Chapter 55

Chapter 55

 

“Where am I? Who am I?”

Lee Ha-kyung sat in a chair with a bewildered expression.

This was the executive office on the twentieth floor of Association Headquarters.

Being alone in such a spacious room somehow made his head throb.

Then someone suddenly came inside and bowed his head.

A young-looking man in a suit.

He was the Association staff member assigned to Lee Ha-kyung.

In a sort of secretary role.

“Good to meet you, Advisor. I am Assistant Manager Jeong Tae-won of the External Cooperation Team. I look forward to working with you.”

“Hello.”

“It may feel awkward, but I think it would be best for you to show your face here often for the time being.”

“But isn’t this a little excessive? I don’t need an office this large.”

“The optics are better this way.”

“Just how big a picture are you trying to paint......?”

“Please look at this first.”

Jeong Tae-won placed a large tablet in front of Lee Ha-kyung.

A neatly organized document was displayed on the screen.

It was a public-opinion trend report, with sources included.

[Exclusive] Undying One Lee Ha-kyung eliminates Gate Break under the Association’s special orders.

[Breaking News] Undying One Lee Ha-kyung appointed as Special Advisor to the Awakened Association.

―Did you guys see this? What’s a Special Advisor?

└A position where he gets paid to give advice.

└No, they brought in top-class talent like Undying One, and that’s all he’s going to do?

└The Association probably wants to work him hard, too. But would that even be possible? He’s ranked first among melee fighters, and he even smashed a Gate Break.

[Breaking News] Undying One Lee Ha-kyung ends Gate Break by being deployed in a secret operation proposed by the Awakened Association.

―Did you guys watch the AI Raid Video? Watching the Eastern Defense Unit fight was fucking insane.

└It was seriously on a different level. He just flew in and wrecked a Field Boss. He completely changed the battle situation.

└That’s the first half. Watch the part later where he fights the Core Guardian. You legit have to change ten pairs of underwear.

└Anyway, that means the Association didn’t do anything wrong, right?

└Right. They said the manual was garbage, so they devised a special operation. What can anyone even criticize?

└What are those bastards who are biting at them like mad dogs and demanding responsibility?

└They’re putting on a show because they want a position.

Now public opinion had completely turned to the Association’s side.

The Awakened also did not express dissatisfaction with the Association.

This was all an effect created by Lee Ha-kyung becoming a Special Advisor.

“Good. I don’t have anything else to do separately, right?”

“No, as long as you come to work here.”

“I can just use the Gate near here anyway, so I don’t mind. Then I will be going.”

“Are you going to make use of the key you received this time?”

“Yes. I think I need to start with exploration.”

“Then could you please take a look at this?”

Jeong Tae-won changed the screen on the tablet.

Then a document classifying people’s names and characteristics appeared.

Lee Ha-kyung asked with a puzzled expression, “What is this?”

“It is a list of Awakened who have obtained access qualifications to The Void. I have attached their possessed skills and detailed records, so once you choose, I will contact them immediately.”

“Oh......”

Lee Ha-kyung was purely impressed.

This was something even the Four Great Guilds could not do.

How could anyone possibly know every Awakened’s information?

It was information that could not be known unless the person in question revealed it.

But the Association was different.

Every time someone entered a Gate, it obtained simple pieces of information.

Such as the artifacts they possessed, the dungeons they had cleared.

Or things like their access qualifications to The Void.

Lee Ha-kyung changed his mind.

‘I was only going to make token appearances, but this is better than I expected.’

Since he had been given authority.

There was no reason not to use it.

He immediately began reading through the Awakened list carefully.

Then several people who looked decent caught his eye.

Lee Ha-kyung marked check marks beside the names on the list.

Then he handed it over to Jeong Tae-won.

“Please contact them like this. Ask whether they are interested in exploring The Void with me.”

“How would you like to handle the interviews?”

“Do you have a Training Ground here?”

“Of course. I will reserve the Training Ground as well.”

“Please proceed that way.”

“Yes, Advisor.”

Jeong Tae-won bowed politely and left the office.

Left alone.

Lee Ha-kyung leaned back in his chair and muttered, “Not bad.”

To think work moved on its own with a single word from him.

It felt as though he had learned the taste of power.

***

Becoming a Special Advisor did not change Lee Ha-kyung’s life.

He was simply using the Association’s functions.

His entire mind was focused on The Void.

‘What that wasp-nest-headed bastard said at the end. The word His Majesty really bothers me.’

Because it clearly meant there was someone above that bastard.

The Core Guardian, Silent Ruin.

It had been the most troublesome monster he had met so far.

It was fortunate that his bird-strike attack had succeeded.

If that gamble had missed, things would have become truly dangerous.

A king who commanded such a powerful bastard.

Perhaps it might even be connected to Lee Ha-kyung’s ultimate goal.

The Abyss Ruler.

While he was deep in thought.

A strange sound came from somewhere.

“Peek, peek.”

“......”

“Peek, peek?”

Lee Ha-kyung could only give a hollow smile.

A white middle-aged man as huge as a mountain was verbally saying, “Peek, peek.”

How could it not be ridiculous?

Lee Ha-kyung pointed at the seat beside him and said,

“Stop spreading body odor and sit down.”

“Hey! This is racial discrimination, bro.”

“Then use some deodorant.”

“Once we enter the Abyss, we’ll turn into beggars anyway. What would be the point of something like that?”

“This is not the Abyss.”

“We’re right in front of the Gate. A few steps and it’s a hellhole. In that case, what’s a little manly smell?”

John flapped both arms exaggeratedly.

He even bobbed his head as though imitating a chicken.

Perhaps because it had been a while since Lee Ha-kyung had seen him.

For some reason, it felt familiar.

Soon, the people Lee Ha-kyung had been waiting for began arriving one by one.

