A Player Who Eats Metal

Chapter 69: Seoul, Demon, Saint

< Chapter 69: Seoul, Demon, Saint 3>

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In his past life, Lee Hyunwook was a slow starter'. It took him a considerable amount of time to discover his ability to grow and become a hero, and because of that, there were numerous incidents that he did not experience firsthand.

But that doesn't mean I'm unaware of those incidents.'

Lee Hyunwook made bone-crushing efforts to make up for his late start.

He was diligent not only in his ability development and combat training but also in acquiring information and knowledge.

And while working in the Guardian Information Agency, I collected all sorts of information.'

Thanks to that, he was very well aware of the incidents that had occurred before his own time to shine.

He even contacted insiders of the villain forces and extracted information from them.

This was precisely why he knew the movements of the villains in great detail.

But this, this was content he had never heard from anyone before.

Lee Hyunwook looked at Saint Emilia Muller.

Currently 27 years old, a standout beauty, but her condition right now was a mess.

The woman, counted among the worlds top priests, seemed somewhat frail herself.

Her hair was dull, there were deep shadows under her eyes, her cheeks were hollowed and flushed, her skin dried and her lips chapped,

But now, only her eyes were crystal clear.

She's trying to see right through me.'

She brought up the term villain' and seemed to be gauging Lee Hyunwook's reaction.

Honestly, he was somewhat taken aback inside, but outwardly, he maintained a puzzled expression.

It would be foolish to agree and confirm that he knew what she was talking about here.

"Hmm, a villain Like the bad guys that appear in comics?"

At Lee Hyunwook's feigned ignorant question, Emilia remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke up.

"Do you really not know? Seriously?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure what you mean by Villain'."

"Well then, have you heard about the Guardians'?"

""

"Oh, if you're really the hero who stopped the Fourth Wave, you can't be unaware of this?"

He knew about the relationship between Villains and Guardians.

And even the mechanism that triggers quests'

As far as Lee Hyunwook knew, this woman was neither a villain nor a Guardian.

That meant she had obtained the information in another way.

"Yes, you are right. A hidden quest to become a Guardian appeared before me, but I declined it."

After killing Yang Joo-seop during the Seoul Station Unlucky Event, a hidden quest' to become a Guardian popped up, but he declined it. At that time, he was warned that if he refused, the opportunity might not come again, and since then, after the cessation of the Wave and the thwarting of the Demon summoning, there had been silence.

"Why? Everyone knows a quest is a tremendous opportunity. Why did you refuse it?"

"I see the system that has ruined the world as the culprit. I didnt want to be played by it."

"Ah An anti-systemist', that's quite unexpected."

Emilia nodded in response to Lee Hyunwook's convincing words. As Lee Hyunwook continued to feign ignorance, Emilia nodded in agreement.

"Then, is the governor a Guardian too?"

Although she knew it wasnt the case, she asked anyway.

"No, I am just I was close to someone who was a Guardian. Yes, so I thought you were a Guardian and I had something to ask of you Ah, seems like I spoke in vain. Forget what I just said."

Indeed, this woman had special information'. But he couldn't probe what it was at the moment to not blow his cover.

"Anyway, right now, monitoring the White Tree Guard' that I asked you about before is more important."

"The traitor inside that you're suspecting must be that villain' you mentioned earlier."

She seemed hesitant for a moment, then slowly nodded her head.

"Yes, that seems likely."

"Villains, who are they?"

Lee Hyunwook feigned ignorance and asked.

"That is I don't know the details either. They are just a secret group trying to conquer the world by exploiting the system, and I only know that the person I trusted the most was killed by them."

She got it slightly wrong. It wasn't that they were exploiting the system, but that the system was providing them with opportunities.

If its the most trusted person of the Saint who was killed'

It was indeed Nicholas Steel, the former commander of the White Tree Guard.

That man was one of the original members of the Guardians.'

And he was also the first Chairman,' who suddenly disappeared during a dungeon raid.

Even after searching inside that dungeon for months, they could never find his body.

It was a demise that seemed too hollow to contemplate

Years later, after the true identity of Gordon Price was revealed, it became clear that it was all his scheme.

