MDPS 70🔐

Episode 70

My Dark Past is Too Strong

Karmar de Labl (1)

Deathside Guild Office

Seon Seong-tae was struggling with all his might to survive.

It was because he had failed to properly carry out Karmar’s orders.

He had punished his subordinates without mercy if they failed to execute a command correctly.

“He won’t… kill me yet. The contract says so.”

When he made the contract with him, he had secured the guarantee of his life.

As long as the master-servant contract was maintained, he could receive punishment but his life would not be in danger.

However, if he kept failing, Karmar could throw him out, nullifying the master-servant contract entirely.

So this time, he could not afford to fail.

“By the way, he’s asking for more and more blood…”

Karmar had instructed him to bring as much blood as possible by the next visit.

At first, it was only enough to quench thirst, but gradually the amount required was increasing.

“No. Don’t think about it.”

Seon Seong-tae bit his lip tightly.

Why would a subordinate care about the master’s thoughts?

“I just need to think about carrying out the orders. Then he’ll grant me greater power. At that time… controlling the whole world won’t be a dream.”

When that time comes, he could once again influence this country.

And the obnoxious “mysterious adventurer” would only have free reign until then.

He planned to deal with him alongside Lord Karmar.

Ding─

At that moment, his phone rang.

The face on the screen was familiar.

It was Lucas Schäfer, vice guildmaster of the Schatten Legion, Germany’s Shadow Corps.

“Lord Lucas.”

Seon Seong-tae bowed his head.

“I was expecting your call.”

Lucas smiled his signature indifferent smile.

“I’ve been waiting too, Master Seon. Korea has been quite noisy lately.”

Seon Seong-tae showed a faint smile.

‘He must really hate seeing that guy run amok.’

“Lord Toavis has also expressed concern.”

Seon Seong-tae began the conversation. Lucas nodded.

“Yes. He’s a child with many worries. We have little time, so let’s get straight to the point.”

The main point was one thing: eliminating the mysterious adventurer.

“His name… is Oh Hyun-woo, right?”

Lucas sent a cold gaze through the monitor.

“You even know his name?”

“Do you not know why we are called the ‘Shadow Corps’? No matter how hard someone tries to hide, there is no information we cannot uncover.”

As cold sweat quietly formed on Seon Seong-tae, Lucas lifted the corner of his mouth. But there was cold calculation in that smile.

“So, Master Seon, what do you want from us?”

“Material resources, and human resources.”

Lucas’ expression hardened.

“…You mean you want guild members?”

Seon Seong-tae shook his head.

“No. I want you to move the Red adventurers operating locally in Germany…”

Lucas sighed.

“Hunters, huh…”

Hunters. Adventurers who hunt other adventurers.

They ambush adventurers to steal valuable summons.

They form secret networks in the shadows of each country and operate very discreetly.

“You intend to stop at nothing.”

“Yes. We must consider even when things go wrong.”

Seon Seong-tae’s eyes glinted sharply.

“The target is no ordinary person. If we cut off his life, we must do it decisively.”

At those words, Lucas smiled again. His gaze was cold. He tapped his fingers on the desk.

“…Lord Karmar has come to this land?”

“Yes. He is currently staying at a residence I prepared.”

“Lord Karmar also intends to eliminate him, correct?”

“Yes. Just as was written in the letter.”

“…My master hasn’t contacted me separately. Why is Lord Karmar taking action?”

“How could a subordinate know the master’s will? But it is true that the adventurer offended him.”

Those who had received power from vampires were not few.

They were scattered across the world, moving secretly under orders.

Therefore, Seon Seong-tae could never go against Karmar’s will.

After all, this world would soon belong to vampires.

He had only “joined the current” slightly earlier than others.

However, the mysterious adventurer was a huge obstacle in this plan.

“I see. We should resolve this quickly then.”

“Then, regarding this matter…”

“Yes. I will send the money and people as soon as possible.”

“…Thank you!”

The conversation with Lucas Schäfer concluded successfully.

As Seon Seong-tae, elated, prepared to start his covert operations—

Knock knock.

The secretary entered.

“Master, a visitor has come.”

“I told you I’m not available today!”

“Th-that… a staff member from the Tower of Records…”

“…What?”

Seon Seong-tae opened the door and saw a familiar face.

It was the team leader from the Tower of Records. Name… Lee Jung-yul, he thought.

Team Leader Lee Jung-yul stared intently at the monitor.

‘A black dot appeared on the outskirts of Seoul… Wait, the surrounding terrain looks familiar.’

Right, it was the vacant lot Deathside had recently purchased.

A mysterious magical reaction had appeared on the lot bought by the guild that had recently acted suspiciously?

‘Too coincidental to be random.’

Lee Jung-yul headed straight to the Deathside guild, naturally with the plausible excuse of “informing the landowner of the mysterious magical reaction.”

“…So, it seems energy similar to Dungeon Break has been detected.”

“Oh, that’s probably a misunderstanding. I know the site personally.”

“Haha, since this information comes from the Tower of Records, I can’t just leave. I’ll take a quick look and be gone. I won’t be a bother.”

“When you put it that way…”

Seon Seong-tae furrowed his brows.

“Phew… You mustn’t tell anyone about this.”

“Yes!”

“In fact, that place is our guild’s secret training facility.”

“Training summons there?”

“Yes. We recently suffered a heavy loss and felt the need for internal reform. Lately, Ascend has been giving us a lot of trouble.”

Seon Seong-tae’s chatter made Lee Jung-yul tilt his head.

If they wanted secret training, they could just use existing facilities. The guild was large enough to withstand the loss.

‘Then why train secretly on a newly purchased vacant lot without facilities…?’

But he couldn’t press further here. The remark was likely a polite way of saying, “Go away.”

