◈ Episode 295. If It Is for My Sake (1)
In politics, the moment you admit it, it’s over.
“W-what is going on?”
“It’s obvious. Information leaked from the inside.”
“……!!!”
“C-could there have been some sort of listening device at that place?”
“Before that.”
The sharp voice of an aged politician rang out among the politicians milling about in confusion.
“Are all of you innocent?”
Even if the president had only been bluffing.
They had to deny it desperately if they wanted even the smallest chance of survival.
But who could have imagined it?
That for the sake of restoring the honor of the two families,
Hoyeol had personally opened a portal and visited the Blue House.
That he had spoken with the president and received his pledge.
After all, even the person involved—
Even Hoyeol himself could not predict his own course of action.
Though they could not know the exact circumstances.
“They said they secured a list……. That can’t be true, right?”
“Does that even make sense?”
“They’re probably just trying to scare us, as usual.”
“What on earth has gotten into the Blue House?”
They, too, had eaten countless meals in the political arena. They had seen more than one or two people ruin their political careers by naively confessing to something like that.
That was right.
At times like this, playing dumb
Was the very basics and common sense of political life.
But common sense did not apply to the current situation.
“I knew it, those rats.”
Number of people who turned themselves in and found redemption: zero.
“They never fail to meet expectations.”
The moment President Jeong Hantaek’s patience hit rock bottom,
A full-scale investigation began.
“N-no……! How dare you arrest a member of the National Assembly who represents the people…… Ugh!”
The privilege of immunity from arrest that came with the gold badge?
That only worked before the Cataclysm.
The times had changed, and so had the law.
—Arrests one after another. Prosecution: “List already fully secured……”
—State secrets appear certain to have been leaked to Cheonhatongil……—Prosecution official: “Sentences up to life imprisonment possible.”
Before the Cataclysm.
Selling out the country was nothing more than a figure of speech.
Yes, no matter how many acts of corruption were committed,
In an era of peace, the country would never truly be shaken.
But after the Cataclysm, it was different.
As long as players with superhuman abilities existed,
The state had to be even more thorough with information for the sake of national security.
—“President Jeong Hantaek. Even now, I will set the pride of the Republic of Korea right.”
Yes, it was a new common sense.
At the same time, it was the law of a new era.
One that even the people could not help but nod along to.
—What the hell is going on all of a sudden??
—No;; there were that many thieves in the country?!
—I can understand Shinhwa, but Cheonhatongil? They really crossed the line lololol
—No wonder Ryu Ojunchun moved so damn fast ㄷㄷ
The ones most sensitive to such public reactions were the media.
VBC.
“Hup.”
Hyeon Yongseok had a hard time holding back his laughter during the meeting.
As he sat quietly in his seat and looked over the faces of the attendees,
It was plain to see.
‘Wow, there were this many people who took bribes?’
Especially in the news department.
Every single one of them looked like death warmed over, heads hanging low. Who knew watching a fire break out in your own house could be this entertaining? Hyeon Yongseok obnoxiously sipped his coffee.
“Then think it over carefully.”
The contents of the meeting were simple when summarized.
Turn yourselves in and at least save some face.
Even the gold badges had been helplessly arrested. What chance did mere corporate slaves have of feigning ignorance? What kind of lunatic with that sort of ability would be stuck at a broadcasting station?
“Jongjin. I’ve been in a good mood since this morning.”
“You do look brighter today, sunbae.”
“What did those bastards call me? A madman?”
The reason Hyeon Yongseok, who had no knack for social life, had survived in the jungle known as a broadcasting station until now was purely because of his ability.
Perhaps that was why the satisfaction was doubled.
“That’s the result of your oh-so-great social life? Handcuffs?”
News was already coming in that several of his superiors were packing up their things. There was nothing more delightful than the retirement of an obnoxious superior. And an dishonorable retirement without even severance pay at that.
“Hehehe.”
“Sunbae, do you know you look extremely weird right now?”
“Hey, Jongjin. Listen.”
“……?”
His snickering lasted only a moment.
The publicly acknowledged madman of VBC had now transformed, his eyes burning with madness for his actual job.
Hyeon Yongseok continued, eyes sparkling.
“Do you think it’s possible for a person to change overnight?”
“……
Probably not, right?”
“Exactly. But His Excellency the President, who has insisted on that hands-off approach all this time, suddenly, overnight—and even putting out breaking news in the middle of the night—starts rounding up the bastards who sold out the country. What do you think the reason is?”
