"Wow, you're incredibly persistent."
Igeon said, facing the man in his thirties before him.
It was an expression that said, "This is quite a sight."
"I don't like being obsessed over by some guy."
The other man seemed exasperated.
"I don't want to cling to you either."
The one blocking Igeon's path was none other than the Gemini Constellation Captain, Choe Seonghyeok.
And though hiding, the force mage bodyguard who had sold him out was also with him.
Choe Seonghyeok was standing in the way of Igeon, who was trying to go to the café.
So Igeon looked at him with disgust.
‘He was definitely one of Korea’s top two, wasn't he?’
Following Korea's hero Igeon, it was said there were prominent S-ranks that Korea prided itself on.
One was the strongest in close combat, the Leo Constellation Captain.
And the other was this magic strongest, the Gemini Constellation Captain.
In Korea, a barren land for Gemini, he was famous as a capable man who had raised the ranking to number one.
‘In short, he’s a tenacious bastard.’
But who cares either way.
Chewing on a whole baguette, Igeon tried to kick Choe Seonghyeok.
"I'm busy, you bastard. Move."
But Choe Seonghyeok smiled leisurely.
A kick was nothing before the strongest magic defense.
"I'm a busy person too. I have to guard the Saintess today... Urk!"
The face of Choe Seonghyeok, who had caught Igeon's foot, drained of color.
‘What the...’
Even with magic defense, the stinging pain was terrible.
But the one who had launched the kick, Igeon, tilted his head.
"Saintess guard? You?"
Surely, if Igeon hadn't pulled his strength at those words, Choe Seonghyeok's ribs would have shattered.
Even pulling his strength completely was that much.
Whether he knew it or not, Choe Seonghyeok bore the pain and smiled.
"The Saintess's press conference is at 7 PM at the Gangnam Exchange. At her request, all Constellation Captains were summoned."
Well, actually, they all accepted because they were curious about the matter related to Igeon from 20 years ago that the Saintess was going to talk about.
At that, Igeon smiled as if disgusted.
She had asked if she could hold the press conference in her own sanctuary, but he had told her to stop the nonsense and called her to Korea.
‘So she called the Constellation Captains as shields, huh?’
It didn't matter anyway.
Choe Seonghyeok desperately grabbed Igeon as if to say, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Now you must sign a contract with the Gemini Constellation, right?"
"What?"
"You won tens of billions worth of auction items from Gemini and then you're just going to waltz away without a word?"
At that, Igeon looked at the hiding bodyguard as if dumbfounded.
‘Hasn't that guy told him yet?’
Yes, he hadn't.
That bodyguard was on the same team as Seongjae.
Perhaps because of Seongjae, he had come to find him yesterday and asked desperately.
‘Igeon. It's not true, right? Please say it's not true!’
The bodyguard made a desperate expression.
He didn't show it, but it was a face that said if it's Igeon, he's really screwed.
‘Well, it's bound to be a mess.’
That's because the Gemini constellation.
Gemini is one of the constellations that greatly loathes Igeon.
Well, aside from Taeksu, which saint liked him, he and the Gemini Saint were especially mortal enemies.
They were like cats and dogs, to the point that if they accidentally ran into each other, they'd try to cut each other's throats.
They had actually drawn blood a few times.
Anyway, because the leader was like that, it seemed the culture among all Gemini Constellation members was to dislike him.
So it had been funny when that Gemini Constellation Captain guy had come to him with a scouting offer in Drachma.
But he had poured tens of billions of Gemini funds into such a person.
‘If I'm Igeon, these guys are really screwed.’
Of course, there was no way he didn't know, but Igeon had played dumb and taken advantage.
And because things could go wrong and he might have to take the whole blame, the bodyguard seemed to be keeping his mouth shut.
And it was like he had been trying to tell the truth as things were going south, but he missed the timing and it turned into the worst situation, so he was groaning.
Well, it didn't matter.
‘This works out well. The next target was that woman anyway.’
As it was, he was already annoyed that Gemini had taken over the Korean government facilities.
Of the trio that had invaded Korea, he had kicked out Shit-hair and Dog-bone, so only one remained.
But the Gemini Saint was a brilliant mage standing at the pinnacle of all magic.
Even he had the power to annoy him.
Whether it was government facilities or her sanctuary, powerful defensive magic was cast.
And there was only one way to break through it.
"Fine. I'll join your Constellation."
Igeon smiled brightly.
At the same time, the bodyguard looked at Igeon as if to say, ‘Are you crazy, of all people?’ and Choe Seonghyeok was extremely delighted.
"The Gemini Saint will be very pleased."
No, she won't be pleased!
