Murim Login - Chapter 407

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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 407
Daniel Inoue was a Japanese-American.
Once a Navy SEALs operative, he had awakened as an A-rank Hunter at thirty years old, and after his discharge, he joined a private military company where he fully utilized his abilities.
Mercenary work suited Inoue’s temperament well enough. He had to spend half the year in conflict zones across the Middle East and Africa, but the compensation was enormous and he enjoyed extended periods of rest.
His participation in the Monster Wave that erupted in China followed a similar logic.
“Hey, Ninja. What’s on your mind?”
At his colleague’s abrupt question, Inoue’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Shut it, Sam. Aren’t you tired of that ninja nonsense?”
“So what? By now you should be used to it.”
“I’m sick of it. You try being called a ninja and samurai since you were seven years old. I think I’m losing my mind.”
“Why? I think it’d be cool.”
“Damn Yankee bastard.”
“Thanks for the compliment. I’m a Yankees fan anyway.”
A compact-framed Caucasian man chuckled at Inoue’s grumbling.
“Just accept it already. At this point, it’s destiny. Your abilities are completely ninja-like anyway.”
“…Damn it.”
Inoue muttered a soft curse under his breath.
As his colleague said, the abilities he’d been granted upon awakening were optimized for concealment.
Thanks to that, he’d become a specialist in intelligence gathering and VIP assassination, but the ninja image had completely solidified around him.
“Your girlfriend’s pregnant, right? How about naming the baby Naruto?”
Inoue raised his middle finger at his persistently teasing colleague.
“If you name your son Sasuke, I’ll think about it.”
“Oh, that’s not bad?”
Stifled laughter leaked out from those around them at the two men’s exchange.
As the atmosphere, which had been rigid just moments before, loosened, Inoue and his colleague exchanged subtle smiles with each other.
The two had been in perfect sync for years now. The conversation just now was almost a comedy routine meant to ease the tension before the operation began.
‘Excessive tension only leads to careless mistakes.’
Combat was the same, but intelligence operations like this were even more so.
No communications, no magic in this unknown land. And the opponent wasn’t some stupid, brutal rebel leader, but the Arch Lich that had triggered an unprecedented Monster Wave.
‘No matter how favorable the situation, complacency is forbidden.’
Inoue, who had been thinking this over, opened his mouth to address the twenty intelligence operatives.
“Alright, from now on we’ll split into pairs of two and infiltrate. Hand signals only for communication, and if things get urgent, fire your flares. You’ve all thoroughly memorized your destinations and routes, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then… let’s meet back here in three hours. Dismissed.”
At Inoue’s words signaling the start of the operation, the intelligence operatives nodded and scattered in all directions. Sam, his partner, watched them disappear silently and swiftly, then gestured with his chin.
“Ready to move out, Ninja?”
“Yeah. You comfortable bastard Yankee.”
“Don’t be like that. You’re the best. In three hours, you’ll be back after finding out what color underwear the Arch Lich is wearing.”
“…I really hope that’s the case.”
Inoue exhaled a quiet sigh and took his first step. The pale mist blanketing all of Suining City wrapped around his entire body with damp coldness.
* * *
The relentless advance of the five fronts finally ground to a halt.
Two hundred kilometers from Suining City, where the Arch Lich held dominion, a familiar face appeared before us as we regrouped and rested.
“Korean friends, how have you been?”
I sensed a considerable surge of energy rippling through the air—unmistakably Magic Johnson. I bumped fists with him in greeting.
“Getting by, more or less.”
“Jin. My lovely Miracle Boy. I’ve missed you.”
“I appreciate it, but could you drop the ‘lovely’ part?”
“Fine then, Crazy Boy it is. You did pull off some insane stunts, after all.”
Magic Johnson chuckled, his laughter booming.
“Though I’d call them heroic acts, honestly. Choi here deserves the same credit.”
