NOVEL WEB Chapter 155 - River of the Underworld (2)
Chapter 155. River of the Underworld (2)
“To say there’s nowhere you can’t go… That’s quite a dangerous statement.”
“What’s dangerous about it? I didn’t lie.”
“Is that so? Strange. How come someone like you has never set foot in the Ranker’s Palace until now?”
“It’s not that I couldn’t; I chose not to. Why would I waste my steps for someone like you?”
Kim Shihyuk’s eyes twitched at the remark. It wasn’t just his eyes that twitched. As befits someone known as a Ranker, and specifically, a Ranker among Rankers,
Drrooo.
Even the slightest emotional change caused the furniture around to vibrate subtly.
However, “Hmph. Are you angered because you can’t argue? Still a child, I see. You should take after your remarkable brother.”
Kim Muyeol didn’t even blink as he scoffed. That made Kim Shihyuk’s expression even colder.
“Shouldn’t you be the one learning from our remarkable brother?”
“Me?”
Kim Muyeol asked back with a puzzled expression.
“If Father were in your place, this would never have happened.”
“Oh, is that what you mean?”
And then, “I learned very well. That’s why… I’m sitting here now, not him.”
Kim Muyeol’s lips curled in a cold, sharp smile as he spoke.
“Damn you!!”
Enraged, Kim Shihyuk drew his sword from his inventory and charged forward. Perhaps he didn’t expect to be attacked so suddenly.
“Kim Shihyuk!”
“Hey!”
Lee Yujeong and Jinwook’s voices followed in shock.
In concert with their calls,
Crack.
Thick wooden vines, sprouting from an unknown source, burst through the marble floor and grew upward. Given that their opponent was the Ironwood King, the vines would be sturdier than most metals.
Swish.
But Kim Shihyuk, now enveloped in white sword aura, sliced through them like tofu, charging at Kim Muyeol with unwavering momentum.
Even then, with the formidable aura of the Sword Saint bearing down on him, Kim Muyeol retained his derisive smile without moving an inch.
The reason was simple.
Swish.
A dark energy and platinum light surged after Kim Shihyuk, enveloping him.
“Damn!”
Before Kim Shihyuk could shake it off, “You crazy fool!”
“Are you out of your mind?”
Park Jinwook and Lee Yujeong quickly restrained him.
“Let me go!!”
Kim Shihyuk struggled violently, but that was all he could do.
“You think we’d let go after you drew your sword and unleashed your aura? You’d be branded a villain!”
Had it been Park Jinwook alone, it might have been possible,
“Kim Shihyuk, get a grip. The person you’re up against is the association president.”
Though he might’ve been able to break free, he couldn’t overpower both Park Jinwook and Lee Yujeong, who was considered his equal and actually was in strength.
Seething, Kim Shihyuk had no choice but to glare at his unmoving uncle.
“Seems like your comrades have a better grasp of the situation than you do.”
Kim Muyeol’s smile was as sharp as ever. Kim Shihyuk’s eyes flared up again.
“If they hadn’t stopped me, you’d be dead by my hand today.”
“Is that so? Fascinating. Wasn’t it just a year ago? Even in the most recent fight, you were the one who lost, were you not?”
“That’s because you used dirty tricks!”
“Dirty? So, you’d call it dirty even in death? Alright, Kim Shihyuk. I concede that you’re strong.”
Kim Muyeol’s smile grew even sharper.
“But no matter how great a sword is, if you can’t wield it properly, it’s useless. If you have such strength and still lose to me, you should feel ashamed.”
Was it just his imagination?
The eyes of Kim Muyeol, spitting out sharp, blade-like insults, held a distinct, seething hatred, unlike his smiling mouth.
“Indeed… You’re just like your father. It seems blood truly doesn’t lie.”
“You really—!”
The white sword aura around Kim Shihyuk’s blade surged violently once more.
However, “Kim Shihyuk!”
“For god’s sake! Calm down, will you?”
As long as he didn’t unleash his full potential, he couldn’t shake off Lee Yujeong and Park Jinwook, who were restraining him.
