Chapter 25: The Beginning of Baek Jooseok’s Downfall

A massive chunk of mana surged toward Choi Seunghyun.

Crash!

The more powerful the opponent’s mana or magical energy, the more it absorbs.

Naturally, the stronger the absorption, the more powerful the release.

For someone like Choi Seunghyun, who possessed immense mana, it would be a devastating attack.

Fsss—

In that brief moment, Choi Seunghyun blocked the release with his sword. He looked at me and spoke.

“Wow, you’ve got guts. You’re the first mage to ever launch a spell at me on the first meeting. And I doubt there’ll be another after you.”

I raised my hand silently, preparing another spell while looking at him.

Whoosh

Choi Seunghyun swung his sword once and then sheathed it.

“Don’t take it too personally. I wasn’t really planning to fight. I just wanted to see what you’re capable of.”

He continued, looking at me.

“I meant what I said about the guild. If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll bring you in anytime.”

Whoosh

“Let’s go.”

As Choi Seunghyun gave the order, the Baal Guild members around him shot a glare at Choi Juwon and began to retreat. Just then, I shouted.

“You crazy lunatic! Running away? You think you can just leave without apologizing after throwing the first punch?”

Pause

At my words, the Baal Guild Master flinched and responded.

“Do you… want to die?”

“Who, me? Or is it you that’s asking for death?”

Whoooosh

As Choi Seunghyun began to gather mana, a woman stepped in to stop the both of us.

“Both of you, stop.”

She was accompanied by many people.

Her name was Kang Eunbyeol, the daughter of the Hunter Association President.

Kang Eunbyeol spoke to me.

“My father wants to meet you. Would you have some time to spare?”

The Hunter Association President. He’s the representative of all hunters in this world. His combat power may not match Choi Seunghyun’s, but his influence is far greater.

‘Why would he want to meet me? What’s going on?’

I didn’t know the reason, but if he wanted to meet me for something positive, that was a very good sign.

‘The Hunter Association can be useful in many ways.’

I glanced at Choi Seunghyun and said.

“I’m a bit busy, so we’ll have to postpone our fight. Consider yourself lucky.”

“Damn it… Don’t get cocky with me.”

Kang Eunbyeol, the daughter of the Hunter Association President, glared at Choi Seunghyun, and he spoke irritably.

“Hmph… Let’s pull out.”

The members of the Baal Guild followed his lead, glaring at me as they retreated.

‘What’s the point of glaring? They’re crazy. Their guild master threw the first punch.’

I watched the Baal Guild as they distanced themselves.

Once they were far enough, Han Yujeong, the vice guild master of Baal, angrily questioned Choi Seunghyun.

“Guild master. Why did you let that wretched mage off?”

In response, Choi Seunghyun pointed to his left hand.

Tremble

His hand was shaking violently.

Han Yujeong, confused, asked.

“Why is your hand…?”

“It’s the recoil.”

“Recoil?”

“That mage absorbed and then released my mana, remember? Blocking it with my sword caused this recoil.”

“And that guy wasn’t even going all out.”

Grit

Choi Seunghyun clenched his teeth so hard it seemed they might break.

‘A terrifying monster has appeared.’

“He’s the strongest mage I’ve ever encountered. If that guy sides with the Mage Association, things could get dangerous. We need to start preparing.”

Back at the scene after the Baal Guild Master left, several guilds that had come to support, along with Tower Master Shin Yura and independent hunters, remained.

Journalists and reporters who couldn’t handle the intensity had long fled. That meant no one was broadcasting or reporting anymore.

I asked Kang Eunbyeol.

“Why does the Hunter Association President want to meet me?”

She cautiously replied.

“It’s not something I can say in front of all these people.”

“Hmm… Alright, let’s go and talk somewhere else.”

Before leaving, I walked up to Shin Yura and whispered.

“You saw the Baal Guild Master chicken out and run, right? You better watch yourself too, you Fuck.”

Shin Yura’s face turned red with anger, and she shouted.

“Have… have you lost your mind? Do you think you’ll get away with treating me like this?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll be just fine.”

I whispered into her ear.

“If you’re pissed off, why don’t you cast a spell right here in front of the Hunter Association President’s daughter, you Fuck?”

Grit

She couldn’t say anything back and just stared at me. Then she spoke coldly.

“You’ll regret how you acted toward me today, crying and begging for mercy.”

“Regret is something the weaker one does. I don’t think I’m weaker than you, though.”

Clench

Shin Yura glared at me.

“Do you think this is over? Choi Seunghyun is hard to deal with because he leads Baal, but you’re just a lone individual. Do you really think you’ll be fine the next time we meet? Not that it matters—since you’re a coward who hides behind a mask, you’ll probably just run away.”

I started channeling my mana and spoke toward her angrily.

“Stop talking Fuck. Run away from you? I’ll come find you myself. Just wait.”

After that, I turned away from Shin Yura and headed toward Kang Eunbyeol.

“Shall we go?”

