Chapter 190: Chapter 189

It's pointless to explain how Chairman Woo Jinchul has acted since the Cataclysm. He was a figure known by all Koreans. But at the same time, he was also a person who evoked strong opinions, both positive and negative. In retrospect, his choices were always right, but the process always seemed reckless and daring. This inevitably led to resentment from many behind the scenes. Among them, there was one aspect that Hunter guilds, in particular, were especially unhappy about... It was the problem with 'talent recruitment.'

– What? He was snatched away by the Chairman again?!

– Yes. As soon as he awakened, the Association somehow found out and offered him a position.

– No way! This person didn't even go for a mana test yet?! How did the Association even know he awakened?!

– Exactly. Sigh. Just how good is the Association's information network...

Indeed. Truly remarkable information gathering capabilities. Chairman Woo Jinchul had an uncanny ability to find promising potential hunters before anyone else and somehow bring them into the Association. From the perspective of the Guilds eager to recruit talent and expand their power, his actions were enough to make them detest him. Especially when he recruited S-rank Hunter Choi Jong-In, countless guildmasters all sighed with deep regret...

"...'Senior Kim Chul' was also one of the talents personally recruited by the Chairman."

Team Leader Han Jaehyuk was recalling the past as he talked with Arsha. The conversation between Kim Chul, who had just awakened as an A-rank Tanker, and Woo Jinchul was a famous anecdote.

– What kind of Hunter do you want to be?

At Woo Jinchul's question, Kim Chul responded with a question of his own.

– Chairman, do you know what my motto is?

– What is it?

–To live a good life.

Kim Chul stated the motto he lived by since his teenage years and smiled brightly at Woo Jinchul. Although he was now middle-aged, his smile retained the innocence of a teenage boy. Witnessing the pure sense of justice in his eyes, the chairman smiled contentedly and asked again.

– Does that mean you want to be a good Hunter?

– Yes. Since I've become a Hunter, I want to fight with pride to protect the world.

– That's a truly admirable mindset. Come to the Association. I'll entrust you with an important mission.

– I look forward to working with you.

Just like that, Kim Chul firmly shook hands with Woo Jinchul and joined the Hunter Association without hesitation.

"But after joining the Association, Senior Kim Chul was deeply disappointed." Team Leader Han Jaehyuk muttered with a bitter expression.

It was inevitable that he would be disappointed. Kim Chul had joined the Association with the aspiration of becoming a great Hunter who protects the world.

"The task the Chairman entrusted to him was protecting this very place, the Yangpyeong branch."

[Ah.] Arsha nodded in understanding.

Yangpyeong was too peaceful a town for a Hunter with ambitions to protect the world. Moreover, since many wealthy people lived there, malicious commenters even went as far as to say that the Yangpyeong branch manager was a dog guarding the rich.

"...In the end, Senior Kim Chul left the Association on his own. Many believed that the rumors about him joining a cult were just excuses or nonsense."

[...]

Arsha relayed everything Team Leader Han Jaehyuk had said to Suho. Who, receiving her words in real-time, was a bit surprised inwardly.

'Chairman Woo Jinchul personally chose him to lead the Yangpyeong branch?'

According to Beru, Kim Chul was once a Shadow Soldier named 'Iron'. But as Earth returned to the time before his death, he was revived and started a new life. Just like Hwang Dongsoo, who was once the Shadow Soldier 'Greed' and now lived as an S-rank villain. But to think that Kim Chul became a Hunter in the Association and was the branch manager of the Yangpyeong branch where his grandparents lived? Could that be a coincidence?

'No, absolutely not.'

Suho immediately grasped the situation.

'It was for my father.'

Chairman Woo Jinchul remembered everything about his past life related to his father. That meant...

'He was protecting Yangpyeong through the Association, in case my grandparents were in danger while my father was away! By assigning the Yangpyeong branch to someone trustworthy!'

Perhaps, in Chairman Woo Jinchul's mind, there was no one more trustworthy than Kim Chul, who was once his father's Shadow Soldier.

'But to think... Kim Chul would become a priest serving the Itarim in such an unexpected place.'

It seemed that even the great Woo Jinchul couldn't have foreseen such a variable.

"...You're a priest of the Outer Gods' Cult?"

"That's correct."

"If you're Kim Chul, you would have been the branch manager of the Yangpyeong branch?"

At Suho's pointed question, Kim Chul nodded with a benevolent smile.

"Hahaha. It seems there's nothing Lord Vulcan doesn't know. That's right. I was once part of the Hunter Association."

"Then why are you here now?"

"Haha, that's quite hurtful. You're not suspecting me just because I was briefly with the Association, are you? Or are you doubting the power of this Star Piece?" Kim Chul smiled benevolently and raised his large hand to caress the Star Piece embedded in his forehead. An auspicious blue aura emanated from it, and a glint of madness flashed in his eyes, lips curling into a grin.

"Our Outer Gods' Cult bestows the baptism of the Star Piece, or rather, the 'Outer God Stone,' only upon those who have proven their faith. So you need not doubt. I simply believe that the Outer Gods' Cult is more dedicated to the world's well-being than the Association..."

[Kill him now. There's no need to listen to such nonsense any longer.] Beru whispered like a demon beside Suho.

[Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.]

[You must strike down that corrupted soldier, Iron, and bring him back to the Shadow Army!]

"...Haha. Lord Vulcan, please calm down for a moment. As you know, there's no reason for us to be at odds."

Perhaps due to the aura Beru was emitting, Kim Chul dabbed the beads of sweat forming on his forehead with a handkerchief. Suho discreetly stepped on Beru to suppress him, then looked at Kim Chul and spoke solemnly.

"I have a question, Priest of the Outer Gods'."

No matter how much he was pretending to be Vulcan, he had to ask this one question out of genuine curiosity.

"Haha. Even a demon noble has things they don't know. Yes, feel free to ask anything..."

"Are there any side effects to implanting a Star Piece into a human? Maybe losing hair, like you?"

"..." At that moment, Kim Chul's benevolent smile, which he had maintained until now, faltered for the first time. He lowered his gaze slightly and replied.

"...This is just ordinary hair loss."

"I see. Come to think of it, the other humans beside you still have their hair. Then are there no other side effects to the Star Piece?" Suho nodded as if it were nothing and changed the subject.

A slight wrinkle appeared on Kim Chul's forehead where the Star Piece was embedded, and he forced a smile, clenching his teeth.

"Of course not. How could there be any side effects? The Star Piece is a grace bestowed upon lowly humans like us by the Gods."

Fwoosh! Along with his words, the stone on his forehead emitted streaks of blue aura.

"Huuuh."

Kim Chul inhaled the aura deeply, his expression filled with ecstasy.

"Hehe. Do you feel it? If Stardust merely amplified the power one possesses, the Outer God Stone elevates the owner's power to a whole new dimension. In other words... it allows one to be reborn as a higher being!" At the same time, Kim Chul's Star Piece shimmered with a blue light, and his aura grew stronger. It was undeniable that it far surpassed the mana limit of Kim Chul, who was known as an A-rank Hunter.

[Unbelievable. He's absorbing the divine power of the Outer God and emitting an aura close to S-rank.]

'It's similar to the principle of me summoning Gray into my body.' Suho instantly understood the principle of the Star Piece.

Misinterpreting his expression, Kim Chul opened his arms wide towards Suho with an infinitely benevolent smile and a glint of madness in his eyes, laughing brightly.

"So, how about joining us, Lord Vulcan? Worshiping and praising the Outer Gods is the mission and destiny of all mortals."

"If it is a mission of mortals. What's in it for me?"

Suho chuckled and subtly hinted, and Kim Chul's eyes gleamed with a meaningful expression.

"You already know, don't you? The real reason why you, a demon noble, sought us out! You want to become the King of Demons using the Outer God Stone, right?"

"...You're quick-witted."

"Hahaha. I've observed many demons over the years. Low-rank demons may aspire to become demon nobles, but the greedy Vulcan's goal must be the Demon King!"

[I-it is?!]

'Why are you acting like this too?' Ignoring Esil's surprised voice, Suho swept his cold gaze around.

'First of all, Grandpa isn't among them.'

After confirming the faces of the Outer Gods' Cult members one by one, Suho asked Kim Chul, who was excitedly preaching on his own.

"Are you all the Outer Gods' Cult members here?"

"Of course not. The other believers are all praying in the chapel."

"Guide me."

"Haha, showing interest in the chapel right away! As expected, my prediction was correct. Let's go to the chapel together and accept the Outer God Stone."

Kim Chul didn't doubt Suho in the slightest. Vulcan was known as the 'Demon of Greed' because he was the greediest among all demons. With the other demon nobles gone, what he desired most must be the throne of the Demon King.

[So when are you planning to kill them?]

'Wait... When they're all gathered, so no one can escape...'

Listening to Beru's whispers, urging him to ambush and kill 'iron', Suho followed the Cult members out of the gambling den and towards the chapel. Soon, a massive door appeared before him. As Kim Chul placed his palm on the giant door, his Star Piece glowed, and the heavy door opened automatically.

Creeeaak!

Then, a vast dome-shaped room came into his view. Inside, he saw Outer Gods' Cult members prostrating themselves and chanting prayers like madmen. But this incredibly spacious room felt cramped for one reason.

'That's...?' Suho's eyes lit up.

At the farthest end of the chapel. Something gigantic beyond comprehension was sitting on a chair as large as itself. A statue of a god, unimaginably massive.

"Welcome, Vulcan. This is the chapel of our Outer Gods' Cult."

As soon as Kim Chul finished speaking. The heads of the members praying in the chapel all lifted at once, staring at Suho. Then, they all smiled brightly, revealing their teeth, with the same expression. And their mouths continued to chant prayers without pause.

"Thou shall worship God. Thou shall worship God. Thou shall worship God. Thou shall worship God."

"Thou shall praise God. Thou shall praise God. Thou shall praise God. Thou shall praise God."

"Thou shall prove thy faith. Thou shall prove thy faith. Thou shall prove thy faith. Thou shall prove thy faith..."

And then.

Boom!

The chapel door closed behind Suho with a loud bang. From the doorway, Kim Chul, smiling brighter than anyone else, uttered the last verse of the prayer.

"Those who fail to obey these commandments shall not be spared."