the Shinhwa Guild and Chulwoo Shin,  

[Congratulations!]  

[Kim Si-won from South Korea has cleared Very Difficult Floor 1.]  

[With the Very Difficult difficulty cleared, South Korea gains dominion over Floor 1 of the Tower.]  

[Kim Si-won has been appointed Administrator of Floor 1.]  

[According to Administrator privileges, until entrance conditions are applied, no one is allowed entry to South Korea’s Tower Floor 1.]  

Kim Si-won’s advance showed no signs of stopping.  

But no one had expected this.  

One of the Tower’s laws.  

Once a floor is cleared, one cannot challenge the next floor for ten days.  

That rule is enforced by the System, so how did he manage to challenge Floor 2 immediately?  

But there was no time to ponder that question.  

Soon after the Floor 2 clear, another message echoed in my ears.  

[Floor 2 Administrator Kim Si-won has applied entrance restrictions.]  

[All members belonging to Shinhwa, Iron Wall, Mountain Lord, and Immortal Guilds are prohibited from entering Floor 2.]  

This time, it wasn’t only the Shinhwa Guild.  

Entrance to Floor 2 was forbidden for all allied guilds under Shinhwa’s command.