I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 77. Gathering Malice
Exactly ten days before the ambush. The moment Nam Woo-i regained consciousness from the anesthetic’s grip after being kidnapped, he immediately snapped awake, eyes flying open as he hastily drew upon his demonic energy.
How dare they! What kind of fool would kidnap me, a contractor of the great demon race! The audacity!
Yet such thoughts were fleeting. He surveyed his surroundings, tilting his head in confusion as he examined his own body.
Immaculate. No signs of restraints, no bruises from beatings, no evidence of any mistreatment whatsoever.
He lifted his head and scanned the space around him. A living room he’d never seen before. Yet compared to his own five-billion-won residence, it was equally impressive—perhaps even more so.
“What is this?”
Had he been dreaming? Had he been so exhausted from days without sleep, constantly vigilant, that he’d wandered into some stranger’s home and collapsed?
Such doubts evaporated the moment Deriachs’ voice echoed in his mind, snapping Nam Woo-i back to full awareness.
-You fool. Unable to even block a simple ambush, and you call yourself something? You’re fortunate that pathetic insect had no intention of killing you!
At Deriachs’ words, Nam Woo-i cast aside his idle musings and drew upon his demonic energy even more intensely. He couldn’t afford to lower his guard. He was now a being marked for execution—whether by the demon race, the Association, a Guild, or independent Hunters, death awaited him anywhere.
Just as he was carefully attempting to slip out of the living room, the door to the 2nd Floor burst open, revealing a man.
“Oh! You’re awake?”
The man, handsome enough to draw admiration at first glance, descended the stairs with a light step and stood before him.
As the taller man—at least ten centimeters above Nam Woo-i’s modest height—approached, Nam Woo-i reflexively retreated, spreading his aura as if ready to strike at any moment, and began tracing a magical circle.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—relax. I brought you here because we have things to discuss. And you’re too careless. If you keep lurking around like that, won’t you draw attention? Even if there’s no one around this mansion, you’re far too conspicuous. A black hat and black mask? You might as well advertise yourself as a criminal.”
Offering this counsel naturally, the man walked past him, approached the wine refrigerator with practiced ease, retrieved a bottle that caught his fancy, and settled onto the sofa.
“Sit down. This conversation won’t be unfavorable to you.”
At those words, Nam Woo-i cancelled his spell mid-cast and sat across from him.
-That one is perfect as a demon contractor. His aptitude for demonic energy is remarkably high. His temperament is one others would favor, and the desires he harbors in his heart are… tsk! Quite coveted indeed.
At Deriachs’ words, Nam Woo-i’s brow furrowed slightly. He gazed at the wine glass placed before him for a moment, then took a sip.
“Haha. Yes, good. I like how obedient you are. No need for us to needlessly antagonize each other. But let me be clear—I have something to discuss with you.”
Lee Ji-yong, the man, laughed with a sinister edge and revealed the purpose of this meeting.
“Shin Ju-ha.”
At that single name, Nam Woo-i’s eyebrows twitched, and Deriachs began to laugh as if finding something immensely amusing.
“You’re after that bastard too, aren’t you? Why? Why are the demons after that worm?”
With a tone of burning curiosity, Nam Woo-i responded with a frown.
“Must I explain that to you? And does it matter if I’m after Shin Ju-ha? If it does, I have no intention of backing down. If you mean to stop me, then stake your life and——!”
His words were cut short as Lee Ji-yong shouted.
“No! No, no, no, no. I have no intention of stopping you. In fact, I’d be delighted if you killed that cursed bastard. That’s why! That’s why I brought you here. To a place unseen by prying eyes. I thought we could help each other fill in what we lack.”
In that voice tinged with madness, Nam Woo-i understood: this man also desired Shin Ju-ha’s death.
The genteel image of a refined third-generation chaebol that Lee Ji-yong normally cultivated was a complete fabrication. In his raw, primal state—the reckless rogue he’d once been—he trembled with excitement.
-Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating. So your goals align. This will be even more entertaining than simply tearing him apart. Join hands with that one. He will be of great use to you. His murderous intent and ambition dwarf yours beyond comparison. Perhaps even the higher-ranking demons might take notice. Kekekeke.
Deriachs, true to his demonic nature, instantly perceived Lee Ji-yong’s ambitions, desires, and reckless temperament in their entirety.
Selfish, arrogant, destructive, and willful. With such a nature, he was perfectly suited to the demons.
It was almost puzzling why he hadn’t yet become a Ma-in.
“I’ve been humiliated by that bastard twice, you see?”
The first time was in the Association Lobby. At his grandfather’s request, he’d picked a fight with a newly licensed, bumbling novice. But that insolent worm had turned the tables, deliberately injuring himself to make it appear as though he had done it, performing as if advertising his cruelty.
Thanks to that, the image he’d cultivated—shedding his reckless reputation and being called a saint—crumbled to dust in an instant.
After all the effort spent building that image, bowing to countless people, smiling at those swine like a dog!
A mere dog among dogs had destroyed all of his efforts.
The second mistake was helping that bastard Moon Kang-un. That madman had his subordinates provide whatever support he wanted, driving him insane enough to commit terrorism against the Association itself.
Avoiding contact after the first incident to hide any connection had been the fatal error.
The result was failure. The trust he’d built with his grandfather crumbled, and he received curses laced with profanities he’d never heard before, even during his reckless days.
His plan to grow steadily into the Guild Master of Changsung Guild, a Ranker, and eventually the head of Changsung Group had all collapsed.
Despite only two entanglements, Shin Ju-ha had destroyed his entire life. Naturally, he could do nothing but rage.
Of course, both incidents had occurred because of his own actions, but his mindset refused to acknowledge such trivial details.
