Chapter 184. Why?

Two months had passed. Kim Do-Joon soared above Seoul on the back of the Shadow Dragon. It took a while to locate Ushas despite Kim Do-Joon’s effort. As Alcyone had said, the earth was so large.

In the meantime, Kim Do-Joon had traveled across the globe, exterminating every insect that had infested the flowers. The moment he succeeded, the world erupted in cheers. The two months of hellish effort were finally over. Countries were now focused on recovery, each pursuing their own reconstruction projects.

—Hey, Mr. Kim! Grab that side!

—Got it!

Seoul was no exception. The streets below were a chaotic mosaic of bustling activity. Construction sites sprawled across the city, with workers repairing buildings. Even some shopkeepers had already reopened their stores.

Listening to the noise of hammering and clanging, Kim Do-Joon headed somewhere. His destination was the temporary Association headquarters.

“He’s here!”

“

Whoa!

So that’s the summoned creature? This is my first time seeing it in person.”

A crowd had gathered at the Association building. The event, organized by Chairman Son Chang-Il, had drawn reporters, as well as citizens and representatives of various organizations.

Son Chang-Il rushed out to greet Kim Do-Joon, “Hey.”

One of Korea’s most powerful figures in the Hunter industry running barefoot to welcome someone was a rare sight indeed.

Though Son Chang-Il had always treated Kim Do-Joon with respect, today he went even further.

The global undead outbreak had been a catastrophe that transcended borders. Unlike the Giant Woodland incident or the Shanghai incident, this disaster directly affected civilians worldwide.

The man who resolved it couldn’t be confined to a mere domestic title of authority.

“We’ve prepared everything. Now that you’re here, we can start immediately.”

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Thank you for everything. I see no reason to delay, so let’s begin.”

Following Son Chang-Il’s lead, Kim Do-Joon headed to the event hall.

The event itself wasn’t complicated. It was a fundraising and compensation ceremony for the victims, aimed at rebuilding the damaged lands. Many renowned Hunters had already gathered, lending their support.

During the proceedings, Son Chang-Il leaned in and whispered to Kim Do-Joon, “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, things would’ve been far worse.”

Kim Do-Joon shook his head. “I only did what had to be done.”

He had always been frugal, spending little on himself aside from purchasing a modest home after becoming a Hunter. Even then, the house was relatively inexpensive compared to Gangnam’s luxury buildings, and had been a drop in the ocean compared to his income. After all, he needed as much money as possible for rare elixirs like the Golden Divine Elixir and the Fire Elixir.

But this time, he had chosen to devote his resources to this cause. Besides, he no longer needed to save up. When the time came, he could use his enhanced power to heal his daughter.

“Your leadership has inspired countless others to join.”

“I doubt that. Many would have come forward regardless of me.”

“Do-Joon... haven’t you ever heard that being overly modest can come across as disingenuous?”

Kim Do-Joon fell silent at the remark.

Of course, he was fully aware of his global renown. With news channels broadcasting his achievements nonstop and his phone ringing off the hook, it was impossible to remain oblivious. He had even purchased a separate phone just for work.

While the two were having a conversation, the ceremony proceeded efficiently. Being mindful of the busy schedules of its attendees, the meeting proceeded with only the most concise formalities.

And then, it was his turn to speak.

—Now, let's welcome our hero, the savior of the nation. No, the savior of the world, Hunter Kim Do-Joon!

However, he was introduced with a line that made his fingers twitch with secondhand embarrassment. He furrowed his brow and gave an awkward smile, only to hear a stifled chuckle from beside him. It was Son Chang-Il, covering his mouth to suppress his laughter.

Kim Do-Joon shot him a sharp glare before rising from his seat.

"I’ve taken your advice about not being too humble to heart," Kim Do-Joon remarked dryly as he walked past Son Chang-Il, who became puzzled.

Then, Kim Do-Joon climbed the podium and began his speech.

"First, I’d like to thank everyone here for coming together today..."

He delivered the speech smoothly, sticking to the points they had pre-approved.

Son Chang-Il tilted his head as he watched. What was he planning? So far, everything was exactly as rehearsed...

Kim Do-Joon wrapped up the prepared remarks just as they prepared together, and the host stepped forward to move on to the next part of the program.

However, before stepping down, Kim Do-Joon spoke again, "Before I leave, there’s something I must emphasize. This project involves many organizations and corporations. Donations will go toward helping victims and rebuilding damaged infrastructure."

His tone shifted, becoming deeper and more serious. The room, which had been mildly attentive, fell into absolute silence. From behind him, a colossal Shadow Dragon, displayed like a living statue for dramatic effect, slowly rose to its feet.

The atmosphere transformed. All eyes fixed on Kim Do-Joon as the gigantic dragon loomed over him, its presence suffocating and commanding. The cameras clicked furiously, capturing the scene of Kim Do-Joon standing firmly before the imposing creature.

"If anyone dares misuse these funds," Kim Do-Joon declared, his voice cutting through the still air, "I will hunt them down to the ends of the earth and make them pay.”

The dragon let out a low growl, its wings flexing ominously, magnifying Kim Do-Joon’s silent threat by a hundredfold.

With that, Kim Do-Joon descended from the stage and exited the room, leaving an air of stunned silence behind him. No one doubted him. Everyone in that hall knew he had the power to make good on his promise. With debts owed to him by governments worldwide, including the United States and China, there was no corner of the globe beyond his reach.

