Chapter 377

Chapter 377
## Chapter 377

Kang Tae-san (1)

Events within Ganghwange were unfolding perfectly, matching the intended trajectory without any notable deviations.

The conclusive conflict, which pitted the unified armies of the prominent Murim sects against the demonic hordes, had concluded with a resounding triumph for the Murim Alliance and their demon compatriots. The warriors of the Demonic Cult had been utterly wiped out on the field of battle, leaving nobody remaining except for their paramount ruler, the Heavenly Demon.

To fulfill the requirements of restoring the Dragon Heart, the Heavenly Demon himself served as the ultimate sacrifice, effectively scrubbing his entire being from existence.

The only living remnants of the Demonic Cult were minor, inconsequential stragglers who had failed to appear for the decisive engagement.

‘…Though Hans moved quickly to claim his remains the moment the ritual concluded.’

An asset of such immense value was far too precious to simply abandon.

Transforming the Heavenly Demon into a jiangshi resulted in what was arguably the most formidable undead entity in Hans’s entire repertoire.

Even when accounting for the meticulous setup of the battlefield and the quiet orchestration of events behind the scenes, there was no denying his capacity to match strides evenly with multiple transcendent entities.

‘His presence will be vital moving forward. Particularly when facing the Master of Heaven’s Turn Society.’

Securing that advantage was, after all, the primary goal.

The Scribe undead creation project remained in development, primarily because Hans had directed his full attention toward perfecting the Heavenly Demon jiangshi for the grand rehearsal… regardless, finalizing it would require very little time.

The remaining details no longer demanded Hans’s direct supervision.

‘Hugo is currently making his way back to Yungjung Mountain alongside the Zhuge Clan… ’

The valorous deeds he performed, which mirrored the capabilities of Mysterious Realm masters, had deeply struck those who witnessed them.

His limitless internal reserves, his overwhelming combat proficiency, his refined sword styles, and his courageous self-sacrifice…

These traits earned him the illustrious moniker of ‘Heavenly Dragon Sword Saint’ and allowed him to secure enduring alliances with numerous figures of great authority.

‘Such standing will prove incredibly advantageous for what lies ahead. He represents the ideal public figure.’

Naturally, he had no intention of remaining confined to the grounds of the Zhuge Clan’s estate.

A far superior path involved him journeying across the lands, championing righteousness and purging corruption, allowing his renown to expand with every passing mile.

‘Once the uncooperative elements and the entirely corrupt individuals are dealt with… my attention will shift toward restoring stability and re-establishing order.’

A small smile touched my lips as I thoughtfully ran a hand over my chin.

The sheer volume of Karma waiting to be gathered from this outcome brought a deep sense of fulfillment.

The scattered factions and the demons, having stood side by side against a catastrophic peril and risked everything for the preservation of their realm…

They would take it upon themselves to uphold this newfound harmony and peace, requiring no external prompting from him.

Given the significant authority they wielded within their respective organizations, implementing this stability would be a straightforward matter.

‘Furthermore, the central base of the Demonic Cult and the surviving stragglers still linger… ’

This persistent shadow of danger would only serve to cement their coalition further.

He would merely need to… provide occasional reminders of the looming threat to ensure they never grew complacent.

Naturally, keeping them alert would generate a steady stream of Karma points for his reservoir.

Precisely like the current influx.

『Karma Owned – 9,574,649』

My gaze shifted to the rapidly updating digit, causing my lips to curve upward.

The total escalated with incredible speed, mimicking the frantic ticking of a stopwatch, moving forward with unyielding momentum.

‘This rapid accumulation should persist for a considerable duration.’

The distribution of Karma points relied entirely on the magnitude of the alterations he brought upon the world.

This massive sum was merely the initial installment, arriving well before the actual labor of rebuilding the world had fully commenced.

Because his leverage influenced nearly every facet of Ganghwange’s prospective trajectory, it functioned much like a… guaranteed lifetime annuity.

‘What is the best way to utilize these resources?’

A distinct premonition told him…

…that another opportunity to elevate his unique skill would present itself shortly.

‘The requirement stands at 2 million points.’

This marked a noticeable leap from the prior threshold of 1.5 million.

Judging by this progression, the subsequent advancement would likely demand 2.5 million, if not a full 3 million.

His current reserve, hovering near 9.6 million, suddenly felt somewhat modest…

“No matter, the gap will be filled soon enough.”

Anxiety was unnecessary.

Operating across twin fronts, Auterica and Ganghwange, ensured his incoming Karma remained remarkably robust.

The influx consistently outpaced his expenditures, even when factoring in the consistent acquisition of the “Growth Elixir (7 days) (200,000)”.

‘Additionally, a completely new benefit has been unlocked.’

The Karma points obtained through milestones and monumental exploits were merely an extra gain.

The genuine prize lay within the unlocked trait itself.

