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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 115: An Unwelcome Guest (1)
A crimson robe embroidered with a black double-headed eagle.
From within the shadows of the hood, a pair of blue eyes flashed eerily.
"The smell is foul."
Nikolai Andreyevich Romanov.
The half-brother of the Mage King Dmitry and the third-ranking member of the Romanov clan wrinkled his nose as he walked through Ground Zero.
Im Jaebaek, who was in charge of guiding him, swallowed nervously.
"I apologize. This place has been neglected since the Monster Wave."
"It can't be helped. We'll have to take some simple measures."
"Pardon?"
Nikolai lightly snapped his fingers.
[Wind Blade x 5]
[Wind Bomb]
[Wind Curtain]
Magic used without chanting.
Five blades of wind sliced through the concrete.
The stagnant water and trash that had been trapped beneath were swept up into the whirlwind and soared into the air.
The scattered debris, which had been flying about in a haphazard pattern, was soon caught by a wall of wind and gathered in one place.
With a snap of his fingers, Nikolai had cleaned up the area.
'That's... the power of a prestigious magic family!'
Im Jaebaek, who had just reached 4 Star, could read the waves of mana.
The mana rearranged itself at a rapid pace.
It was activated without a single error, cleanly dealing with the smell and its source without causing any casualties.
Even the best Korean Mage wouldn't be able to use magic as naturally as Nikolai, as if he were breathing.
Im Jaebaek's head became more complicated.
'Why is one of the Seven Clans, the Romanovs, interested in the CEO?'
The reputation of the Romanov clan was well known even in the small, faraway country of Korea.
With Odin, the ruler of the Asgard Star Cluster, as the guardian spirit of the family.
The family's head, Dmitry, was the first transcendent in the world to reach 9 Star.
It was no wonder that people knew the name Romanov.
'Nikolai is known as the face of the Romanovs. So why...?'
The hunter who oversees the external activities of the Romanov clan.
Although he is officially ranked third, he is often called the "mouth of the Romanovs" because the second-ranked Sophia rarely shows her face in public.
He even wore the robe embroidered with the family's symbol, the black double-headed eagle.
This visit meant that it was an official action reflecting the will of the Romanov clan.
'I can't guess.'
His mind was complicated, but Im Jaebaek composed himself and tried not to lose his composure.
With Yoojin absent.
Until he returns, he is the face of Black Company.
'CEO Cheon wouldn't show any signs of wavering.'
Recalling Yoojin's confident demeanor, from the words he casually uttered to the smallest of his actions, he steeled his resolve.
Nikolai glanced at him, his expression softening slightly.
'He's a decent fellow. It seems he hasn't been in the Beyond for long, but his mana is stable. To have such a person under his command.’
Nikolai internally reassessed his opinion of Yoojin.
After walking for some time, Im Jaebaek led Nikolai to one of the few intact buildings in Ground Zero.
"Oh. It's quite neat."
"This is the Black Company headquarters."
A hotel that was previously used as the Red Spider's hideout.
After the spider hunt, the Black Market managed it until Yoojin declared the founding of "Black Company" and took over ownership.
"Please wait for a moment. CEO Cheon will be here soon."
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't here by appointment anyway, so I'll wait."
After confirming Nikolai leaning back in his chair with a relaxed expression, Im Jaebaek slowly closed the door and came out.
Hoo—
A big sigh escaped his mouth.
The tension was instantly relieved.
He wanted to collapse on the floor, but Im Jaebaek spurred his weary body on.
"Hyung, are you okay?"
"So-so."
"The preparations to receive the guest are complete."
"Make some tea for him. No, I should be the one to deliver it."
"No. Take a break. I can serve tea."
Im Jaebaek glanced at his younger brother with lingering eyes.
His blood relative who had suffered greatly after his business failed.
After being rescued by Yoojin, he was learning the ropes at Black Company.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. I have to earn my keep."
While the Im brothers were busy welcoming the unexpected guest.
Yoojin, who had received the news, also returned to Ground Zero.
"CEO Cheon. You've arrived."
"Thank you for your hard work while I was away."
"It's nothing. I'm just worried if I was able to attend to the guest properly."