Yun Jongjin thought deeply before answering.
“I don’t know? What is it?”
“I don’t know either!”
“What? Then why did you ask?”
Hyeon Yongseok clenched his fist and showed it.
“Because that’s what we’re going to find out from now on.”
“What?!”
“Who exactly applied what kind of pressure to the Blue House……. No, pressure might be a bit much, huh? Right! Who exerted a good influence and made it so the traitors all got dragged away overnight? If we figure that out, isn’t that a guaranteed jackpot?”
“……
W-well, that’s true.”
But wasn’t that basically saying they were going to dig into the Blue House?
He knew the man was crazy, but he hadn’t expected him to have this little regard for consequences.
Yun Jongjin’s mind was already growing faint.
Of course, Hyeon Yongseok paid him no mind and began turning his thoughts.
“First, judging by the timeline……. Something definitely happened between afternoon and evening……. Let’s see, wasn’t that when the Chief of the Magic Tower revealed Cheonhatongil’s true face and everything was in chaos? But wait. What was Mr. Hoyeol doing then?”
*
Nam Taemin lowered his voice and spoke.
“This situation is really messed up.”
His voice was quiet, but it was clear he was furious.
It was certainly understandable that he was angry. It seemed that the information that I and the Giant Alliance would be attacking the three caves at the same time had leaked to Cheonhatongil.
I flinched inwardly.
‘They were preparing rather meticulously, weren’t they?’
Taking advantage of the gap while I focused on clearing the caves,
They tried to offer sacrifices to an archdemon.
I had nearly missed it completely.
‘Though they missed the truly decisive point.’
My class, Demon Hunter.
The absolute [Natural Enemy Relationship]
Between demon hunters and demons.
Because of that natural enemy relationship, I had been able to wrap up the cave raid and set out in search of the Seven Deadly Sins’ Envy.
Thinking about it that way, it struck me anew.
‘So this is why secrets are necessary.’
I found myself seriously considering the importance of “concealment.”
‘If they had known that I was a demon hunter.’
Someone like Ryu Ojunchun would surely have devised an even more meticulous plan to offer sacrifices to Envy. Putting shame aside, this might not be something to take lightly.
‘In a way, it’s revealing a hidden card.’
Objectively speaking, I was still veiled in mystery.
After all, neither my level nor my class had been clearly revealed. But in the process of dealing with the Seven Deadly Sins’ Envy this time, several clues had surfaced.
Akshan.
Demon Hunter.
Even Claudi.
Of course, that alone would not be enough for certainty.
‘All kinds of magic, swordsmanship, Hiel, Diend…….’
Because I had used every conceivable means and method until now,
Even if people thought I had some connection to Akshan,
There had been no public opinion that I was a demon hunter.
I became newly grateful for that.
‘For the demon hunter’s shabby skill window, that is.’
How could anyone imagine I was a demon hunter?
Back when Arcana was merely a game,
There must have been more than a few players who got baited by Akshan and Demon Hunter, then deleted their characters while trembling in rage.
As I was thinking that, Nam Taemin continued.
“I truly apologize for this matter, Mr. Hoyeol. You took precious time out of your schedule for us, yet information leaked from within.”
Grandfel was fundamentally merciful toward humans.
It wasn’t wrong to be stabbed in the back.
The one who stabbed you in the back was the one at fault.
Fortunately, Nam Taemin seemed to have a hunch.
“It must be among the new analysts.”
The Giant Alliance had greatly increased the number of analysts while preparing for the cave raid. One of them must have been a spy from Cheonhatongil. In connection with that, Nam Cheolmin had already gone into action.
—“We’re going to deliberately release different information and observe. If we confirm which false information leaks outside, we’ll be able to trace it back to its tail.”
There really was such a thing as everyone having their own area of expertise.
‘Baek Iseol, and Nam Cheolmin as well.’
I realized anew that the more trustworthy allies one had, the better.
Of course, it was time for me to display my own area of expertise as well.
Nam Taemin scratched his head awkwardly.
“By the way……. If possible, I wanted to clear it without your help, Mr. Hoyeol. In the end, I ended up receiving your help like this, so I’m ashamed. Haha.”
Unlike Hisagi and Leonie,
Nam Taemin had finished clearing all the way to the depths of the cave on his own.
That made me realize clearly.
As expected, level wasn’t everything.
‘Class quest.’
Nam Taemin had begun his class quest with the recapture of Frost as the turning point. It seemed that through that process, a noticeable gap between him and the other two had begun to emerge.
