The Seoul World Cup Stadium was half-destroyed.
Only the debris remained, hinting that a grand stadium once stood there.
It was as if the ruins had become a famous tourist attraction, packed with sightseers.
The gathered people could be split into two major groups.
Those without broadcast cameras, and those holding broadcast cameras.
The ones unrelated to filming had come to see the giant wooden greatsword and the pinecone.
They too asked acquaintances to take pictures and record videos, but they were different from those who came with cameras to film professionally.
Purely curious, their faces bloomed with smiles.
“Wow, this thing’s crazy heavy!”
“Didn’t Baek Dowoon lift this with one hand?”
“How the heck did he do that? It won’t even budge!”
“Jeez, those guys really are monsters, even among friends!”
People trying to lift Arka grunted and made their comments.
They hadn’t actually expected to be able to lift it, so there was no sign of disappointment.
Those who failed stepped aside to watch from the sidelines.
As if it were a special event at a tourist spot, people lined up to wait their turn.
Broadcast cameras were filming the scene.
Those with cameras were reporters from the major networks and internet streamers.
“So many people have gathered here at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.”
“This is where B-Rank Hunter Baek Dowoon planted his greatsword before leaving…”
“Not only the greatsword but also a mysterious pinecone is here. This pinecone is over 2 meters tall…”
“Look, that person over there!”
The crowd stirred noisily.
The journalists, who had been looking at their cameras, turned their heads toward where all eyes were drawn.
They began to chatter about the cause of the commotion.
“It’s Hunter Choi Heeseok! Just now, A-Rank Hunter Choi Heeseok has arrived!”
“He is ranked 79th among Korean hunters, a veteran who has worked as a government-affiliated hunter for 20 years.”
“In the national rankings, he’s above Hunter Lee Taecheon and is said to have comparable strength… Ah! As I’m speaking, he’s getting in line! Looks like he’s going to try lifting Arka!”
Choi Heeseok, standing well over 2 meters tall, was easy to spot in the crowd.
With a height that rose a head or two above everyone else, he couldn’t be hidden.
He seemed a little embarrassed by the glances sneaking his way and cleared his throat a couple of times.
As people nearby cautiously greeted him with “Hello,” he smiled awkwardly but returned the greetings.
Those watching from a distance murmured that he might actually be able to lift it.
Maybe that was why?
The people at the front of the line gave up their spots to him.
He refused at first, saying it was fine, but after several rounds of offers, he relented and took their place.
“……”
Standing before Arka, Choi Heeseok let out a long breath.
He was doubtful.
He didn’t know if he could pull out the greatsword embedded in the ground or not.
Kim Muyeon, who was ranked higher than him, had failed to lift the sword.
Lee Taecheon, who was said to have strength on par with his, had managed to lift and even swing the sword.
To know for sure, he would have to try for himself.
He reached out both hands and grasped Arka.
“…!”
A familiar sensation ran through his hands from the greatsword.
It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in fifteen years.
Back then, he had shaken hands with Han Jinwhan, who was at the top of the rankings.
It wasn’t even a test of strength.
They were just exchanging greetings with a handshake, yet Choi Heeseok had felt it.
‘Ah, there’s no way I can beat this guy.’
The same sensation he felt then, he now felt from the greatsword.
Choi Heeseok didn’t even bother to muster any strength into his grip before letting go.
Those watching began to wonder.
Could he not lift it?
A touch of disappointment also spread.
He gave a sheepish chuckle, raised his hands, and stepped back a few paces.
It was an unmistakable sign of giving up.
“Whoa, even that guy can’t do it?”
“No way, he’s one of the top five strongest in Korea!”
“Just how strong is Baek Dowoon?”
“Guess monsters attract monsters—”
“It’s Baek Dowoon! Lee Taecheon is with him!”
The crowd stirred again, even louder than before.
The sword’s owner had appeared, and all eyes turned toward him.
Dowoon was walking over with Taecheon.
Both seemed surprised at the number of people gathered around.
“If I knew it’d be like this, I should’ve come at night after the trial.”
“It’d be the same at night. Just bring it over quickly, yeah? Uncle Choi?”
“Long time no see, Lee Taecheon.”
“What brings you here? You want a piece of that?”
Taecheon gestured toward Arka behind him and asked.
Choi Heeseok smiled gently and shook his head.
“Call it competitive spirit rather than greed.”
He then reached out his right hand to Dowoon.
“I think this is our first time meeting, right?”
“Yes, it is. I’m Baek Dowoon.”
“Choi Heeseok.”
The two grasped hands for a handshake.
As soon as Choi Heeseok took Dowoon’s hand, his eyes flashed.
“As I thought…”
“…?”
“Ah, I lost my manners. Sorry, I’ve taken too much of your time.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Choi Heeseok let go of the handshake and stepped aside.
Dowoon walked up to Arka and reached out.
With one hand, he gripped the greatsword embedded in the ground.
“Whoa…!”
“Amazing!”
Admiration erupted from the onlookers.
The greatsword, which hadn’t budged no matter how hard so many had tried, came out of the ground effortlessly.
It was just like the legendary tale of a hero drawing a famed sword.
Afterward, Dowoon took the pinecone with his friend and left the stadium.
The people who remained stared at them until they disappeared.
Choi Heeseok was among them.
Watching the two young men walk away, he looked down at his right hand.
“Was there really that big a gap between us…?”
His voice carried the weight of years.
We headed straight to the courthouse.
Because I’d been hospitalized, the trial for Kim Muyeon’s case had been delayed.
Given the nature of the case, I had to appear in person.
It was clearly self-defense, and with solid evidence submitted, I’d be found innocent and leave right away.
The Hunter Association had provided the evidence.
