Chapter 140. Another World

An Orc was kneeling before Kim Do-Joon. Unlike the monsters he usually encountered, there was no trace of the usual rage, hatred, or savage energy. The Orc still had its inherent ferocity, but it appeared more controlled, almost disciplined.

Kim Do-Joon decided to test the Orc, ordering it to sit, then stand, and even walk back and forth. It obeyed without hesitation as if following orders was the only thing it knew.

As he crossed his arms and gazed down at the creature, a thought suddenly struck him.

Can I even send it back?

When he had tried entering the portal himself, he had been rejected because it wasn’t his dimension or something.

Wouldn’t the Orc face the same problem?

"Try going through that portal," Kim Do-Joon instructed.

The Orc grunted and headed toward the portal.

Before it could pass through, Kim Do-Joon called out again, grabbing the Orc by the hand. "Ah, wait a second.”

He gave it an extra command. He then stood back and observed carefully.

Whoosh—

To his surprise, the Orc passed through without any issues. Kim Do-Joon touched the portal, testing it. However, just as before, his hand was repelled and the same message appeared.

Is it because I was born in this world, and the Orc was born in that labyrinth? If that were the case, would Siwelin and Jecheon Seong be able to pass through the portal as well?

He would have to test it later, but he doubted it. The Collapsed Temple, where Siwelin had been found; and the Sky Road, where Jecheon Seong originated, weren’t listed among the available labyrinths. According to the message, he also didn’t own those dimensions, which likely meant that they, too, would be barred from entering.

"Kurruk."

“

Krrr...

”

The Orc returned shortly after, with another Orc this time. The two knelt and bowed their heads before Kim Do-Joon.

Well, that's useful to know.

The fact that the Orc had returned with a companion as instructed proved that his control over the Orcs remained intact even if they crossed back to their original world.

The discovery made Kim Do-Joon think about the others under his command—Fuad, Jamel, the Mahal Tribe elders, and even Shura. They were likely still under the influence of the same binding power. Therefore, Kim Do-Joon made a mental note to ask them later.

The Orcs, being less intelligent, didn’t seem aware of what was happening. However, those with higher intelligence likely understood the binding effect.

To test the Orcs further, Kim Do-Joon gave them more commands. Both followed his orders without question, proving that the first Orc wasn’t an exception. At one point, he even told them to fight each other. They snarled and leaped at one another with murderous intent, forcing Kim Do-Joon to intervene quickly before they tore each other apart.

They're so compelled that they'll even fight their own kind...

He felt that he had gathered enough information for now.

Can I use them in battle?

The thought intrigued him enough to try it out in a real fight. Kim Do-Joon rubbed his chin, contemplating the possibilities.

Maybe I should test them in a lower-level dungeon...

Considering the Orcs' Compatibility, he wanted to experiment with the skeletons from the Catacomb and the snakes from the Elemental Island. After pondering for a moment, he decided that a C-rank dungeon would be the perfect testing ground.

As it so happened, Kim Do-Joon had already been in contact with Son Chang-Il about forming a guild. Checking his phone, which he had left in the basement, he found a message waiting for him.

Son Chan-Il: I’ve handled all the necessary procedures. Can you bring everyone by the Association at least once? We need to create new identities for those two.

Kim Do-Joon replied to thank him. The guild creation process was moving along faster than expected, which was only natural since the Association was well aware of Siwelin and Jecheon Seong’s abilities. They wouldn’t oppose granting them legal status, especially with South Korea’s power weakened after Ko Cheong-Cheon’s departure.

Once I establish the guild, I can claim dungeons under its name.

That way, he wouldn’t need to rely on other guilds, avoiding the need to expose his power over monsters in front of others.

"You two, go back," Kim Do-Joon commanded the Orcs.

The Orcs respectfully bowed.

“

Kuruk...

”

“

Krrr...

”

Kim Do-Joon added, "Establish your base near the spot where the portal appeared. Gather as many comrades as you can, but don’t overdo it."

