It had been a long time since I last visited the Dimensional Tavern.
Because the progress on the Main Quest had been delayed, I hadn’t been able to secure any tavern passes.
A small bell chimed as I opened the door.
Tinkle.
The familiar atmosphere of the interior tavern greeted my eyes. As I stepped inside, I noticed a guest who had arrived before me.
She was a white-haired beauty with horns on her head. She wore a traditional blouse and skirt that gave off a distinct Eastern vibe.
‘She’s strong.’
The aura she projected seemed infinitely light, but the strength contained within it was more massive than any being I had encountered so far.
“Then, I shall send you off now,” Rose’s voice drifted from the inner counter.
The moment I shifted my gaze and made eye contact with the white-haired beauty.
Flash!
She was transported to another dimension just like that.
“Master Jorge, you’ve arrived.”
“…Master?”
“I’ve started adding a title of respect to everyone who has reached the Saint Dragon Level. Think of it as a way of showing my admiration.”
Rose smiled brightly and extended her hand to guide me to a seat. I sat in the very spot where the white-haired beauty had been sitting moments ago.
“The person who was just here — she seemed quite strong. She’s a Ranker, right?”
“Yes. Though I cannot give you any specific details. You’ll likely run into her if you keep climbing the Arena.”
I waited for a moment as I watched Rose clear away the glass and cards used by the previous Successor of the Dragon Lord. Once she finished tidying up, Rose placed her hands on her hips and looked at me.
“Hmm, do you mind if I check something for a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
Rose stepped out from behind the bar, stood in front of me, and placed her hand on my cheek. Her face gradually drew closer.
Her eyes, which were now close enough for our noses to touch, turned a brilliant gold.
Vrummm!
I felt an intangible energy flow through my eyes and into the Dragon Heart. It felt strangely familiar.
The warm energy lingered in the Dragon Heart for a moment before flowing back out, and Rose stepped away.
The gold hue in her eyes faded back to their original color.
“…Just what on earth has happened?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes. Very much so. Your growth rate is far too fast. What number is your current Main Quest?”
“It should be twenty-three. It told me to eliminate all the Apostles.”
“Sigh.”
Rose let out a deep sigh and sat down beside me. She pressed her lips together and remained lost in serious thought before hanging her head low.
“I’m sorry. This is the first time I’ve dealt with a case like this…”
“Can you explain it in a way I can understand?”
“Your growth rate is just too fast. Because of that, too many Main Quests were skipped. Your rewards have vanished by that same amount…”
“Can’t you just give them to me all at once?”
“There are risks involved in dumping rewards all at once. The Intermediate and High Apostles you encounter in the future will become even stronger.”
“If I don’t take the rewards, is it possible to face the Apostles that come after?”
“Nothing is certain, but it will be very difficult. Since the other side also knows your growth rate is high, they will send Apostles that are proportionally stronger.”
High risk, high return.
“If I have to meet strong guys either way… I might as well take the bulk rewards, grow even more, and then hunt the Apostles.”
“Will you be alright with that?”
“Yes.”
“I apologize. Normally, I should have kept a closer eye on the balance… but something came up that required a great deal of my attention, so I failed to manage it.”
“Then, just make sure I’m well compensated.”
Rose stood up, walked back behind the bar, and began preparing something.
“For now, I’ll hold onto your Dimensional Tavern Passes. Even if you used them now, it would be difficult to pull a Guardian that you actually need. It’ll be more helpful to use them alongside the additional rewards.”
“How will the additional rewards be distributed?”
“Delayed rewards will be issued every time you eliminate an Apostle. Give me a moment.”
I couldn’t see exactly what she was doing, but after Rose busied herself with something for a while, she clapped twice, and a message appeared.
[Ding!]
[A Side Quest has arrived]
[Side Quest 1]
– Eliminate the fourth Lower Apostle.
– Reward: Dimensional Tavern Pass x5, Arena Ticket x10, Special Guardian Growth Ticket (SS) x2.
Since she had mentioned that using multiple tavern passes at once could lead to meeting a Legendary Guardian, giving them in bulk like this made sense. The Arena tickets weren’t bad either, since I could obtain Sacred Relics through them.
“What is the Special Guardian Growth Ticket?”
“It allows you to raise the rank of a Guardian you already own to SS-class. You won’t need materials or a Promotion Quest.”
“Oho.”
“Also, from the Intermediate Arena onward, you’ll be participating in battles with Dragon Heart Fragments on the line. If you win ten times, you’ll be able to obtain a decent amount of Dragon Heart Fragments. Since you’re at the Saint Dragon Level, I’m sure you understand the significance of those fragments.”
As long as I could win in the Arena, there was no better reward than this.
“That sounds good.”
“Don’t worry, the reward quantities will increase even more during the Intermediate Apostle phase.”
“Ah. By the way, is there any Dimensional Power left for a question?”
“Yes.”
“A Lower Apostle entered the SS-class Red Dungeon this time. Can I find out what they’re plotting?”
“If it’s an SS-class Red Dungeon… a Dragon will likely appear.”
“A Dragon?”
“Hmm… wait a moment. If I gather the surplus Dimensional Power, I think I can at least tell you how to deal with it.”
Rose looked at me and smiled.
“Now, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
A massive golden tower appeared where the Japan Hunter Association was located.
“Isn’t that the same thing they have in Korea?”
“It’s the Golden Tower.”
“But why did it appear here?”
While some watched from a distance, others saw it differently.
