Chapter 47 – However, Hiding is Useless (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Minguk Ilbo.

The fingers of the reporter, Jung Man-seok, danced above the laptop.

Tap, tap, tap!

He hadn’t even harbored a single bit of expectation.

Who was Lee Ho-yeol?

He had seen countless Players, but among them, a Player whose actions were the most unbelievable! Above all, Ho-yeol’s personality was infamous even in the newsroom.

Landing an interview is like picking a star from the sky.

Murderous intent can be felt from that cold gaze.

At that point, it’s not a concept but seriousness…….

It felt exactly like crawling into a slaughterhouse on one’s own two feet.

“……What if he buries me with magic for being rude?”

He had no choice but to genuinely worry.

Because the question he brought with him was at a level even he found absurd.

No matter how much the higher-ups took bribes.

Because this was a question no different from blatantly asking him to side with the Myth Guild.

“Like hell Lee Ho-yeol will answer it nicely. Really.”

But the sorrow of a member of society who has to peel if told to peel.

Jung Man-seok grabbed his pounding heart and approached Ho-yeol.

And handed him the question.

Please, just don’t bury me in the ground.

Pleading desperately.

However.

“Jackpot. It’s a jackpot……!”

What in the world is this?

The unparalleled Lee Ho-yeol had answered the interview.

It wasn’t a short answer either.

It was a significantly sincere answer by Lee Ho-yeol’s standards.

Jung Man-seok couldn’t help but dance by moving his shoulders.

Tap, tap, tap!

“To think he would blatantly snipe them like this too.”

Don’t hide cowardly.

And don’t play obvious petty tricks either.

Although he was just a reporter writing things down.

With his honest feelings, Jung Man-seok felt a slight thrill.

‘……Does it feel like my upset stomach is settling down?’

Just how much had the reporters, including himself, suffered?

He thought his fingers were going to rot off writing articles about the Myth Guild that he didn’t want to write for the past few days.

In such a situation, Ho-yeol practically blatantly sniped the cause.

Suddenly, his dancing fingers flinched.

“Wait, what does this mean?”

Reveal yourselves confidently before me.

He could understand up to that point.

But to say all authority lies with him.

Jung Man-seok wondered just in case.

“……Ayy, no way. That authority doesn’t mean *that* authority, right?”

Authority.

A feature activated for Players who own a territory.

That was a word only used back when Arcana was a game.

Because there was no precedent of a Player’s territory being updated into reality.

Shake, shake.

Jung Man-seok cleared his head.

Speaking bluntly, maybe if he had defeated the Great Evil, Seven Deadly Sins Greed, by himself.

“Even so, that makes no sense.”

No matter if it’s Ho-yeol, it’s natural that he couldn’t have accumulated enough relationship and influence to obtain the Authority feature in the Yusra Kingdom.

Jung Man-seok tried guessing the meaning of the words.

“Well, close friends with King Hakuna. Something like that kind of relationship?”

That would rather be more likely.

Anyway, that wasn’t the important part.

Jung Man-seok loosened his stiff wrists.

“Because whatever it is, this is a jackpot exclusive. This is.”

Moreover, an exclusive coverage.

There’s no worry of it being stolen by others.

Even out of gratitude to Ho-yeol, he had to write it with utmost sincerity.

The moment Jung Man-seok’s fingers were about to move once again.

Vrrr

The vibrating smartphone.

It was the department head.

I wonder if passing the civil service exam feels like this.

“Ahem.”

Jung Man-seok cleared his throat and touched the call button.

Then, an urgent voice was heard.

-Reporter Jung! Did you meet Lee Ho-yeol?

Was meeting him all I did?

I firmly secured the interview exactly as instructed.

Jung Man-seok answered leisurely.

“Yes, I met him.”

But somehow the reaction was unusual.

-Really? You met him fast? Are you perhaps in the middle of covering him? Are you close to Lee Ho-yeol? Then modify the coverage content right this instant! Just blow away something like the Myth Guild question!

“……Yes? W-What? Blow away what?!”

Wait, this is an interview I landed risking my life.

Jung Man-seok almost shed tears, although it was just for a brief moment.

Whether he knew those feelings or not.

A yell returned.

-What’s wrong with you, Jung Man-seok. Did you not even check the video that just popped up?

“……The video?”

Oops.

At those words, Jung Man-seok urgently checked the group chat.

Then, there was a Nettube link there.

It was a video released from Gaon’s side.

“?”

In that video, the Yusra Kingdom that revealed its appearance to the world.

“……It wasn’t just words?”

The truth of that day was there.

*

A world-class message that popped up for all Players.

[Someone has uncovered the secret of the Yusra Archipelago.]

[The ancient kingdom, Yusra Kingdom reveals its appearance.]

That someone was ‘Lee Ho-yeol’!

The video released by Gaon contained the battle between Ho-yeol and the Great Evil, Seven Deadly Sins Greed.

The introduction of the video.

The overwhelming pressure the Great Evil displayed was truly immense.

-Crazy;; Nam Tae-min and Leoni can’t even resist

-I’m telling you that status abnormality of demons is fr troublesome??