Grinding his teeth, Kim Shihyuk shuddered to rid himself of the emotions, then let go of his sword.
Clang.
The weapon, evidently of substantial weight, fell heavily to the floor. Kim Shihyuk roughly ran a hand over his face and asked,
“… Why are you here?”
“Took you long enough to ask.”
Kim Muyeol gave a mocking smile. He pulled out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.
“There’s no reason to tell you.”
Kim Shihyuk’s eyes flashed with anger once more at those words. But before he could act, someone else did.
Swish.
Like a sharp throwing knife, a platinum light flashed before Kim Muyeol’s face. With it, the cigarette was cut in half and fell to the floor. Kim Muyeol’s face hardened as he looked at the one who dared to cut his cigarette.
“Apologies, President. This is a no-smoking area. For smoking, I’d request you to step outside.”
The woman who had just restrained Kim Shihyuk, Lee Yujeong, smiled serenely as she dismissed the holy energy from her hand.
Step.
Choi Changwook, who was standing nearby, took a firm step forward with a hardened expression. Kim Muyeol raised a hand slightly to restrain his confidant.
“Ridiculous.”
He flopped onto a nearby sofa as if it were his own house and lit a new cigarette. The atmosphere in the penthouse, which had seemed to calm down momentarily, reverted to its previous tense state.
This time, even Lee Yujeong’s expression darkened, doubling the menacing atmosphere.
“L-Lee Yujeong… you don’t need to join in. Okay?”
Park Jinwook, sweating bullets, tried to placate the two formidable Rankers.
At that moment,
“Umm…”
A small, sleepy groan came to Park Jinwook’s rescue.
“Shi-Shiyeon!”
It was Shiyeon. Still half-asleep, she clung tightly to a black crystal in one hand.
“Uncle…”
She threw herself into Kim Shihyuk’s arms in one step. Kim Shihyuk gently patted her head.
“Sorry. Were we too noisy?”
“Mm…”
Shiyeon nodded faintly.
Then, “Hmm?”
Her sleepy eyes slowly widened, eventually returning to their usual bright, lively state.
“Wood!”
She noticed the wooden vine that had burst through the marble floor. Specifically, the vine created by the Ironwood King and cut by the Sword Saint.
“Haha~”
Shiyeon ran toward the wooden vine and hugged it.
Then,
“Smells nice!”
Like rubbing her face against a freshly washed pillow, she sniffed the wooden vine and followed the source of the pleasant scent.
“Found it!”
Shiyeon approached the middle-aged man silently observing her. She ignored her uncle’s urgent voice calling her from behind, and threw herself into the arms of the man emanating an aura so sharp it seemed it could cut with a mere touch.
“Hehe!”
No one expected Shiyeon to throw herself into Kim Muyeol’s arms.
“…”
“…”
A different kind of silence fell over the previously tense penthouse.
“… Get off.”
A voice as sharp as a blade shattered the stunned silence. But, perhaps the child, who was in a very good mood, didn’t sense the danger at all.
“Hehe! Smells nice!”
Just as she did with Kim Shimun, Shiyeon rubbed her head and burrowed deeper into Kim Muyeol’s embrace.
“P-President!”
Choi Changwook hurriedly reached out to Shiyeon. But his hand was intercepted by a cold voice.
“Secretary Choi? If you so much as lift a finger towards Shiyeon…”
Lee Yujeong, who had approached silently, glared at Choi Changwook with icy eyes.
“I won’t hold back.”
Humm.
Her clenched fists glowed with a radiant platinum light. Knowing well the power contained in that light, Choi Changwook gulped and assumed a defensive stance.
“Lee Yujeong’s right. If you so much as harm a single hair on Shiyeon, villain laws be damned, we’ll kill you.”
Kim Shihyuk added his hand to Lee Yujeong’s imposing presence. It felt like a powder keg, ready to explode with the slightest movement. In the midst of this deadly situation, “Hehe! Smell.”
