Chapter 50 - Villain of the Orion Guild (1)

I also didn’t know what my reward was yet.

But the moment I confirmed the reward Seo Ji-won received, I became certain of one thing.

That the boss room raid received the highest weight in the reward settlement.

So I thought it would be fine to confidently reveal it first.

Because in the boss room, my contribution was 7 and Seo Ji-won’s was 3.

“U-unit Leader! You don’t have to be the first one to reveal it!”

Choi Ho-joong hurriedly tried to take some action, but I paid no mind and reached into my inventory to grab the reward I had received.

The texture transmitted from my fingertips was quite unfamiliar.

With this, one thing became certain.

“It’s an item.”

I tried to imitate the line Seo Ji-won had said.

And then, without delay, I took out the reward.

What came out held between my two fingers was a single black ring.

Instantly, intense gasps poured out from all over.

“I-it’s black!”

“No way!”

“Black came out from here?”

On the Myeongundan side, reactions of disbelief were predominant.

I also knew the meaning of this color.

In the case of rings, the rank of the item is divided according to its color.

White, yellow, green, blue, red, purple, brown, black.

Among these, the highest rank was black.

A whopping three ranks above the red one that Seo Ji-won had acquired this time.

“Unit Leaderrrr! What on earth is going on!”

Choi Ho-joong asked me, making a fuss.

Right now, everyone’s gaze was on me.

To hear my one word.

“Why? Are you amazed that I acquired this item or are you dissatisfied?”

“Dissatisfied, what a hurtful thing to say! Of course, I’m happy too! But what on earth happened inside the boss room for such an amazing reward…”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I asked back with a bitter smile.

“Th-then, could it be that you defeated the boss monster, Unit Leader?”

I didn’t answer any further.

Because I had promised Han Byeong-cheol not to reveal the story about the shadow.

“This item is named Pallas’s Ring.”

As befitting an item of the highest rank, it was a guy with very surprising functions.

It automatically deployed an intangible shield to protect the owner when their life was threatened.

I could find out how good its performance was over time.

And at this moment, as expected, Seo Ji-won’s expression was colder than ever.

He said nothing.

He didn’t even offer an explanation that he had single-handedly defeated the boss monster in the boss room.

Well, doing so would only make him look more ridiculous.

It must have been a very difficult situation for Seo Ji-won.

“Now, you guys have to reveal your rewards too, right?”

“Yes!”

The festival with no blanks was not over yet.

***

After returning to the family house and reporting the dungeon clear, our Chamryongdan had another schedule.

A get-together.

Since we had finished a big event like the Burning Dungeon, I thought it would be a bit of a shame to just let it pass.

“Ho-joong, is this the place you picked?”

I got a great item and was planning to treat them generously, but the place Choi Ho-joong had found was an ordinary meat restaurant.

“On a day like today, isn’t pork belly with a glass of soju the best?”

“I like it too!”

“Me too!”

If they liked it, it didn't matter to me.

I was planning to just hand over my card at the right time and leave anyway.

Or so I thought.

“Unit Leader! You’re staying until the end today, right?”

Said Baek Ji-ah, as she snugly wrapped her arm around my left one.

“We’ll see.”

“Hey! This won’t do! Please promise you’ll stay with us until the end!”

This time it was Lee Chae-eun.

She restrained my right arm, showing her determination not to let go until I promised.

But these guys. They were using mana.

It was the first time I was being pressured with mana by someone.

Not just when I was Seo Ji-han.

In my days as Johan Raven, no one would have even dared to think of overpowering me with mana.

‘I guess I still can’t win with just mana alone.’

These two women couldn't possibly imagine it, but since I actually had that thought, a laugh escaped me on its own.

“Unit Leader! You smiled, right?”

“I saw you smile too! Then we’ll take that as a confirmation stamp!”

At the combined attack of Baek Ji-ah and Lee Chae-eun, I couldn't help but nod my head.

