Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Cheon Sangwoon (1)

Cheon Sangwoon.

One of the Eight Guardians, based around the old Gangnam district of Seoul.

And...

The universally acknowledged strongest Contractor in the Capital Region.

An SS-rank Contractor.

The S-rank Constellation he was contracted with...

"Shining Guardian."

Its True Name was Hector, the hero from the epic Iliad.

Hector had been the commander-in-chief of Troy who fought desperately against the Greek forces.

Unlike his rival Achilles...

He was known as an exemplary hero who fought for his country and honor.

He had been highly respected since Roman times.

In medieval Europe...

He was counted among the Nine Worthies, figures considered ideals of chivalry.

Some even praised Hector as...

"The First Knight of Humanity."

As expected of a Contractor bound to Hector...

Cheon Sangwoon himself resembled a knight.

He possessed martial skill with both sword and spear.

His ability as a commander was also exceptional.

As the ruler of a vast territory centered around the former Gangnam district of Seoul...

He was highly respected.

And because of his handsome appearance...

He was also extremely popular among civilians.

That Cheon Sangwoon came personally to meet Kang Yujin...

When he suddenly appeared before Kang Yujin without any warning...

I bit my lip in front of the observation device.

That unpredictability was always one of your strengths too.

Looking at the handsome face on the screen...

Complicated feelings filled me.

Because...

While I was alive...

I had quite a history with Cheon Sangwoon.

"And this is my subordinate, Somun Gwang."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled pleasantly.

"He's a bit overly cautious."

"That's why he threatened you for a moment."

"I hope you'll understand."

"..."

Cheon Sangwoon continued speaking gently.

But Kang Yujin didn't lower his guard.

Seeing that...

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"Hey, Somun Gwang."

"You ruined my first impression."

"How are you going to take responsibility?"

"My apologies."

"I'm joking."

"I allowed it, so it's my responsibility anyway."

After speaking briefly with his subordinate...

Cheon Sangwoon looked back at Kang Yujin.

"Hmm."

"Just to make sure..."

"Do you already know who I am?"

"I heard you're one of the Eight Guardians."

"And the strongest SS-rank Contractor in the Capital Region."

"Good."

"Then I can skip my introduction."

"Do I need to introduce myself too?"

"I'd like to hear it properly."

"But we don't have much time tonight."

"Let's leave that for another day."

"Then tell me why you're here."

Kang Yujin stared at him.

"I need to know before deciding how to treat you."

"Haha."

Cheon Sangwoon nodded.

"Fair enough."

"I came because I want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"Kang Yujin."

"Do you properly understand the Hwaseong Sect's current situation?"

The Hwaseong Sect's situation.

Kang Yujin remained silent.

"The recent internal conflict severely weakened them."

"Many lower-ranking members left too, not just officers."

"..."

"Compared to the past..."

"The current Hwaseong Sect is almost embarrassingly weak."

Cheon Sangwoon looked around.

"In the old days..."

"I wouldn't have been able to sneak in this easily."

Kang Yujin already knew the Hwaseong Sect was struggling.

Joo Minha had told him.

She was currently working with the officers to find solutions...

But apparently the situation was difficult in many ways.

"If things continue like this..."

Cheon Sangwoon spoke calmly.

"Won Pilso will swallow the entire Hwaseong Sect."

Won Pilso.

One of the Eight Guardians.

A man who controlled a large territory centered around Anyang.

Kang Yujin had heard that Won Pilso had been waiting for an opportunity to attack the Hwaseong Sect for a long time.

"Won Pilso is already preparing."

"He's contacting his officers in various regions and coordinating schedules."

"Is that true?"

"At least according to the information we've confirmed."

Kang Yujin had heard the Hwaseong Sect believed they had at least a week before anything happened.

Had they been too optimistic?

"Even before the recent weakening..."

Cheon Sangwoon continued.

"The Hwaseong Sect was weaker than Won Pilso's faction."

"If a direct clash begins now..."

"The Hwaseong Sect has no chance of winning."

"So?"

"Hm?"

"You gave me the information."

"Now are you telling me to risk my life defending this place?"

"Is that what you came to say?"

