Chapter 74 – Shadow Warrior

“To think that was actually true….”

I shook my head, recalling the words he had spoken.

Among the world’s top Restoration Ability Users, there was a Korean. In particular, his healing ability was so overwhelming that it was incomparable to all other Ability Users combined.

The problem was that his personality was truly bizarre.

He had operated with us for a long time, but…

It was ambiguous to call him a comrade.

It might have been more accurate to view it as a cooperative relationship. Much like Minju, he was someone who had survived alone until the very end.

‘Well, he was capable enough for that….’

After all, he was that strong.

‘Then I have no choice but to accept what he said as fact.’

I shook my head once more.

Although I had believed I was unaware of the news from Jeju Island, in the previous life, there was one person—just once, exactly once—who had brought back news of Jeju Island.

That person was the Restoration Ability User.

The man also known as ‘Doctor.’

‘There was no one more of a “man’s man” than him….’

Even Choi Yongjin had been left speechless by him.

‘Then I should assume the information he gave was correct.’

He had said this:

That a monster lived in Baengnokdam Crater Lake. He claimed he lived each day for the sole purpose of getting revenge on the creature that had taken his only family.

Eventually, it seemed the situation in Jeju Island became so dire that he had no choice but to give up and return to the mainland.

However, the ‘method of returning to the mainland’ he claimed was so grotesque that everyone simply dismissed it as a joke.

‘Oh, I just swam here.’

Along with those words…

And that smirk on his face, as if it were nothing.

Everyone had shaken their heads, telling him to stop talking nonsense. Setting aside physical stamina, the sea was currently teeming with monsters.

‘But that was actually the truth.’

I thought deeply.

Regardless… now that I had pinpointed his location, I truly wanted to recruit him this time.

‘One more thing to do in Jeju Island.’

I decided to set my priorities.

‘I suppose… first, it’ll be Gwak Sangyong’s son, right?’

It wasn’t a matter of choice. I couldn’t compare a man who survived alone until the end with a very young child who had died so quickly in the history of my previous life.

I chewed over the information I had heard for a moment.

‘They said Looters and monsters had come.’

Since I couldn’t exactly interview the monsters…

It was time to go ask the Looters.

* * *

Jeju Folklore Museum.

Located in the center of Jeju City adjacent to a park, this was one of the most luxurious buildings in the vicinity.

Perhaps they had learned something from seeing my castle, which frequently appeared on Apoin. It was impressive how they had naturally gathered a large amount of basalt from Jeju to build a city wall surrounding the park.

‘Oh… a city wall. They’re quite serious about this.’

It was then, as I examined the wall, that I noticed something.

Mixed into the materials of the wall were numerous artifact-grade stone carvings that looked quite old, such as Dolhareubang and Maitreya stone statues.

‘With this quantity… they went out of their way to use artifacts to build this.’

In truth, concrete for building a wall could easily be obtained by tearing down nearby buildings. There was only one reason to travel far to procure artifacts for such a task.

‘Are they trying to say, “We’re this level of crazy, so don’t even think about touching us”?’

Beyond that, I saw several corpse decorations—a chronic habit of Looters—to the point where I wondered if there was some kind of manual for this.

Of course, I wasn’t the type to be mentally shocked by such things.

‘If anything… that makes me want to mess with them even more.’

I instructed the Worker Bug that came with me to collect unused plastic bottles from the area and began constructing an Observation Probe.

And a moment later.

The Observation Probe carefully entered the building.

Tiririri—

“What is that? Who turned on a fan?”

“What are you talking about in the middle of winter?”

“Huh? You don’t hear anything?”

“I can hear the dog-like barking coming out of your mouth loud and clear.”

The Looters on patrol seemed oblivious to the Observation Probe flying throughout the building. This was possible because the Transparency Upgrade had been completed.

Thanks to that, I was able to survey the interior of the building with ease.

Inside, where various folk artifacts were displayed, there was a section exhibiting the interior of a traditional Hanok where people lived…

The scenery there was quite different from before.

Luxurious beds and restaurant tables—the kind of furniture you’d only find in a hotel—were scattered in front of exhibits like sickles and hoes.

However.

Soon, I found the most opulent room in the place.

‘Oh, is it here?’

Naturally, it was certainly the room where their leader would be.

‘I’ll just check.’

I immediately turned the Armored Transport Plane toward the museum. Then, from the sky above the museum, I took one last look at the entry path.

‘No important items.’

The items displayed in the leader’s room were all replicas. Aside from educational purposes, they were essentially worthless.

Considering what I was about to do, it was a relief.

The Armored Transport Plane looked like a rhinoceros beetle with a large horn in the front… and there was a reason for that.

‘Enter.’

As I gave the command.

Pwaaaa—!

The Armored Transport Plane, which had been circling in the air, began a steep dive toward the museum. It looked as if it were crashing.

With a thunderous roar, a giant black beetle charged toward the building, piercing through the clouds, leaving the Looters in utter shock.

“W-what is that!”

“It’s a new type of Aerial Monster!”

“Damn it, why is it so huge!”

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

But… the moment the Armored Transport Plane began its descent.

They were too late. Far too late.

Kwaaaaang!

With a powerful crash, the Armored Transport Plane pierced through the building like soft tofu, centering its impact on the front horn.

Since I was inside, a great shock echoed through the interior, of course. However, since it wasn’t a different kind of magitech machinery, it wasn’t enough to cause any personal harm.

And as its massive body landed inside the museum.

Clank— Screeeech—

Its wings folded, and its maw began to open.