The Orcs pounded their chests in acknowledgment. They then lumbered back into the portal and disappeared into their labyrinth once more. Kim Do-Joon waved his hand, and the glowing ring of the portal shrank and vanished.

Now, it was just a matter of finalizing the guild, claiming a suitable dungeon, and testing the Orcs in actual combat.

He also wanted to experiment with the skeletons and snakes, though. There were also the Nagas and the Mahal Tribe, both of whom possessed intelligence far beyond ordinary monsters, and his promise to Vulcanus.

There’s so much to do...

He wasn’t lying when he told Ashunaga he was busy.

For now, though, Kim Do-Joon reached into his inventory and pulled out the purple shard.

[???]

First, he had to confirm with Siwelin about the Mahal Tribe, their divine power, and the Immortal Army.

***

—Welcome back.

Siwelin greeted him with her usual bright smile. As always, her warmth was disarming, but Kim Do-Joon couldn’t shake the tension creeping up inside him. What he was about to say could evoke a reaction he wasn’t sure how to handle.

He took a deep breath.

"Do you have a moment?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

She tilted her head in confusion but soon nodded in agreement. They sat across from each other at the kitchen table. Kim Do-Joon felt oddly stiff, and Siwelin noticed it too, which made her curious.

Where do I even begin?

After a brief moment of silence, he finally opened, “I recently entered a new labyrinth and encountered a tribe there.”

Siwelin listened, though her expression grew more puzzled with every word.

“They had deer-like antlers, and they called themselves the Mahal Tribe.”

Her expression remained blank, her confusion deepening. Clearly, she didn't know anything about the tribe or its people.

"Have you ever heard of a tribe like that?"

She slowly shook her head. He had learned that Siwelin was well-educated in the geography and history of her world. As a saintess, she had even traveled across the continent several times. As such, the Mahal Tribe likely didn’t exist in her world, or they were a secluded, hidden people.

—Why do you ask?

Instead of responding immediately, Kim Do-Joon opened his inventory. Then, he pulled out Shura’s bracelet and placed it on the table.

As soon as the bracelet caught her eye, Siwelin’s expression changed drastically. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat.

“This was given to me by one of the Mahal Tribe. They said their people are born with the same kind of power that’s in this bracelet,” Kim Do-Joon explained.

With a trembling hand, Siwelin reached out and picked up the bracelet. Her normally calm demeanor had been broken.

At that moment, Kim Do-Joon deduced that the power of the Mahal Tribe’s blessing was the same as her divine energy.

"Let me explain what happened," Kim Do-Joon said, finally diving into the heart of the matter.

He began to recount the events in detail, including his encounter with the Mahal Tribe, the strange, undead monsters that reminded him of the Immortal Army, and the battle with the terrifying five-horned beast. He even showed her the purple shard labeled with question marks.

Siwelin’s expression darkened at the sight of the shard, and her eyes filled with emotions he had never seen before. Where there had been wistfulness when she examined Shura’s bracelet, now there was something darker, almost like hatred, directed at the shard.

When Kim Do-Joon finished his story, Siwelin just sat in silence, looking back and forth between the bracelet and the shard. Then, slowly, she closed her eyes. He said nothing so as not to push her; he simply waited, allowing her the space to process everything on her own.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally opened her eyes. They still trembled slightly.

—It seems God has created a new world.

When the Immortal Army ravaged the continent and the world was pushed to the brink of destruction—beyond salvation—God forsook it and never looked back.

God only glanced at the ruined world again when Kim Do-Joon appeared before Siwelin, long after the continent had been reduced to dust. She had long since become a ghoul by then.

What could God do after losing their world?

God must have created another one. The Mahal Tribe, blessed with divine power from birth, could be part of that new world—a world that God had crafted in a way that avoided repeating past mistakes.

