"What the hell is this shit?"
In that instant, Sofi's body trembled. Hugo was also shocked.
And she doubted her own ears. She couldn't turn her head, but she was certain.
'This is...'
The voice was different.
It was a bit younger.
Yet there was an undeniable force to it. That feeling, like it could plunge a person into terror.
Sure enough, just as the flustered Sofi was about to turn her head.
"Hurk!"
The man yanked Sofi's hair.
Sofi was horrified. Hugo's jaw dropped.
But regardless, Igeon tightened his grip as if he'd tear her hair right out.
He even threw in a scornful laugh.
"I watched to see how far you'd spout your nonsense, and you really just keep blabbering through that gaping hole."
"Wait, let go of...!"
Sofi clutched her hair as if it were being ripped out and barely managed to turn her head.
And the moment she tried to see this crazy bastard's face.
"Mmph?!"
Igeon shoved something down Sofi's throat. It slid down her esophagus in an instant.
So Sofi trembled.
'What did he just...!'
But that's when.
"J-just... gak!"
Igeon nonchalantly dragged Sofi off somewhere.
Sofi quickly tried to call for help, but the Sagittarius covered her mouth.
He even covered Sofi's face with his suit jacket.
"Mmph, mmph!"
At this point, they weren't heroes but human traffickers.
And when they entered a reception room close to a suite even within the VIP lounge.
"Alright, you can uncover her now."
Finally, the jacket covering Sofi's face disappeared.
Only then did Sofi, coming face to face with the man, spit out curses.
"...What kind of crazy bastard dares do this to a saintess!"
But Sofi was startled.
The man before her was the one she had seen earlier at the pawnshop. Up close, he was far more handsome.
So Sofi was confused.
'Wh-who the hell is he?'
She wondered why a complete stranger was doing this to her.
Crunch!
"Whatever, let's start with you taking a few hits."
"......!!"
It was a smile so vicious it gave her goosebumps.
Thanks to that, Sofi could only grit her teeth while trembling.
Her expression screamed, 'How dare you treat a saint like this, not even bowing your head!'
At the same time, the enraged Sofi raised her power.
[Reverse Blood Chalice (S)]
It was Aquarius's lethal skill that reversed the opponent's blood flow.
But the moment she tried to activate the skill, sparks flew in Sofi's eyes.
Bam!
"Khu-heok!"
Igeon's fist had flown.
The hit landed on her stomach area.
With pain as if her meal would flow back, Sofi nearly lost consciousness for a moment.
Even her defensive skill shattered.
"Heok...!"
In the blink of an eye, Sofi was sent flying and collapsed on the floor. With her defense pierced, she couldn't even scream.
However, Igeon grinned sinisterly.
"First off, I was just so happy to see you after decades, so that's one hit."
Sofi glared at the man.
'This...!'
She was certain.
'...That man!'
He wasn't the kidnapper or Sagittarius's subordinate she'd suspected as the top candidate.
And that made sense, because even though the nun's habit she wore looked plain, it was unmistakably Aquarius's sacred relic.
And especially, Aquarius was a Divine Seat that could liquefy all things. Because of the Divine Seat's unique trait, any weapon that touched it would completely melt.
If it were bare hands, they wouldn't even leave a trace.
But soon, Sofi saw Igeon's hand and was shocked.
'What the, that...?!'
His hand was regenerating at a terrifying speed. With an ability even her own Healing God couldn't achieve!
That wasn't all.
'Poison doesn't work.'
The self-defense skill she had borrowed from Scorpio had no effect at all.
'It should be poison deadly enough to kill instantly just by touching skin.'
Moreover, it was an always-active skill—a lethal poison that would spread around if she screamed.
But Igeon laughed.
[Hundred Poison Body (F) has been activated]
[Neutralized the vicious poison trying to pierce your skin]
- Having endured countless poisons, your body has become poison. Poisons do not work.
- Unconditionally neutralizes poisons above a certain level. (Limited to your own body)
- Can consume poisons above a certain level to acquire data.
But Sofi's bewilderment was short-lived.
'!'
Had he been hiding it until now?
A baleful demonic energy rose around the man. It was clearly that green-tinged demonic energy she'd seen at the pawnshop.
But there was something truly shocking.
"I'm really surprised."
It was Hugo.
"When the hell have you been there?"
"When do you think? Since you were getting roasted for smelling like a widower."
"Wha...! Wido...! I never said that!"
Above all, this man seemed close to the prickly Sagittarius.
Sure enough.
"Whatever, Geon-ah. Hurry up and finish. It's a hassle if people show up."
In that instant, Sofi screamed. She didn't even remember the pain of the uppercut.
"Wha-what did you just say? Ge-Gon-ah?!"
Then Igeon smirked and approached Sofi.
"Are you deaf, or is your brain frozen? I'm pretty sure I greeted you after a long time. Right?"
Matching Sofi's eye level, Igeon viciously raised the corner of his mouth.
