Chapter 70

Chapter 70. Han River Battle (1)

The Han River.

A river flowing through the middle of Seoul.

Compared to rivers passing through other major cities around the world...

One of its most distinctive characteristics was its enormous width.

After the Material Realm merged with the Fantasy Realm...

That huge width became a problem.

The Han River was so wide it almost resembled the sea.

That made it the perfect habitat for aquatic monsters.

Aquatic monsters were extremely difficult to subjugate.

No matter how skilled Contractors were on land...

Their abilities dropped dramatically underwater.

Even magic attacks were difficult to use at full power.

There were Contractors specialized in underwater combat...

But there were far too few of them.

Of course...

The Eight Guardians ruling the Capital Region hadn't simply ignored the problem.

They had carried out many subjugation operations.

Some sections had been secured...

And the bridges connecting northern and southern Seoul could be used safely.

But because of the nature of aquatic monsters...

Completely wiping them out was nearly impossible.

Even after the area was cleared...

More monsters would simply swim in along the river.

In the end...

The people of the Capital Region learned to coexist with the aquatic monsters of the Han River.

Since complete extermination was impossible...

They had no choice but to accept their presence.

However...

If the population became too large...

The monsters could crawl onto land or attack bridges.

So the Eight Guardians regularly carried out Han River subjugations to keep their numbers under control.

"Wow!"

"So this is the Han River!"

"Seok Taejun, stop making such a fuss."

"You're embarrassing us by acting like a country bumpkin."

"Then why do you look so tense, Lee Jukheon?"

"Nervous?"

"I-I'm in the heart of the Capital Region."

"I just think I need to stay alert..."

Listening to Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon bicker beside him...

Kang Yujin looked out over the Han River.

It's completely different from what I remember.

The river itself hadn't changed much.

But many of the facilities around it had been destroyed.

A large number of high-rise buildings along the river had collapsed as well...

Creating a bleak atmosphere.

"Were you originally from Seoul?"

The person asking was Won Pilso...

Who had brought Kang Yujin's group here today.

"I lived in Seoul when I was young."

"I see."

"When you were young..."

Won Pilso nodded as if he understood.

"A lot of people left Seoul during the chaotic period."

"That's not what happened."

"No?"

"I was kidnapped."

"...I see."

Won Pilso's expression became awkward.

"Sounds like you suffered a lot too."

"..."

"Either way..."

"Now that you're back in the Capital Region..."

"I'm sure things will start going well."

He patted Kang Yujin's shoulder.

"As I already explained..."

"Today's job is to subjugate the monsters in the Han River."

Yesterday afternoon...

Won Pilso contacted Jegal Geum.

He requested that Kang Yujin participate in the regular Han River subjugation.

Apparently...

The Han River subjugation was a joint operation carried out by all the Eight Guardians.

They took turns sending personnel according to a rotation.

"Hwang Cheol is still recovering."

"So we're short on manpower."

"You'll need to help a lot today."

Won Pilso's right-hand man Hwang Cheol was contracted with Orion...

A son of Poseidon.

That allowed him to move freely over water.

Naturally...

He was extremely useful in battles around the Han River.

And since Kang Yujin had beaten Hwang Cheol badly enough to put him out of action...

Won Pilso argued that Kang Yujin should help out instead.

Kang Yujin had no reason to refuse.

Joo Minha stayed behind because she had too much work at the Hwaseong Sect.

But Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon came with him.

"Still..."

Kang Yujin looked at Won Pilso.

"It's surprising all the Eight Guardians cooperate to clean up the Han River."

"Really?"

"Couldn't Cheon Sangwoon and Lee Hyeonje handle it?"

"They control Seoul."

"Why do even you, whose territory is far from the Han River, participate?"

"That's the wrong way to think about it."

A voice came from behind.

Kang Yujin turned.

A lean young man stood there with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

"We Eight Guardians manage the Capital Region together."

"We each have our own territories..."

"But problems affecting the Capital Region are the responsibility of all eight."

The young man approached.

"And if the Han River becomes unusable..."

"Logistics between north and south Seoul are blocked."

"That affects the entire Capital Region."

"So everyone participates."

"Shin Minyu..."

Won Pilso frowned.

"What are you doing here?"

"It wasn't your turn today."

"By that logic..."

"It wasn't your turn either."

Shin Minyu grinned.

"Wasn't Lee Hyeonje's faction supposed to handle today?"

"He asked me to switch turns."

