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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Seoul Station, F-Rank and S-Rank - 1
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Black smoke poured from Lee Hyun-wook's mouth. By the time Yang Ju-seop noticed something was wrong, it was already too late.
Fwoooosh—
Crimson flames engulfed Yang Ju-seop.
"Ugh, aghhh! Sh-shit! You son of a bitch! H-how is this possible?"
Yang Ju-seop's shout was filled more with disbelief than pain.
A single, incomprehensible blow had left him dazed.
Even though he'd fought countless battles as a Player...
'...This makes no sense!'
This time, he had completely failed to predict his opponent's weapon.
Typically, a Player's combat style is determined by their acquired 'Trait'.
Simply put, a Holy Knight uses a sword and shield, and a Mage uses magic through a wand or staff.
However, exceptions existed.
For instance, not all 'Priests' were dedicated to 'Healing'. Some stood on the front lines, wielding swords and shields imbued with holy power.
And among Mages, there were snipers who didn't swing staves but instead used 'Magic Bullets' by 'enchanting' their ammunition.
These cases were commonly referred to as 'variant armaments'.
However, even these variations had their limits and usually fell within a predictable range.
'But shit, for a guy who controls steel orbs to suddenly breathe fire...'
Yang Ju-seop's fading consciousness clung to that bitter thought.
Just a moment ago, he had easily blocked Lee Hyun-wook's steel orb attack and was about to counter with smug confidence. But then Lee Hyun-wook opened his mouth, and a vortex of red flames erupted, consuming everything.
With that final image, Yang Ju-seop's will faded.
'I thought I was his counter, but it was the other way around...'
He possessed the 'Spirit Master of Wood' trait, so he was confident he could summon dozens of 'vines' to block hundreds or even thousands of mere metal scraps.
But... 'fire' was a different story.
Until now, he had always managed to avoid enemies who used fire, the ultimate counter to wood, no matter what it took. He never imagined he would be so helplessly swept away by flames.
'Shit... I thought becoming a Villain would at least grant me a decent end...'
Villain. The word was certainly not positive.
But to some, the message to become an evil person and destroy the world could be more persuasive than the one to become a hero and save it.
This was especially true for those filled with hatred for the world.
That was why, on the day Yang Ju-seop murdered the team members who had ostracized him one by one inside a 'dungeon', he didn't hesitate to press 'Accept' when the quest to become a Villain appeared before him.
'It's not my fault. The world... the world wronged me first...'
From a human perspective, a Villain was evil. But from a broader view, weren't Villains the true justice? Wasn't eliminating the humans who ruled and exploited the Earth the true greater good? Wasn't that the purpose of this game?
Yang Ju-seop had repeatedly told himself this as he carried out the 'Villain Quests'.
But to meet such a pathetic end...
Then, he saw a light.
His eyes opened.
"Gack! Keo-heuk..."
He wasn't dead yet.
However... death stood before him.
A man was looking down at him. It was Lee Hyun-wook.
"...Yang Ju-seop, your self-justification ends here."
"Wh-what? Keo, keo-heuk!"
For a moment, Yang Ju-seop couldn't help but feel confused.
Self-justification...
'...How did he know what I was thinking?'
But that question would never be answered.
A steel orb flew through the air and pierced his heart.
Lee Hyun-wook raised his left hand, recalling the steel orb.
"I've taken care of Yang Ju-seop, the Black Tentacle, early."
The Villain Yang Ju-seop, who would later rise to become an A-rank Player known as the Black Tentacle.
He had nipped that evil in the bud before it could fully grow.
And naturally, Lee Hyun-wook hadn't read Yang Ju-seop's mind.
He had simply seen enough to know that all Villains thought that way.
'A bunch who wrap their crimes against humanity in plausible-sounding excuses...'
From now on, Lee Hyun-wook planned to dispose of them just like this, one by one.
And...
- You have obtained 'Key No. 2 of the Akashic Armory'.
Yang Ju-seop was originally supposed to receive this item from the monster 'Seeker of Evil'.
'I can't use it right away, but...'
Still, as one of the core items for the Villain Quest, it was bound to play a crucial role someday.
Lee Hyun-wook tucked it deep into his pocket.