After a moment, a single clap broke the silence. It was Son Chang-Il, rising to his feet. His applause set off a chain reaction, and soon, the room was roaring with cheers and clapping. Hunters, citizens, and even corporate representatives joined in—all except for the latter group’s leaders. They sat stiff and pale, visibly nervous.

Everything must be transparent!

If not, I’ll die. For real this time!

The event ended on a triumphant note, its ripples extending far beyond the venue. It was not just Korean charities that felt the impact—global organizations, too, were swept up in the wave of accountability. The recovery project for the destruction caused by the Death Spirit King gained unprecedented momentum.

***

[You have entered the Branch of Caldera.]

After the event, Kim Do-Joon finally found time to return to the labyrinth. It had been ages since his last visit, as he had been too busy dealing with the chaos in the real world. Countless battles with insects alone took months.

The place he arrived at wasn’t where Laoha resided, but the village of Fuad and Shura. As he strolled toward the settlement, he stopped abruptly at an unexpected sight.

"Ah, right..." Kim Do-Joon muttered.

It was Ashunaga.

She was sitting alone, eating fruit. The outfit of the Nagaraja clan she once wore was gone, replaced by the garments of the Mahal Tribe. She bit into a red fruit with a crunch, then looked up. Their eyes met, and hers widened in recognition.

"

Aaah!

" she screamed suddenly. "You! Why have you taken so long to return, Human? You said it would only take a week!"

Before he knew it, she was in front of him, shaking his shoulders furiously. Her voice was so loud that Kim Do-Joon wanted to cover his ears, but guilt kept him from doing so. He had completely forgotten about her.

Letting her vent her frustration, he finally spoke, calmly yet apologetically, "Sorry."

Ashunaga froze. The apology struck her like a sudden gust of wind, halting the whirlwind of her anger. Despite his promise, he had left her stranded for over two months! Her face turned red, then purple, with a vortex of emotions.

"Sorry? SORRY?"

With a loud whoosh, she grabbed her crescent blade and flailed it at Kim Do-Joon like mad. There was no precision or elegance, just the wild thrashing of a furious child. Kim Do-Joon, unwilling to counterattack, could only dodge her erratic blows.

She kept at it until her arms gave out.

"

Huff... huff...

"

She collapsed to the ground, exhausted and panting. Kim Do-Joon, unscathed and without so much as a speck of dust on him, stood calmly. That only infuriated her further. She glared daggers at him, then abruptly buried her face in the dirt and burst into tears.

"

Waaah!

I want to go home!"

Kim Do-Joon gulped, stunned. He had seen Ashunaga show weakness before, but never anything like this.

It took a long time to calm her down, though "calming her down" mostly meant offering a proper apology and promising to fulfill a future request. Only then did he manage to send her back to the Frozen Harbor she came from.

“You’ve had your hands full, haven’t you?”

The voice came as Kim Do-Joon finally took a moment to breathe. He did not need to turn to know who it was.

"Laoha," he said, addressing her directly.

A regal figure stood before him, with deer-like antlers and a pure white toga, embroidered with golden threads. Laoha, the queen of the Mahal Clan, stood as though she belonged even in this remote mountain village. Given her true identity, her presence here was not surprising.

When Kim Do-Joon called her name, Laoha flinched slightly. She hesitated, her lips trembling, before finally speaking, "You... you are..."

"I’m not your father," Kim Do-Joon cut her off before she could finish.

He plainly stated that he wasn’t the old man whom she’d once revered. He was just an ordinary human who happened to inherit that old man’s power.

Laoha listened silently. When he finished, her gaze dropped, a trace of sorrow visible in her expression.

"I thought so," she murmured.

"You thought so?"

"If Father had planned to resurrect himself... he wouldn’t have allowed those traitors to take his life in the first place."

Laoha had grown up hearing, over and over, that the dead didn’t return. That truth, drilled into her since childhood, allowed her to accept Kim Do-Joon’s words more easily than others. Even so, sadness clung to her like a shadow.

Deep down, she had held onto a sliver of hope that her father would somehow return.

With a resigned sigh, she placed her hand over her chest, then let it fall. Her face became composed, almost stoic, as she addressed Kim Do-Joon again, "You’ve come here to reclaim the power and authority my father left behind, haven’t you? Then, take it."

Laoha spread her arms wide and closed her eyes, surrendering without resistance.

She heard the steady sound of Kim Do-Joon’s footsteps drawing closer. Step by step, until his towering presence was right in front of her.

"But I just have one request..." she said softly.

"What is it?"

"Even if I am gone, please, let this world remain. Allow the children of Mahal to walk the path of a righteous history. Lastly, promise me you won’t forgive Ushas or others who’ve betrayed my father."

"That’s not one thing. That’s two.”

Laoha chuckled faintly, a small, wistful smile gracing her lips. "Ah, you’re right. Then let’s call it two requests."

As she finished, she felt a sudden, light flick on her forehead.

"

Huh?

"

Opening her eyes, she blinked in confusion. Kim Do-Joon wore a crooked smile.

"I’m not here to take your power," he said firmly. "Your world is yours to protect. And as for what I want from you, there’s just one thing."

Laoha’s eyes filled with curiosity as they locked onto him. The question was plain in her expression, “

What does this man want from me?”

"Why did you abandon Siwelin?"

Kim Do-Joon’s reply was calm but cut deep.

Her eyes clouded with deep sorrow, the weight of his question pressing heavily on her.