"Hmm."

"I wonder why Lee Hyeonje made that request."

Shin Minyu looked toward Kang Yujin.

"Kang Yujin, right?"

"That's me."

"I'm Shin Minyu."

"One of the Eight Guardians, just like Won Pilso here."

"I felt like cleaning the Han River after a long time."

"Weren't you just saying it wasn't your turn?"

"Neither is it yours."

Shin Minyu laughed.

"Sometimes a man's spirit of public service suddenly catches fire."

Shin Minyu had a cheerful appearance.

His words seemed to contain a little hidden meaning...

But his bright smile made him easy to like.

"And apparently..."

Shin Minyu looked toward the Han River bridge.

"I'm not the only one whose spirit of public service is burning."

"...?"

A man was walking toward them from the bridge.

He wore metal-framed glasses.

His features were sharp.

"Didn't you ask Won Pilso to handle today's subjugation?"

"No matter what..."

The man replied coldly.

"Leaving everything to Won Pilso alone wouldn't be fair."

He approached.

"You're Kang Yujin?"

"And you're Lee Hyeonje?"

Lee Hyeonje.

One of the Eight Guardians responsible for northern Seoul.

A man said to possess ability rivaling Cheon Sangwoon.

Jegal Geum had told Kang Yujin that before becoming a Contractor...

Lee Hyeonje had researched physics at a university.

"Nice to meet you."

"I've wanted to see you."

"Me?"

"You defeated Cheon Muhyeok, didn't you?"

At the name Cheon Muhyeok...

Seok Taejun flinched.

"Cheon Muhyeok was once our colleague."

"He lost his position as an Eight Guardian and left the Capital Region after causing certain problems."

"..."

"Don't misunderstand."

"I have no intention of avenging him."

Lee Hyeonje's eyes remained cold.

"If anything..."

"I'd rather thank you for putting an end to him."

"I didn't defeat him alone."

Kang Yujin pointed toward Seok Taejun.

"I fought together with him."

Lee Hyeonje looked toward Seok Taejun.

"Then you must be Seok Taejun."

"You know my name?"

"Of course."

"Aren't you Kang Yujin's longest-standing companion?"

"I didn't expect Lee Hyeonje to know who I was..."

Seok Taejun looked genuinely surprised.

Shin Minyu suddenly jumped into the conversation.

"Hey, Lee Hyeonje!"

"When did you get such detailed information?"

"These guys killed Cheon Muhyeok?"

"That's my first time hearing about it."

"You're simply too uninformed."

Lee Hyeonje looked toward Won Pilso.

"Isn't that right?"

"Actually..."

Won Pilso looked awkward.

"I also learned that today."

He turned toward Kang Yujin's group.

"You really defeated Cheon Muhyeok?"

"I said we did."

"Good grief..."

Won Pilso shook his head.

"He was the weakest among the Eight Guardians except Ha Mina..."

"But he was smart."

"I thought he'd eventually return to the Capital Region."

"He shouldn't have been allowed back."

Shin Minyu snorted.

"Do you know how many problems that bastard caused?"

He looked delighted.

"Anyway!"

"If you defeated Cheon Muhyeok..."

"I like you even more now."

"You guys are more impressive than I expected!"

"It just happened."

"This makes me even more excited to see what you do today."

Shin Minyu's cheerful voice lightened the atmosphere.

But there was one person nearby wearing a dark expression.

Lee Jukheon.

Apparently...

He was annoyed that nobody had mentioned him.

"When are we starting?"

Lee Jukheon spoke bluntly.

"Let's finish this quickly."

"Ah."

"Right."

Won Pilso turned toward the river as if only now remembering why they were here.

"Like usual..."

"We'll begin around Jamsu Bridge."

"Jamsu Bridge..."

"That's the bridge that goes underwater when the river rises, right?"

"Correct."

"Banpo Bridge is a two-level structure."

"The lower level is designed to become submerged during floods."

"It's close to the water surface..."

"So it's an important location."

As Won Pilso explained to Seok Taejun...

He began walking toward the bridge.

Everyone else followed.

Only Shin Minyu and Lee Hyeonje stayed a little farther behind.

I don't like this.

Kang Yujin remained conscious of the two Eight Guardians following them.

I still can't judge what kind of people they are...

But they're watching us far too openly.

Maybe that's why they called us here in the first place.

They didn't immediately feel suspicious like Cheon Muhyeok had.