Choi Team Leader, who had been meticulously maintaining the Soul of a Hero, gave a small bow.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Johnson.”
“Choi, don’t be so stiff. It kills the vibe.”
“…!”
“…!”
“Though I suppose the atmosphere is already—”
Magic Johnson burst into hearty laughter.
At this point, it was clear he genuinely enjoyed our reactions. For someone his size, he had an unexpected playful streak.
Well, by now we all understood that everything was a game to him.
Even Choi Team Leader, who always seemed to be doing Kegel exercises whenever Magic Johnson showed up, let out a soft chuckle before asking.
“But what brings you here?”
“An emergency summons from Supreme Command. It’s an important matter.”
I suddenly furrowed my brow and muttered.
“Something feels off about this. Haven’t we seen this plot development before?”
“Don’t worry, Jin. It won’t be like last time.”
Last time referred to the situation where our main base had been devastated while the S-rank Hunters were away from their posts.
Though with the fronts now compressed so tightly together, even if we all gathered, we’d practically be touching elbows, so it should be manageable this time.
‘The fact that they’re not using communications must mean this is serious business.’
With each successive victory by the Allied Forces and the monsters’ continued retreat, the Arch Lich’s domain had shrunk to Suining City itself, and from our current position, both communications and magic functioned without issue.
“Do you know what this is about?”
“No. But I’d stake my life on it—it’s not going to be pleasant news.”
“….”
Please, don’t stake your life on such grim predictions. Give us a little hope, would you?
But Magic Johnson, ever the confident one, extended his hands toward Choi Team Leader and me.
“Anyway, everyone’s already gathered. You two are the last to arrive.”
“Then we’re in your hands, Mr. Johnson.”
Choi Team Leader grasped his hand without hesitation, while I, having already experienced Magic Johnson’s brand of teleportation, grabbed his fingers with my eyelids already trembling.
“Please ensure a safe trip… KYAAAAAAHHHHH!”
Whoooooosh.
My entire body felt crushed like a beverage can as I was hurled into a new space.
“Gaaahhhhh….”
“….”
“….”
Damn it. Of all places, why here?
A dozen pairs of eyes stared at me in silence. Faced with the bewildered gazes of S-rank Hunters and high-ranking Chinese generals, I stopped screaming and quietly took an empty seat.
“Shall we begin the meeting?”
Wei Penghu, the Defense Minister who had been momentarily at a loss for words, finally spoke.
「Then let us commence the meeting.」
The central focus of the ensuing meeting was singular: the intelligence brought back by the sole survivor of the reconnaissance team.
「Daniel Inoue, who led the reconnaissance team, escaped Suining City in eight hours—well beyond the scheduled operation time—and reported discovering a monster army numbering approximately thirty thousand.」
Thirty thousand….
It was an enormous force, certainly, but one that fell well within our anticipated range.
The Arch Lich’s monster army had been retreating relentlessly since its defeat a week prior, suffering catastrophic losses in the process.
“Judging by the Defense Minister’s expression, that doesn’t seem to be all of it.”
Among those gathered here, few could address Wei Penghu with such casual familiarity.
And Lee Jung-yong, setting aside our personal feelings, was certainly one who had earned that right.
「You speak truly, Lee. The estimate of thirty thousand is based solely on direct observation, but the actual number…」
“Could be double, or perhaps even more.”
「Indeed.」
“…Hmm.”
Sighs escaped from various corners of the room. I had suspected they might have reserves held back for a final stand, but not to this extent.
Wei Penghu continued with a grave expression.
「However, the majority of these monsters are likely mid to low-rank. That much, at least, is some consolation.」
「We face the same situation, Wei Penghu.」
At Faye Chen’s quiet remark as she tilted her glass, Prince Felix Alexander Louis nodded in agreement.
「That’s right. Though we’ve received more reinforcements than anticipated, we cannot afford to be certain of victory.」
「Damn it all. These monsters—you kill them and kill them, yet they never end.」
At Wu Hei-xing’s grumbling, I couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.