She'll faint!
The bodyguard couldn't bring himself to say it and smacked his chest.
"Let's sign the contract right now."
Anyway, after Sophie's press conference today, this guy might find out his identity.
Before that, he had to quickly extract what he could and run.
But for some reason, Choe Seonghyeok hesitated.
"This is something I'm saying now, but Gemini… towards Igeon…"
"It doesn't matter. I'm not a fan of Igeon."
Then Choe Seonghyeok was quite surprised.
But it was the truth.
‘Since I'm him.’
"In fact, I really dislike him."
His face from 20 years ago, that is.
"But he definitely used the 13th Sword Technique when he killed the Spider Queen..."
"Ah. That's something I had to learn unavoidably."
Was it when I was doing weeding part-time jobs because I had no money?
"In fact, whenever I see videos on the internet labeled as Igeon's feats, I want to delete them all. I should kill the uploaders."
Even when they upload, it's always trashy stuff like that.
"The evaluations are completely wrong too."
Then, however he took it, Choe Seonghyeok drew closer to Igeon in a friendly manner.
"That's surprising. But I agree. Igeon's actual skill is B-rank."
"Right, he's a total dumbass."
The bodyguard next to him now seemed so exasperated it was absurd.
But Choe Seonghyeok, who had been carefully observing Igeon's words and actions, smiled.
‘As expected, there's no lie.’
The Gemini's detection skill indicated that Igeon was telling only the truth.
However.
"???"
The bodyguard was looking at Igeon as if it was strange.
Why wasn't he caught by the truth-distinguishing skill?
But Igeon smiled.
[The opponent dares to cast a detection skill on you]
[It does not work before a Sacred God-class being]
Choe Seonghyeok was relieved that there was no particular reaction.
"Then, you'll be joining Gemini..."
"But I have a condition."
"A condition?"
"Give me that."
At the item Igeon pointed to, both the bodyguard and the Captain were surprised.
It was a badge pinned to the collar.
Immediately, the bodyguard freaked out, grabbed Igeon and pulled him aside. Then he whispered secretly.
"H-Hey! That's a special insignia that Gemini bestows only on Captain-level members! That...!"
"Shut up. You already knew about me before I spill everything."
Dammit!
The bodyguard was on the verge of tears.
Of course, Igeon was a Korean hero even he respected. He didn't think this person would do something bad, but...
‘Damn it, whatever. I didn't know.’
Soon after Igeon returned, Choe Seonghyeok willingly handed over the insignia.
"Here. I can just make a new one. Oh, don't sell it. It will get you caught."
The insignia of a high-ranking Constellation member had a mana booster effect just by existing.
He probably intended to use it to increase his body's worth, but anyway, unless one is at Saint-level, one can't even use it properly.
But Igeon smiled as if everything was going according to plan.
It had to be so.
[The Eye of God activates]
S-rank
- Contains bodily tissue of the Gemini Saint
That was it.
One of the conditions to break Gemini's magic was the caster's bodily tissue.
With that, one could create a holy relic that could break Gemini's magic at will.
‘Naive fool.’
But Igeon wasn't going to end it there.
And Choe Seonghyeok, worried that Igeon might suddenly refuse, drafted the contract on a tablet PC.
"These are the preferential benefits you'll receive upon joining Gemini."
At the same time, the bodyguard peeking from the side was shocked.
‘Are you crazy! What kind of special terms are these!’
Literally, just by registering the name, all facilities are free.
But the Captain smiled.
‘A talent worth that much.’
At a glance, this boy was a talent for Eosu.
Meaning the left and right arm of God, it referred to an SS-grade direct aide to the Saints.
Even now, there were only exactly 10 in the world, and the difference in the Sacred God's power between places with and without them was huge.
In short, if they were taken away, the Sacred God's power would be halved, you could say.
And while Leo already had a female Eosu as a core force, Gemini didn't have one.
Even Cheon Seongjae had the seedling, and they were keeping him secretly without him knowing.
But Igeon smiled and said.
"Add one clause. Change it so that no matter what happens, these benefits are maintained for the duration of the contract."
Then Choe Seonghyeok suddenly gave a wary look.
"...Why?"
"Why do you think? If I cause trouble, you might take away the benefits. Is that all the magnanimity of Korea's number one Constellation?"
Choe Seonghyeok understood.
There were many such guys among the Awakened.
"Don't cause too big a trouble."
Choe Seonghyeok revised the clause.
The bodyguard tried to stop it, but at Igeon's glare, the bodyguard yelped.
"Here is the contract. Let's work hard together for the downfall of Igeon."