But Kang Yujin disliked the way they seemed to be evaluating him.

Shin Minyu probably really is just curious.

But Lee Hyeonje...

There was an unknown pressure coming from Lee Hyeonje.

Was it because he was a fighter who rivaled Cheon Sangwoon?

"For now..."

Won Pilso continued.

"We'll move to Jamsu Bridge and begin the battle."

"But let me warn you..."

"Don't think about entering the water."

"We'll lure monsters out and fight them on land..."

"Won Pilso."

Lee Hyeonje suddenly cut him off.

"Looks like they've already caught our scent."

"They're coming out."

"...!"

Strange monsters began emerging from the water near Jamsu Bridge.

"Horses...?"

At first glance...

It looked like horses had fallen into the river and were struggling in the water.

But that wasn't the case.

"The upper body is a horse..."

"And everything below is a fish?"

"What?"

Lee Jukheon snorted.

"Those are just kelpies."

"We caught plenty of them back in the central-western region."

"They're weak monsters that can only drag people underwater."

Saying that...

Lee Jukheon walked forward.

"Let's just kill them."

"There are only about ten."

"I can handle that many alone..."

"Wait."

Kang Yujin grabbed Lee Jukheon by the shoulder.

"Don't approach carelessly."

"What?"

Lee Jukheon frowned.

"Are you looking down on me now?"

"Just because the Eight Guardians started recognizing you..."

"Step back."

At that moment...

The monster that had been sticking its upper body out of the water suddenly leaped onto land.

Its huge jaws opened wide...

Aiming straight at Lee Jukheon.

"...!"

If Kang Yujin hadn't urgently pulled him back...

Lee Jukheon's head would've disappeared into the monster's mouth.

"W-What?"

"Kelpies weren't that fast..."

"Focus!"

Won Pilso ran toward them while shouting.

"They look similar to kelpies..."

"But those are Each-Uisge!"

"Think of them as several times stronger than ordinary kelpies!"

"...!"

Won Pilso stepped forward with a huge shield.

One of the Each-Uisge charged.

Won Pilso blocked it perfectly.

"They're extremely durable too!"

"Stay focused when you fight!"

"One mistake could get you killed!"

"Urgh..."

"U-Understood!"

Lee Jukheon bit his lip and raised his sword.

Seok Taejun also prepared for battle with a tense expression.

"..."

Kang Yujin glanced backward.

Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu were standing there with their arms crossed...

Simply watching.

Seeing that...

Kang Yujin felt irritated again.

I don't like it.

But there's nothing I can do.

Thinking back...

Jegal Geum had been the same at first.

At the beginning...

Jegal Geum had viewed Kang Yujin's group as nothing more than useful tools.

He had acted friendly on the surface...

But his true attitude had been deceptive.

Only after going through various events together...

Had Jegal Geum begun truly respecting them.

Then I just need to make these people acknowledge us too.

There was no reason to hide their strength just because Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu were watching.

All right.

Kang Yujin became aware of the weight of the "new weapon" strapped to his back.

"Let's make this interesting."

He stepped forward.

Won Pilso...

Shin Minyu...

And even Lee Hyeonje.

I crossed my arms while watching the observation device.

Three members of the Eight Guardians gathered in one place.

Based on the information I knew...

There was a high chance Lee Hyeonje had asked Won Pilso to bring Kang Yujin here.

Shin Minyu had simply learned about it and appeared on his own.

"Nameless Constellation."

A voice came from the communication window.

The A-rank Constellation "Fairy Who Controls Water"...

Princess Longji.

"Will this really be all right?"

"Wouldn't it be better to send information to the Contractors on Earth beforehand?"

"It's fine."

I answered calmly.

"Those guys can handle it."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes."

Then...

I smiled.

"Still..."

"Thank you for telling me beforehand."

"Because I learned early..."

"I had enough time to prepare."

"We agreed to cooperate."

"Sharing this level of information is only natural."

I had already promoted the situation through Constellation Tube.

This wasn't an Event or Quest...

So I couldn't see the exact number of viewers.

But there were probably at least a thousand Constellations watching.

"Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu..."

"They probably only came to personally judge Kang Yujin's ability."

I smiled at the screen.

"But it won't end there."

Thanks to Lee Hyeonje bringing Kang Yujin all the way into the center of the Capital Region...

I had found an opportunity.

"Today..."

"Kang Yujin will become the most talked-about Contractor in the entire Capital Region."