-Consider the level. It’s level 650

Right, the guy was a level 650 demon-kin monster.

No matter if they were rankers, it was natural that they couldn’t respond.

It meant that Nam Tae-min and Leoni weren’t weak.

So the impact of the following scene had no choice but to be even bigger.

As if he easily overcame the status abnormality.

Ho-yeol advancing toward the Great Evil.

And at the same time, the screen’s angle returning.

-Wtf is this for real?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-How can he be completely fine? I seriously don’t know;;

-Lee Ho-yeol broke the status abnormality for them just now, right?? Shivers

That wasn’t all, the moment Ho-yeol opened his mouth.

Nam Tae-min and Leoni were also freed from the status abnormality.

Such a voice of Ho-yeol was captured entirely in the video.

[There is no need for that. I am here in this place.]

The comments left on that part were hard to count.

-3:50! 3:50! 3:50! 3:50! 3:50! 3:50! 3:50!

-I did not doubt. Homen

-Gaon you bad guys, why are you only revealing this now…………

If heard briefly.

They were words that would naturally be cringy.

But the dramatic situation rather revived the flavor of the lines.

Because if it weren’t for Ho-yeol, Nam Tae-min and Leoni really might have lost their lives.

Right, just that alone was an amazing performance.

But the start of the unbelievable development was from then on.

Upon facing Ho-yeol, the Great Evil began to be agitated.

[W-Who exactly are you? How……?]

And the demon hunting that began.

Yes, that could only be described as hunting.

It was a one-sided mockery.

A feast of colorful magic filling the screen.

-Here it comes lol Stone pillar lol

-Wait, what’s that shining thing again??

-It looks exactly like a bullet…… No, what is this now?!!

-It suddenly became an arrow???

That was hard to express even with words.

In that brief moment of time.

Just how many complex skills were linked together?

There were also those who played that scene at a slow speed and scrutinized it dozens of times, but the conclusion they reached was ultimately the same.

-Just Homen

Just as Nam Chul-min had confidently declared.

It was magic utilization at a level that couldn’t even be analyzed.

[This does not make sense. Why would I to a human……?]

Unable to even mount a proper counterattack.

The Great Evil, Seven Deadly Sins Greed, muttering.

Eventually, the guy even offered a servile proposal.

[Right! Good! Let us make a contract! If you make a contract with me, I will give you all of this. Do you not see it? This radiant Golden Palace will all become yours!]

Gulp

There were quite a few people who swallowed their drool there.

Because it was a temptingly attractive proposal without equal.

But Ho-yeol’s answer was resolute.

[Your appearance is ugly. Foolish demon.]

As if it wasn’t even worth consideration.

A cold voice.

With that, the battle was as good as over.

[S-Spare me! I-I don’t want to die yet……!!]

The Great Evil, Seven Deadly Sins Greed, begging for its life.

It was just as Ho-yeol had said.

Even if it’s the Great Evil.

In front of Ho-yeol, its appearance was nothing more than an insignificant demon.

There was no mercy.

A silver dagger held in his hand at some point.

Slash

Ho-yeol struck the Great Evil’s neck just like that.

-……Wow. Is the movie over already?

-No!! Don’t turn it off yet, there’s a post-credits scene!!

-What the, now that I see it, isn’t that Hakuna? It’s the Yusra King

The King of Yusra who escaped the domination of the Great Evil.

The sight of Ho-yeol placing the crown on the head of such a King.

[It is time to correct the error. Nameless King.]

Simultaneously with Ho-yeol’s last line.

Subtitles popped up like closing credits.

[Someone has uncovered the secret of the Yusra Archipelago.]

[The ancient kingdom, Yusra Kingdom reveals its appearance.]

-This place edits well lol

-First I’ll go change my pants and come back

-Literally every single one of Lee Ho-yeol’s lines is not to be discarded lol

-Lee Ho-yeol? Correct it to Sir Ho-yeol immediately

-If it couldn’t be released until now because they were editing this, then recognized

That wave spread beyond Nettube to the whole world.

Breaking news was a given.

There were also broadcasting stations running emergency scheduled programs.

“Did I not tell you? It is certain that Lee Ho-yeol is a top-tier ranker who hasn’t opened his information. The proof of that has come out as a video like this!”

Naturally, it was all talk surrounding Ho-yeol.

But even though the video was released.

The sense of mystery surrounding Ho-yeol grew even more, far from dying down.

“But no matter how much the combat video is analyzed, we can’t figure it out! Even his class can’t even be guessed. It seems certain that he’s of the Mage lineage, but……”

“At least level 500. No, I reckon he might be level 550.”

“……Indeed! The argument that he left it private because he didn’t want to draw fame with rankings is starting to make sense. He defeated the Great Evil and left a mark in history. Yet he hasn’t revealed that fact until now, has he?”

Therefore, it was natural that doubts arose.

Why was this video released at this point in time?

Could it be a joke that it really was because they put effort into editing.

The answer to that.

Truly unexpectedly to anyone.

Came out from a daily newspaper in the Republic of Korea.

