I Geon frowned.
At the same time, an alarm blared. It was a completely different sound from before.
Aaeeaang—
A sound as if announcing the outbreak of war. The Cheon siblings were greatly flustered.
‘Alert before entering the Red Zone.’
It was right at that moment.
Boom!
Something burst through the road in an instant.
It was a woman with the wings of a firebird and a fire-breathing lizard.
[Still, the human realm is so lacking in dignity.]
At that murderous flame, Cheon Yuha’s face turned pale.
‘That’s a Fantasy Species…!’
So far, the identified species of the unknown civilization numbered 12 in total.
Among them, the Fantasy Species were top-tier in danger level.
Spirits, phoenixes, and the like—beings that appeared in human imagination—mainly constituted them.
And when a Fantasy Species appeared, that territory turned into at least an Evacuation Zone, a Red Zone.
And the important thing wasn’t that.
‘That thing appeared 4 years ago…!’
It was.
The ones that attacked Beijing and came down to the northern part of Seoul turned every place they passed into a Red Zone.
In the end, even the Star Group Leader-level couldn’t catch them at the frontlines and they escaped.
‘Why is that thing now…!’
That was when Cheon Yuha’s face hardened.
“Noona!”
Cheon Seongjae approached his noona with a fed-up expression.
As expected of the guardian of the Leo Constellation, the surroundings were filled with decapitated monsters.
However.
“Seongjae-ya. Take Uncle and run away.”
“What?”
“If it’s Red-level, Uncle will be in danger too.”
A resolute expression as if she had to protect her younger brother and I Geon.
And perhaps reading that look, Cheon Seongjae clicked his tongue.
This is why Star Group Leaders are a problem.
‘They think Uncle is really about B-rank.’
And on top of that, they think he’s more famous than them because of good timing.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Noona thinks that way at all, but…
“Noona, I know what you’re worried about, but you don’t need to worry about that.”
“What?”
“Uncle can really blow away mountains.”
“…What?”
“He can blow away even Red Zone-level monsters with his fist.”
Cheon Yuha caught on to what her brother was trying to say. So she scolded him seriously.
And rightly so, because the monster that appeared now was not something to joke about.
“How old are you and you still believe that? That’s all exaggerated stories Dad told while drunk.”
“…….”
Cheon Seongjae found it troublesome to even speak.
“Just see for yourself.”
“……?”
Well, he understood. Because he himself had thought the same until just a few days ago.
It was right then.
Cheon Yuha leaped up in an instant and aimed for the lizard and the woman.
Pajijik!
A powerful thrust. But the destroyed body regenerated again.
“……!”
As expected, it was just like the past.
Then I’ll kill it until it dies. The moment Cheon Yuha poured out all her magic power.
The woman riding the lizard deliberately changed direction. That direction was none other than I Geon.
“!”
[This time, there’s a very fine man.]
Cheon Yuha, who had flown up, was flustered.
“Uncle! Danger…!”
But that was when.
I Geon, who was picking his ear, got annoyed.
“Ah shi. Why do these bastards keep clinging in this heat.”
Slap!
The monsters were knocked out with a single slap.
Like flies.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time, in front of the Korean Sacred Artifact Exchange.
The exchange plaza, with its fountain laser show, was filled with crowds.
And for good reason, 30 minutes later.
A press conference was to be held here.
“What on earth is the Saintess going to say?”
“They say it’s about I Geon.”
“I Geon? At best, isn’t he a low-grade dropout?”
“Before that, why is a European Saintess holding a press conference in Korea?”
“I don’t know. They said it’s some political dispute.”
Amidst the commotion, Sophie could only tremble.
Politics or whatever, it was because this was an order.
[Hey. I’m too lazy to take a plane, so you come here. ㅡㅡ]
In other words, he was going to come supervise the press conference personally, but for his convenience, just hold it somewhere close on your own.
In the end, Sophie, who couldn’t even run away, used an expensive teleport and came to Korea.
And 30 minutes later. The press conference was scheduled to begin.
However.
“What? Really a Fantasy Species?!”
“You’re saying that broke out in Gangnam right now?”
A calamity had apparently broken out right around here.
And at this news, Sophie couldn’t help but shudder.
‘Are you crazy? If it’s a Fantasy Species, there’s no defense method!’
If the damage tendency of the Insect-types which are the mainstream is mainly parasitic, the damage tendency of Fantasy Species is mainly disasters.
They were crazy bastards that overwhelmed with destructive power.
Press conference or whatever, her life was immediately in danger.
However.
‘No, maybe it’s actually a good thing.’
If it’s a Fantasy Species, the calamity level will surely rise to Red.
‘Then the press conference might be canceled!’
She had come because she felt like I Geon would cut her neck if she canceled, but well.