"Haha."

"No."

"Then what?"

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"I can help the Hwaseong Sect."

Cheon Sangwoon...

Would help the Hwaseong Sect?

"My territory is centered around Gangnam in Seoul."

"The Hwaseong Sect controls the area around Suwon."

"So?"

"Won Pilso's territory lies directly between us."

"His northern border touches mine."

"His southern border touches the Hwaseong Sect."

"Then..."

"Exactly."

Cheon Sangwoon nodded.

"If I pressure Won Pilso from the north..."

"He won't be able to invade south."

From Won Pilso's perspective...

Even suspicious movement from Cheon Sangwoon's faction in the north would make attacking south difficult.

If he attacked the Hwaseong Sect...

Cheon Sangwoon's forces might strike his headquarters while he was distracted.

"Well?"

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"Wouldn't you call that the perfect move to save the Hwaseong Sect?"

"..."

If Cheon Sangwoon pressured Won Pilso...

The Hwaseong Sect would definitely gain breathing room.

Kang Yujin had originally planned to help the Hwaseong Sect fight if Won Pilso attacked.

However...

If battle broke out while the Hwaseong Sect was in this condition...

They would suffer major losses.

Rebuilding the organization would take much longer.

So if Cheon Sangwoon restrained Won Pilso...

It would be extremely helpful.

"What do you want?"

"Hm?"

"Someone like you wouldn't make this offer for free."

"You want something."

"Come on, Kang Yujin."

Cheon Sangwoon laughed.

"I'm not a man who calculates every action according to profit and loss."

"I don't exactly pursue chivalry either..."

"But sometimes I simply want to help people in trouble."

His tone remained relaxed.

"Still..."

"Yes."

"If I'm going to help you..."

"It would be nice if you helped me in return."

"What do you want?"

"Are you willing?"

"I'll listen first."

"You've heard that a Scenario will begin soon, haven't you?"

Scenario.

An event far larger than an ordinary Event or Quest.

Something capable of affecting even the fate of the world.

Kang Yujin had already known one would soon begin in the Capital Region since his battle with Cheon Muhyeok.

"I'm planning to form a party for that Scenario."

"A party?"

"Yes."

"A party."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"You've played games before, right?"

"A little when I was younger."

"I'm going to gather skilled Contractors and form a party specifically to clear the Scenario."

"Somun Gwang here is one of the members."

"..."

Somun Gwang gave a small nod.

"I want to recruit you into that party."

"There are plenty of powerful Contractors in the Capital Region."

Kang Yujin looked suspiciously at him.

Why would the strongest SS-rank Contractor in the Capital Region need him?

"Kang Yujin."

"I rate you highly."

"You performed incredibly well in the central-western region."

"I thought people in the Capital Region didn't care much about the central-western region."

"I maintain a good relationship with the Seoul branch of the Black Dragon Society."

"Thanks to that..."

"I've heard what you've been doing lately."

"The Black Dragon Society's Seoul branch..."

"That's why I need your strength."

"..."

"Honestly..."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled bitterly.

"I'm having trouble assembling the party."

"Trouble?"

"I'm not the only Eight Guardian forming a party."

"The reason I came to you this quickly..."

"Is because I want to reserve you before another Eight Guardian reaches you first."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"Jegal Geum's condition makes it unlikely he'll participate in the Scenario anyway."

"I don't even know when the Scenario starts."

"Or what it'll involve."

"Naturally."

"So I can't just agree immediately."

"That's why I'm offering to help the Hwaseong Sect right now."

In other words...

The Hwaseong Sect was effectively the bargaining chip.

"Wouldn't it be better to visit the Hwaseong Sect officially and ask permission?"

"Instead of secretly making a verbal agreement with me?"

"Jegal Geum would probably reject my proposal."

"Why?"

"You can restrain Won Pilso."

"The Eight Guardians are fundamentally equal rivals."

"Escaping a crisis through the help of another Eight Guardian?"

Cheon Sangwoon shook his head.

"He'd consider it humiliating."

"..."

"And he might dislike the idea of lending you to me in exchange for my help."

"From Jegal Geum's perspective..."