──────

[Exclusive] Lee Ho-yeol, “The authority of the Yusra Kingdom lies with me… It is better not to hide or play petty tricks… If you want something, reveal yourself confidently before me.”

──────

At least if one were a citizen of the Republic of Korea, they would realize it immediately.

The article’s comment section exploding in real time.

Right, this was practically no different from a declaration of war.

-Wow shivers Didn’t even imagine it shivers

-The politicians tangled with Myth must be practically burning their asses lol

-Fr I hated the sight of them so much, feels so refreshing lol

-So they released the video because they had this big picture in mind shivers

-If this isn’t a hero then what is lol

The conglomerates’ guild Myth and the vested interests cleanly entangled together.

Towards them who had disturbed his mood.

An upright declaration of war, no different from usual.

*

The Myth Group competing for the 1st and 2nd ranking in the Republic of Korea’s business world.

The Seoul Deluxe Miss Hotel, one of the identifying symbols of the Myth Group.

The top floor private room.

There were a man and a woman in that place who shouldn’t be together.

Of course, they were just in one space.

The one lying on the bed was the man, alone, but.

“Your figure drunken in a lewd dream is laughable.”

The Master of the Myth Guild, Baek Yi-seol.

She looked at the man who would be drunk in an ecstatic dream.

“Where has your initial momentum gone. How foolish.”

Drenched in pleasure, unable to distinguish between dream and reality, he would throw away everything for her. Reputation, family, and even his life. Having tossed them away.

“Just like those fools.”

Heh

Baek Yi-seol sneered for a brief moment.

The essence that seeped out of the man’s body flowed into Baek Yi-seol’s body.

Baek Yi-seol’s pupils turned pitch black in an instant.

Bzzzt

The Seoul Deluxe Miss Hotel, one of the best hotels in the world.

Among them, it was a private room operated secretly targeting VIPs.

Considering the level of management, a flickering lightbulb was an impossible occurrence.

So the meaning behind the flickering lightbulb was simple.

“At this rate, it won’t be long before I become a Higher Demon.”

Baek Yi-seol was possessed by a demon.

Baek Yi-seol looked at the window.

Not at the Han River beyond the window.

But looking at herself reflected in the window, she spoke.

“How is it? Does it feel like we are gradually getting closer to the goal, our Lady?”

A long, white finger stroked Baek Yi-seol’s face reflected on the window.

An alluring voice followed.

“Of course, there might be a difference from the method you thought of. But what can you do even if you regret it? It’s not like you can take it back now.”

The rising corners of her mouth.

That smile was undoubtedly a demon’s deception.

“Still, the day to bring them down does not have much time left.”

Since she absorbed the essence, her business was over.

Baek Yi-seol left the private room just like that.

The executive secretary who had been waiting followed suit.

And then said with an evidently flustered voice.

“Representative, have you checked the article by any chance?”

“Are you talking about Mr. Lee Ho-yeol’s interview?”

“……Were you aware? I apologize! Just in case.”

Because she put the man to sleep as soon as they entered the private room.

Baek Yi-seol had enough time to check the breaking news on her smartphone.

The executive secretary flinched at Baek Yi-seol’s reaction.

‘……To think she was aware. If anything goes wrong.’

Everything about the Myth Guild.

Even the secret meetings until now, including today.

It’s a crisis that could be completely exposed to the world.

But she couldn’t feel even a slight agitation from Baek Yi-seol.

“That’s a relief. That it wasn’t Ms. Leoni.”

“……?”

“Things could have gotten incredibly tiresome.”

At Baek Yi-seol’s words, the executive secretary’s doubt deepened.

Baek Yi-seol caressed the executive secretary’s cheek.

“Please do not worry.”

“R-Representative……!”

“I am always indebted to you.”

It would be natural to have doubts.

Because the executive secretary probably wouldn’t even be able to imagine that she herself was a lust demon, a Succubus. Since she couldn’t even realize the fact that she herself was also a victim of a lewd dream right now.

Right, it wasn’t just the executive secretary.

From the government officials sprawled on the bed.

To businessmen, Supernovas, and even Rankers.

The countless victims of lewd dreams became confidence for Baek Yi-seol.

No, for the intermediate demon, Succubus.

‘He defeated the Great Evil by himself?’

To the point where she thought it didn’t matter even if that were true.

‘Fufu. It seems its capabilities as a Great Evil were lacking.’

Lee Ho-yeol, as long as he is a man.

He wouldn’t be able to be free from her temptation.

Baek Yi-seol took her hand off the executive secretary’s cheek.

“Since he told us to reveal ourselves, we have no choice but to reveal ourselves. But I wonder how far he wants us to reveal? Should I pick a bolder outfit than now?”

The outer corners of Baek Yi-seol’s eyes curved.

“Please empty the entire schedule for tomorrow.”

Lee Ho-yeol, she will go to the Yusra Kingdom to meet him.

Baek Yi-seol. No, the Succubus was full of dreams.

‘What’s a Higher Demon. I might be able to become a Great Evil!’

To a place her own feet are heading towards.

Without even knowing that it was the territory of her natural enemy.