Siwelin had no evidence to back her claim, but it made sense. If true, it explained the existence of a race that she had never heard of yet shared her divine power.

For Siwelin, the realization hit hard. She had fought tirelessly in that tiny temple, struggling alongside her comrades in hopes of salvation. However, while she had been waiting desperately for a miracle, her god had already moved on, creating a new home.

Seeing the overwhelming sadness in her eyes, Kim Do-Joon couldn’t bring himself to speak.

What can I say to comfort her?

Kim Do-Joon couldn't come up with anything. In the end, all he could do was stay by her side. He quietly got up, filled the kettle, and turned it on. Silence permeated the kitchen, broken only by the gentle boiling of water. Once the tea was ready, he placed a warm cup in front of Siwelin.

With her guard momentarily down, she blinked and looked up at him in surprise. After taking a small sip of the fragrant tea, her tense expression softened. Kim Do-Joon could not tell what conclusions she had reached in her heart.

Has she come to resent the god who had abandoned her? Or has she found it within herself to forgive even that?

Watching her face relax, he could already guess. Their quiet tea time eventually came to an end, yet her loathful gaze still lingered on the shard of cursed energy on the table.

—There was a time when we researched the Immortal Army relentlessly.

. Back when the church was still standing, it desperately tried to understand the nature of the Immortal Army, hoping to find some way to stop the corruption that ravaged the land. Though their efforts were in vain and the church crumbled, Siwelin had not forgotten everything she had learned.

—I once read something about gods and their opposites in an ancient tome. The book was so outrageous that most people dismissed it as fiction.

Kim Do-Joon looked puzzled.

In a world where God existed and the Immortal Army roamed freely, what could possibly be considered too far-fetched?

"What was it about?" Kim Do-Joon asked, his curiosity piqued.

—Their names.

Siwelin’s tone turned grim. It was about the Holy Spirit Lord and the Death Spirit Lord—the names of her god and the evil god who stalked them, as she described it.

***

In the Association's office, President Son Chang-Il sat across from Gao Lin, China’s top Hunter and one of the strongest in the world. The large, imposing man had broad shoulders and tied-back long hair. Moreover, he exuded an air of unshakable confidence.

"I'm afraid I haven't been able to reach him," Son Chang-Il said apologetically.

"How is that possible? Aren’t you the head of this Association? How can you not reach him?" Gao Lin’s disbelief was evident.

This situation would’ve been unthinkable in China, whose Association was a pillar of power staffed only with the most elite Hunters and guild leaders. In such a center of control, not even an S-rank Hunter could go unaccounted for.

"Things work differently here," Son Chang-Il replied calmly. "Kim Do-Joon often goes off to remote areas for training. When he does, he cuts off all contact with the outside world. There’s nothing I can do about it."

It could be seen as a point of embarrassment, but Son Chang-Il felt no shame. He knew all too well how corrupt and problematic China’s centralized power structure could be. By contrast, the smaller, more manageable size of South Korea’s Association was something he was proud of.

If anything, today's situation was fortunate. Kim Do-Joon’s habit of disappearing for training had unexpectedly become a convenient excuse.

Thanks to him, I can get out of this without much fuss.

Son Chang-Il smiled. After all, how could anyone argue against the truth? He thought that Gao Lin would grow impatient in a few days and eventually leave.

Gao Lin was a busy man, after all. A top Hunter like him could not afford to waste too much time waiting around.

Feeling relieved, Son Chang-Il was taking a leisurely sip of his coffee when his phone buzzed on the table. He had left it there after Gao Lin insisted he call Kim Do-Joon earlier, knowing it would go unanswered.

However, it now displayed a new message.

Kim Do-Joon: I'm back. Thanks for looking after things while I was gone...

Son Chang-Il’s heart sank as he quickly snatched the phone off the table, trying to hide it before Gao Lin could notice. However, it was too late.

"Ah, so he is back," Gao Lin said with a grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Son Chang-Il sighed and covered his face with one hand.