Chapter 679
Chapter 679
“Is this Divine Judgement?”
“Hmm!”
Xiao Lun and Seden Price let out low murmurs at the same time.
Before them stood a gigantic cylindrical metal pillar.
At first glance, it looked like ordinary metal. But high-level Awakeneds could sense the overwhelming power and presence contained within the metal pillar.
The essences of countless S-rank monsters, including Dragons, had been concentrated into this single metal pillar.
To complete this one object, countless Awakeneds had sacrificed themselves, and researchers had poured in blood, sweat, and tears.
The researchers standing before Jin Geumho now were no exception.
Having spent countless sleepless nights coating Divine Judgement with the solution made from melted Dragon scales, their faces were haggard beyond measure.
They looked so frail that they seemed ready to collapse at any moment, enough to evoke pity naturally.
Even so, their faces were filled with unmistakable pride.
The fact that they had completed Divine Judgement, the lifelong dream, with their own hands made them forget even their exhaustion.
Jin Geumho asked them,
ened
“You've all worked hard. So when can Divine Judgement be launched?”
“The coating solution needs at least twelve hours to stabilize. During that time, we'll also install the Rods from God.”
“Twelve hours. Then it can be launched tomorrow morning.”
“We'll do our utmost to prepare for launch.”
“The monsters have already reached our doorstep. The satellite must be launched before all the defensive lines are breached.”
“Please don't worry. We'll make sure everything is perfectly prepared.”
“Endure just a little longer.”
“Even if it costs us our lives, we'll send Divine Judgement into space.”
“I trust you. The Divine Judgement you completed will save Neo Seoul and humanity from the monsters.”
Jin Geumho patted each researcher on the shoulder.
At his gesture, the researchers wore deeply moved expressions.
Some had devoted years, others decades, to nothing but research here in order to complete Divine Judgement.
For Jin Geumho to acknowledge and praise their efforts was the greatest reward they could receive.
They hated the monsters just as much as Jin Geumho did.
Driving every monster that had occupied Earth away was the lifelong wish they all shared.
Leaving only the researchers behind, Jin Geumho led everyone else outside.
Xiao Lun looked at Jin Geumho with eyes full of reverence.
While he had been consumed by power struggles within Neo Seoul, Jin Geumho had been creating something this incredible.
He had no choice but to admit that Jin Geumho existed on an entirely different level.
‘He was beyond my reach from the very beginning’
He felt ashamed that he had secretly considered Jin Geumho his rival.
Jin Geumho spoke to Seo Taeran.
“You stay here and guard this place. I'll head down to the Underground City.”
“You're not returning to your residence?”
“My head hurts. I'd like Remura to treat me.”
“Wouldn't you like me to accompany you?”
“No. The elevator connects directly there. I don't want to take four hours of your time for no reason.”
“But...”
“If you're still worried, come pick me up later.”
“Understood.”
In the end, Seo Taeran relented.
Jin Geumho turned to Xiao Lun and Seden Price.
“You should all head back. If you wish to witness Divine Judgement's launch, come here tomorrow morning.”
“Whew! Very well. I can't miss such a historic moment. I'll return tomorrow.”
“I'll come back tomorrow as well.”
With that, Xiao Lun and Seden Price left City Hall.
Jin Geumho first returned to his room at the top of City Hall, then transferred to the elevator leading to the Underground City and descended.
A smile rested on Jin Geumho's lips as he headed toward the Underground City.
Just thinking about seeing Remura lifted his spirits.
From the very first moment he met her, Jin Geumho had felt an unusually deep affection for Remura.
Whenever he looked at Remura, he was reminded of the daughter who had died during the Great Cataclysm. Perhaps because of that, simply seeing her made him happy.
“Mayor! You've arrived.”
“We'll take over your escort from here.”
The moment he stepped out of the elevator, Awakeneds from City Hall who had been waiting surrounded Jin Geumho.
They were City Hall's elite Awakeneds stationed permanently in the Underground City.
Normally, they lived quietly in the Underground City as though they weren't even there, but whenever Jin Geumho visited, they became his bodyguards.
They stayed close to him, protecting him against any possible threat.
“You've all been working hard.”
“Not at all, Mayor!”
“Has anything unusual happened?”
“Nothing so far.”
It was Lee Cheolhwi, an A-rank Awakened, who answered.
He was an Awakened personally selected by Jin Geumho.
His loyalty was so strong that he remained stationed here solely to guard Jin Geumho whenever he visited the Underground City.
“And Remura?”
“She finished treating patients and is resting for a while.”
“No one's been bothering her?”
“We've dealt with anyone like that before they could reach her. There's nothing for you to worry about.”
“Good.”
Jin Geumho smiled faintly.
He lightly patted Lee Cheolhwi on the shoulder before heading toward Remura's residence.
Lee Cheolhwi and the other Awakeneds followed, escorting him.
Upon arriving at Remura's residence, Jin Geumho said,
“Wait outside.”
“But...”
“I'd like to spend some quiet time with Remura.”
“Understood.”
Lee Cheolhwi answered with a reluctant expression.
Normally, staying close was the iron rule of bodyguard duty, but he couldn't refuse Jin Geumho's order.
At least the Underground City was an enclosed space, with City Hall's Awakeneds positioned throughout, making it possible to eliminate any danger at its source.
It was impossible for anyone here to threaten Jin Geumho.
Even so, Lee Cheolhwi did not let his guard down.
“No one leaves their post. Stay vigilant.”
“Yes, sir!”
The subordinates answered and took up positions around Remura's residence.
---
“Grandpa!”
The moment Jin Geumho entered, Remura happily rushed into his arms as though she had been waiting for him.
“Hoho!”
Jin Geumho smiled warmly as he lifted Remura into his arms.