That wasn't the only reward.
- (!) A quest has arrived.
"A quest..."
Quests were a very special kind of guidance provided by the system.
[Hidden Quest]
- He who embraces the light shall become the dawn of the world!
You have thwarted the conspiracy of the 'Villain', a traitor to humanity.
You have now earned the opportunity to become a 'Guardian', a protector of humanity.
This quest will guide you to become a light for the world.
* Would you like to accept the quest? (Y/N)
"A Guardian..."
The counterpart to the Villains who threatened humanity, the Guardians who protected it.
He was being offered a chance to become a member of that organization.
'But not yet. Getting involved with the Guardians now would be a headache.'
The reason was the same as why he didn't want to stay in the A.M.T.
Getting tied to an organization would inevitably hinder the many benefits he could gain by moving independently.
"I refuse."
- Are you sure you want to refuse? (Y/N)
* Choose carefully! There may not be a next time!
The Guardians. They were certainly people who could be helpful.
They were individuals who had joined forces for humanity, to fight against the Villains. Many heroes who were destined to become Lee Hyun-wook's comrades in the future were currently part of the Guardians or would soon join.
'But not all Guardians are allies. In fact... some could be the worst of enemies.'
The worst of enemies.
To understand this point, one first needed to understand Villains.
There were two main types of Villains.
The common type were those like Yang Ju-seop, who became Villains after being defined as such by the system and receiving a quest. But there were also Players who chose to become a nexus of evil on their own, regardless of the system.
For example...
'Gordon Price...'
The leader of the Villain Alliance, Gordon Price, belonged to the latter category.
A man who was close to pure evil, not one defined by the system...
He had become the leader of the Villains despite never having received a Villain Quest.
And what's more, that man...
"...Humanity's greatest traitor."
He was a member of the Guardians, the protectors of humanity.
Just like this, the system and the game presented a stage, but it was the Players who played on it.
In his past life, that man had controlled the stage.
But this time would be different, Lee Hyun-wook thought.
***
The 'Rescue Team' dispatched from the 3rd Anti-Monster Brigade, 1st Battalion, stood before Seoul Station's Exit 1.
It consisted of 18 members, all level 15 or below, led by Lieutenant Lee Hee-min.
"Damn it, what am I doing here? Shit, this looks like a suicide mission..."
Lee Hee-min muttered, shaking his head and tapping his combat helmet.
"Whew, it's fine. Nothing will happen..."
At his words, the faces of the soldiers standing behind him darkened.
He let out a deep sigh and reached his hand toward the dome.
A system message appeared.
- You are at an enterable level.
So far, so good. But then...
- Warning! This is a
A grim message appeared before his eyes.
Gulp—
Lee Hee-min turned his head and scanned the rescue team.
They all looked like greenhorns.
Shit— he muttered to himself before speaking.
"...Alright, everyone! We're going in! The inside is extremely dangerous! We don't even know what kind of gate has opened, so everyone stay sharp!"
And so, they entered.
- Warning! You have entered
Passing through the message, the rescue team found themselves in the vast expanse of Seoul Station's second-floor waiting hall.
"..."
But it felt completely different from what they were used to.
The space, always bustling with crowds, was now so silent it felt as if time had stopped.
"...Not a single body in sight."
Something was strange.
They had entered expecting to find countless casualties, but oddly, there were no signs of a massacre.
Could they call it a relief? On the other hand, the fact that their expectations were wrong from the very first step only heightened their tension.
Thud— Thud—
"...Alright, Park Jun-mo, Choi Tae-yong, advance to the right."
Ahn Min-tae gave the order.
As the acting squad leader, he was serving as the rescue team's second-in-command.
And soon, he saw it.
"Lieutenant, look over there."
A massive, shimmering purple rift was open in the center of the waiting hall.
The source of this whole disaster... the gate.
"But there's something around the gate."
Something enormous lay shattered in pieces around the gate.
As they got a little closer, its shape became clear.
It looked like a monstrous creature with multiple legs...
"Gasp! A-a spider! It's a giant spider!"
A female soldier from the 2nd company shouted and stumbled backward.
Her cry startled the others, causing them to drop into a low stance.
"Huh, but that thing..."