In other words, Nicholas had suspected Gordons identity and had given some kind of signal to the Saint.'

Thus, the villains tried to eliminate Emilia, who they believed knew something

But as long as a big shot like Gordon Price was in control of the Guardians, there was nothing she could do Hiding and protecting herself was the best she could have done.

She thought I had become a Guardian candidate after stopping the Fourth Wave and wanted to use me to dig up information on Gordon Price? She tried to do something on her own.'

On reflection, it was a considerable gamble, an act of desperation in a cornered situation.

"So, is the unusual behavior of the governor also because of that reason?"

"Well, I haven't really been much of a person who fits the nickname of a Saint in the first place"

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She mumbled and nodded her head.

It turns out that the reckless behavior was also a disguise.

"The conspicuous madness was to avoid creating a reason to leave Saint Dome. As long as I am in my right mind, do you think people will just leave me alone? Theyd be calling me annoyingly from all over."

Inside Saint Dome, no one could kill the saint. Because all those who are granted entry to Saint Dome must receive a sacred oath' spell that prevents them from harming her.

In other words, even if it was a villain, in order to assassinate her, they had to find a way to draw her out.

"But I couldn't ignore this incident."

Lee Hyunwook nodded.

What a pity.'

With such circumstances behind her, the world ultimately came to remember her only as a crazy woman

But to someone like me who has never seen such a tremendous event

Lee Hyunwook said that with a burdened expression and she chuckled and nodded her head.

"I'm sorry. Honestly, it's a gamble. I feel like if I dont take a risk now, I might never have another chance."

When no avenues seemed visible, a sliver of possibility emerged.

He was certainly not a villain and a new face who operated Huginn',

She had placed her bet' on Lee Hyunwook.

"So, can you do my favor? Ah How desperate must I be to ask such a thing of someone I've just met."

For the first time, she wore a bitter expression. A sense of powerlessness was evident.

She is one of the 31 known S-rank players in the world.

However, with a characteristic that prevents her from fighting on her own she always needs to be under someone's protection.

It seems she hardly had anyone she could truly rely on and trust.'

After all, the person she trusted the most died due to betrayal, and afterward, she faced numerous assassination threats.

Knowing that there was even a traitor within her ranks, amassing power would have been a luxury

Hyunwook looked into her eyes and soon smiled, nodding his head.

"Okay. Fortunately, it seems you've made the right bet with your gamble."

At those words, Emilia's eyes widened.

"You can trust me. But"

"Um, yes?"

"not just for today, but you'll need to keep trusting me in the future. I'm going to need the help of the great Saint as well, wont I? Today, I intend to make sure you owe me one, and you will keep on owing me for a long time."

Lee Hyunwook demanded with confidence as if the success was already his.

Because

I already know who the traitor is.'

After all, he had been planning to take down those villains even if she hadn't asked him to.

Emilia looked at Lee Hyunwooks act differently from before with curiosity and slowly nodded her head.

"Alright, by all means. I actually prefer a business relationship, it's more comfortablehic"

The hiccups burst out again, and Emilia covered her mouth with her hand.

"Ah, I thought I managed to say something cool for once but hic! Ugh Anyway, once we go out, everyone will be extremely curious about what we discussed, right?"

She picked up the whiskey bottle again.

"The scandalous Saint, crazed with lust, became enamored with the story of the hero who stopped the wave, tried to seduce him but ultimately failed to achieve her goal. How about that? It'll shock people enough to keep them from prying further."

Then she undid a few buttons of her blouse.

For the first time, Lee Hyunwook looked visibly embarrassed.

"No, is that even a plausible excuse?"

"Why do you think I've been acting crazy? Have you heard of the term eccentricity credit' in psychology?"

"What kind of disguise have you been maintaining normally?"

"Curious? If I come to truly trust you, I might tell you in detail."

Saying so, she staggered over and stood Lee Hyunwook up.

"I'll stick close to you, make it look natural."

Then she clung tightly to Lee Hyunwook's right arm.

It seems that her reckless demeanor isnt entirely an act'

As the two of them finished their conversation and exited the VIP room,

Woo Seong-moon and Peter, who were waiting in the hallway, frowned simultaneously.