"Sure. While we're at it, I'll also provide you with the Saintess guard mission. Place me right in front of the Saintess so I can show off my skills a bit."
"Good. That's how Gemini will develop."
But it was then.
At the moment when the bodyguard, unable to bear it any longer, approached Igeon to say something.
[Contribution points are coming in]
[Someone is using your holy relic]
"?"
Igeon turned his head.
He seemed to have discovered something.
***
"So he really is Uncle Igeon?"
"Yes. He's changed a lot, but it's really Uncle! He's so awesome!"
Inside the cafe.
Before meeting Igeon, Seongjae, who had met with his sister briefly, couldn't contain his excitement.
It was a rare expression for a usually prickly little brother.
But the sister facing him had become sulky.
It was inevitable.
"If he's so awesome, why didn't you send me a single photo?"
At that, Seongjae let out a dolphin-like scream.
"Damn it, I forgot to take one! I was so mesmerized...!"
He hurriedly took out his phone.
"Shit. I'll ask Uncle to take one and send it...!"
"No, it's fine."
After all, he was a fool of a brother who'd even bring back a damaged limited edition figure.
"If it's Uncle, he must be handsome even without seeing a photo."
Of course, since they said he changed a lot, I should picture him as an old man...
"Ah, but prepare yourself. When you see Uncle's face, you'll really faint."
"!"
At those words, Cheon Yuha's pupils shook.
Co-could it be that beyond the stage of an old man, he has an unimaginably horrible appearance?
That was plausible.
‘He was in that hellish place for 20 years.’
That must be why he doesn't show himself to the media. Now it makes sense.
But if this brother, who doesn't bat an eye at even most gruesome things, warns me, just how bad is it?
‘Alright, I won't be surprised. I must not be rude.’
She became serious.
And then, a message came for Cheon Yuha.
[Flash-nim! An S-rank mission has come in, the Saintess's guard detail! Where are you!]
Right now, Uncle was more important than some mission.
Cheon Yuha pouted and went out to take the call.
And it was then.
"Customer who ordered the whole cake, the red velvet 3-tier cake and two jumbo-sized Oreo shakes are ready."
"Oh, good timing."
Seongjae went to pick up the food Igeon had requested.
But.
"Hey, Cheon Seongjae. What are you doing here?"
"!"
A familiar voice came from in front of the pickup counter.
"You must be living it up these days, huh?"
"The whole world's been plastered with that bastard as top news."
The ones picking a fight were none other than Gemini Constellation members.
They were the senior group who always teased Seongjae, who was foolishly a fan of Igeon in a Gemini that reviled Igeon.
"What, today too? You're ditching the senior's anniversary saying you have to go meet Mr. Igeon?"
"Just because you're more famous than S-ranks as an A-rank, you've got your head in the clouds?"
At those words, Cheon Seongjae frowned.
Right now, Gemini had direct descendants of the Saint. And these were immediate family members that even the Captain couldn't touch.
If you touched them, you'd incur the Saint's wrath.
That's why he'd deliberately not engaged them.
Flash!
‘!’
Just then, something in Cheon Seongjae's chest shone.
It was the weapon Igeon had modified for him.
- Feature: Summons the Two-Faced Soldier (S-rank)
Summons a soldier that likes to be hit (M) or a soldier that likes to torment (S) depending on the user's disposition.
- Activates a random skill (additional)
Simultaneously, a skeleton appeared with blue smoke.
And the skeleton appeared holding gruesome torture instruments.
At the sudden surge of magic, everyone was terrified. Cheon Seongjae was also startled.
‘U-Uncle! You didn't say something like that would come out!’
He said not to be surprised no matter what came out!
Cheon Seongjae's seniors also seemed momentarily frightened.
‘Wha-what is that? A Red Zone-class monster?’
‘An Avatar-class?’
Basically, holy relics were made by the Sacred Gods and distributed to the members.
So there were various relics, but they'd never seen or heard of something so vicious.
Flustered, Cheon Seongjae hurriedly canceled the summon.
Sssssk!
The skeleton turned into smoke and disappeared.
And the men who had nearly collapsed at the sight became angry. They didn't know what trick it was, but
"Cheon Seongjae, you..."
"Ah, forget it. Come with us."
Saying so, they each grabbed and drank the Oreo shakes that Cheon Seongjae was holding for Igeon.
It seemed their thirst had peaked from the sudden terror.
"You bastard. Today's the day you die."
At the sight, Cheon Yuha, who was coming out of the restroom, was surprised and tried to rush over.
But.
"Hey, friends."
"!"
Someone grabbed the men by the hair.
"Who told you to touch my stuff?"
(To be continued in the next episode)