Much like the 「Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon」 secured after his initial grand feat, the freshly unlocked 「Savior」 trait carried incredible capabilities.

‘Completely nullifying all planetary boundaries across different dimensions… ’

This represented an extraordinary asset, effectively dissolving the vast majority of the constraints that had previously hampered his movements.

Hans now possessed the capability to fashion jiangshi within Auterica, call forth the Immortal Army into the realm of Ganghwange, and command his legions of the dead across realities without impediment.

Furthermore, magical implements native to one realm could be utilized in another without facing degradation, and he could even deploy contemporary human technology, a feat that had previously been completely restricted by dimensional barriers.

It was a supreme prerogative that no ordinary Awakened could ever hope to attain.

‘Naturally, determining the precise boundaries of this power will require experimentation.’

A slight touch of disappointment lingered regarding the elite jiangshi that were destroyed during the events in Ganghwange, but the loss was necessary.

Ultimately, it was that exact sacrifice that ensured the grand rehearsal concluded with such flawless execution.

“I wonder if an additional milestone awaits at the 10 million mark.”

His current total rested at 9.6 million.

At the present rate of accumulation, crossing into 10 million would take a mere matter of hours.

‘…Though having bypassed that threshold once before, a repeat reward might not trigger. Perhaps aiming for 20 million is wiser? Reaching it shouldn’t take excessively long if I maintain an active approach… ’

While he weighed these options internally,

Ring—

…the cellular device he had set aside on the surface of the desk began to vibrate and sound.

This line belonged to his private life, entirely separate from the device reserved for his dealings within the criminal underworld.

Consequently, the number of individuals who could contact him was… minimal.

-“Hey, are you breathing out there? If you have some downtime, let’s grab a drink.”

The voice on the other end was intimately familiar.

Kang Tae-san, his solitary companion remaining from the ordinary world.

-“There’s a matter of some gravity I need to bring up.”

The tone coming through the speaker was uncharacteristically solemn and weighted, causing him to knit his brows.

It was evident that an incident of some sort had transpired.

—

“Hey there! It feels like an eternity! I was starting to forget what your face looked like!”

My eyes fixed upon Kang Tae-san, who offered a highly spirited welcome inside the tavern we had selected for our rendezvous, though my internal reaction remained somewhat bewildered.

The vibrant energy he displayed failed to align with the grim, weighted delivery he had used over the phone line.

He simply appeared… drained, a state that was ordinary for him, as he offered a loose wave of his hand.

“…Yes, it is good to see you as well. What exactly is going on? Your call made it sound as though a crisis had occurred.”

“Oh, that matter? We can get to it in a bit. Pull up a chair. Let’s get two orders of the crispy fried chicken, one regular and one seasoned, alongside two draft beers, please!”

Giving a brief nod, I took a seat.

If the matter lacked immediacy, it could certainly wait a few moments.

“Whew, I finally feel like a human being again. I’ve been buried under mountains of paperwork ever since that horrific terror incident… leaving the office on time is a pipe dream now, I’m just begging for the chance to close my eyes in my own bed.”

Emptying a substantial portion of his glass, Kang Tae-san began pouring out his frustrations.

He was referring to the recent coordinated terrorist strikes that had struck Seoul.

The resulting devastation to infrastructure was staggering, and the loss of life was completely unprecedented… the entire nation of Korea was still struggling to recover from the shockwaves.

As a direct consequence, Kang Tae-san, holding a position within the Criminal Investigation Department of the Supernatural Management Bureau, had been pushed to his absolute limits.

This evening marked his first brief respite after an extended stretch of labor.

‘The authorities managed to stabilize the fallout rather swiftly. Then again, the focus of the entire government was poured into the effort.’

While catastrophic events on that scale were infrequent, minor disruptions occurred with enough regularity that the infrastructure for managing them was relatively robust.

Both the governing bodies and the general populace possessed a degree of familiarity with such chaos.

Even the very establishment they sat in, located a mere handful of streets away from an area targeted by the strikes, was carrying out business as usual.

Furthermore…

“Sigh, if those civilian vigilantes hadn’t stepped up to assist, I would probably still be chained to my desk in that absolute madhouse.”

“Is that so? I’ve noticed quite a few arguments across the internet suggesting they ought to receive some form of official licensing or state validation.”

“True, the department has engaged in those exact debates. Personally, I doubt it will ever gain legal approval. Even with strict oversight, public servants fall into corruption, so granting lawful power to vigilantes who act entirely on their own whims without a shred of accountability would invite absolute anarchy.”

Vigilantes represented individuals who chose to operate completely beyond the boundaries of established law, enforcing their own brand of justice.

Under conventional circumstances, the state would actively suppress them… yet in the midst of such unstable conditions, their assistance in controlling the chaos was impossible to deny.

‘It appears Jin So-ran is managing her responsibilities effectively.’

Taking a measured swallow of my beverage, I remained quiet while absorbing his vents.