Shiyeon clung tightly to Kim Muyeol, continuously rubbing her face against his chest and sniffing contentedly. Kim Muyeol, looking down at Shiyeon with shaking eyes, asked, “W-what is this?”
“What do you mean, uncle? Didn’t you hear her name? Kim Shiyeon. Call her properly.”
“That’s not what I mean!”
For the first time, Kim Muyeol raised his voice. Uncharacteristically, his face flushed slightly as he shouted.
“Who is this child? Where did she come from?”
“She’s my brother’s daughter. My niece.”
“What, what did you say?”
Kim Muyeol was taken aback by Kim Shihyuk’s words. Meanwhile, “Uncle? Uncle, what’s that?”
Kim Muyeol’s ordeal was just beginning. Kim Shihyuk, who had been exuding killing intent like he was ready to unsheathe his sword any moment, now had a smile on his face.
“Uncle is father’s brother. Umm… so in the family tree, that makes you a grandniece…”
And that smile quickly turned to awkwardness.
“Yes! You can just call him Grandpa.”
Perhaps to simplify things, Kim Shihyuk concluded by calling him Grandpa. And with that, “You insolent brat! Who gave you the right—”
Kim Muyeol attempted to argue, veins protruding from his neck.
“Grandpa! Shiyeon’s Grandpa!”
But the cheerful smile looking up at him rendered him completely speechless.
“Grandpa! Hehe! Grandpa’s smell!”
What was so delightful?
Shiyeon once again rubbed her head against him.
“…I’ll be going.”
Kim Muyeol abruptly stood up. Shiyeon clung so tightly to him, “Kyaa-ha-ha!”
That she didn’t fall to the floor, instead clinging to his upper body and laughing innocently.
“Ge-get off! Right now!”
Even more flustered, Kim Muyeol tried to pry Shiyeon off, his expression bewildered.
“Come on, Shiyeon. Come to your uncle.”
“No.”
“No? You don’t want to?”
Kim Shihyuk, seemingly shocked, gaped at her.
“Shiyeon, are you saying that you prefer this grandpa over your uncle—?”
“Jeez!”
Lee Yujeong smacked Kim Shihyuk on the back of the head, then gently smiled.
“Shiyeon, Grandpa has to leave now. Let’s say goodbye to Grandpa with Auntie, okay?”
She smoothly slid her hands under Shiyeon’s arms.
Fortunately, “Mmm…”
Shiyeon seemed to understand, allowing herself to be lifted quietly. She wrapped her arms around Lee Yujeong’s neck and looked back at the slightly trembling Kim Muyeol.
“Grandpa. Bye-bye!”
She waved her small hand.
“…”
Kim Muyeol, who had been watching her in silence, turned swiftly.
“…Let’s go.”
Just like that, Kim Muyeol, the Ironwood King, who hadn’t flinched even when the Sword Saint had drawn his sword, quickly left the penthouse.
***
Rumble.
A deep thunderclap rolled across the sky filled with dark clouds.
Beneath it,
Splash.
Crude, dark boats rowed steadily forward.
And watching this scene, “Hey. Are you sure it’s alright to just let this happen?”
A rugged man standing at the starting point by the river asked.
“It’s fine.”
A handsome man with distinct features replied casually,
“It’s not necessarily advantageous to go first here.”
“But Kim Shimun, this is a transport battle. The leaders have already passed the initial stretch. If we don’t start moving soon…”
The rugged man, Choi Jinsu, expressed his concern, but that was all.
Boom!
The massive explosion that followed immediately erased all his concerns.
“Kill them!”
“You bastards!”
Successive explosions and shouting. Witnessing this, Shimun smirked.
“Do you see now?”
From released auras to arrows, spears, and all manner of ranged projectiles and magic,
Boom! Boom!
As expected of Platinum rank, supernatural attacks were exchanged.
But the crude boats, unable to withstand those powerful assaults, capsized one after another.
Naturally,
“Aaargh!”
“No, no!”
Most of the players, who were riding in pairs due to the cooperation condition, fell into the river.
Considering that they were classified as higher-tier Platinum rank players, a mere boat capsize shouldn’t have been a significant problem.
