Chapter 303

〈Chapter 303〉 Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 20

While the Illusory Dragon was being cleaned, I entered the secret room. Strangely, no alarm bells rang, and there was Bonghyo in the room, wiping away sticky liquid from a dozen cores.

“What brings you here at this hour…?”

“I’ve come to pick up some cores.”

“Is that so? Well timed.”

Bonghyo took off his gloves and lifted up a cardboard box sitting beside him. It looked like it once held eggs with cute chicken characters on it, but now each compartment held a core of Black Sand.

“Thanks to Rasputin, we’ve got ten A-Rank cores here. Fresh out today!”

“Are cores supposed to be like eggs?”

“At least we can guarantee this level of production. Thanks to Phoenix Sir providing us with Rasputin’s…you know what, we’re almost getting one SS-Rank core daily. The overall quality has improved too.”

“…That’s good news then.”

I turned my head towards the bed where Black Sand lay sleeping peacefully. It seemed the reason Illusory Dragon was playing around with Rasputin’s goods was to give Black Sand some rest.

“Is today’s production done?”

“Yes. After many trials and errors, we realized producing with proper exercise and sleep yields better results than running non-stop for 24 hours.”

“…Seems Black Sand has become livestock.”

Has Black Sand even been assigned working hours now? Looks like a system ensuring rest after diligent work is in place.

“So they just laze around now?”

“Not exactly. Accepting Rasputin takes eight hours, and members of the Illusory Dragon Group take turns resting. And our friend seems to enjoy this pace.”

“Of course. The mind follows the body, after all. Thanks, Bonghyo.”

“…No need to thank me.”

Though unexpected, I truly was grateful. Even though the S-Rank cores I obtained last time are gone, thanks to him, I secured a decent amount of A-Rank cores.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to take good care of these.”

“No need to thank me. Isn’t it all thanks to Phoenix Sir that I get to live happily like this? Haha.”

Baeg Cheongyoung clicked his fingers lightly.

“What did you burn this time?”

“Oh, various reasons. Wait, this time?”

“I already know about the National Assembly burning incident. Hehe.”

As expected, this guy is troublesome. Yet, killing him would be such a waste of talent. Besides, assisting Illusory Dragon like this makes him somewhat useful.

“Oh, by the way. Since you’re here, I have two things to tell you.”

“Hearing them will probably just add to my stress, won’t it?”

“One concerns the Son of Heaven, the other Seoul.”

“I don’t care about the Son of Heaven. Tell me about Seoul.”

Even if the Son of Heaven gets compromised, I don’t care. What could Baeg Cheongyoung possibly have to say about Seoul?

“Hmm. Due to Phoenix Sir making Seoul such a great place to live, it seems people worldwide are flocking here.”

“Even New Seoul is packed with people trying to move in.”

“That’s…”

Baeg Cheongyoung bit his lips, looking quite troubled.

“Stowing away on ships is child’s play now. Lately, there have been frequent cases of people building their own rafts or swimming across the sea to reach Seoul. We expect a large influx of foreign refugees soon.”

This added considerable weight to my steps as I prepared to return to India with several A-Rank cores and Callipera.

* * *

My wings felt as heavy as a thousand pounds returning from China.

‘If only refugees didn’t start showing up now.’

It made sense why more people were gathering in Seoul. Though I’m technically a villain, I reside here as the world’s strongest. Plus, Architect’s power is rapidly developing Seoul. Eventually, facilities capable of accommodating more than ten million people will be built.

‘But we can’t just turn away refugees.’

They risk their lives escaping the threat of monsters. While it might seem ideal to only accept talented individuals and reject the rest, doing so would create significant backlash later.

‘All humans outside our territory might turn into aberrants.’

Under Seongju’s direct influence, these aberrants could go berserk. Carrying the Boatman, Seongju releases a virus turning all humanity into aberrants. Only SS-Rank or S-Rank individuals spreading an invisible barrier of magic power can somewhat counteract this.

In the original story, around five hundred million people became aberrants. Though Seongju used extreme methods, resulting in an exaggerated number, the count remains staggering.

‘Aberrants are born consuming humanity’s negative emotions—hatred, fear, jealousy, greed, etc. Most become villains, affecting even the refugees outside the city in the late stages, leading Earth to near apocalypse.’

‘Yet, we can’t just block them all.’

Otherwise, one heroine wouldn’t be able to enter Korea. Su Ri, a gypsy maiden seeking refuge after multiple attempts at illegal immigration across Southwest Asia, enters Korea precisely as a refugee.

“I should set up a camp upon return.”

The refugees arriving in Seoul will join the Blue Wind Sect to fight monsters on the frontlines. Without such resolve, they won’t survive when Seoul turns into hell within five years—or sooner.

“Really, there’s not enough time…”

I must immediately capture Yasha and Kinna-ra.

Hiding my body from the sun to avoid detection by Indian Air Force radars, I landed on Baegnaroh.

* * *

Upon my return, I was greeted by countless sheets of paper. Heroes handed over their drawn suits, and as I received them, I subtly turned my head toward Phantom.