Using magic, they’d recreated a video of the incident, showing Kim Muyeon trying to kill me and attempting to steal my belongings.
In other words, unless the judge had been bribed, I was in the clear.
“Hey, did I ever tell you I’ve been taking Assistant Manager Lee around lately?”
Taecheon, who was driving, asked out of the blue.
I stopped tapping on my smartphone and glanced over at him.
Assistant Manager Lee?
“You mean Lee Seonghoon?”
“Yeah. That guy’s pretty funny.”
“Right? That’s why I kept him around. His obsession with money is especially hilarious.”
Taecheon snickered in agreement.
If you wanted to make money, Baeguncheon wasn’t the place to be.
Most of Baeguncheon’s earnings went to orphanages across the country.
Including Ark Orphanage, where Sister Ajumma worked.
And yet, Assistant Manager Lee still stayed at Baeguncheon.
He accepted the meager salary without ever complaining, never saying the usual “I’m going to quit!” that you hear from office workers.
That was the most interesting thing about him.
Doesn’t it feel like he has some other motive?
“Does Dohee know Assistant Manager Lee?”
“She worked directly under me—of course she does.”
“Oh, right.”
“For now, just let him be. Let’s see how far he goes.”
“Got i—…”
Taecheon trailed off and stopped the car.
Luxury sedans were blocking the road.
A man stood in front of the middle sedan.
It was Choi Donghoon, Guild Master of Aigaion.
Wasn’t he ranked 21st among Hunters?
His dark circles made him look more like a weary sales rep than a Hunter.
[The World Tree Sapling has sensed a repulsive energy from the human male.]
“…?”
It wasn’t just a repulsive gaze.
Sprouty said it sensed a repulsive energy.
If that guy was a Crowud, it would’ve been a gaze, not an aura.
He wasn’t a demon’s kin, but he gave off that feeling?
Then there was only one thing to think.
He might not be a demon’s kin, but he was deeply connected to them.
Taecheon and I got out of the car.
“Choi Donghoon, why are you blocking the road?”
As he asked, Taecheon subtly stepped in front of me.
He was clearly trying to protect me.
Choi Donghoon, however, fixed his gaze not on Taecheon but on me behind him.
He held out his hand.
It was thin, unhealthy-looking.
Just from his appearance, you’d doubt he was really a Hunter.
“Hand it over.”
His abrupt demand made me frown.
I knew what he wanted.
Calypse.
He was asking me to return what Kim Muyeon had entrusted to me.
Since I’d been seen taking it, I couldn’t really deny it.
But the way he was demanding it pissed me off.
I decided to play dumb.
“Hand over what?”
“Calypse, of course.”
Then he took a step forward.
Before I realized it, Taecheon had his shield out in front of me.
Not the silver shield that had been split in half fighting Kim Muyeon.
That had come as a real shock.
I’d never imagined Taecheon’s shield would get sliced like tofu on a chopping board.
“Don’t come any closer, Choi Donghoon.”
“If I intended to fight, I wouldn’t be talking.”
He had a point.
If he wanted a fight, he wouldn’t be standing alone in front of three cars waiting for us.
Choi Donghoon, still holding out his hand, spoke.
“Hand it over. That belongs to our Aigaion.”
“It’s true I received it. But I don’t have it anymore.”
“What?”
“I threw it away.”
“You threw it away? That thing?”
He looked at me, clearly not believing it.
According to Dohee, it could’ve fetched hundreds of billions at auction.
He couldn’t believe I’d thrown such a weapon away.
I shrugged and spoke lightly.
“My own is much better, you see.”
“……”
Calypse was definitely a good sword.
Though I hadn’t appraised it to know its abilities, if a Hunter ranked 47th in Korea carried it, it had to be top-notch.
But even so, it was still inferior to Arka.
Kim Muyeon acknowledged that too, and readily accepted it when I said I didn’t need Calypse.
“So then.”
I tapped Taecheon’s shoulder in front of me.
He understood and stepped aside.
Then he walked with me, heading straight toward that guy.
Standing before Choi Donghoon, I pointed at his car.
“Don’t block the road. You’re in people’s way.”
“……”
He slowly lowered his outstretched arm.
His eyes, dark circles and all, fixed on me.
His gaze didn’t show any anger or anything.
“You’ll regret this, Baek Dowoon.”
“Me?”
“You just tossed away your last chance.”
“Yeah? Kim Muyeon said something like that too. You know where he is now?”
Choi Donghoon stared at me silently.
How long did we stand there staring at each other?
He closed his eyes and then suddenly turned around and left.
I thought he’d get all riled up and throw a fit, but he didn’t at all.
His unexpectedly meek retreat actually left me bewildered.
He got into the middle of the three sedans waiting behind him.
Just before getting in, he looked back at me.
There was a thin, twisted smile on his lips.
“……”
“……”
As soon as he got in, all three sedans pulled away at once.
Watching the cars drive off, Taecheon asked,
“What was that provocation for? Doesn’t suit you.”
“I’d better be careful with that guy.”
“Yeah, and you’re the reason for it. Picking a fight with a guy who’s already pissed off.”
“No, I mean… Maybe Aigaion and Crowud are connected.”
“What? How do you know that?”
Sprouty sensed a repulsive aura from that guy.
I just shrugged.
Taecheon sighed deeply and headed back to the car.
“Another one of your hunches?”
“Sprout’s, actually.”
“Guess I’ll have to ask Jaeim to look into it.”
Aigaion…
What’s their connection to Crowud?
Is it just Choi Donghoon?
“Hey, what are you doing? Aren’t we going? We’ll be late at this rate.”
“Oh, right.”
For now, the trial ahead was the important thing.
And I had to figure out what to call Sprouty during the trial.