Chapter 87. Assault of the Eight Guardians (3)
They had defeated two powerful Contractors recognized as SS-rank even among the Eight Guardians.
Countless Constellations erupted in cheers over the extraordinary result.
More than a hundred Constellations sent donations.
The surprising part was that even Choi Cheolmin's and Yoon Miho's own Constellations were among them.
[S-rank Constellation "Hero King of Monstrous Strength" admits defeat with a bitter smile.]
[S-rank Constellation "Hero King of Monstrous Strength" sponsors you with 100 million Coins.]
[A-rank Constellation "Knight of the Cart" accepts the result of a life-or-death battle.]
[A-rank Constellation "Knight of the Cart" sponsors Lee Jukheon with 80 million Coins.]
They didn't become angry just because their Contractors had been defeated.
Was it because they were broad-minded?
Or because they simply weren't that attached to Choi Cheolmin and Yoon Miho?
Either way...
Kang Yujin and Lee Jukheon received nearly a billion Coins between them.
The others also received considerable donations.
Their opponents were major figures among the Eight Guardians, but even so, the amounts were clearly larger than usual.
It really did seem that Scenarios drew far more attention from Constellations than Events or Quests.
"Lee Jukheon."
"What, Kang Yujin?"
Lee Jukheon looked strangely awkward.
Perhaps even he couldn't quite believe he had personally defeated one of the Eight Guardians.
"When did you learn a technique like that?"
"Seriously?"
Lee Jukheon frowned briefly, then threw an arm around Kang Yujin's shoulder.
"You punk. You thought I'd stay behind you forever? I need at least one finishing move of my own."
"It definitely qualifies as one."
Lee Jukheon's Awakening Skill [Shrinking Distance] allowed extremely high-speed movement.
If he could preserve that speed and use it in a thrust...
The killing power would truly be worthy of a finishing move.
Thinking that, Kang Yujin whispered into Lee Jukheon's ear.
"But since it uses your Awakening Skill..."
"You can only use it once a day, right?"
"..."
Watching Lee Jukheon's face twist like he'd bitten into something rotten...
Kang Yujin removed his arm.
When he turned his head, Seok Taejun was already rising after receiving treatment from Joo Minha.
Lee Hyeonje had also pulled out his own healing medicine and was treating the wounds Yoon Miho had inflicted.
"Is everyone all right?"
And...
Seo Youngmi, who had initially taken a direct hit from Choi Cheolmin's flail...
Was also approaching them.
She should have had her entire body shattered.
Yet she looked perfectly fine.
"The vehicle being destroyed is a problem. We need to reach Gangnam quickly."
Seo Youngmi covered her mouth as she spoke in a worried tone.
But her eyes...
Were smiling with an almost bewitching amusement.
"You won, Nameless Constellation."
Wen Zhong's voice came through the communication window.
"I'm ashamed that Lee Hyeonje showed such an embarrassing performance."
"Not at all. His opponent was simply a bad matchup."
"In the end, your Contractors defeated two Eight Guardians."
"I've been watching them for a while, so I already knew they were impressive..."
"Yet they keep surprising me."
Wen Zhong smiled slightly.
"Anyway, thanks to your Contractors' performance, our plan hasn't been exposed."
"That's right."
"Just as you planned..."
"We were able to preserve Daji as a hidden card."
The Seo Youngmi currently traveling with Kang Yujin's group...
Wasn't the real Seo Youngmi.
The real Seo Youngmi had already gotten out of the vehicle long ago and was moving separately.
The one disguised as Seo Youngmi...
And creating the necessary illusions...
Was none other than Daji.
"This should make Cheon Sangwoon's faction assume Daji either escaped somewhere on her own or is acting separately."
"Most likely."
Daji couldn't be trusted completely.
Still...
She was a top-tier combat asset whose strength even surpassed Lee Hyeonje.
I had decided to hide her existence.
She would pose as the comparatively weaker Seo Youngmi...
And deceive Cheon Sangwoon until the very last moment.
That was why I had asked Wen Zhong to pass the necessary instructions to Daji when he communicated with Lee Hyeonje.
"Of course, they struggled quite a bit against two Eight Guardians..."
"But fortunately, nobody suffered fatal injuries."
"Once they recover, they can return to battle."
"But Grand Preceptor Wen..."
"Lee Hyeonje looks badly wounded."
"Don't worry about that much."
The moment Wen Zhong said that...
Lee Hyeonje moved his shoulder as if nothing had happened.
"He possesses a healing medicine capable of treating that level of injury almost instantly."
"..."
For an ordinary Contractor, those wounds would still require several days of rest even after treatment.
How expensive was that medicine?
It had to be worth at least a hundred million Coins.
"There's a base belonging to Lee Hyeonje's subordinates nearby."
"They'll be able to obtain a vehicle there."
"Then they can move straight to Gangnam."
"Hmm... However..."
"Is there a problem?"
"Cheon Sangwoon has started moving in the south."
I immediately manipulated the observation device.
I zoomed out and scrolled south.
"It appears he intends to crush Won Pilso."
"Jegal Geum is probably part of the calculation too."
"..."
He was launching a preemptive strike before the comparatively weaker Won Pilso could join forces with Jegal Geum and advance north.
"You don't need to worry."
I answered calmly.
"I've already taken measures."
A throne located in one corner of the Spirit Realm.
The entire space was surrounded by barriers meant to prevent outside intrusion.
A handsome man with curly hair sat inside.
He was using the latest projection-type observation device, which displayed screens directly in the air.
It took up no physical space while allowing multiple feeds to be viewed simultaneously.
For that reason, it was popular among Constellations who wanted to monitor several regions at once.
This one was a little unusual.
Because it was displaying no fewer than forty screens at the same time.
Most people used ten at most.
He had four times that number open.
And about half of those screens were showing Korea's Capital Region.
"Hahaha."
"They're pouring in."
B-rank Constellation "Leader of the Expedition," Jason...
Rubbed his palms together and smiled.
"Even more than I expected. This could get messy."
The screen Jason was watching showed a road leading south from old Seoul toward Gwacheon and Anyang.
Moving down that road...
Was a force of Contractors from organizations under Cheon Sangwoon's command.
It was more than enough to overpower Won Pilso.
"Won Pilso's people are going to get broken through quickly."
Security forces loyal to Won Pilso had been stationed along the route.
But there simply weren't enough of them.
At this rate, the enemy would reach Won Pilso's headquarters in less than an hour.
[A-rank Constellation "Third Son of the War God" expresses anticipation for the upcoming battle.]
[B-rank Constellation "General Faster Than the Red Horse" regrets the imbalance in forces.]
Checking the steadily appearing messages...
Jason smiled.
"Good, good."
"A lot of Constellations are probably watching Lee Hyeonje, Kang Yujin, or Cheon Sangwoon."
"But plenty will be watching this side too."
Many Constellations loved spectacular duels between elite Contractors.
But just as many preferred large-scale battles where huge forces collided.
Those Constellations were probably watching this front.
"Then should I start giving them what they want?"
Jason muttered and raised his right hand.
He manipulated a screen he had prepared in advance.
This one didn't show Earth.
