TOP 87

Chapter 87

Disgusting, But Necessary

“To think I’d see the legacy of our ancestors here!!!”

A sudden shout burst from Chairman Gil Do-ik.

Everyone turned toward him with faces that clearly said, What the hell is he talking about?

“You! Where on earth did you find this!?”

But he didn’t care at all about the baffled looks around him. His gaze was fixed squarely on me.

“…Why do you ask?”

I kept my tone polite, but my answer was evasive.

It was hard to figure out his true intention—and besides, it was not a question I could answer honestly.

After all, this item was—

‘Dwarven Draupnir.’

A bracelet I had obtained as a side reward during the trial to gain a dragon’s power.

Obviously, I couldn’t tell him that.

“This! This is a technology that was once lost to our… ahem, to our family!”

A lost family technique?

I narrowed my eyes at Gil Do-ik, feeling a strange sense of discord.

‘A technology like this existed before the Cataclysm? That makes no sense.’

The Cataclysm—

The era when magic, monsters, systems, and gates first appeared in the world.

In other words…

‘Before that, there was no magic. No items. Nothing.’

So claiming that an item-making technique had been lost from before the Cataclysm was pure nonsense.

Meaning only one thing—

‘Chairman Gil Do-ik is lying.’

He was definitely bluffing.

Then which part of his story was the lie?

“I’ve always wanted to restore this technology! Please—tell me how you acquired it, I’ll reward you handsomely!”

His expression was desperate, almost pleading.

He clearly wanted the technology behind the Dwarven Draupnir.

Then, suddenly—

‘Wait a second…’

A thought hit me.

‘His appearance…?’

He was barely one and a half meters tall.

Muscles tightly packed over his entire frame.

Skin bronzed and calloused from heat.

That combination—it felt strangely familiar.

‘…No way. It can’t be.’

Even as I thought it, I shook my head.

Some people are just short.

And if you work with heat all day, sure, you’d get muscular and tanned.

But still—

‘It all fits too perfectly.’

Everything about him pointed toward one conclusion.

“Or maybe! Perhaps I could borrow the item for a short time!? I’ll pay a proper rental fee!”

His eyes were wide and earnest as he looked up at me.

‘…He kind of looks like Keldric.’

That odd sense of déjà vu again.

Could it really be…?

‘He’s… a Dwarf?’

A race that doesn’t exist in the real world.

But I had fought alongside them once, inside the Fragment of History—the trial of the Dragon’s Authority—against the Gaia Cult.

Yes. Those Dwarves.

His appearance reminded me of them so strongly I couldn’t help it.

At that moment—

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”

Namgung Myeong turned and shouted from ahead.

He clearly didn’t like me talking to Gil Do-ik.

“Forget that old fool and come talk to me already! Please!”

“Get over here now!“

In an instant, I found myself being courted by both of them.

Well, this was… interesting.

‘Things are getting entertaining.’

Emotionally, I wanted nothing more than to side with Gil Do-ik and piss off Namgung Myeong.

But—

‘No. I have to play along with Namgung Myeong right now.’

I forced myself to think rationally.

I could talk to Gil Do-ik later.

What he wanted from me was information about the Dwarven Draupnir, not immediate favor.

Namgung Myeong, on the other hand, needed to win right now.

He wanted me to obey him, to feel the satisfaction of dominance over someone else.

‘I do want to learn more about the Dwarf connection… but not yet.’

For now, I needed to play along with Namgung Myeong.

If I misstepped here, my whole plan could fall apart.

“Chairman Gil Do-ik.”

“Y-yes! Let’s talk, right now—”

“I’m afraid we’ll have to continue next time.”

“W-what!? No, wait—!”

“I’ll contact you soon.”

I firmly released his hand.

Then I extended mine again.

“I will contact you.”

“Wh-what…?”

Seriously, this man—

“Your contact info. A business card or something.”

“…Ah!”

He hurriedly handed me his card.

Good. I’d focus on Namgung Myeong for now, then reach out later.

‘That’s one problem handled.’

I hurried toward Namgung Myeong, pretending I had been delayed against my will.

“I’m sorry for being late, Hunter Namgung Myeong!”

I bowed deeply.

‘Did he buy it?’

Thankfully, he didn’t seem suspicious.

“That’s right. My protégé should stick by me. I almost misunderstood you.”

“I apologize!”

And just like that, I left the Blacksmith Guild alongside my sworn enemy.

“So,” he said the moment we stepped outside, “what did that bastard Gil Do-ik want?”

He clearly wanted to know the details.

But there was no reason to tell him about Dwarves or my item.

My attitude toward him was pure performance.

“He was just trying to stop me from joining you, sir.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I suppose he’s just jealous of someone as amazing as Hunter Namgung Myeong.”

Ugh.

Even saying that made me nauseous.

But I had no choice.