Only Ahn Min-tae tilted his head, raised his shield, and took a couple more steps forward.
There was no movement, and green smoke was seeping out from its cracked shell.
"...I think it's already dead."
It was then.
"Who goes there?"
A voice called down from the third-floor stairs.
"Huh? Oh! We're the A.M.T. Rescue Team!"
Lee Hee-min answered, and someone on the third floor revealed themselves, gesturing for them to come up.
The rescue team ascended the stairs in two columns, staying alert.
Lee Hee-min, at the front, came face-to-face with a man in a blue uniform—the head of the Seoul Station security team.
"Did you say you're the rescue team?"
"Yes, that's right. A.M.T. Rescue Team."
"Ah, we're the Seoul Station Security Team 2."
The two men shook hands.
"Hmm... it's a bit awkward to say this, but since we can't get out, how exactly did you come to rescue us?"
"We may not be able to get out, but for the remaining 5 hours and 20 minutes, we have to protect the civilian survivors as best we can, don't we? That's the mission that brought us into this death trap."
So that's the best they could do...
The security team leader nodded with a bitter expression.
Lee Hee-min turned his head and saw the survivors gathered in the food court area.
"But the civilian casualties... thankfully, there don't seem to be any. What happened?"
"Ah, it's thanks to an A.M.T. member, just like you. We were just following his instructions."
"...Excuse me?"
At the security leader's words, Lee Hee-min frowned and asked again.
There was only one name that came to mind when he thought of an A.M.T. member here.
"By any chance, what's his name?"
"Um, he was a Corporal, I think. His name was..."
The security leader scratched his head, struggling to remember.
"Oh! Is it Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, by any chance?"
The one who asked was none other than Park Jun-mo.
In that instant, veins bulged on Lee Hee-min's neck as he whipped his head around.
"Hey, you bastard, shut up! Who do you think you are, butting in?"
"Ah! I'm sorry, sir!"
"A damn Private First Class who doesn't know his place..."
At Lee Hee-min's overreaction, the security leader's expression soured as he nodded.
"...Ahem, anyway, that name is correct."
"What did that punk, I mean, that soldier, do? Following the orders of someone like him is ridiculous... honestly, he's an F-rank."
The security leader's face hardened at the unfiltered insults.
"..."
Even Lee Hee-min felt that his outburst was rather baseless.
He shook his head, embarrassed.
"...W-well, anyway, from now on, I'll be in command. That Lee Hyun-wook kid is just a soldier from our unit, a nobody. He's an F-rank, he doesn't have the ability to get the people here out alive."
Lee Hee-min had completely forgotten the battalion commander's order to actively consider Lee Hyun-wook's opinions.
'How dare an F-rank act like an officer...'
The animosity toward Lee Hyun-wook that had been building for days was simmering inside him.
"Hmm, an F-rank, you say... is that true? He didn't seem like one at all."
"What? Are you saying I, the rescue team leader, would lie? He's an F-rank, that's a fact."
"Then, Lieutenant, what is your rank? The entry limit here was level 15."
The security leader eyed him with suspicion.
"Ah, my level just happens to be 15, but I'm a C-rank, Tier 3."
While E-ranks and D-ranks were single classifications, from C-rank upwards, a 'Tier' system was added.
It ranged from Tier 5 to Tier 1, a total of five stages.
This also meant that C-ranks were useful enough to warrant such detailed classification.
"Hmm, in that case, I'm a C-rank, Tier 1. Why should I follow your orders, Lieutenant?"
"...What? Then why on earth were you following the orders of that F-rank bastard?"
"No, I'm saying, this man just doesn't get it, haha..."
The security leader looked at Lee Hee-min with a cynical smile.
But soon, his face filled with irritation.
"Hah—this is crazy. Eight hundred lives are on the line, and this is our rescue team..."
Lee Hee-min's face flushed at the security leader's blatant display of emotion.
Though he was hot-tempered, he wasn't so senseless as to blow up here. Arguing with the security leader now would have serious consequences.
His anger tended to erupt only when he knew he wouldn't have to face the fallout.
Just then, a familiar face emerged from the crowd of civilians in the food court.
It was the deputy platoon leader, Sergeant Choi Seon-ah.