"Ah Peter! It seems my charm has diminished lately!"

She spoke in a twisted, annoyed voice.

"What? What do you mean"

"I tried to receive some of the hero's Yang energy before casting wide-area magic, but hey, forget it!"

At that, Peter Clarke, the captain of the White Tree Guard, blushed.

"Ah Emilia, please You're the face of Saint Dome."

He sighed deeply as he approached and placed his large hand on the crown of Emilias head.

Then, golden specks of light fell from his grasp.

Whoosh

It was a purification' healing spell that could detoxify even alcohol.

"Argh! I told you not to cast purification magic on me"

Suddenly sobered up, Emilia's shoulders slumped, and she wore an expression of someone who had lost all will to live.

Lee Hyunwook watched her act with a renewed sense of admiration.

"It's time to start preparing to cast the Holy Field. You need to get your head together."

"Ah alright"

Emilia muttered as she looked at Lee Hyunwook.

The Saints operation to purify Seoul began, along with the mission to root out the villain threat within the White Tree Guard.

* * *

On the outskirts of Seoul, at a construction site for an office building, secret steps were gathering.

They were counterintelligence agents of the National Intelligence Service's Player 3 Team,

special agents who specialized in counter-player espionage.

And in an alley a bit away from the site, a black van was parked.

Hey, Team Leader Won! If you guys go in alone, it's a death wish!

"Ah"

Please, I'm begging you. The Black Tiger suppression team will arrive soon, just wait until then!

"Damn it, Director! Didn't I tell you we would lose them! How many times has it been?"

Player 3 Team Leader, Won Jinsu, vented his anger.

His team was in pursuit of the Red Player' known as the Assassin of the Sword Saint', Okita Kaito.

A few days ago, the guy had smuggled himself into Busan Port.

Since then, a series of massive incidents occurred, somewhat overshadowing his presence,

but their operation to track him had been relentless and continuous.

However, the target was incredibly elusive,

having been almost caught several times but always vanishing without a trace.

Damn it, how can he do that'

After forensics on the site, it turned out the Shadow Link' skill was involved, implicating the Shadow Baron'.

This isn't just any matter! If we don't catch him soon, a real big incident is going to happen!'

The combination of the Shadow Baron' and the Assassin of the Sword Saint' they were the perfect assassins.

Someone will definitely die, and it's going to be a big shot'

He had to stop them, no matter what it took.

As the person in charge of this case, Won Jinsu couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Everyone listen up, we have no choice. We have to catch him.

Ignoring the director's orders, he picked up his shield and headed toward the office building.

And he entered the building very discreetly.

"Alright launching the drone now.

The magic drone, enchanted with a silence spell, flew and surveyed the inside of the building and discovered a man sitting cross-legged within the skeletal structure of the building.

Won Jinsu confirmed the scene through the goggles' connected to the magic drone.

It's him!'

The man sitting cross-legged inside the building

It was indeed Okita Kaito.

Damn, what the hell is he doing in our country!'

He swallowed his curses and sent a hand signal to command entry'.

Thud Thud

Leading the team, a total of 24 player agents ascended the stairs.

But of course, it would not be possible to subdue the notorious Assassin of the Sword Saint.

Even so, I just have to hold out until the Black Tiger suppression team arrives.'

Won Jinsu was a tanker, ranked 194th among South Korea's players, a B-rank tier 1.

No matter how fierce his attacks are, holding out for a few minutes isn't impossible.'

They had reached the 6th floor in no time, right outside the room where he was.

Won Jinsu kicked down the steel door.

Bang!

The door flew off its hinges, and Won Jinsu charged in with his shield at the forefront.

In the darkness ahead, the man was still sitting cross-legged.

12 out of the 24 agents entered in unison, surrounding him.

"Dont move!"

Then Okita Kaito slowly opened his eyes.

"Okita Kaito! You're completely surrounded! Resist, and you'll be dust!"

In addition to the 24 players present, 3 sniper players were also aiming at him.

""

He raised his hands above his head and stood up.

What?'