Even I Geon wouldn’t tell her to hold a press conference at a stage that could become a national annihilation level.
Yes, it’s actually better this way.
In fact, the reactions of Korea’s top Star Groups rushing to the scene were unsettling.
“It’s serious! It’s that Fire Lord from back then that destroyed the Blue House!”
“What? That lizard, no way?”
“Yes…! It seems to have infiltrated through a blind spot in the dome! This time, it might not end with just the northern part of Seoul!”
At the sudden situation, even the Star Group Leader-level people’s faces turned pale.
‘Those devil-like bastards again.’
It was only 4 years ago since Beijing and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula were devastated. Because of a single lizard swinging its devilish fire tail.
But Sophie was delighted.
‘As expected.’
The press conference is canceled, canceled!
It was as Sophie was inwardly cheering as if she had survived.
Bang!
“……!”
With an explosion sound, people screamed.
And.
Hwiiiiing!
Something huge flew in.
And it fell thud right in front of the press conference plaza.
Boom!
“Kyaak!”
“Wha-What is it!”
It was an impact strong enough to crack the ground.
With the smoke, the form of the flying object was revealed.
The Star Group members, and also Sophie.
They were horrified at the object that revealed itself.
“Wha-What is this.”
“A t-tail?”
***
An unbelievable sight was unfolding.
Ppakak!
The fire monsters that had charged at I Geon were blown away in an instant.
I Geon, wearing gloves, had brushed them off as if shooing away flies.
It wasn’t just that.
“Kreeeek!”
The fire lizard the woman was riding bellowed as if in agony.
And the Cheon siblings clearly saw.
The moment the lizard swung its thick tail, I Geon had kicked that tail away.
It was a kind of defense.
Because the best defense was offense.
But unable to withstand I Geon’s magic power, the tail got torn off.
And the tail that flew off like a cannonball can’t even be known now how many kilometers it flew.
Of course, I Geon was actually angry at that sight.
“Ah shi, my material! It flew away!”
“What’s with this weak toughness?” I Geon rather angrily snapped at the lizard.
The lizard looked very wronged.
Thanks to that, Cheon Yuha couldn’t close her mouth.
4 years ago, that lizard that had turned the Blue House to ashes, with a single blow…!
‘So that’s the real Uncle I Geon.’
The figure she had only seen in videos was right before her eyes.
The use of magic power, the spirit, the strength to deal with monsters. Everything was different.
And when his noona who never got surprised rarely showed astonishment, Cheon Seongjae felt proud.
This was the reaction of his noona, who counted among the top in combat skills.
He was already looking forward to what expressions the Star Group Leader-level people who openly disregarded I Geon would make.
“You bastards. How dare you crawl in here, of all places.”
I Geon got angry as if his territory had been invaded, and approached the lizard.
On the other hand, the firebird woman couldn’t easily get up, perhaps due to the significant impact.
[Ke, keheok…! Th-this human!]
At that curse, I Geon looked at the firebird woman. Then he laughed as if disgusted.
“Oh. Seeing that you speak, you seem to be at least platoon commander level?”
The firebird woman flinched and raised her head. It was as if he knew their system in detail.
‘How does a human…’
But I Geon cracked his gloved hand and grinned viciously.
And that was because while the world treated these guys as Fantasy Species or whatever, a great calamity, to I Geon they were everyday occurrences.
The guys he caught and caught again and again while trapped in the tower.
“I didn’t expect to see you bastards, whose wings I used to pluck daily, here again.”
Killing intent sprouted in I Geon’s eyes.
And seeing that look, the fire woman trembled.
She instinctively realized the opponent was dangerous.
Maybe that’s why.
“Kieeek!”
With the woman’s cry, her partner lizard roared.
The lizard that had lost its tail spewed fire from its whole body and advanced on I Geon.
Boom boom!
It staggered from losing its tail, but its menace was considerable.
The flames it spewed alone melted the asphalt road outright.
Finally, the soaring flames attacked I Geon.
The startled Cheon Yuha tried to move quickly.
Because a blow from those creatures couldn’t be withstood by a bare human body.
However, that was when.
Hwareureuk!
“…!”
In the middle of the flames, I Geon was fine. No, it was a natural thing.
Although I Geon is called a fighter, he was originally a blacksmith who handled fire to create weapons.
Because of that, his fire resistance gradually increased, and he freely utilized even the enemies’ fire.
That was also why he matched well with Hugo, who follows the master of Scorching Heat.
So I Geon grinned at the lizard.
“Good. This level of fire is quite usable for production.”
The lizard felt ominousness in that laugh.
Sure enough.
“……!!”
I Geon, who had been walking while dragging his three-line slippers, suddenly disappeared.
I Geon appeared in midair.