“Why have you gotten so thin?”
“Have I? I suppose I've just been busy lately.”
“You've been having a hard time, haven't you?”
Remura gently stroked Jin Geumho's face with her small hand.
Feeling the softness of her touch, Jin Geumho said,
“What about you? I heard you've been treating people without a moment's rest.”
“I'm fine.”
“It's good that you're saving people, but don't overdo it. At this rate, your body will give out first.”
“Don't worry about me. If it comes to it, I can even use my skill on myself.”
“Hoho! So you can heal yourself now?”
“Yes! It turns out I can.”
Jin Geumho couldn't hide his surprise at Remura's answer.
He gently stroked Remura's head.
“Our Remura is truly amazing.”
“Hehe!”
“By the way, where's Jetoya? I don't see him.”
“Oh! Jetoya Hyung went to the Mana Stone Mine with that person.”
“That person?”
“A man named Damho. He became Jetoya Hyung's master.”
“Really?”
Jin Geumho's eyes lit up at the unexpected news.
He had been so occupied preparing for the monster invasion and inspecting Divine Judgement that he had completely forgotten about Damho.
‘That man Damho accepted Jetoya as his disciple? Is Jetoya's talent really that exceptional?’
Damho was powerful enough that even all of the Numbers had to remain wary of him.
If someone like Damho had accepted Jetoya as a disciple, then it proved just how extraordinary Jetoya's talent was.
For Jetoya to become the disciple of such a supreme powerhouse was also good news for Neo Seoul.
Most importantly, if it was Jetoya, he would be able to protect Remura well.
Just then, Remura said to Jin Geumho,
“I don't think this will do. I'll get rid of all your fatigue.”
“Then shall I accept our Remura's help?”
Jin Geumho sat down in a chair and closed his eyes.
Remura used her skill generously for him.
“Cure!”
Flash!
A dazzling light enveloped Jin Geumho.
He felt as though he had returned to his mother's womb.
His entire body relaxed before a powerful vitality soon surged through him.
Instantly restored, Jin Geumho smiled.
“I feel like I've been reborn. As expected, our Remura is the best.”
“Hehe! I boosted your vitality a lot, so you shouldn't feel tired for quite a while.”
“Thank you.”
Remura couldn't hide her happiness at Jin Geumho's words.
Jin Geumho quietly gazed at Remura's smiling face.
After taking one last look at her, he rose from his seat.
“This old man should be going now.”
“Already?”
“There's an important event tomorrow morning, so I should get some rest.”
“You know how worried I get, right? If you feel even a little unwell, come see me anytime.”
“I will.”
After giving Remura one final pat on the head, Jin Geumho stepped outside.
Lee Cheolhwi and the others, who had been waiting outside, resumed escorting him.
“Shall we return directly to your residence?”
“Let's go to the Diamond Wall.”
“Pardon? But there are monsters outside...”
“That's exactly why I'm going. I want to see those accursed creatures with my own eyes.”
Before launching Divine Judgement, he wanted to burn the sight of the monsters into his memory one last time.
He wanted to deepen the hatred he held toward them and pour it into Divine Judgement.
Escorted by Lee Cheolhwi and the others, Jin Geumho left Neo Seoul and climbed onto the Diamond Wall.
—KWAHHH!
—HROOOO!
Even in the middle of the night, the monsters' roars reached this place.
Far away, at the second defensive line, he could see Awakeneds fighting the monsters.
“Don't let them break through on the left!”
“Pull the wounded back and deploy the reserves!”
The Awakeneds were engaged in a desperate struggle against the monsters that attacked day and night without pause.
The only reason there had not yet been heavy casualties was entirely thanks to Kim Muyeong.
Using Accelerated Thought, he simulated the battle in advance, then deployed the Awakeneds where they were needed most, efficiently holding back the monsters.
Thanks to him, the second defensive line was still standing.
After confirming with his own eyes that the front line remained secure, Jin Geumho turned around.
“Let's return to City Hall.”
“Yes, sir!”
Everything was now ready.
All that remained was to wait at City Hall for tomorrow morning to arrive.
Suppressing the excitement swelling within him, Jin Geumho headed back toward City Hall.
It was when he had passed beyond the Diamond Wall and entered the slums.
“Urgh!”
“Gah!”
Suddenly, with cries of pain, Lee Cheolhwi and the others collapsed like puppets with their strings cut.
At the unexpected turn of events, Jin Geumho's expression turned cold.
Lee Cheolhwi and the others were all among City Hall's finest Awakeneds.
Yet they had fallen without even putting up a fight.
It was obvious that someone far stronger than they were had attacked them from the shadows.
Staring into the dark alley, Jin Geumho spoke.
“Who's there?”
“My apologies.”
A man wearing a robe stepped out of the alley.
The moment Jin Geumho saw his face, his eyes sharpened.
“Seden Price?”
“As expected, you recognized me.”
The man pushed back the hood of his robe.
Seden Price's face was revealed.
“Why are you here?”
“Because I thought there would never be another opportunity like this.”
“You're trying to kill me?”
“No. How could I kill someone whom no one could ever replace?”
“Then?”
“I only need to inject this. Once that's done, I'll leave quietly.”
Seden Price took two transparent syringes from inside his robe.
Inside each syringe, a tiny larva wriggled.
“What is that?”
“I call it a Devil's Worm. The smaller one split off from the main host. It can never disobey the main body's commands.”
“Don't tell me... you?”
Instead of answering, Seden Price injected the host Devil's Worm into his own arm.
Then he drove the syringe containing the smaller worm into Jin Geumho's arm.
Jin Geumho's physical abilities were no different from those of an ordinary person.
He stood no chance against Seden Price.
“Ghk!”
Jin Geumho's face twisted violently.
Rumble!
Something inside him was collapsing.