“Hahaha! So that’s it! He was trying to keep you from me!”

Well, it worked.

‘Just endure it. All for revenge.’

Someday, I’d get to crush him.

With that thought, I forced a grin.

“Hahaha! Exactly, sir! You saw through him instantly!”

“Hah. I like you.”

Of course he did.

After all, I was playing the perfect loyal subordinate.

“What’s your name?”

Right. He still didn’t know that.

“Yujin, sir.”

“Yujin?”

I repeated clearly, “Yes. Yujin, the newly promoted 6-star Hunter.”

On purpose.

I wanted to see how he’d react when he heard it.

The name of the son of the sworn brother he’d betrayed.

I watched his expression carefully.

And—

“So your family name is Yu?”

Nothing.

Not even a flicker.

‘Heh. I figured as much, but still…’

It had been ten years.

And after a decade of hardship in a poor district, my face had changed a lot.

Even if he remembered my childhood face, there was no way he could connect it to me now.

That was the only reason I could stand before him like this.

Still—

‘To think he’s that indifferent…’

Even though I’d expected it, anger still flared up inside me.

I swallowed it down.

“No, sir. My surname is Kim. Kim Yujin.”

A false name.

“Kim Yujin, huh. Nice ring to it.”

He didn’t even blink.

Even though I shared the same name as the son of his betrayed brother, he didn’t notice at all.

‘…So that’s how easily you forgot that betrayal, huh?’

The heat in my chest surged again.

I forced it back down.

No—

‘You don’t deserve a quick death.’

I’d earn his complete trust. Wait until his proudest moment.

And then—

I’d stab him in the back.

Just as he once did.

‘Without fail.’

I opened my mouth again, carefully.

“Hunter Namgung Myeong, sir.”

“What is it?”

“I actually have an interview tomorrow at Destiny Guild.”

“Huh? Why? Oh—you’re applying for the Immortal King Gate mercenary squad?”

“Yes, sir!”

I explained that I’d be interviewing at Destiny Guild the next day.

‘I thought I’d only meet him there… but now it’s a day earlier.’

Still, maybe this was a lucky break.

“Hm…”

He exhaled through his nose and then smirked.

“Alright. You’re in.”

“…Thank you, sir!”

“A 6-star, huh? You can handle a squad leader position.”

He just promoted me on the spot.

‘Well, that’s convenient.’

I had two goals in applying for this mercenary mission:

First, to earn Namgung Myeong’s favor.

That seemed to be working already.

Second, to build a good reputation with the Destiny Guild members.

That part was vital.

Because after I took my revenge, what would come next?

‘Destiny Guild will be mine.’

It had once belonged to my parents, after all.

So leaving a good impression with its members was crucial for the future.

And to do that, I needed at least a squad leader role—something visible.

Now I had it, effortlessly.

‘Namgung Myeong… you’re even simpler than I thought.’

He was playing right into my hand.

Then he added—

“Hey.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Do well in the dungeon raid.”

“Do well…?”

“I want to recruit you into our guild.”

“…Really!? Thank you, sir!”

“There aren’t many like you these days. Quick-witted and obedient. I like that.”

“Thank you! I’ll do my best!”

He even wanted to keep me close to him.

Exactly what I’d hoped for.

“Anyway, I’ve got too many nags around me lately. So just get me solid results this time, yeah?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good. I’ll back you up all the way. Make it flashy tomorrow, alright?”

“Yes, sir!”

Well, with the guild leader halfway wrapped around my finger already, there was no excuse for failure.

‘If I can’t pull this off, I might as well give up on revenge.’

“Alright, Kim Yujin. See you tomorrow. I’m busy.”

“Understood, sir! It was an honor, Hunter Namgung Myeong!”

I bowed deeply as he walked away.

Once he was out of sight—

“Urgh… damn it.”

I stumbled into a side alley and vomited.

“Cough—hah—hahhh—haahhh!”

Suppressing the urge to strangle him while pretending to smile at him—it was excruciating.

Even after countless rehearsals and mental training, the disgust was overwhelming.

“…God, I feel sick.”

Nausea churned in my stomach.

It was revolting.

Maybe if I’d met him tomorrow, prepared and composed, it would’ve been easier.

“Haa…”

No use thinking about it.

Either way—

“…Everything’s still going according to plan.”

Even if maintaining this act made my skin crawl, I had to keep it up.

Because this—

This was for true revenge.

Still…

“I was supposed to rest and practice mind control today…”

I pulled out the business card I’d received earlier.

Gil Do-ik.
Guildmaster of Blacksmith Guild.
Chairman of the Korean Item Makers Association.

“…I need to find out the truth.”

What was the connection between Gil Do-ik and the Dwarves?

Before tomorrow’s mercenary operation with Destiny Guild—

I had to know.

So I turned around and headed back toward the Blacksmith Guild.