“It has been a while....... No, is this man going with us, too?”

Ma Do-hyuk frowned when he saw John.

When Lee Ha-kyung nodded, the two immediately began bickering.

“Oh! The junior bastard only John can tease. You’re here?”

“Does that sentence even make sense?”

“I’m the only one who teases you. So John only......”

“Argh! This rotten old man, seriously.”

Harsh words went back and forth, but it did not lead to a fistfight.

Because they both knew very well there was no malice between them.

Soon afterward, someone wearing a Priest’s Robe and a splendid circlet appeared as well.

Their face was different every time, but Lee Ha-kyung knew.

“Have you been well, Great Sage?”

“Those two are the same as ever. It is truly nice to see.”

“It is always difficult from my position, since I have to take them around.”

“But is it not entertaining?”

In truth, that was not wrong.

Noisy and lively was far better than gloomy, after all.

Soon, a young-looking man with a slightly flushed face greeted Lee Ha-kyung.

“Hello.”

“Ah, it has been a while. Kim Sang-woo.”

“Haha! Thank you for recognizing me.”

He was the person who had been able to buy Titan Mace cheaply thanks to Lee Ha-kyung’s consideration.

The Tank of Great Sage’s party, Kim Sang-woo.

This was the first time they had met since the Abyss of Infestation.

But his atmosphere was quite different from back then.

Should he say Kim Sang-woo gave off a much more mature impression?

Finally, unexpected people arrived.

“Good to meet you. I am Park Jun-ho.”

It was Park Jun-ho, the core Ranged Damage Dealer of the Raiders Guild.

At that, everyone ended up wearing puzzled expressions.

Because the Raiders Guild was Lee Ha-kyung’s bitter enemy.

Seo Jun-hyuk, who appeared just in time, hurriedly began explaining.

“For reference, he has withdrawn from the Raiders Guild. Ah, I am Seo Jun-hyuk of Black Water.”

At the news that he had left one of the Four Great Guilds, everyone looked bewildered.

Why would he throw away such a good position?

Park Jun-ho smiled awkwardly and met Lee Ha-kyung’s eyes.

“I realized many things thanks to someone, you see.”

Lee Ha-kyung felt strange.

After all, he had not saved Park Jun-ho expecting this result.

In any case, all of Lee Ha-kyung’s acquaintances had now gathered.

The Tanks were John and Kim Sang-woo.

The Melee Damage Dealers were Lee Ha-kyung and Ma Do-hyuk.

The Healers were Great Sage and Seo Jun-hyuk.

The Ranged Damage Dealer was Park Jun-ho.

It was a slightly unbalanced team composition.

Perhaps sensing something strange, Great Sage spoke quietly.

“Surely we are not departing like this?”

“Of course not. I invited some trustworthy people. Ah, they are coming right now.”

Three people appeared at the entrance to the waiting room.

They were the team members Lee Ha-kyung had selected through the Association.

“This is Healer Yu Se-ha, and Ranged Damage Dealers Nam Gi-heon and Oh Ha-rin.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Now, then, let us finish preparations and enter quickly.”

The team members exchanged brief greetings.

Then they immediately gathered their luggage.

One might have expected them to raise questions.

But there was not even the slightest hesitation.

They were probably acting that way because they trusted Lee Ha-kyung.

‘This makes me nervous for no reason.’

If they were below standard, then the responsibility would fall on the person who had brought them.

Of course, there was no need to worry too much.

Were they not talents obtained after repeated screening?

After passing through the Gate, Lee Ha-kyung’s Raid Team headed straight to The Void.

The purpose of this exploration was to find the dungeon of The Void.

Because he did not know where the key he had received from Deputy Chairman Jang Myeong-cheol would fit.

Slip!

After passing through the Pond Standing Upright at Ninety Degrees, breathing became difficult.

The full view of The Void was entirely different from before.

Lee Ha-kyung nodded as if it were only natural.

‘It has been a while since I visited, so that makes sense.’

Whether it was the Upper Floors of the Abyss or The Void.

Were they not incredibly ever-changing spaces?

He had come not after a few days, but after several weeks.

There was no way it would be the same as before.

Even so, Lee Ha-kyung found the path just fine.

‘The thermal imaging function is really useful at times like this, too.’

Because he could see energy by color.

Not only hidden monsters.

But he could also respond to naturally occurring traps.

Then, while he was leading the way.

Lee Ha-kyung came to an abrupt stop.

Because of an unexpected system message.

[‘Soul Brand’ detects Traces of a Fragment]

‘Huh? In a place like this?’

To think an Ultimate Abyss Fragment had suddenly appeared while he was walking down the road.

That was something almost impossible in the Upper Floors of the Abyss.

Because Lee Ha-kyung had found nearly all of them.

But The Void was different.

This place was an unknown space that had barely been explored.

It would not be strange even if an Ultimate Abyss Fragment were lying on the roadside.

In truth, was that not what Lee Ha-kyung had been hoping for when he came all the way here?

‘Good. Shall I move naturally?’

They had come fairly deep.

So it was about time to take a break.

They could set up camp nearby.

And he could slip away for a short while.

Lee Ha-kyung immediately grabbed the Whisperer.

“Let us rest here for a while before moving on. I will scout the surroundings a bit more......”

However, it was right then.

[Special space of The Void, Hollow Mire Field, discovered]

[The ground is rapidly collapsing]

Shwaaaaaa―!

The ground became sand and poured downward.

For a moment, Lee Ha-kyung let out a short exclamation.

“Huh?”

It was not because he was flustered.

As he was sliding downward.

Something caught his senses.

A crimson glow watching Lee Ha-kyung from within the darkness.

The moment he encountered that unknown something.

He suddenly realized it.

‘This is a familiar energy. But....... who is it?’