Murim Login - Chapter 561

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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 561
Buzz.
A smartphone suddenly vibrated. I, Lim Hyuk-jun, and Skeleton King checked the screen in quick succession, each opening our mouths in turn.
“This is…”
“T-Tae-kyung!”
“Oho. Ohoho. Behold, you primitive humans. A girl group member has sent this magnificent being a direct message.”
“…”
“…”
That bastard really needs to lay off social media.
‘No wonder his phone rang when he’s not even in the group chat.’
I wanted nothing more than to stomp that illusion magic into oblivion, but that wasn’t the priority right now.
‘A girl group member… no, wait. Another situation like this?’
I swallowed my inner thoughts and fixed my gaze on the smartphone screen.
The group chat where I, Choi Team Leader, and the founding members of the Peace Guild had gathered. There, Song Song-i had urgently posted information.
〈 Peace Guild
Song Song-i
Guys guys guys
C-Rank Gate anomaly detected.
Just got word through the government hotline.
Mana levels are spiking.
Damn it; why aren’t you reading this.
If you’ve read it, respond. You psychos.
Kim Butler
My apologies. I am currently at the Blue House.
Song Song-i
Oh gosh I’m sorry;; I didn’t know it was you Kim Butler;;; Get to work…
Kim Butler
Yes. Have a wonderful day, Song-i.^^
Song Song-i
Huh. Everyone’s read it except one person?
If you’ve read this, get there as fast as you can and investigate.
I’m too far away and have things to handle, so I can’t go right now.
[Map attached]
?
Actually, I just checked and that Gate is a bit…
Just go check it out anyway.
Especially Jin Tae-kyung—respond immediately if you’ve read this.
‘The location?’
What kind of Gate was it that warranted such a reaction?
Setting aside my questions, I left a confirmation message in the group chat, and the moment I checked the attached map, I immediately understood why Song Song-i had reacted that way.
“Ah, well.”
The location was certainly… problematic, to say the least.
Lim Hyuk-jun, who had checked the map a beat too late, also hardened his expression.
“Tae-kyung. Could this be…”
“I’m sure it’s exactly what you’re thinking.”
The C-Rank Gate marked on the map was prime real estate in the Bucheon area, situated right in the station district, and it was precisely the kind of place where Hunters spoke of receiving genuine “luck.”
Monsters that appeared there were relatively easier to handle compared to other C-Rank Gates, and they dropped magic stones generously.
It was a Gate that neither Lim Hyuk-jun, who had spent over a decade as a Hunter in Bucheon alone, nor I could possibly be ignorant of.
Neither could we be unaware of the Guild that owned it.
“This is hardly welcome news…”
At the sight of Lim Hyuk-jun muttering in a low voice, Skeleton King, who had been fiddling with his smartphone, lifted his head.
“Humans, pray tell. What place causes you such consternation?”
I replied quietly.
“The location isn’t the problem. It’s the owner.”
“Hmm? The owner?”
“Yes.”
While Gates cannot be privately owned, mid-tier Guilds and above effectively act as proprietors through long-term lease agreements.
And the Guild that owns the C-Rank Gate at this address is known throughout South Korea—indeed, throughout the entire world.
“So who is the owner?”
To Skeleton King’s question, Lim Hyuk-jun delivered a terse reply.
“Ares Guild.”
In that instant, my gaze drifted toward his arms without my realizing it.
The arms that had been severed by someone’s command were now reattached as cleanly as if nothing had happened, yet they trembled faintly as if recalling old pain.
“Kkokjeong. Or rather… Elder Brother.”
“…I’m fine.”
A hollow answer.
The growing tremors in his body and the darkness in his expression were proof enough.
As if sensing the weight in my gaze, he forced his expression to brighten.
“I’m really fine. Besides, hurry and go. If the mana levels have skyrocketed, another mutated Gate might spawn.”
“…No. They’ll handle it themselves just fine.”
How could I possibly go? In this situation? And to help of all people—them.
Rooted to my spot, unable to move, Lim Hyuk-jun offered a faint smile.
“Tae-kyung.”
“Yes?”
“When I said I’m fine, I meant it. Those who cut off my arms back then—all of them, including Lee Jung-yong, have paid the price for their sins, and my rehabilitation training is nearly complete. These days, I spend time with my wife and watching the kids grow up, and it truly brings me happiness.”
“Elder Brother…”
“I’m really fine, so go. There are surely many good people in Ares Guild too. If you refuse to help for such a personal reason, you’ll regret it for years to come. The Tae-kyung I know isn’t that kind of person.”
“…!”
“I’d like to help too if I could, but that’s not possible. My rehabilitation isn’t complete, and fundamentally, my skills are lacking.”
I gazed quietly at Lim Hyuk-jun, who laughed with forced humor, then nodded slowly.
He was right. Those currently facing danger inside the Gate were not enemies of mine or the Peace Guild.
If I sensed danger and possessed the strength to save someone from it, stepping forward was the right choice.
‘That’s why I created the rescue team in the first place.’
Perhaps from the moment I obtained the system, my purpose has been predetermined.
I gave Lim Hyuk-jun a light nod of acknowledgment.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Right, don’t get hurt.”
“Hurry up and finish this, you wicked human. Then I’ll reward you with a selfie of this girl group member.”
I offered Skeleton King a warm smile as I spoke.
“Stop your nonsense and follow me quickly. Otherwise, I’ll smash your smartphone as punishment.”
“…Understood.”
I should have come out like this from the start. What a waste.
* * *
When I arrived at the C-Rank Gate marked on the map Song Song-i sent—the Orc’s Wasteland—the place was already filled with urgent voices and shouts.