"Oh? Lieutenant?"
"Hey! Choi Seon-ah! Where have you been..."
Lee Hee-min, as expected, bared his teeth, seething.
"Where is that bastard Lee Hyun-wook now? Tell him to get out here!"
"Ah, well..."
"He just went downstairs to scout for a moment."
The security leader answered for Choi Seon-ah.
"What? Scouting alone... does that even make sense?"
"Hah..."
The security leader let out a sigh and spoke.
"What exactly is it you want to question so much? Are we prisoners under surveillance here?"
"I'm not questioning, I'm confirming my situation as the rescue team leader!"
Eventually, sparks flew between the two as their voices rose, and the civilians gathered near the food court could only watch with growing anxiety.
It was then.
"...Everyone, be quiet."
A voice cut through, chiding them both.
It was Lee Hyun-wook.
Lee Hee-min whipped his head around.
Lee Hyun-wook was walking up the stairs.
"What? Hey, you bastard! Why are you wandering around on your own..."
"I said, be quiet."
"What? You crazy bastard, who do you think you're telling to be quiet..."
In that instant, something shot out from Lee Hyun-wook's hand, flying at incredible speed.
Whoosh—
"...Huk!"
It stopped dead in front of Lee Hee-min's mouth.
Hummm—
It was a steel orb, the size of a fingertip.
If it had stopped a fraction of a second later, all his teeth would have been shattered.
"..."
Lee Hee-min stumbled back, a look of genuine shock on his face.
He stared at Lee Hyun-wook with wide eyes.
It wasn't so much anger as it was a bewildered, almost wronged expression, as if asking how he could possibly do that.
"Shh—"
"..."
"Everyone, shut your mouths and look over there."
Lee Hyun-wook slowly raised his right hand and pointed to a spot below the terrace.
The gate.
Gwo-o-o-o-o-o—
But the gate was... fluctuating violently.
It looked completely different from a moment ago.
"It's a sign of a second eruption."
Everyone swallowed nervously.
The second battle was about to begin.
Lee Hyun-wook walked closer to Lee Hee-min and looked him straight in the eye.
"Lieutenant, you just nearly endangered every survivor here."
"..."
"Lieutenant, we are inside an Unlucky Event zone. Just as you instructed me and the squad members during our last operation, I would appreciate it if you kept your voice down."
Lee Hee-min couldn't say a word.
Those were his own words from a past mission.
He wasn't unaware that he had acted rashly and unbecoming of a commander, but more importantly...
He had been completely overwhelmed by Lee Hyun-wook's presence just now.
"I apologize if my signal seemed threatening, but I hope you understand given the circumstances."
"..."
With that, Lee Hyun-wook gestured to the security leader and Ahn Min-tae.
The two men approached him.
"The second eruption will begin soon. We need to prepare for battle."
The two nodded.
Just like that, so naturally, Lee Hyun-wook began to command everyone present.
People instinctively listened to his voice and followed his lead.
Lee Hee-min could only stare blankly at the scene.
"Team Leader, for your information, I found another gate on the lower floor. It's a double gate, just as we suspected."
"...Damn it."
"Please don't worry too much about it, and don't tell the others. It will only cause more chaos."
"Right, understood."
Just then, at a gesture from Ahn Min-tae, Park Jun-mo brought over a duffel bag.
"Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, we brought your weapon."
Inside were his tactical vest, M9 (Enchanted) combat knife, Sword of Clouds, and other gear, along with Sergeant Choi Seon-ah's equipment.
Lee Hyun-wook put on his gear and sheathed the Sword of Clouds on his back.
"Alright, let's begin."
At the security leader's signal, six security guards and three civilian Players moved into position.
At a glance from Ahn Min-tae, the rescue team soldiers quickly took their places.
"Everyone, hundreds of lives are in our hands."
Finally, at a gesture from Lee Hyun-wook, everyone raised their weapons.
"..."
But then, everyone's gaze naturally drifted to one spot.
To Lee Hyun-wook, who was raising both hands to his waist...
Wooo-wooo-woooom—
Above his palms,
twenty steel orbs rose into the air, beginning to spin in a spiral, like a whirlwind.