"Do you think a humble person who has come to a precious place would feel that way?"
Im Jaebaek blinked his eyes for a moment.
‘Was that a joke?’
Yoojin was serious.
"Where is the guest from the Romanov clan?"
"I offered him the best room."
Originally the hotel lounge, it was used as the chairman's (boss's) office after the Red Spider took over.
Yoojin was always traveling to and from border areas, so he never had a chance to use the well-furnished space.
The place, which had only been maintained, finally fulfilled its role after a long time.
"There won't be any problems, so everyone can rest."
The door stood firmly closed.
The moment he pushed it open, he'd be face-to-face with an old enemy.
〔I heard it wasn't that little human, Dmitry, who was visiting.〕
'Yeah, I figured. Nikolai. That sly bastard came to see me.’
〔Sly?〕
'If the Romanov clan is up to something, you can assume that he had a hand in it.'
His capabilities as a Mage are impressive, but Nikolai's true terror lies in his scheming.
In his past life.
Yoojin didn't realize until much later that he had been caught in the web that the guy had secretly laid.
'It was Nikolai who planned the destruction of the Black Spire and the neutralization of the Necropolis.'
〔It's a good thing, then. Since the little human who schemes has come here on his own, we can eliminate him here, can't we?〕
'That's not a very heroic thing to do, is it?'
〔Scheming and plotting are also far from heroic deeds.〕
Kronos stated firmly.
‘Well, I appreciate you thinking that way. But… Rejected.'
〔Why?〕
'With my current level, I absolutely can't kill him.'
A powerful aura was felt from beyond the door.
He was doing his best to suppress it, but he couldn't deceive Yoojin's senses, who had reached 9 Star in his previous life.
'7 Star, or maybe 7.5 Star.'
〔Why do you use such an ambiguous expression?〕
'He's using some trickery to bring out power equivalent to an 8 Star. Dmitry must be behind it.'
The Mage King Dmitry.
A monster among monsters who can twist the rules of the world with a single rune.
Yoojin had also set foot in that realm of the unfathomable, so he could grasp the rough mechanism just by sensing the aura of magic.
〔If that little human tries to harm you, what will you do?〕
'The possibility is slim, but if he really does that, I'll run away without looking back.'
Even though he answered that way, Yoojin didn't believe Nikolai would attack him outright.
He was too subtle for that. If Nikolai wanted him gone, he'd orchestrate something far more insidious.
'What’s his aim?'
Nikolai's crimson robe, emblazoned with the black double-headed eagle of the Romanovs, was a clear signal. He wasn't trying to hide his presence.
News of his visit would spread like wildfire across the country.
‘That sly bastard never does anything without a reason.’
Showing the family crest so openly... it had to be part of his plan. But what was it?
'I'll have to play along for now.'
He couldn't fathom Nikolai's motives yet, but he was confident he could unravel them during their conversation.
Taking a deep breath, Yoojin pushed open the door to the hotel's top floor.
＊ ＊ ＊
The blonde man, who had been gazing out the window, turned his head.
Their gazes met.
The middle-aged man's lips moved first.
"Сэр Чон?" (Sir Cheon?)
Tch.
If you're in Korea, you should speak Korean.
Pretending not to understand Russian he initially spoke, Yoojin greeted him.
"Nikolai Andreyevich Romanov. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You can call me Nikolai."
‘See? He speaks Korean perfectly well.’
There are translation spells that interpret the other person's intentions during magic.
There's no way someone so used to public activities wouldn't have learned it.
'It's been a while, you son of a bitch.'
Yoojin saw through the seemingly gentle face of the man, knowing that all sorts of sinister schemes were lurking behind it.
He deliberately spoke informally, yet there wasn't a hint of agitation on the man's face.
Well, even better.
It saves him from having to use polite speech he doesn't mean.
"I came here on a whim, but Black Company has been very generous in their hospitality."
"I'm glad you're satisfied. I'll pass it on to Director Im."
He glanced at the table.
A teacup filled to the brim.
Yoojin immediately shifted his gaze to the empty seat.
"As the host, I'll sit down first."
"Please do."