"Bed-wetter."
"?!"
At that word, she unconsciously pressed herself against the wall.
After all, there was only one person who called her that.
'N-No way!'
Sure enough, Igeon with snake eyes smiled.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Igeon!
Sofi trembled violently as if seeing a ghost.
"Y-You...! No, why is your face...!"
However, Sofi nearly fainted again.
After the body, this time the solar plexus.
"Heok...!"
"Well, he's not even here, but you treated my damn kid like a monster, so two hits."
"Wha, why... keok!"
"Since you scammed me pretending to be my attending physician, three hits."
"Ack!"
"Since you dissed my handsome face, as a bonus, five hits!"
Thud!
At the merciless words, even the great Hugo clicked his tongue.
Well, he understood.
'If he doesn't go that far, the God will pop out.'
Besides, considering what Sofi had done, there was no way Igeon would stay still.
With that temperament that doesn't spare man or woman, it was remarkable he'd held back this long.
And sure enough.
Sofi's screams echoed.
"What are you doing! Don't just watch, help me!"
The saintess urgently pleaded to Hugo.
"Hugo!"
Eventually, Hugo, who had been pitifully watching the scene, nagged at Igeon.
"Geon-ah. Not there, hit higher. The lower part has high defense."
"Call."
"!"
Sofi screamed. She cursed Hugo out.
"I'll tell Leo everything! Then your children won't be safe either... keok!"
Igeon firmly grabbed Sofi's face.
Perhaps because Hugo's children were mentioned, Igeon smiled extremely pissed.
"Ten extra hits for your useless mouth."
"?!"
Crunch!
Igeon's fist flew into Sofi's face.
Originally, Igeon didn't even treat saints as human, but at this point, it was like he was hunting a monster.
In the end, Sofi, who seemed about to faint, trembled and looked at Igeon.
Why Igeon was here. Why his face looked like that.
Even that analysis was impossible in the current situation, but one thing was certain.
'He's weaker than back then.'
There was a reason she thought so. Because back then, she had lost consciousness as soon as Igeon hit her.
So the only thing she could think of was.
"...As expected, my defensive relic is strong so you can't use your strength, right? Even for you, the wall of 20 years..."
But Igeon looked at her like she was spouting crap.
"What nonsense. If I knock you out, you won't feel pain."
"......?!"
Crunch!
Sofi got hit again. At the sound that seemed like bones breaking, Hugo turned pale.
Although he himself had been beaten as soon as he met Igeon, seeing that made him realize anew.
'...He went easy on me because I'm a friend.'
But then.
'!'
Hugo, watching Igeon, was surprised.
'His power.'
Should he call it snake-like? A power felt only from Igeon grew stronger.
In fact, Igeon was smiling.
[Opponent's Divine Prestige is decreasing]
[Ophiuchus's Divine Prestige is rising]
- Divine Prestige status 50% (rising)
[When Divine Prestige reaches 70%, a usable skill will be available]
That's right.
The unleashed Pishu was gleefully sucking up Aquarius's power.
It was possible because Pishu was a subordinate god from the Wealth Divine Seat that could greedily eat and absorb anything.
And after draining it from Aries, having starved it a bit, it was going absolutely crazy.
Therefore, Igeon smiled.
'Power charging can continue with this for the time being.'
All holy devotees were connected to their God.
Moreover, higher-ranking devotees were naturally closer to the God. Then, if it's the highest rank, the saint level?
'In other words, I can even steal the god's power.'
Thus, Igeon smiled.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
'!'
Hugo, watching Igeon, was surprised.
After all, even while beating Sofi, he was texting with one hand.
Of course, he was on guard so Sofi couldn't summon the God, but it was still incredibly dangerous.
So he asked.
"Who the hell are you texting at such an important time?"
"Ah. Winning an item."
"Winning an item?"
He wondered what that meant, but Hugo soon realized.
'Come to think of it, one of that guy's eight great relics was coming out today...!'
Sure enough, Igeon said.
"First, I'm planning to go to an auction house called ____. I have an idea what's coming out, and I want to get it."
But Hugo was flustered. A Grand Auction, no less.
"Do you even have an entrance ticket? The Grand Auction is held at the pinnacle of Ramyeon Auction House. Do you know how much just the entrance ticket costs...?"
Then Igeon waved something.
It was none other than a ticket.
"!"
It was an item taken from Sofi's bosom.
Since she would have been planning to attend today's auction, it was naturally something she'd have. And the best seat at that.
So Hugo sighed.
"Even if you get in, do you have the money to win that?"
Then Igeon smirked. And then, for some reason, he suddenly made a phone call.
"Ah, Seongjae. I'll be there soon, so make sure to win that."
Hugo couldn't believe his ears for a moment. Wait, what? Seongjae?
Hugo made an uneasy expression at the mention of his son's name.
'...It must be a coincidence?'
After all, Hugo had been desperately trying to keep his children from meeting Igeon at all.