He took something out from his chest.
It was like a tape measure.
I Geon pulled something out from inside.
Chwarrreuk!
[Unbreakable Cord] S-grade
- A cord made by mixing Hugo’s data
- It does not break easily. (Data Grade: Saint-level)
- Data of the Sagittarius Constellation (Fire resistance)
It was a cord made by mixing in Hugo’s data.
I Geon threw the drawn-out cord at the lizard.
Shwiik!
The cord caught around the lizard’s neck.
Its form was a noose.
As soon as I Geon pulled the cord, the choked lizard bellowed.
“Kieeek!”
With its violent struggle, the ground split.
Even when it tried to undo the noose, it was no use.
Ppakak!
“Kiek!”
I Geon relentlessly threw punches. Thanks to the gloves he was wearing, he could easily deal with the fire lizard.
Ppakak! Ppakak!
The lizard hit by I Geon soon fell into a near-death state.
Taking advantage of the gap, the firebird woman tried to escape, but it was useless before I Geon.
“And where are you going?”
[Kyaak!]
I Geon threw a kick at the bird-shaped woman.
[Data obtained]
[Data obtained]
It was a moment where the Fantasy Species was smashed in an instant.
Cheon Yuha gaped, and Cheon Seongjae nearly died of a heart attack.
I Geon stepped on the two near-death monsters and laughed.
‘Can’t I take these as familiars?’
If I register them as familiars, it would be easy to put them in and out.
But as if reading that thought, a voice came.
[The impure energy is too strong to take as a familiar of the Serpent Bearer Constellation.]
[Purification is needed.]
Purification, huh.
I Geon, who was pondering, gleamed in his eyes and beat the captured monsters even more.
Ppakak! Ppakak! Ppakak!
Though not certain, when making sacred items, the more you strike the object, the more impurities come out.
So he thought hitting might have an effect, but.
[The enemy is dying.]
[Purification cannot be performed.]
[Another method is needed.]
‘It seems this method is not it.’
I Geon pouted.
How can I take them as familiars? As I Geon unknowingly put strength into it.
“Ah, U-Uncle!”
“Huh?”
Along with Cheon Seongjae’s flustered voice, the firebird woman’s scream rang out.
And was it because he misadjusted his strength?
Pook!
“Ah.”
He ended up killing the female monster.
[Data obtained]
[Constellation experience points obtained.]
Seeing that, I Geon got angry.
“Ah shi! Why are you bastards so damn weak!”
I Geon glared fiercely at the lizard. The lizard flinched and quickly spat something out.
It was a core that should have been inside its body.
It seemed like an object connected to the leaders of the unknown civilization.
[The enemy has surrendered.]
[The evil energy has diminished.]
[Can be registered as a prisoner.]
[Would you like to use the Familiar Skill?]
“Oh.”
I Geon immediately used the Familiar Skill, just like with Pishu.
[The Fire Lord (Fantasy Species) has become a prisoner of the Serpent Bearer Constellation.]
[Prisoner 1]
[Would you like to give it a name?]
“Torch.”
[The name of the prisoner has been granted.]
[If you use the Persuasion Skill, you can later register it as a familiar or slave.]
I Geon smiled with satisfaction.
He wondered if he could summon and unsummon it like Pishu, but it seemed impossible yet.
[Serpent Bearer Constellation Sanctuary (Lv.1)]
[Area: 1.6 square meters (approx. 0.5 pyeong)]
[Insufficient space in the Sanctuary to accommodate the prisoner.]
[Please increase the Sanctuary level to expand its area.]
[You can increase the Sanctuary level with the contribution (experience) of your familiar gods or human familiars.]
I Geon understood.
Anyway, until he upgrades, he could just take over Hugo’s house.
Maybe because of that.
Kugugung!
I Geon dragged the noose tied around the lizard’s neck like a dog leash.
“Kids, let’s go. The press conference will start soon.”
“Y-You’re going to drag that along too?”
“I have no choice.”
I Geon turned around, but Cheon Yuha couldn’t take her eyes off him. She couldn’t even close her mouth.
She had probably been like that since the moment I Geon blew away the lizard.
In fact, she had no choice.
Because those species were the ones called the nightmare of Seoul 4 years ago.
In the end, Cheon Seongjae shrugged smugly, as if saying ‘See?’
Wasn’t the real I Geon so overwhelming that reason flew away? It surpassed the stories he had heard tiresomely from his father long ago.
Even he himself hadn’t been able to think rationally.
But I Geon had no way of knowing that.
“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
As I Geon approached worriedly, Cheon Yuha’s eyes sparkled.
“Uncle.”
“Huh?”
Cheon Yuha seriously grabbed I Geon.
“Please marry me.”
Huh?
(Continued in the next episode)