Only then did the two women release the arms that were restraining me.

That Ho-joong guy said it was sensible for me to leave in the middle. I don't know.

Anyway, the get-together began with all of Chamryongdan present, and the atmosphere flowed very harmoniously.

Everyone couldn't help but be in a good mood.

Because they had all hit it big in the Burning Dungeon today.

I also liked today’s mood.

In fact, what I needed most was rest.

Since reincarnating as Seo Ji-han, I had been sprinting full-speed every single day.

With the sole conviction of regaining my past strength as soon as possible.

It was hazy when I had last eaten, drank, and chatted without any thoughts.

So it would be fine to spend just today with thoughts of training and treatment forgotten for a while.

“By the way, since when were you so strong, Unit Leader?”

The one who asked the question was Shin Ah-yeon.

Her tongue was slightly slurred, so it seemed she was drunk.

It was quite interesting to see this side of her, having only seen her restrained self.

“You’re curious about that?”

“Of course! You seem to have too many secrets, Unit Leader!”

“What secrets could there be? The story about me is probably common knowledge to everyone anyway.”

Of course, excluding the most crucial event of being reincarnated.

“That’s not true! Even now, you’re avoiding the answer, aren’t you?”

“Me?”

“Yes! You still haven’t told me since when you were so strong, Unit Leader!”

“I was strong from birth. My bloodline is pretty good, you know?”

“But you were suffering from a chronic illness!”

“An illness is something you can’t help. That’s what humans are. But my illness is improving, and it will get better in the future.”

“Then does that mean you’ll become stronger?”

“Of course. Much faster than you guys think.”

That was a set future.

There might be differences in speed depending on the variables, but I would become the number one in the Haewon Sword Family, and I would also become the strongest person in this world called Earth.

It was by no means arrogance.

It was something entirely possible even if I only recovered a part of my strength from my Johan Raven days.

“Can I really believe what you just said, Unit Leader?”

I gave a slight smile and nodded my head.

“I think I did a good job joining Chamryongdan!”

“I think so too!”

“I hope you become the Family Head of the Haewon Sword Family, Unit Leader!”

I didn't mean to create this kind of atmosphere.

In any case, their faith in me was always right.

Because they would receive a definite reward.

“Let’s have a drink?”

“Yes!”

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, my cell phone vibrated.

A single message.

It was from Han Byeong-cheol.

Why is there no contact? The news that you cleared the dungeon has already reached the Muwon Sword Family!

To think he would press me on the same day.

The old man sure was impatient.

You were right, Family Head.

As I sent that reply, the message came flying back again at the speed of light.

What? The shadow was really alive?

Thanks to you, I had an easy time clearing the boss room. I’ll tell you the story later.

I’m dying of curiosity, what do you mean later! Come to the Muwon Sword Family now!

This old man could probably roast beans on a lightning bolt.

I’m sorry. Our sword unit is in the middle of a get-together right now.

Where is it? I’ll go there right now.

I was starting to get scared.

Was he really going to come at this time of night?

***

The atmosphere at the get-together grew more and more lively.

Everyone was laughing and chatting with tipsy faces.

Except for one person. Baek Ji-ah.

She had been showing signs of discomfort for a while.

I had a rough idea of the reason.

“Baek Ji-ah.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

“That table over there. Do you know them?”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been paying attention to that side for a while now.”

“N-no!”

“What do you mean, no.”

It was obvious just by looking.

The instability in Baek Ji-ah’s gaze at a certain point. It was no coincidence that it was after a group of people had come in.

The number in that group was three.

Each of them possessed mana above a certain level.

Something impossible if they were not in this industry.

“If there’s something bothering you, tell me. I’ll solve it for you.”

“It’s nothing, Unit Leader!”

When I turned my gaze towards their group, they happened to be looking at us too.

It seemed they had just recognized Baek Ji-ah, as they were whispering among themselves while looking this way.