“T-The mana levels have risen more than double the normal readings!”
“I know that already. What about the support request?”
“Ah, they say it hasn’t been approved yet!”
“Damn it, there should be people left at the Bucheon branch! The situation is urgent, so request them to send at least one A-Rank Hunter!”
“That’s… already been requested, but most A-Rank Hunters stationed in Bucheon are on overseas assignments, and some refused because they’re on vacation…”
“What? Vacation? They’re refusing because of vacation? You damn…”
It happened in an instant. A fist filled with rage struck the parked vehicle.
Crash!
With a thunderous sound, the foreign luxury car worth nearly a hundred million won crumpled, scattering large and small fragments everywhere.
It was at that exact moment when the flushed B-Rank Hunter, still seething with anger, noticed Skeleton King and me.
“Huh, I’m going crazy. No matter how urgent things are, this is too much. You people can’t even control personnel properly…”
Behind the trailing words, wide-open eyes followed.
“Huh? Wh-what? Wh-wh-what?”
Endless question marks flowed from between his lips, his gaze fixed on my face. Skeleton King let out a scoff and opened his mouth with a meaningful expression.
“Hehehehe. Yes, this human is that human.”
“…?”
I wasn’t even doing anything, so why was this bastard acting out?
I stared at Skeleton King with an uncomfortable look and let out a dry cough.
Everyone who had been bustling about suddenly froze, their eyes turning toward us.
“Ahem. In case there are those unfamiliar with me, I should introduce…”
“Jin Tae-kyung!”
“Holy shit!”
“Holy fucking shit!”
“…myself. But it seems that won’t be necessary.”
Well, it’s not for me to say, but if there’s a Hunter who doesn’t recognize my face by now, I’d suspect they’re a monster instead.
“I-Is that really Jin Tae-kyung?”
“N-No, that’s not the fake Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant….”
“It’s fine. That’s not what matters right now anyway.”
I turned to the B-Rank Hunter who had destroyed the car.
“From what I’ve seen, you seem to be in charge here. Am I right?”
“Y-Yes, that’s correct. I’m Kwak Han-gu, branch director of the Ares Guild’s Yeokgok division.”
Not even the Bucheon branch director—just one of dozens of sub-branch directors beneath that tier, and he was a B-Rank Hunter.
It really drove home the scale and talent pool of the Ares Guild. And one fact I’d momentarily overlooked.
‘Perhaps because of their public image, the atmosphere here isn’t as bad as I expected.’
The Ares Guild and I—and our Peace Guild—were bound by a history of conflict.
But that was all beneath the surface. To those unaware of these facts, the surface remained calm and serene.
In fact, the eyes of the Ares Guild members now gleamed with anticipation and goodwill.
‘Perhaps… I can grow stronger faster than Choi Team Leader anticipated.’
But right now, something more urgent demanded my attention.
I pushed aside the fleeting thought that crossed my mind and opened my mouth toward the branch director.
“Cut the pleasantries. Let’s get straight to the point.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Guild support is difficult right now, isn’t it? The Ares Guild handles more than just one or two Gates. You’re even deploying personnel overseas.”
“Yes?”
“Even if you sent people now, they’d arrive too late. That A-Rank Hunter bastard on vacation has his phone and pager turned off. And if the people here rush in recklessly, they’ll get slaughtered instead of rescuing anyone. That’s right, isn’t it?”
“W-We don’t know that….”
“Don’t play dumb. What you don’t know is how much longer the people inside can hold out.”
“Gasp.”
“It’s been fifteen minutes since the mana levels first spiked. Your team members could be dying in there right now.”
“W-Wait a moment.”
The B-Rank Hunter barely managed to cut me off, his voice trembling.
“I understand. I do. But… outside intervention would be a serious violation of guild policy.”
“And?”
“Both I and the other team members want to ask Tae-kyung right now. But we can’t. You already know why.”
I knew. Anyone active as a Hunter would know. How strict and rigid the Ares Guild’s rules were.
Lee Jung-yong had selected only the finest talents of each rank and locked them within the tall, massive walls of the guild. The fact that Hunters expelled from the Ares Guild were never accepted by any other guild wasn’t some vague urban legend.
“Sigh.”
“Damn it….”
Sighs and curses leaked out from various corners. Staring at the Ares Guild members, I suddenly spoke.
“One? Or two?”
“Excuse me? What do you….”
“I have a feeling two of them have already died while we’ve been hesitating.”
“T-Tae-kyung!”
“Hey, you measuring over there. What’s the mana reading now?”
A C-Rank Hunter who had been nervously gnawing at his nails in front of the measuring device let out a cry at my appearance.
“Three times! We’ve broken through three times the average mana output!”
“…!”
No one in this room was ignorant of what those words meant.
‘A mutated Gate.’
The third mutated Gate to erupt just a week after the new year began.
I clicked my tongue softly and fixed my gaze squarely on the branch director.
“What are you doing? Open it.”
“…!”
“I didn’t want to enter without the administrator’s consent since it’s illegal, but we need to save people, don’t we? Right? So just treat it as me barging in like a madman, and open it right now.”
My eyes squeezed shut. My clenched fists trembled slightly. As I turned away, leaving the silent branch director behind, a quavering voice spilled out from behind me.
“Let’s say I’ve given my consent.”
I thought he was an idiot, but at this rate, he’s crossed into the territory of a complete fool.
A faint laugh escaped me as I left one final remark and strode purposefully toward the Gate.
“If you get fired, let me know. The Peace Guild will take you in.”

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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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