「Why are you laughing?」
“Because it’s funny, you fool.”
「What?」
“Anyone listening would think you fought incredibly hard. You—the same one who tried to take a detour a week ago during the monster army attack because you were afraid it might be dangerous to go early.”
“…!”
His expression was worth seeing.
He must not have realized it, but Wu Hei-xing’s shameful conduct had already spread as gossip across every front line.
“I know you’ve suffered too, but don’t whine in front of me or others. It irritates me to watch.”
「Ugh…!」
“Are you a street vendor? Why do you keep making that sound?”
Wu Hei-xing’s face flushed crimson as his body tensed as if he might charge at me, but that was the extent of what he could do.
The painful memory of defeat lingers long.
A hothouse flower that has been cherished by others its entire life will wither at the slightest cold wind.
Of course, there are flowers of an entirely different kind.
For instance… like Choi Team Leader sitting beside me right now.
“Both of you, that’s enough.”
Wu Hei-xing glared at Choi Team Leader, who restrained them with a calm voice.
“Are you giving me an order right now?”
“If that’s how you’ve taken it, I regret that, Wu Hei-xing.”
“You…”
Seeing Choi Team Leader respond without flinching at his overwhelming presence, Wu Hei-xing shot to his feet.
Or rather, he tried to.
“Sit.”
“…!”
His body froze solid under the piercing aura I unleashed like a blade.
The other S-rank Hunters’ eyes widened in shock as they looked at me.
I glanced at Lee Jung-yong’s darkened gaze before continuing.
“In case there’s any misunderstanding—that was an order.”
“You, you…!”
“Sit. This is the last time I’m saying it.”
Whoooosh!
Wu Hei-xing’s lower lip trembled as the wave of killing intent crashed down upon him.
Perhaps he was among the geniuses even within the Murim.
No, that’s right. Becoming an S-rank Hunter in his thirties would be impossible without that level of talent backing him.
‘But he’s only half-baked.’
Awakening is unearned fortune. He was blessed with extraordinary abilities and mana the moment he turned twenty, as if he’d won the lottery.
And on top of that, accumulating internal energy like those from the Murim and mastering supreme martial arts?
Well… if he were to master martial arts, it would supplement his technical aspects, but he’ll surely fall away before reaching that point.
His effort and willpower are third-rate compared to the talents he possesses.
“That’s enough.”
It was Lee Jung-yong’s soft, deep voice that shattered the tense atmosphere.
The old serpent, well past sixty yet appearing middle-aged, gazed at me with an amused expression.
“I thought you’d only grown in skill, but your killing intent has deepened as well.”
I met his gaze with an expressionless look and replied.
“Rolling around here and there tends to cultivate a certain venom.”
“I’ve heard the Western Front was particularly fierce.”
“That’s not inaccurate. The Western Front—care to ask?”
“I’ll respectfully decline. If it was that fierce, only three would have survived.”
“…!”
“The older you get, the more fearful you become—that’s my problem. Hehe.”
The blood in my entire body ran cold.
The horrific battlefield of that day flashed before my eyes, and somewhere along the way, a faint smile had settled on my lips.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Instead of our own forces turning against each other, let’s focus on something more productive. I think we should discuss countermeasures for the final battle. Jin Tae-kyung, what are your thoughts?”
I tapped the armrest of my chair softly.
My insides twisted, but Lee Jung-yong’s words hit the mark.
He was right. Now was the time to deal with the battle looming right before us.
And one thought emerged in my mind.
“A suicide squad.”
“A suicide squad?”
All eyes turned toward me. Some nodded in agreement, while others looked uncertain.
But my reason and instinct were speaking to me.
This was the best way to minimize casualties and achieve victory.
“We gather our elite and strike at the head.”
Once the Arch Lich is destroyed, the undead legion will crumble.

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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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