And then the three of them stood up from their seats.

The repertoire that would follow was obvious without even watching. The guys started walking towards our table.

“Tell me. Who are those guys.”

Baek Ji-ah sighed and answered.

“They’re people from the Orion Guild.”

As expected, Hunters from this industry.

“Your former guild, right?”

“That’s right.”

Just from hearing this much, I could roughly picture the situation.

The Orion guys had already approached our table.

“Hey! Baek Ji-ah! Fancy meeting you here?”

All three were men who looked to be in their early to mid-thirties.

They were not guys who exuded a very good aura.

It seemed certain that it was not a very pleasant meeting for Baek Ji-ah.

“Team Leader Jo. I’m sorry, but I have company today.”

“Huh? You have company so just get lost?”

When the guy called Team Leader Jo said that, the other two let out unpleasant laughs.

Just by the atmosphere, it was clear they were not pleasantly drunk.

“Please. Just pretend you didn’t see me today and go.”

“I came over because I was happy to see you, but you’re still as rude as ever? You little!”

At Team Leader Jo’s words, the atmosphere instantly turned hostile.

I immediately stepped in, partly to restrain our members whose auras were stirring.

There was something I needed to check as well.

“Baek Ji-ah. Did you commit some sin against these guys?”

“No.”

Then that was enough.

There was no need to hear the specific details.

“You three.”

I pointed at each one with my finger and continued.

“Just go.”

And then a brief silence followed.

The guys wore dumbfounded expressions, then suddenly laughed like crazy people.

“Did you just say that to us?”

“Then, who do you think I said it to?”

“But who is this young punk to be talking down to us!”

At that moment, all of Chamryongdan shot up from their seats.

Perhaps because they had just finished a dungeon raid, their coordination was amazing.

“Unit Leader. We will take care of these guys right away!”

Choi Ho-joong said, glaring at the guy called Team Leader Jo.

The rest of the members were also immediately raising their mana.

The Orion guys just scoffed at the sight.

“Everyone sit down. What I hate most is causing a commotion while eating and drinking. It’s so classless, don’t you think?”

If I left it to the members, it would only become a mess. It would be cleaner if I handled it.

After giving them one more chance.

“You three. Just go. While I’m asking nicely.”

But it didn't seem like the guys were going to take this chance.

“I don’t want to.”

I knew it.

Team Leader Jo gave a bitter smile, then sat down facing me.

“You seem to be the head here, so what do you do?”

“Me? Baek Ji-ah’s employer.”

“Wow! This is seriously absurd. Hey! Baek Ji-ah. After leaving the Orion Guild, did you end up just playing house like this?”

“You’re going too far! Team Leader Jo!”

“Baek Ji-ah’s suddenly got a lot of nerve hanging out with kids? So where do you belong now?”

I answered that question for her.

“The Haewon Sword Family.”

“What?”

“For a Hunter, you have bad ears. Want me to say it again?”

“The Haewon Sword Family. There’s a limit to the bullshit you can spew.”

Seeing this reaction, it seemed the name of the Haewon Sword Family carried a lot of weight.

“If a young punk like you is a Haewon Sword Family unit leader, does that mean you’re Seo Ji-hoon or Seo Ji-won? Huh?”

At Team Leader Jo’s words, the other two guys behind him burst out laughing.

The typical image of third-rate thugs.

Come to think of it, I had become quite generous.

If this were my Johan Raven days, these guys would have had a hole in their heads already.

It was then.

“Unit Leader Seo. You! You were still here!”

The former Family Head of the Muwon Sword Family, Han Byeong-cheol.

I couldn't believe it, but the old man had really come to find me at this time of night.

It was absurd.

“You really came, Family Head Han Byeong-cheol.”

When the old man’s name was mentioned, everyone’s gaze shifted to Han Byeong-cheol at once.

Well, this old man was quite famous.

Was he said to be one of the top three strongest in this country?