At that moment, Kang Eunbyeol asked me.

“By any chance… are your companions coming with you?”

I looked over to see Seol Eunah and Jang Hyena standing there awkwardly.

‘Oh right, they were here too.’

I asked them.

“Do you want to come along?”

They nodded silently. After all, it wasn’t every day you got the chance to meet the Hunter Association President.

“Is it alright if my companions join us?” I asked Kang Eunbyeol.

She shook her head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, but due to security reasons, that won’t be possible.”

“Hm… Well, it can’t be helped. Seol Eunah, Jang Hyena, I’ll contact you later.”

I said my goodbyes to them and followed Kang Eunbyeol.

“Not sure why, but let’s get going.”

Meeting the Hunter Association President would be worth it.

We followed Kang Eunbyeol, got into a car, and drove off. Soon, a massive building came into view.

“We’ve arrived at the Hunter Association headquarters.”

The driver said, and Kang Eunbyeol took the lead to guide the way.

Buzz

She scanned her eyes in front of the security system, and one by one, the layers of security unlocked.

“Just stick close behind me and follow.”

After she deactivated the locks for a while, we were finally able to enter.

Beep

We arrived at the elevator, and she pressed the button for the top floor—the 39th.

Whirr

When the doors opened, a large office—easily over 100 pyeong—came into view. But it was completely empty.

Kang Eunbyeol turned to me and spoke.

“From now on, everything we discuss must be kept strictly confidential.”

When I nodded, she continued.

“The truth is… I lied earlier when I said my father wanted to see you… I’m really, truly sorry… but I had no other choice.”

She bowed deeply, at a 90-degree angle, apologizing.

“It’s alright. Just tell me why you did it first.”

Only after I told her it was okay did she lift her head and begin to explain.

“The Hunter Association President—my father—recently brought home a strange artifact. Ever since he used it, his entire body has turned red-hot, and his face has been changing to a deeper shade of red.”

‘Is it demonic energy poisoning?’

From the symptoms, it sounded like he was poisoned by demonic energy.

“Judging by the symptoms, it’s demonic energy poisoning. Where did he get the artifact?”

“I don’t know… He only said it was a gift from someone important… After using the artifact, he’s been unconscious ever since.”

“I see. So why did you call me?”

“I assume you know that people poisoned by demonic energy slowly die, much like someone with cancer. And, just like cancer, there’s no known cure for demonic energy poisoning… But even so, I’ve spent a fortune and mobilized countless people to try and find a way to save him. Yet nothing has worked.”

‘Of course not. If demonic energy poisoning were easy to solve, everyone would be using the power of artifacts left and right.’

Her voice trembled, and she was on the verge of tears as she continued.

“I saw a live broadcast where you absorbed demonic energy from the Death Knight in an A-rank dungeon and then expelled it. Can you do the same with a person?”

‘Ah, so that’s why she called me.’

Absorbing and expelling energy was something any decent mage could do. Of course, the amount one could absorb and release varied greatly from person to person.

However, most mages die if they directly absorb demonic energy.

I can pull off such a crazy feat because of my infinite recovery ability, which lets me negate the damage done to my body, but other mages can’t layer their spells dozens of times like I can, so for them, it’s impossible.

‘So, she wants me to absorb the demonic energy accumulated in her father’s body and release it outside.’

What she was proposing was, in fact, the only known way to treat demonic energy poisoning at this point.

‘So, after trying everything else, she’s come to me as a last resort, clinging to straws.’

I took a moment to look around the office. There were countless healing artifacts piled up.

After a brief pause, I responded to her.

“Yes, of course, it can be used on people.”

At that, Kang Eunbyeol, her voice trembling, spoke up.

“Please, I beg you, help me. My father is everything to me. I’ll do anything in return.”

With a smile hidden behind my mask, I turned to her and said,

“Anything, you say?”

She nodded.

“I’ll do whatever it takes… Even if the treatment doesn’t work, I’ll compensate you. Please, just try…”

I asked her,

“As the daughter of the Hunter Association President, you have access to most of his authority and connections, right?”

“Yes… Right now, I’ve been given full authority by my father. It’s a closely guarded secret, but…”

“With the President’s authority, can you apply pressure on government institutions?”

“To some extent, yes. But if you’re asking to use power for something corrupt, that’s impossible… I’m sure my father wouldn’t approve either…”

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s not for anything bad. Think of it as… enforcing justice. There’s this truly wicked Academy Director who’s committed a crime, and although he’s been arrested, he’s likely to slip through the cracks using his connections. I need your help to make sure this criminal gets what he deserves. Do that, and I’ll help your father.”

She nodded.

“For something like that, I can definitely help.”

As soon as I heard her answer, I celebrated inwardly.

‘Baek Jooseok, I was worried you’d worm your way out with your connections again, but it looks like luck’s on my side this time. Get ready, you Fuck… things are about to get interesting.’

With a grin, I said,

“Let’s go. Time to save your father.”