As I slowly stepped out of the machine.

The man claiming to be the leader of the Looters stood there, mouth agape, staring at me with a bewildered expression.

“Are you the one in charge here?”

I smirked.

* * *

“Kill that bastard!”

The man pointed a finger at me. Almost simultaneously with his order, fragments of the destroyed building began to fly toward me, propelled by psychokinesis.

Pa-papapapat—!

But it was useless.

Tang! Tatatatat!

It was as if something were blocking the way in front of me, stopping all those chunks of concrete.

“It’s being blocked by something like a shield!”

“What! Is the opponent also a psychokinetic!”

The Looters’ expressions twisted fiercely.

‘It’s not something that cliché….’

I let out a small chuckle. Seeing me laugh, the man looked incensed and began instructing the heavies around him.

“Approach! Slaughter him!”

Tat tat tat tat!

With those words, his escort began to close in.

As a man carrying a large log on his back approached me—.

Swish!

Something strange happened.

With a light cutting sound, the log split clean down the middle vertically… and blood began to erupt from his entire body!

But that wasn’t all.

“Khaaa—.”

His scream grew quieter and quieter in an instant, as if it were being sucked away somewhere.

It was the effect of the artifact, ‘Helmet of Devouring Screams.’

“What on earth is that!”

“A-Action Leader?!”

The moment they shouted, the expression of the bloody heavy rolling on the floor twisted strangely.

“I-I can’t put any strength into my body!”

“Because I severed all your ligaments.”

The moment all their expressions twisted in terror.

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”

It was just as I said.

“Khaaaak!”

“There’s something, something there!”

“Damn it! What the hell is this!”

“Th-there! Footprints on the floor!”

“This… could it be an invisible man?!”

By the time they realized, it was too late.

A short while later, every single one of them, without exception, lay sprawled on the floor, unable to put any strength into their muscles.

* * *

“Gather them over here.”

I commanded my faithful Gladiator.

Then, the Looters rolling on the floor were lifted into the air one by one and lined up in the hallway.

“Khu-ugh!”

“Kugh!”

The Gladiator dropped the Looters onto the floor nonchalantly. The Looters screamed, but each time, the sound gradually faded away.

‘The effect is truly certain.’

It was the best combination of artifacts.

The Gladiator, a Large-Class machine in human form about 3 meters tall, was an expensive piece of equipment I had created by investing most of my remaining Aetherium.

But it proved its worth; the invisibility effect was absolute.

Not only that, but thanks to the Shadow Essence, the shimmering effect of shadows could be completely erased.

Furthermore, the Shadow Essence had many other hidden effects, feeling as though it provided numerous auxiliary benefits to other abilities.

Moreover, equipped with an artifact that dampened sound and a sword that could bend freely like a whip, a perfect assassin had been created.

Not only that, but it also provided perfect defense for me with a shield that was invisible to the eye.

In particular, its very existence was top secret.

No one but me knew about it. Even Minju, who had been in the Armored Transport Plane the whole time, hadn’t noticed.

In other words… it was my ‘Shadow Warrior.’

Normally, I had created this thing with the intention of leaving no survivors, but this time was an exception.

“I have a few things I’m curious about… if you answer well, I’ll at least spare your lives.”

As I said that… sobbing voices were heard from among the Looters. I lightly ignored the sound and spoke.

“First, a young child. Is there anyone here who saw a young child toward the west of Seogwipo City recently?”

“That was the day we went out!”

One fellow was quite cooperative.

I asked him several questions.

That there was a strong individual wandering Jeju Island carrying something on their back, and that he had seen them nearby that day.

And also, that on the same day, they had severed a young child’s limbs and driven them out as bait for the monsters.

“P-please! Just spare my life!”

Even while talking, the fellow begged only for his own life.

“Yes. I’ll spare you.”

Having obtained all the necessary information…

I answered him.

“But… I’ll only spare you.”

Realizing the meaning of my words, his eyes clouded with terror.

He and the other Looters were in a state where the ligaments of their entire bodies were severed. Torture wasn’t my taste, but I had been forced to do it to obtain the information fully.

In other words, they were currently powerless.

“P-please! Sir! Please help me!”

“I beg you! Just me!”

‘Gladiator, go open the city gates.’

And… not long after I left, a pack of Rake Wolves entered the city, growling.

After that, only the sound of screaming echoed for a while.

Only after all human mana reactions disappeared from inside the building did I turn the gaze of the Observation Ship away.

* * *

Meanwhile, Gwak Sangyong’s son was safe.

“H-huuuu….”

“It’s okay now, it’s okay now….”

“Waaaaah!”

“Let’s go see your father, let’s go to Daddy!”

Gwak Sangyong’s wife, who had believed her son was dead, was crying with a joy so intense she nearly fainted.

In particular, she kept touching and checking the arm she thought she had lost, which had regenerated without a single scar.

“Is our son’s arm really okay?”

“Yes! It’s perfectly fine!”

And seeing her son swing his arm vigorously, Gwak Sangyong’s wife beamed with a bright smile. They were alternating between crying and laughing.

Of course, their happiness for today was not intended to end here.

“Minju, send these people to the castle immediately. And contact Gwak Sangyong. Seoyeon probably knows his contact information.”

“Okay!”

Minju smiled brightly at my instruction.

* * *

And then….

As they gathered their belongings after composing their emotions.

Minju asked me tentatively.

“But Siwoo, aren’t you coming with us?”

“I still have one more thing to do here.”

I smirked.

It was time to go find the one known as ‘Doctor.’