“Did you explain everything properly?”

“Yeah. Told them we can make armor like this.”

Phantom held up the veil I left behind. The white coat worn by Phantom was currently being intensely studied by the heroes.

“So this coat is made from grinding A-Rank cores…?”

“Can we do something similar?”

Usa and Pungbaek scrutinized Phantom’s coat before asking me. Looking at the suit designs they handed over made me smirk.

“You guys, aren’t you actually just interested in this name?”

“……”

They remained silent. Fitting their status as mythical beings, Usa and Pungbaek’s designs resembled those worn by priests who served Heaven. Though their drawing skills were atrocious, through the magical energy embedded in the paper, I could visualize what they wanted.

“How can you not feel embarrassed receiving help from a villain?”

“Where in the world does a villain equip heroes?”

“That’s true. Moreover, isn’t this a free gift? Surely, pressing a button could make the armor explode, right?”

“Surely not.”

Though I felt slightly pricked, I had no intention of pulling such tricks. This equipment is provided in good faith and will make raids against S-Rank monsters easier.

“By the way, black base with blue accents, please.”

“…Isn’t that completely the color scheme of the Blue Wind Sect?”

“It wasn’t intentional. The color of the clothing depends on the core. All the cores I’m using as raw materials are like this.”

I opened the egg carton I carried. Each slot gleamed with fresh A-Rank cores, shocking Executioner the most.

“Where did you get these?!?”

“I said China. How I got them is a secret.”

If they knew about Black Sand, trust in me among the heroes would hit rock bottom. Letting them believe in a mysterious benefactor works much better.

“So, roughly two per person…”

I pulled out ten A-Rank cores. Dividing them appropriately: two for Hwakwon, two for Pungbaek, two for Usa, two for Gongsung, leaving two extra. It fit perfectly.

“What about me?!”

Tempest Lady waved her paper design angrily. However, I neither accepted her all-out effort design nor allocated her a core.

“Not until your debt for breaking the door is settled.”

“A-are you mad because I broke the door to get in?”

“Yes.”

I shrugged and pointed at each hero. Despite sensing my magical energy, they harbored caution but not intense hostility towards me.

“Why would I give anything good to someone I dislike?”

From the beginning, Tempest Lady showed not only prejudice but also hostility towards me. Despite needing to cooperate against interdimensional spirits, she openly displayed animosity towards me. Was helping her really necessary?

“Blue Wind Sect Master, please. Tempest Lady followed Guangjian very closely, hence…”

“Oh, that’s right. She had a huge crush on him, following him around like a little puppy, tsk tsk!”

“N-no! Who says I followed Guangjian?”

Tempest Lady blushed furiously, throwing a tantrum. Other heroes teased her while I tilted my head, confused by information different from what I knew.

“…Were you not married to Mapo?”

At my question, Tempest Lady’s jaw dropped. I instantly realized:

“Ah, I spoiled it.”

“Kekeke! After causing such a ruckus saying no, you ended up marrying him anyway!”

“H-how can I accept such a future?! Why would I marry that guy?!”

“Sorry. I forgot how old the twins are since it’s been five years. I thought you were already married. My apologies! Puhehe.”

Tempest Lady froze. Feeling sorry, I took out two cores from my pocket.

“This is an apology. It’s yours.”

“…….”

Shocked by the spoiler, Tempest Lady couldn’t even think about taking the cores. Was it really that shocking to reunite with her ex-boyfriend after ten years of on-and-off dating and get married?

“…Anyway, we’re teammates now, so let’s bury personal issues for now. Don’t attack me from behind saying you hate me. If you do, I might snap and kill you.”

“…….”

I took Tempest Lady’s design. She still had confidence in her figure, opting for a tight bodysuit.

Next were Hwakwon and Gongsung. They willingly handed over their designs. Gongsung’s was extremely simple, but Hwakwon’s was blank.

“What’s this? Not interested?”

“…No, I couldn’t decide.”

“Didn’t you have thirty minutes?”

“Yes.”

Hwakwon scratched his head sheepishly. Unlike Tempest Lady’s outright refusal, he genuinely seemed unable to decide, submitting a blank sheet.

“Alright, I’ll handle yours.”

With that, core distribution for the five was complete. As I gathered the papers, Phantom nudged my side.

“What about us?”

“Us?”

Phantom indicated himself, Executioner, and Unsah. They tried to hide it, but they clearly expected something.

“Don’t we get anything?”

“……Puhehe.”

I chuckled, fishing my fingers into my pocket.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

Each finger joint held an S-Rank core produced by Black Sand.

“Isn’t this discrimination…?”

Usa, sensing the cores’ magical energy, looked dumbfounded, but I found it equally absurd.

“You guys are bonuses.”

“……”

Considering I barely gave them A-Rank cores despite planning to overlook them, it was generous enough.

“Executioner, how much longer until Kolkata?”

“Just one hour left.”

We had plenty of time. I focused on creating equipment for the heroine and other heroes before the boss battle, aiming to enhance everyone’s gear before the final showdown.

‘Updating equipment before a boss fight is basic.’