“This is a chance!”
“I can become a Hunter too!”
“If that’s the real Golden Tower, that means I can become a Mage, right?”
“What is there to lose? I’m going in right now.”
There were those who proactively attempted to enter the Golden Tower. Employees who had rushed out of the Association tried to block the entrance, but the number of people trying to get in was far greater. The crowd overpowered the employees and ran toward the Golden Tower.
Watching that scene, Yoosaki ground his teeth.
“What is everyone doing! I told you to go right now and block the entrance to that damn tower!”
“We are doing our best to block it…”
“Call the Hunters currently on standby and push them all out.”
“Pardon? President, if we do that… the World Hunter Association will…”
“Shut up and do as you’re told.”
Yoosaki issued the command while emitting murderous intent. The secretary bowed and rushed out of the office.
Turning his gaze back, Yoosaki glared at the Golden Tower and clenched his fists.
“…Dokkaebi.”
Because of that one brat, the Japanese Hunter industry had collapsed.
Ryuki and the Samurai Guild, who were part of the Twelve Constellations. The mid-sized guilds that supported them from below. Every single one of them had lost their abilities after being defeated in the Labyrinth Competition.
As their Dungeon Ownership was taken away, problems arose with the clients they had traded dungeons with. If they failed to supply dungeons at this rate, they would be hit with unbearable penalty fees.
“Everyone, get out!”
“From now on, anyone who enters will be classified as a criminal and punished!”
“Step back!”
Hunters affiliated with the Association blocked the people swarming around the Golden Tower. For a Hunter to harm a civilian was equivalent to committing an international crime. That was the reason why Korea ultimately couldn’t stop people from entering.
‘I have to stop them no matter what.’
The moment Mages from the Golden Tower were born and began to exert their influence, the Japan Hunter Association would have no choice but to fall into the hands of the Golden Tower. Especially since the Twelve Constellations and most of the S and A-rank Hunters who supported the Association had lost their power.
Furthermore, the Mages of the Golden Tower followed the words of Dokkaebi implicitly, so he couldn’t allow them to run rampant in Japan.
“We’ve pushed the people back. But I don’t know how long we can hold out.”
“Build a wall around the perimeter so they can’t approach.”
“Yes. And what should we do about the people who have already entered?”
“Kill them. Kill them all so that not a single Mage can step foot on this land.”
“…They could be civilians.”
To the secretary’s questioning, Yoosaki gave a sickening smile.
“It is the sacrifice of the few for the sake of the many. Proceed. Once the Apostle kills Dokkaebi, everything will return to normal.”
Just as the secretary was about to bite their lip at Yoosaki’s now near-mad behavior, something echoed from the Golden Tower.
— Call the Hunters currently on standby and push them all out.
— And what should we do about the people who have already entered?
— Kill them. Kill them all so that not a single Mage can step foot on this land.
— They could be civilians.
— It is the sacrifice of the few for the sake of the many. Proceed. Once the Apostle kills Dokkaebi, everything will return to normal.
The conversation Yoosaki had just held with his secretary was broadcast through the air like a loudspeaker. Those who had been pushed back by the Hunters heard it and erupted in fury.
“…Sacrifice of the few? My older sister is in there!”
“President Yoosaki! Are you even human!”
“My son went in there too!”
The Japanese public vented their rage. There were Hunters among them as well.
They overpowered the Hunters blocking the path to clear the way, and the countless people waiting behind them flooded into the Golden Tower.
Even the Hunters who had been blocking them stood still, allowing themselves to be overpowered without resisting.
A massive crowd headed toward the Golden Tower.
“…Grrr.”
“…President, please stop this now.”
“Stop? Stoooop? Do you have any idea how I climbed to this position!”
Yoosaki’s eyes burned red.
Flash!
Someone appeared in front of him. They were individuals wearing black cloaks. Symbols abbreviating the World Hunter Association were embroidered on the cloaks. They placed handcuffs on Yoosaki’s wrists.
“President Yoosaki, you are under arrest for violating international law.”
“By whose authority!”
“An intensive investigation will begin now. Look forward to it.”
[The Level of the Golden Tower Branch is rising]
[A Mage of the Golden Tower Branch has surpassed the 30th floor]
[The influence of the Golden Tower Branch is gradually increasing]
The Golden Tower branch established in Japan grew rapidly.
While they couldn’t compare to Yoo Seolha, talented individuals nearly as gifted as her climbed the tower quickly, accelerating the Golden Tower’s growth rate.
That wasn’t the only change.
— Who is the Apostle that the Japan Hunter Association President and the Chinese Association President conspired with?
— The individuals who tried to seize control of the entire world.
As the relationship between China, Japan, and the Apostle came to light, most of the suspicions surrounding me vanished. However, they didn’t disappear completely. Some doubters remained, and the three superpowers, along with the other nations, were still wary of me.
To clear those misunderstandings once and for all, I decided to have S-rank Hunters from every nation participate in this SS-class Red Dungeon raid. I wanted them to see the Apostle’s true identity with their own eyes and feel the danger for themselves.
Vrummm!
I answered the phone call from the Association President.
“Yes.”
— The Hunters participating in the raid have all assembled. There will be a raid briefing tonight, so make sure to attend.
A gathering of the top Hunters in the world. Nations possessing Twelve Constellations had sent all of them to participate.
Since it was rare for them to gather in one place, many people were paying close attention to this raid.
I couldn’t miss such an occasion.
“I understand.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.