“So this time, I’m taking direct action. I had to kill that bastard, but I couldn’t risk sending someone else and having that disaster repeat itself.”
“Then why drag me into this? You know as well as I do that I’m a Ma-in, right? The moment you’re connected to me, you’re finished.”
At those words, Lee Ji-yong downed the wine in his glass in one shot, his lips curling into a bloodstained smile.
“As long as we don’t get caught. Even if we do, I’ll gouge out the eyes and tear the mouths off anyone who knows about this to prevent word from spreading. In the end, all that matters is success. Success alone. That’s all.”
Lee Ji-yong clapped his hands, and his secretary—the only person aware of this meeting—emerged from the adjacent room with a hardened expression, opening the door connecting to the living room.
Inside lay over a dozen people, unconscious and sprawled across the floor.
“Ma-in need sacrifices, don’t they? Ask me for them. This country is full of worthless dogs that no one will miss.”
For a moment, Nam Woo-i found himself thinking an absurd thought as he watched Lee Ji-yong’s words and expression—perhaps it wasn’t Nam Woo-i who was the Ma-in, but Lee Ji-yong instead.
-Kekekeke. I think the same. That bastard is insane. Once this plan concludes successfully, offer him to the higher-ranking Demonic Tribe. Then both you and I will receive their grace and ascend to the next level.
That was the extent of his madness. Lee Ji-yong, who had crossed a line he should never have crossed, was already spiraling in his insanity.
-Kekekek. Still not enough. To completely bind that bastard, we need far more sacrifices. At least three times this amount.
Nam Woo-i nodded. He clasped hands with him. Of course he did. No Ma-in foolish enough would pass up this opportunity.
No matter how he thought about it, all the risk lay with Lee Ji-yong. Even if Lee Ji-yong betrayed him, the moment it became known that he’d made contact with a Ma-in, he would fall into an irreversible situation.
‘No matter how powerful Changsung Group is, they cannot cover up an incident involving a Ma-in.’
Ma-in were such beings. Evil beyond villainy. Regardless of circumstances or conditions, they were the only criminals authorized for immediate execution upon discovery.
“We need more sacrifices. About three times this amount. And other preparations are necessary as well.”
Nam Woo-i no longer harbored caution toward him. As if they were decade-long business partners, he explained the simple yet certain plan that he had devised and established.
“Kekeke. That’s insane power. Can all those Demonic Tribe members grant such strength?”
“If one becomes an Avatar, absolutely. The being I serve is a mid-to-lower-ranking Demonic Tribe member, but those above could grant even greater and more powerful forces. If you have any thoughts, speak them. I’ll make the request on your behalf.”
“Puhaha. No, no, no. Why would I become a Demonic Tribe member? I’m going to be the king of Changsung. I’m not doing something that stupid.”
At Lee Ji-yong’s words, Nam Woo-i shook his head without realizing it. No matter how he thought about it, that bastard had already crossed the line.
If his path twisted even slightly, it seemed only a matter of time before he became a Ma-in.
But he deliberately refrained from voicing that fact and hurting his feelings. Regardless, their goals aligned for now, and Lee Ji-yong was someone who could give him much.
“I’ll join you too. I want to tear that bastard apart with my own hands.”
“If you leave some for me, I’ll consider it.”
“Ah~~! Of course. I’m not that greedy. Once I’ve had my fill of enjoyment, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
The two men’s negotiation concluded. Nam Woo-i remained at Lee Ji-yong’s residence, preparing to kill Shin Ju-ha by offering the sacrifices he brought.
Lee Ji-yong and his secretary worked together to procure sacrifices and purchase various items for additional preparations.
“Is this the last one?”
“Yes, if we offer these, it’ll be just right.”
“Hehehehe. Good, very good. Finally, it’s today.”
Thus, on the tenth day, after offering over forty sacrifices, the preparations were complete. The two men gazed at each other and smiled with bloodstained expressions.
Their faces bore no concern for failure. Instead, they were consumed by anticipation for what would unfold and the ecstasy of revenge, their faces twisted in mad, delighted grins.
Behind them, the Secretary watched silently, his dead expression betraying nothing as he adjusted his glasses.
Before long, they relocated to Shin Ju-ha’s Residence.
***
“Begin. Prepare yourselves.”
Lee Ji-yong issued commands to Nam Woo-i and the Secretary respectively. Nam Woo-i immediately stepped forward with a grin spreading across his face.
-Behold! Show this world the power of I, the damp worm that digs pits—Deriachs’s strength! The power to warp space and scatter curses!
Fortified by the consumption of forty lives, his enhanced power manifested.
Crack! Crunch! Snap!
Empty space twisted and warped under the force, expanding and contracting in rapid succession, until it transformed into a single expanse of darkness that swallowed the mansion before us whole.
〚Unique Ability: Damp Pit [Ancient-A+] LV 7〛
The ability of the demon Deriachs—a power that commanded space itself—had manifested upon this land. Though merely a unique ability that fell short of true divine authority, befitting a mid-tier demon, it wielded tremendous force through that ability alone.
A dungeon materialized. An artificial dungeon. His domain created by demonic power—the Damp Pit.
The pit consumed everything: Shin Ju-ha’s Residence on the surface and Shin Ju-ha himself.
“All you need do is enter.”
“Kekeke. Yes, let us go. Old man, commence.”
Lee Ji-yong and Nam Woo-i vanished into the artificial dungeon. Left alone, the Secretary activated the prepared perception-blocking barrier device, then habitually adjusted his glasses as he concealed himself within the darkness.
Thus, no one witnessed another puppet slipping into that dungeon.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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