This was unexpected. A clear sign of surrender, it was too straightforward a capitulation

Won Jinsu gripped his shield tighter, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease running down his spine and knotting his stomach.

"He's surrendered. Restrain him with a magic formation."

But then, his right wrist slowly twisted, taking on the shape of gripping' something.

"Damn it, Kaito! Dont move! If you move any furth"

The shout from the deputy team leader, who was on Okita Kaito's right, was cut off midway.

Okita Kaito's right hand had already dropped to the floor.

And in his grip was a sword.

Damn, when did he draw it?'

Despite not taking his eyes off him, Won Jinsu hadn't caught the movement at all.

In the next moment, three bodies, including the deputy team leader standing to his right, collapsed.

Thud

Two heads rolled into his line of sight.

One of them was the deputy team leaders.

Space-time Sword Iai!'

The technique of drawing a sword from subspace and cutting the enemy at the same time,

that was the notorious blade trick that was rumored to have cut down the National Swordsman.

"Sniperswhat are you doing!"

But there was no response.

Swoosh Swoosh

The villains blade moved twice more, and several more fell.

Blood splashed onto Won Jinsu's left cheek, yet he kept his gaze straight ahead.

If I turn my head, I'm dead.'

Soon, Okita Kaito's gaze met Won Jinsu's.

He took a step forward and swung his sword.

Surprisingly, it was a straightforward trajectory.

I can block it!'

Won Jinsu stepped forward, imbuing his shield with the skill Vanguard's Will'.

A shield enhancement skill that could withstand even a troll's strikeat the moment when the two pieces of steel were about to clash,

It disappeared?'

The sword vanished from his grasp.

Yet his hand continued to move as if wielding a sword.

And the moment that trajectory surpassed the shield,

From his grip

Whoosh

The sword reappeared.

Like blinking in and out, it had vanished for an instant only to return.

Ah, subspace'

Won Jinsu realized the true meaning of the space-time sword draw technique.

But that was his last thought.

The blade had cleared the shield and reached his neck.

Slash!

That was the end.

With Won Jinsu dead, the rest were easy prey.

In just a few seconds, the necks of all 24 agents were severed.

And immediately after

Shhhh

Something surged from within his shadow, and soon took the shape of a person.

It was a man in a gray mask, hands gripping blood-drenched daggers.

Yes. He was the one who had dealt with the snipers.

He looked around the place and exclaimed.

"Wow, to kill them all by decapitation, don't you have some weird compulsion?"

""

"Will you add Saint Slayer' to your name after Assassin of the Sword Saint', huh? Haha"

The man in the gray mask chuckled as he asked this,

Okita Kaito slowly turned his head to look at him.

His expression was cold, revealing not a hint of emotion.

He put the sword in his right hand back into subspace and walked towards the stairs.

The title of Sword Saint' is passed down through sword-to-sword combat, and now it is mine. I am not the Assassin of the Sword Saint'; I am simply the Sword Saint."

* * *

Amidst the final preparations for the deployment of the Holy Field, Lee Hyunwook activated Huginn,'.

Whirring

The spherical object instantly transformed into a mechanical crow.

[Huginn' is activated, expanding all senses' up to 50 times.]

-Mana depletion per second: 24120

Huginn took flight, and everything in the vicinity entered his sensory range.

Expanding senses by 50 times, this is indeed an incredible ability.'

He returned his sight to his own body and moved lightly.

The trembling of his heart, the flow of his blood, the twitching of his muscles, and the inflation of his lungs,

Every one of these subtle sensations was felt very distinctly.

An unbelievable increase in capability, and thus, an overwhelming penalty,

An item that was, in fact, virtually impossible to use in combat,

But I can do it.'

He slowly drew out the Cloud-hunting Dark Sword from behind his back.

Now that I think about it, it's been quite a while since I've properly wielded a sword.'

Since awakening in the past, he had been conducting a kind of mass artillery fire based on his metal control ability.

However, Lee Hyunwook was confident in close combat, wielding weaponsa talent recognized by the man who would later be called the Sword Saint, Choi Young-jun.

Even if Okita Kaito breaks through my firepower'

Lee Hyunwook slowly moved the tip of his sword.

I can block it.'