Naturally, not the daughter, and definitely not the son.
'I'd be crazy to let that fanboy meet him.'
So for a moment, he feared whether Geon had met his son, but soon dismissed it as nothing.
Because Seongjae was such a common name that even one of his subordinates had it.
Just then.
"Taeksu, watch that for a moment. There are still 150 left, but let's just keep it for a bit."
He didn't know how it had gotten to 150 in the meantime, but it didn't matter.
"He said to watch, that guy..."
There was no need to say he wouldn't stay still.
Bam!
"...Kyaak!"
Igeon stomped on Sofi who tried to call for rescue.
The cellphone rolled on the floor.
Igeon seemed to know well where Sofi was trying to call for help.
As expected.
"Well, you could go running off to other saints like this."
Igeon's gaze flashed murderously.
"If you bore me, you die."
At the eyes that even showed madness, Sofi trembled violently.
Because there was no way she didn't know Igeon when he said those words.
That wasn't all.
"In the first place, not going would be better. Because I remember what I fed you."
"......!"
At that moment, Sofi's expression froze.
Come to think of it, before being dragged here, he'd definitely put something in her mouth.
And knowing Igeon's personality, there was no way he fed her something ordinary.
As if to prove it, Igeon grinned with snake eyes.
"I've heard you have the most devotees and great public trust, right? That's fortunate."
Her utility value was quite high.
In the end, Sofi, who could clearly see her future, shouted as if crying.
"Why the hell are you doing this! Instead of this, you could just kill me... keok!"
Igeon, roughly grabbing Sofi's face, smiled.
It was a very detestable smile.
"If I kill the witnesses too, who would believe, huh?"
From the start, Igeon had no intention of just killing those who stabbed him.
That bastard, he'd definitely find and make him go through the same years he did.
And.
"You must have sucked honey for 20 years. All of you. At the very least, you should suffer the same pain I did."
"......!"
Sopi trembled in terror.
It was because of the form of the demonic energy that Igeon was emitting.
‘A serpent.’
There was only one thing that could be inferred from that shape.
‘The original zodiac’s hidden 13th seat.’
Or perhaps.
‘A serpent that roams the twelve constellations of the zodiac and swallows worlds.’
As Sopi was flustered and about to flee, that was when.
*Smack!*
Igeon blew Sopi away in an instant. The force was enough to shatter the mind of a saint.
At the same time, Igeon felt a powerful surge.
[You have dealt a devastating blow to the apostle of ■■]
[The power of ■■’s constellation god, the Holy Grail master, connected to the apostle, weakens]
[You earned divine throne experience points]
[You obtained special data (saint-level)]
Dragging Sopi along, Igeon laughed.
His maddened gaze was a spectacle. Then, using Sopi’s phone, he sent a message to someone.
It was a reporter. Afterward, he wrote something on Sopi’s back.
Then he tossed her like a piece of luggage near the emergency stairwell.
*Thud!*
“When you have time, dump that in the septic tank or something.”
“You dump yourself in the shit pit, you bastard.”
“We already stripped everything usable, so don’t worry.”
That vicious bastard.
Right at that moment.
— The 387th Drachma Grand Auction has begun! The first item is...!
An announcement echoed through the VIP room. And at that broadcast, Igeon became a little hurried.
‘It’s started.’
That auction was the one where his item was being sold. And there was something he was aiming for there.
Of course, he had asked Seongjae to handle the desired item, so it would be okay to be a bit late, but...
“Let’s regroup at the auction house.”
Igeon tossed the VIP teleport token he’d received from the guard.
As if it were a crucial item, Igeon vanished toward the auction house.
It was when Hugo was dragging the unconscious Sopi for proper disposal.
*Slam!*
“!”
The emergency exit door burst open.
And at the face he faced, Hugo flinched.
* * *
A very bizarre silence flowed.
The one who opened the door and entered stood with their mouth agape, as if utterly dumbfounded.
Of course, dragging a saint whose face was caked with nosebleed wasn’t an ordinary sight, so it was only natural.
But the one who entered was the bigger problem.
“What are you doing?”
Because the other person was none other than a saint.
And the moment Hugo recognized who it was, his face contorted.
‘The Gold Lion.’
Among the twelve zodiacs, a saint of the war divine throne, a man of martial force.
On the other hand, the Leo saint seemed bewildered by this situation. He, too, had come to briefly check on Sopi after she had disappeared before heading to the auction house.
So it was good that he’d come to where the energy was felt, but...
“Setting aside seeing you after ten years. Why is she in that state?”
The Leo saint’s gaze turned menacingly toward Sopi.
“Surely, this is your doing?”
It meant: did you break the pact and raise a blade against a saint?
Hugo pondered.
Would it be better to truthfully say that Igeon was the one who pummeled her, or to say a monster appeared and kicked her?
Finally, having agonized, Hugo answered.
(To be continued in the next chapter)