‘Even in the case of Demon Hunter…….’
The skill list of Demon Hunter, famous for being shabby. But even I had acquired new class-exclusive skills while progressing through my class quest.
[Akshan’s Legacy].
[Akshan’s Guardian Spirit].
Their activation conditions were tricky,
But their effects were quite considerable. Nam Taemin’s class was Barbarian. He might have acquired unique skills far more versatile and outstanding than mine.
I nodded quietly.
“You were putting in effort even where it could not be seen.”
“Ah, no, not at all.”
“May I be entrusted with the conclusion?”
The spoils from a boss monster were considerable.
It was awkward to call them the same kind of boss monster,
But shall I look back at the spoils I received after defeating the Seven Deadly Sins’ Envy?
[Name: Grandfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo]
[Title: Last Adventurer, Noble, Transcendent, Black Flame Dragon]
[Class: Demon Hunter]
[Level: 750]
[Stats]
Strength: 170 / Agility: 175 / Mana: 660 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetic: High / Tenacity: 5
[Available Points: 0]
First of all, my level had risen by fifty levels at once, the limit.
Of course, the reward even greater than levels was the archdemon’s dropped item.
‘I had been secretly curious.’
This was the second time I had defeated an archdemon, following Greed.
But this was the first time I had obtained spoils from an archdemon. After all, demons defeated while possessing humans did not drop spoils.
‘Greed had been possessing Hakuna.’
That was why I had held a certain amount of expectation.
Its weight was definitely different from a Demon King’s, after all.
And the spoil did not betray my expectations.
[Cocoon Clotted with Envy]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Restriction: Unknown]
[Effect: Sealed]
[Description: Its effect has been sealed by a demon’s curse. It must be purified in order to learn its true effect.]
A legendary-grade item!
It was my second legendary item after Gwicheol. I could not guess its effect until I purified it, but I had already experienced the performance of a legendary-grade item through Gwicheol.
I did not know what kind of effect it possessed, but it would surely show performance that made my jaw drop. Of course, there was one thing I was worried about.
‘Affinity.’
Information I had learned when I obtained Gwicheol.
Legendary-grade items had a special equipment restriction called “affinity.” In Gwicheol’s case, from the time it was still an ore, it had called me its master. Its favorability toward me was high, so there was nothing to worry about, but…….
‘This is a bit different.’
Still, I had something to rely on.
After all, it was a title I had also obtained upon acquiring Gwicheol.
It had an effect.
[Achievement: One Who Writes “Legend”]
[Effect: Slightly increases affinity with all “Legendary” grade items]
[Duration: Permanent]
They say many small grains of dust make a mountain. Even a slight increase was better than nothing.
Soon after,
At Nam Taemin’s answer, I quickly sorted out my thoughts.
“Of course. What I need isn’t experience points or spoils, but experience itself. I’ll engrave every single movement of yours into my head, Mr. Hoyeol!”
That is quite a terribly burdensome resolve…….
But it wasn’t a situation where I could simply act humble.
Nam Taemin had become capable of emitting 『Sword Qi』 thanks to receiving Harkon’s teachings. That included Hisagi, Leonie, and several other players as well.
‘Still, it’s Sword Gang, even if I do say so myself.’
In other words, perhaps it could help Nam Taemin.
By the way, having this conversation
Reminded me of the one I had with Nam Cheolmin
Before re-entering the cave.
—“I would like to receive the Commander-in-Chief’s permission.”
He had said he wanted to use the footage of my cave raid as educational material, hadn’t he? Well, there was no commander-in-chief who would refuse to increase fighting strength through education. I nodded generously.
However.
‘What exactly are they going to teach? Is there anything to watch and learn from my desperate struggling?’
...
What would he teach?
It was simple.
A proper lesson.
Nam Cheolmin ground his teeth in rage.
‘So you still don’t know your place?’
To think they had mixed spies among the analysts.
They must have thought that with a mere few spies,
They could make up for the gap between themselves and the Commander-in-Chief.
You truly do not know your place, Ryu Ojunchun.
Nam Cheolmin muttered.
“If you can’t do it yourself, I’ll force you to.”
Since he had already received the Commander-in-Chief’s permission.
Click—
With that click, Hoyeol’s image was revealed to the world.
Naturally, the world was turned upside down once again.
—Holy shit, what did I just see?
—D-did he just pull a sword out of a rock?!
—Excalibur appeared!!!!!!