Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 28

“Stick close behind me,” Kang Cheol-woo said, his guard still up. Swish, swish. He scanned their surroundings with practiced ease. “It seems safe here,” he announced after thoroughly checking the passage. “Hmm?” Kang Cheol-woo turned to the Dark Shadow Guild member who had followed him. The man’s face was etched with fatigue. ‘He’s not even tense?’ He seemed utterly indifferent to their current predicament. “You’re from the Dark Shadow Guild, right?” “Yeah.” “……” Kang Cheol-woo’s temple throbbed at the seemingly younger guild member, Lee Rowoon’s, nonchalant reply. ‘Such a brat.’ He must think he’s untouchable, being placed here by some high-ranking official from Haenam. Kang Cheol-woo was about to retort but shook his head. ‘We’re all in the same boat anyway.’ Even if he’s a parachute [a term for someone who gets a position without earning it], it doesn’t matter. Some martial artists treated players as equals, but they were a minority. Especially in Haenam, such people were nonexistent. A parachute was just a dog being raised by the high-ranking official who had placed the Dark Shadow Guild here. “You and I are in the same boat, what’s the point of saying anything?” They were both just hunting dogs. Pfft. Thinking that way, his anger subsided. Kang Cheol-woo, having calmed down, looked around again and said, “Still, I’m an old dog.” Meaning he was a dog that had been around longer. “What do you think the guy who put you here will do for you? We’re not the only dogs those guys are raising.” It was nothing more than a rant. “Don’t think you’re special. Surviving is everything.” “Enough with the nagging.” Kang Cheol-woo chuckled again at Lee Rowoon’s words. “Follow me closely. At least I’ll help you not die. If you don’t like it, you survive and become an old dog like me.” Kang Cheol-woo didn’t even know why he was saying these things to this young punk. It was just a rant. ‘I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.’ Because of a few things that had happened recently, he felt like he was being chased. That’s why he was saying these things. ‘Don’t die.’ Because that’s the only thing we can do. If we want to live while showing off our leash, we have to survive somehow. Thud, thud. Kang Cheol-woo, having checked the passage, began to head towards the place where the elders were. “Alright,” Lee Rowoon replied quietly and began to follow behind Kang Cheol-woo. *** -The Bondeano dungeon, Armo, has been discovered. Bondeano was a resident of Einheart, not Earth. And also a resident of a small force that had unfortunately opened up in Eun’s world. -We were going to make a move first, but Haenam has already formed a reconnaissance and subjugation team. Haenam has the key. The qualification to enter the dungeon. Haenam had already taken the key. -It’s not impossible to push and take it, but…. Using the Black Market’s power, they could obtain the Armo key that Haenam had. Their financial power reached not the sky, but somewhere near it, and there would be plenty of people in the Black Market who could steal. There was also a way to rescue Bondeano by taking the key and using one of the Black Market’s ghost guilds to subjugate Armo. -How presumptuous. Lee Rowoon said that. -Are you testing me? They were seeing what he would choose by giving him options. There was a lot the Black Market King could gain from his series of actions. If Lee Rowoon asked the Black Market for help, he would be in debt. In Eun’s world, debts were quite valuable, so easily incurring debt was not a good choice. Also, they could learn about Lee Rowoon’s tendencies based on his choices. An information organization. -You know what the Black Market’s investment means. Because that was the Black Market’s job. The Black Market’s investment, meaning they would secure what they needed and gather information through a continuous and close relationship. Even Kang Eun-ha, who had been in charge of one of the Kangha Group’s pillars, was wide-eyed at the huge investment, and that was the reason behind it. -To keep the Black Market’s investment going, you must continue to prove your worth, even if you are a Blood Demon. At the Black Market King’s words. -How presumptuous. Lee Rowoon said that again. -Do as you please. But this time, I’ll go myself. And so, he participated in the subjugation team under the name of Dark Shadow, one of the Black Market’s ghost guilds. Martial artists were bound to attract the attention of the council, and since there was work to be done, they disguised themselves as a player guild. ‘A test, huh.’ How presumptuous. The Black Market King might have been an existence he couldn’t even dare to look at in the past, but not now. He wasn’t overestimating himself or having arrogant thoughts. I am. -You are our disciple. The disciples of the masters. He had learned from them for over a hundred years and fought against chaos for countless hours. Everything he was doing now was just a game. A game to extinguish the flames that had burned him in the past. A game before finding his masters and repaying their kindness. So, for them to test him was nothing but presumptuous. ‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’ However, Lee Rowoon wasn’t too upset about the Black Market King’s test. Because he wouldn’t know. ‘Who is doing the testing.’ Rather, they were being tested by him. ‘The more they learn about me, the more confused they will become.’ In that confusion, the Black Market King would have to keep making choices. That was the test. ‘Whether to accept the betrayers or not.’ It was then. “When are you going to move?” Jung Chi-soo, who had come along as the leader of the Dark Shadow Guild, said in a quiet voice. He had intended to move alone, but Kang Eun-ha had begged him, saying she couldn’t send the Blood Demon into enemy territory alone, so they had come along. Even if that wasn’t the case, it was better to have the numbers to participate in the subjugation team as a ghost guild. “If you give the order….” “Not yet.” Lee Rowoon also said in a small voice. “Bondeano is not an easy opponent.” He had a small connection with him in the past. -You are the same as me. That’s why. His voice faintly echoed in his mind. “He will be fully prepared.” If they moved rashly, they would have to endure some damage themselves. “We have to use what we can.” “Understood.” Just as the conversation between Jung Chi-soo and Lee Rowoon ended. “Elder!” Kang Cheol-woo, who had been leading the way, hurriedly called out to Elder Yuk Sagul and ran towards him. “What is it?” Looking at Kang Cheol-woo’s expression, it seemed like something had happened. *** The subjugation team, which had been moving forward relentlessly, breaking through the maze walls, came to a halt. It wasn’t because of the magic circles that were drawn on the maze walls, which were like traps. It was because there was no more space. In other words, the base of the enemies they had to face was right in front of them. “It seems like….” Kang Cheol-woo said to Yuk Sagul, bowing his head. “We should retreat.” “Retreat?” Yuk Sagul’s face twisted like a demon. “No, what are you talking about!” “We found the enemy’s base, and you’re saying we should retreat?” The other martial artists reacted the same way. “What’s the reason?” Yuk Sagul asked Kang Cheol-woo. “To get to the dungeon entrance, we have to go through a room, and there are magic circles drawn on the floor.” Until now, the players had either faced the explosions of the magic circles with their bodies or dismantled them with dismantling items. But the magic circle that was boldly drawn in front of the entrance was different. “It seems to be a sacrifice magic circle.” “A sacrifice magic circle!” “Good heavens, why is that here and not in the West!” At Kang Cheol-woo’s words, not only the martial artists but also the players began to stir. ‘Sacrifice magic circle.’ That meant it was a magic circle that could not be passed without a sacrifice. It didn’t actually mean offering a sacrifice. It was a name given because it was complex and difficult, making it impossible to even attempt to dismantle it unless one had a high level of knowledge about magic circles, and it was a tricky magic circle that was almost impossible to dismantle with items. Moreover, it was known that even the lowest level of sacrifice magic circle had the power to kill even a Hwagyung master [a high-level martial artist] with one blow. ‘A magic circle that must be broken by sacrificing someone to activate it.’ But that infamous absolute magic circle wasn’t as threatening as its reputation. The sacrifice magic circle had only been infamous in the beginning. If they had enough preparation and time, there were ways to neutralize the sacrifice magic circle. “Hmm.” Yuk Sagul half-closed his eyes as if lost in thought. Indeed, if it was a sacrifice magic circle, it would be difficult for them to break through. Moreover. ‘If it’s a sacrifice magic circle, it’s at least a thousand-level magic circle.’ It would be difficult to force their way through with power. Still, they had to try. “Stand back.” Yuk Sagul said that and raised his sword. Whoosh! Inner energy surged into the sword like a wave, emitting a bright blue light and increasing the length of the sword. “Sword Aura!” “Elder Yuk can use Sword Aura!” “As expected of the Swift Sword!” It was Sword Aura, which could only be used by those among the Hwagyung masters who had a true understanding of martial arts. The air around Yuk Sagul rippled as he took his stance. Whap whap whap whap! Soon, Yuk Sagul’s sword embroidered the air. Afterimages like waves surging. The ultimate technique of the Four Seas Raging Wave Sword, the Great Raging Wave. Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwang! Explosions echoed from all sides of the wall and floor where the sacrifice magic circle was. It seemed that Yuk Sagul had pushed himself quite hard, as sweat had formed on his grip. The smoke cleared. “Good heavens.” Even though it had been directly hit by the Great Raging Wave, the ultimate technique of the Four Seas Raging Wave Sword. There wasn’t a single scratch on the magic circle on the wall and floor. “As expected….” This was definitely a sacrifice magic circle. Then, as Kang Cheol-woo had said, it was right to retreat and come back prepared to dismantle the sacrifice magic circle. But. ‘That credit won’t be mine.’ It was clear that it would end with the reconnaissance team’s mission. ‘I expect good news, Elder Yuk.’ The sect leader’s voice echoed in his mind, and Yuk Sagul trembled. If he retreated here, the sect leader would no longer have any expectations of him. “Elder Yuk. Retreating like this….” The martial artists, having been frightened by the sacrifice magic circle, were about to say something, but. “If it’s a sacrifice magic circle,” Yuk Sagul said, ignoring all those words. “Then we just need to offer a sacrifice.” “……!” “What!” “Have you forgotten where this place is?” Yuk Sagul’s voice filled the passage. “It’s a den of evil where the demonic forces are hiding. If we retreat now, the demonic forces might make other preparations and threaten our comrades.” “But.” “We just need to offer a sacrifice!” Yuk Sagul’s eyes looked at Kang Cheol-woo. “You must step forward.” “Yes? Elder. But….” “Shut up!” The moment Kang Cheol-woo showed his reluctance, Yuk Sagul’s roar like a raging wave erupted. “It is for the sake of correcting the demonic forces! Are you also a member of the demonic forces!” Kang Cheol-woo had no choice but to shut his mouth at that tremendous force. “Sacrifice is necessary for the greater good. You choose those who will step forward for justice.” Kang Cheol-woo’s clenched lips were trembling. His words sounded plausible, but in the end, there was only one meaning. ‘Choose those who will die.’ And not a single martial artist would be included. In the end, it meant to kill the players to open the way. Kang Cheol-woo looked at where the players were standing. Shudder, shudder. They were trembling with fear or anger. But none of them stepped forward to speak. ‘Damn it.’ It meant that they knew that stepping forward wouldn’t help and that they would surely die at the hands of the martial artists. This was reality. ‘Watchdogs.’ The dogs they raised. Beings that could be thrown away at any time when needed. They were being thrown away like tools, even though no one would die if they just stepped back a little. Kang Cheol-woo clenched his fist and raised his head. “I… can’t do it.” At that moment. Shing. Yuk Sagul’s sword was touching Kang Cheol-woo’s neck. “Are you admitting that you are a member of the demonic forces?” “No! But… I… can’t do it.” There was no turning back. Kang Cheol-woo closed his eyes tightly. How could a person push another person to their death? It would have been better if they had died fighting as players, but dying for the sake of those who were thirsty for achievements was too pitiful. ‘Damn it.’ He knew what he had done. Haenam wouldn’t just punish him. His Kyodong Guild, which he had raised with blood and sweat. And not only that, they wouldn’t leave his family alone. Because that would be the result of rebelling against Eun’s world. “Alright. Then I will punish the demonic forces here and entrust the greater good to another.” But even so, he couldn’t do it. It was the moment when Kang Cheol-woo, who was prepared to die, clenched his hands tightly. -Tsk. How foolish. It was definitely a voice he had heard before. -Shall I tell you a way to survive? But now, that voice sounded like the whisper of a devil.