“Ugh!”
“S-save me…”
But just as the arena’s guidelines highlighted, the river they fell into was the Styx, among the rivers of the underworld. Those who fell into or even touched the water quickly turned to ashen statues and sank.
“Wow…”
Choi Jinsu chuckled in disbelief at the sight. In his ear, he suddenly heard.
“Typically, there are two types of people who rush to take the lead like that.”
A clear, melodious voice echoed.
“One type is those who have just reached Platinum, like us. In other words, people who haven’t experienced this kind of arena before.”
Ignorance breeds fearlessness, as they say. Such individuals wouldn’t know how dangerous it is to take the lead in these arenas.
“The other type is the exact opposite. People who have experienced countless arenas and are confident in their skills.”
Kim Shimun pointed to the still-intact boats. No need to ask who they were.
“Ha-ha-ha! Thanks for the free kills!”
“A proper initiation, huh?”
“You grow by taking hits. Don’t feel too bad about it.”
Those who survived the initial skirmish. All of them had an unmistakable, formidable presence. Seeing them, Choi Jinsu squinted his eyes slightly.
“Is that teaming? They aren’t fighting each other?”
“No, it’s not teaming.”
Kim Shimun gestured towards a dark cave where the river continued. Or can it even be called a cave?
Anyone could tell it looked like the entrance to the underworld, a massive maw opening wide.
“They’re just weeding out the riffraff at the start. No point in exhausting themselves before the real battle begins.”
“The real battle? Are you saying the main game is beyond that entrance?”
“Yes. Beyond that entrance is where the true Styx River begins.”
“Huh, this place is like instant death upon touch, and it’s just the beginning?”
Indeed, this must be a Platinum Arena. With a look of disdain, Choi Jinsu shook his head.
“But, Kim Shimun, how do you know all this?”
“That’s because… I’ve watched the streams.”
Kim Shimun replied with a subtle smile. However, “Well, I haven’t quite done my research on arenas. I always thought experiencing it firsthand was best.”
Blaming his own laziness, Choi Jinsu failed to notice Kim Shimun’s subtleties.
“There’s no better teacher than experience.”
Kim Shimun repackaged Choi Jinsu’s self-reproach and walked towards the riverbank.
“Are we setting off now?”
“Yes.”
Kim Shimun nodded at the approaching Choi Jinsu. Having swept his gaze over the other players still at the riverbank, he responded, “I’ve identified most of the players we need to watch out for.”
Kim Shimun took out the Soul Core, the transport target nestled in the crude boat.
“Why are you taking that out? Surely, you’re not thinking of carrying it?”
“Yes, I am.”
“But… no matter how skilled you are, carrying that while participating in the arena will be difficult, won’t it?”
Kim Shimun chuckled at Choi Jinsu’s question.
“True. Whether I row, engage in combat, anything on this boat would be challenging with it.”
Despite his words, Shimun’s face showed no concern as he stepped off the boat. Then, “But.”
Thwack.
Kim Shimun snapped his fingers.
『Insufficient alchemy energy to alchemize to match the requirements.』
『To compensate for the lack of the Philosopher’s Stone, 400 achievement points are required for equivalent exchange.』
『Do you accept? (Yes / No)』
He selected ‘Yes’ on the familiar message window.
Shwaa!
Much like the Styx River itself, an eerie, spine-chilling energy began to gather from the underworld on the riverbank behind Kim Shimun.
Soon,
Crack.
Shatter.
Screech!
Bones, flesh, and souls started to mold something.
『The Constellation Hel observes you with intrigue: ‘Oh? Something of mine in the Styx?’』
『The Constellation Odin frowns at your creation: ‘Another one after Laevateinn…’』
『The Constellation Hades strokes his beard silently: ‘Hmm.’』
As responses from the Constellations rolled in, “If it’s not a crude boat like those, then the situation changes, doesn’t it?”
An enormous shape took form. Choi Jinsu, staring in bewilderment, asked, “Is that…?”
He gazed blankly at Kim Shimun’s alchemy.
“A ship?”