"It might feel like sending you away as a hostage."

"Is that so?"

"That's why I'm making the proposal directly to you."

"So if the two of us quietly settle this..."

"The Hwaseong Sect can survive without any unnecessary trouble."

"Exactly."

Kang Yujin roughly understood the reasoning.

But one part still didn't make sense.

"There's a fatal flaw in your proposal."

"What is it?"

"What if I'm selfish?"

"..."

"Your proposal assumes I'm willing to sacrifice myself."

Cheon Sangwoon said nothing.

"It assumes I'll think..."

"'If this is what it takes to save the Hwaseong Sect, then fine.'"

Kang Yujin continued.

"I'm not even originally a member of the Hwaseong Sect."

"And accepting your proposal doesn't directly benefit me."

"..."

"I could easily tell you right now..."

Kang Yujin stared straight at him.

"'Why should I sacrifice myself for the Hwaseong Sect?'"

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"I have a good eye for people."

"What?"

"I'll say it with certainty, Kang Yujin."

His voice became firm.

"You're a hero."

"..."

"Heroes don't act according to petty calculations like that."

Hero.

That was how Cheon Sangwoon defined Kang Yujin.

"You don't think of it as sacrificing yourself just because something doesn't directly benefit you."

"If you decide..."

"'If I move forward this way, the problem gets solved.'"

"Then you charge straight down that path without hesitation."

"..."

"You don't think much about your own profit."

Cheon Sangwoon's smile softened.

"For you, the greatest reward is simply being able to carve through fate and move forward according to your own will."

"Well?"

"Am I wrong?"

"..."

Kang Yujin remained silent.

He didn't like the hero talk.

It sounded too similar to things Joo Minha said.

But...

Cheon Sangwoon wasn't exactly wrong.

Still...

I don't feel like just agreeing with him.

After thinking briefly...

Kang Yujin spoke.

"Sorry, but I need one condition."

"A condition?"

"Yes."

"There's not much benefit for me otherwise."

"Hmm."

"What is it?"

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

Kang Yujin looked directly at him.

"Fight me."

"..."

Cheon Sangwoon went silent.

"Sorry."

"Could you say that again?"

"Let me fight you once."

"You mean a spar?"

"Exactly."

Kang Yujin had just discussed this with Jegal Geum earlier.

Jegal Geum had said Kang Yujin wouldn't stand a chance.

But now that Cheon Sangwoon had appeared in front of him...

Kang Yujin couldn't let the opportunity disappear.

Even if he was completely overwhelmed...

He would definitely learn something.

"..."

For the first time...

Cheon Sangwoon's relaxed expression became slightly awkward.

"You want to spar with me?"

"Yes."

"The strongest Contractor in the Capital Region."

"Hmm..."

"Sorry."

Somun Gwang, who had remained silent, suddenly interrupted.

"Cheon Sangwoon doesn't spar with other Contractors."

"You should give up."

"I'm talking to Cheon Sangwoon."

Kang Yujin looked at him.

"Don't interfere."

"You speak carelessly."

A flash of killing intent came from Somun Gwang.

Cheon Sangwoon raised one hand.

"Enough, Somun Gwang."

"Yes, Cheon Sangwoon."

"Hmm."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled again.

"I have a good idea."

He placed a hand on Somun Gwang's shoulder.

"Fight Somun Gwang first."

"What?"

"If you can defeat him..."

"Then I'll fight you afterward."

"So if I want to fight you..."

"I have to defeat your subordinate first?"

"Exactly."

"..."

Kang Yujin thought silently.

"What do you think?"

"Interested?"

"If I defeat your subordinate..."

"You'll definitely fight me?"

"Yes."

It wasn't what Kang Yujin originally wanted.

But if it gave him the chance to fight Cheon Sangwoon...

He could accept it.

"Still..."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"It won't be easy."

"Somun Gwang is strong."

"I've never heard his name."

"How strong?"

"Hmm."

"First..."

"He's an S-rank Contractor."

"And..."

Cheon Sangwoon smiled.

"Somun Gwang is probably stronger than Jegal Geum."

"Jegal Geum himself would probably agree."

Stronger than Jegal Geum?