The two men were incredibly close.
Close enough to touch if they reached out, but Yoojin's expression didn't show a single flicker of emotion.
A strange light flickered in Nikolai's eyes.
0.01 seconds.
The rune that formed for an extremely brief moment vanished without a trace.
[Rune of Insight]
A rune of observation that reads mana fluctuations.
The 'Divine Power' concentrated around Yoojin's heart was sensed without filtration.
'Is he really a hunter related to the divine?'
The information about Yoojin summoning the dead.
At this point, only its existence has been proven; it's related to the 'necromancer' who has never appeared.
If his body contained mana, Nikolai's hypothesis would have been correct.
However, the [Rune of Insight] detected Divine Power, which could never mix with mana like water and oil.
Suppressing his disappointment, Nikolai calmly parted his lips.
"Sir Cheon. I've heard a lot about your reputation. I heard you've only been Awakened for three months?"
"Well, I'm doing quite well for myself."
‘What is this guy? Aren't all Asians supposed to value etiquette?’
From the very beginning, he's speaking informally, and his answer, which has sent humility to the afterlife, made Nikolai's face contort.
"You seem to be quite frank, as the rumors suggest."
"Since we're on the topic, I'll ask. What brings you here?"
"My dear brother, or rather, the head of the family, is curious about you, so I came to Korea."
Yoojin stifled a laugh.
‘As if that high-nosed man would be interested.’
He knew that Dmitry wouldn't pay attention to a small land in the Far East.
Information asymmetry.
Yoojin, who had twisted the timeline with his ‘regression,’ had long since figured out why Nikolai was loitering around in Korea.
'He must have come to Korea to contact the Arhan Guild.'
Evidence?
What more definitive physical evidence could there be than the [Keystone] found in the double dungeon?
At this point, the only group capable of twisting the core of a gate to interfere with its internal structure and monsters is the Romanov clan.
'And it's been quite a while since then. That Nikolai fellow. Judging from the double dungeon incident, he must have stayed in Korea for over a month.’
〔What do you think the little human's aim is?〕
'I don't know that far.'
Yoojin answered honestly.
Even though he knew the reason for the man's visit to Korea, he couldn't find a reason for him to stay until now.
‘Is it to check on the Cheonmu Clan? Or is it to establish a bridgehead for advancing into Korea and Japan? I need to pry more.'
Yoojin asked directly.
"I don't know what the Mage King saw that made him so interested."
"The art of reviving the dead isn't common, after all."
"Has the rumor already reached the Romanov clan?"
"I have rather sensitive ears."
Nikolai playfully wiggled his ears.
"You know what my job is, right?"
"You said you were a Priest. Don't worry. I came here wondering if it might be possible to incorporate sacred spells into magic."
"Is that so?"
Yoojin took out Fafnir, who was in the [Ring of Darkness].
【Master. What is it this time?】
"Oh, oh, oh."
【What's with this guy? He's creepy.】
Nikolai's expression contorted in an amusing way at the blunt words.
‘Ha. That's a good sight. It's not easy to see that smug face of his distort.’
"......You're saying you created this undead?"
"That's right."
"Impressive."
"I'm a little busy. You've had a look, so that's enough, right?"
Yoojin issued a dismissal.
Nikolai, having returned his contorted expression to normal, slowly spoke.
"Sir Cheon. The Romanov clan wishes to fully support you."
"I understand the Mage King's interest. But is it alright to make such an offer in his absence?"
"The head of the family has given me his official seal. It means he's given me full authority to act on his behalf."
Yoojin stared at the seal.
'So that's it. It's probably true that he's interested in the 'sacred spell' that revives the undead. However, there's no way he'd bring out a seal and talk about sponsorship with just that element.’
Yoojin, having finished his calculations in his head, replied.
"That's a very generous offer."
"I thought you would understand my feelings."
"So let me make this clear so there are no misunderstandings. I don't have the capacity to accept that offer."
"...Excuse me?"
"You can't understand when I speak politely, can you? Let me put it plainly."
Yoojin took a pause before speaking again.
"I refuse. That offer."
A predatory smile spread across Nikolai's lips.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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