The most prominent and authoritative vigilante collective operating within Korea was the Blood Alliance.

Having successfully seized dominance over the criminal syndicates through the actions of Heinz the Second, they deployed their vast network, utilizing every subordinate faction and independent contractor at their disposal to aggressively suppress felony offences.

‘…The vast majority of active vigilantes are likely moving under their direction.’

They commanded the necessary strength, the tactical structure, and the financial backing.

The lawless elements who typically would have capitalized on the societal disruption were instead being methodically hunted down by peers from their own criminal background, their operations tightly suppressed by the Blood Alliance.

Because of this, the collapse of civic order had been successfully mitigated before reaching a tipping point.

“Our department is also seeing a massive influx of charity from various corporate entities… Have you heard the news? Howard Industry provided an immense financial contribution to assist the devastated zones. They are a relatively fresh face in the market, but their financial reserves are staggering. Their support makes our logistical burden far lighter.”

As the conversation flowed back and forth, the platters of food and the beverages steadily diminished, yet Kang Tae-san continued to avoid bringing up the ‘matter of gravity’ he had originally raised.

‘What is holding him back? Why does he seem so reluctant to speak?’

Just as I prepared to press him for an answer, a sudden shift occurred.

“Listen, I initially shrugged it off as a trick of the light, but… you look… different. Your features, the vibe you’re throwing off…”

“Pardon?”

My movements froze slightly, his observation catching me entirely unawares.

‘A change… ’

My fingers drifted toward my face of their own accord as I turned his words over in my thoughts.

However, resolving the mystery required very little deduction.

The source of the shift was completely apparent to him.

‘The cause must be the spark of divinity.’

The delicate fragment of divine essence that had begun to develop within his being.

The manifestation was incredibly faint, given that the vast majority of his true strength remained divided among his ten separate avatars… yet it still left an ethereal quality, a subtle hint of something beyond the mortal plane, that defied complete concealment.

‘To think he can perceive a trace of it even while “Existence Denial” remains active? His intuition is remarkably keen.’

Perhaps this awareness stemmed from the extensive history the two of them shared.

Dropping my hand back down to rub my chin, I debated how best to deflect the observation when…

…Kang Tae-san, who had been analyzing my expressions with intense focus, suddenly snapped his fingers together in enlightenment.

“Ah! It makes total sense now! You’ve finally started… putting effort into your skincare! Your complexion is radiating! You need to drop the routine immediately!”

An entirely incorrect deduction.

Though, to be fair, it was accurate that his physical condition had locked in an optimal state due to the circulation of pure energy and divine essence…

‘It makes no difference.’

Playing along with the misconception was far simpler.

“I’ve taken up regular exercise. Maintaining one’s presentation matters quite a bit these days. Instead of focusing on me, you ought to prioritize getting some rest rather than inventing reasons to stay up. You resemble a walking corpse with those dark circles under your eyes.”

“I would love nothing more than to sleep! But a guy has to at least attempt to preserve his looks! If I completely let myself go, things will hit rock bottom!”

He let out a weary groan and continued to grumble.

If there truly was a significant matter on his mind, he would eventually voice it when he felt comfortable.

Letting out a soft laugh, I offered a teasing remark in a relaxed manner.

“Why even stress over it? It’s not like you have anyone you’re trying to impress anyway.”

A strange, fleeting sensation… an unusual twinge… passed through me as the comment left my mouth, but I brushed it aside as a trick of my mind.

Unlike his situation, my solitary status wasn’t born from an inability to secure a partner; I remained unattached simply because I preferred my own company!

“Well, regarding that specific point…”

However, my assumption was entirely off base.

My companion shifted his eyes away from mine, a sheepish, hesitant grin appearing across his face…

A sudden premonition gripped me… something was distinctly unusual about his behavior.

“Darling! There you are!”

A vibrant, distinctly feminine voice called out from nearby, breaking into our space.

The greeting was obviously not meant for my ears.

“Oh, you actually made it?”

“I am so incredibly sorry! An unexpected issue popped up right as I was leaving the office.”

“Don’t worry about it at all, we hadn’t gotten around to heading out just yet. Ah, let me introduce the friend I mentioned earlier. Our bond goes back over a decade; he’s practically my brother.”

“Greetings! My name is Park Mi-yeong. I’ve heard quite a great deal about you from him.”

Kang Tae-san was currently exchanging warm words with a strikingly attractive woman.

Forcing my features into a rigid smile, I directed my attention squarely toward my longtime companion,…

…my eyes silently demanding a full, immediate explanation for the scene unfolding before me.

“See… it just… sort of came together.”

“…”

He offered an embarrassed scratch to the back of his neck while the woman, who appeared a bit more mature than him, comfortably looped her arm through his.

Han Seong-hyeon, destined to walk the solitary path alone.

He had just witnessed his oldest companion depart from the ranks of the unattached.