“…Then, perhaps that’s why the reaction appeared. You’re aware, but please notify us if using summons outside in the future.”

“Understood. I’ll tell the others. Yes. Then, Secretary Kim! Please see the guest out.”

Seon Seong-tae hurriedly ended the meeting.

“Nothing more? I have a lot to do, including my next meeting. Goodbye.”

Lee Jung-yul left the building, half-forced. Yet her eyes still looked toward Seon Seong-tae’s office.

‘Seon Seong-tae. What is he hiding?’

It would be best to check in person.

‘…At least survey the area first.’

But no matter her position, she couldn’t go to a dangerous area alone. Adventurers must accompany her by regulation: cooperative with the government, available immediately, and highly skilled.

‘…Maybe I should just ask?’

One adventurer came to mind. Someone she knew well, had time, and strong enough to protect her.

‘Let’s go, Ascend.’

After summoning Marena, I headed straight to the dungeon.

This time, unlike with Theo, there was no “critical success,” so I had to raise Marena from the ground up.

However, I spent the whole day in the dungeon, excited about the now-grown Marena.

Thanks to that, she was ready for full deployment.

The next day came!

Today, I went to the company to see my future guild members, including Insoo.

Normally, seeing Oh Hyun-ah’s wrong answer notes would give me a headache, but today I was in a great mood.

Feeling daily growth, how could I not be happy!

“Hello!”

I greeted the employees as soon as I entered.

As I headed to my office—

“Hyun-woo! Just in time.”

An employee called me urgently.

“Yes?”

“A visitor has come.”

“A visitor?”

Could it be from Gwanghui?

I’d grown quickly thanks to deck-making counseling and the Elf Tower vanguard buffs, so maybe the strategy was already finished.

‘…No, not likely.’

The tower’s progress reports showed they were still mid-strategy.

“Who is it?”

“A staff member from the Tower of Records! Team Leader Lee Jung-yul. They said you’d know the name if I told you.”

Ah! Team Leader Lee Jung-yul! Of course I remember.

She guided me at the Tower of Records and we spoke during the previous Elf fortress raid.

A comrade aboard Ascend, so to speak.

“Ah! Where are they now?”

“In the CEO’s office.”

“Then I’ll go there.”

I thanked the employee and went straight to CEO Son’s office, knocking on the door.

Knock knock.

The door opened immediately. CEO Son welcomed me.

“Hyun-woo! You’re here!”

“Hello, CEO.”

Then Team Leader Lee Jung-yul greeted as well.

“Hello. I am Lee Jung-yul, Team Leader at the Tower of Records.”

“Yes, we met before. I heard from your staff you came to see me?”

“Yes. I have a request.”

“Please go ahead. The Tower has been very helpful.”

“Then, if I may…”

Clearing her throat, Lee Jung-yul continued.

“May I ask you to accompany me?”

“Accompany you?”

She hesitated to speak.

“It’s… the ruins on the outskirts of Seoul. A dangerous area. I need to survey it.”

“…You mean the ruins caused by Dungeon Break?”

“Yes. An unknown magical reaction was detected there. By regulation, I cannot go alone. I came to ask adventurer Oh Hyun-woo to accompany me. Of course, I’ll pay.”

Even staff from the Adventurer’s Guild had to go on-site for investigations.

“Understood. Contact me to schedule a time.”

“Thank you. Also, one more thing. Something I must tell you.”

Lee Jung-yul slowly pulled out a document envelope.

“The land where the reaction was detected… belongs to Deathside.”

“…Tell me more about that.”

It was a topic of interest.

The next morning.

I and Lee Jung-yul stood before the usual vacant lot on Seoul’s outskirts.

She briefed me on the situation: suspicious movements by Deathside, mysterious magical reactions, and secretive behavior.

“This is it. Since it’s Deathside’s private land, we can’t go inside, but at least we can survey the perimeter.”

I looked at the desolate lot and asked her again.

“So a magical reaction was detected here?”

“Yes. Master Seon said it was due to summon training, but we should verify it.”

Magical reactions in an empty lot…

Definitely not a lot worth buying.

Using it as a secret training ground would be difficult. Dungeon Break left the area heavily contaminated.

The only building present was a rusted factory, far too weak to withstand summon power.

Beep beep. Beep beep.

Lee Jung-yul checked the area with a magic detector, comparing records and maps.

She tilted her head, seemingly detecting nothing unusual.

I decided it was my turn to act.

“Team Leader, please take a call over there.”

“Ah, I’ll wait here then.”

“Yes. I’ll be in sight, so don’t worry.”

I stepped slightly away from her, put in my wireless earphone, and sent a message to Theo and Marena.

Being the most mobile, I instructed them to sense the surrounding magic.

“Report.”

• Master, I sense something.

• I also feel something, but it’s faint. It seems a barrier is present…

“A barrier?”

• From that barrier… I sense ‘blood.’

“…Understood. Both return.”

Clearly, vampires were involved.

The magical reaction resembled Dungeon Break, but weaker.

The connection between Seon Seong-tae and the vampire.

Somehow, this feels ominous.

I decided to call in an expert.

《Summon Caligo, Liberator of Death.》

I summoned Caligo in a roofed ruin slightly away from the lot and asked:

“Caligo, do you feel anything—”

• Sage, can I eat this?

“…What do you mean?”

• I feel it. The aura of a powerful vampire! Hehehe!

As I feared…

‘This crazy Seon Seong-tae actually called a vampire into reality?’

No, Seon Seong-tae likely doesn’t have that power.

Perhaps the vampires used him for some scheme…

Rustle.

I glanced at Lee Jung-yul. She seemed finished with her business, with a slightly suspicious expression.

‘I’ll send Lee Jung-yul back and return at night.’

Now that I have a lead, I won’t let it go.