For a moment, Hugo and Chun Yooha wondered if they had heard wrong. It looked as if they had just heard something they never wanted to hear.

Hugo stiffly asked, “Sungjae. Right now. He became the disciple of which bastard?”

Their reactions made Lee Jaewon look back at them as though they were being weird. “Lee Gun-nim. As I said earlier, Young Master left the Gemini temple...”

“...#$...!” Hugo grabbed the back of his neck. He felt so nauseous that he almost fell backward, barely stopping himself.

The Archer Saint felt like crying. His son had finally left the Gemini temple, so he had been happy at first. He had thought his son finally understood how he felt as a father. The news had pleased him! However...

‘He added insult to injury!’

“I told him to give up being an awakened being!” Hugo had told his son that Gun’s temple was off-limits!

“Hey! You!”

Unclear if he was crying or raging, Hugo grabbed Lee Gun by the collar. “...#*$&!”

“Speak in human words.”

In the end, looking like he was about to cry, Hugo shouted, “There’s no way Sungjae is your disciple! There’s no way!”

“You’re in denial of reality now!”

Hugo felt aggrieved. “I told you my children were off limits! You jerk!”

Lee Gun snorted. “Why? Other people can become my disciple, but not your children? I thought you wanted me to have a disciple who’ll throw away his life for me if needed?”

Hugo pounded his chest as if that wasn’t the intention behind his words. It was said that one had to be careful what one wished for. The problem was that Sungjae would really sacrifice his life for Lee Gun!

Lee Gun didn’t care. He just grinned. “Anyway, your son is my disciple.”

Hugo wailed as if trying to deny reality. “Expel him, you bastard!”

“Why would I?”

“Just do it!”

“I don’t want to do that. I thought you said I deserve the world. You were practically singing it.”

“When did I do that!”

“You delivered the speech after drinking some alcohol.”

“I never gave a speech! I only remember sleeping!”

“You’re still the same. You black out when you get drunk”

As the two men bickered like children, Chun Yooha listened to them with a serious expression.

“Yooha?” Hugo called out to her, but she shook as she looked at her phone.

Her brother still hadn’t responded. The app said her messages had been read! So she called him, but...

Ddoo-roo-roo-

Click!

[Ah! Yooha! Did you hear? Sungjae—]

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

[Fuck! Why did you answer the call? Block that number!]

[What? It’s your sister, so why— Ahhhhk!]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[The person you have called is unavailable right now. You will be sent to voicemail...]

Bbah-gahk!

A crack appeared on the phone in Chun Yooha’s hands.

‘You little shit.’

In truth, there was another reason Chun Yooha wanted to be Lee Gun’s first disciple. It was the “Bonus skill.”

Bonus skill was a skill that disciples could acquire under specific conditions. It was like winning a prize for being the first, hundredth, or thousandth customer. Or one had to fulfill a specific set of conditions. Bonus skills were like the hidden skills of the world.

For example, a disciple who looked like the ideal type for a Zodiac received the [Charm] skill. The 77,777th disciple received a skill called [Lucky Human]. The 4,444th disciple received the [Death Avoidance] skill. A disciple that moved the Zodiac would receive the [Gratitude] skill.

Bonus skills were countless, but one was particularly famous. It was the [Return] skill.

Movement skill

[If the disciple uses this skill, they will head toward their Zodiac. When and where doesn’t matter.]

- Condition: Has to be the first disciple (Excluding Saint)

- Since a Saint is contracted to the Zodiac, the disciple will head toward the Saint when this skill is used.

- Check Location Possible

- No condition is needed for use. This skill can be used in areas where teleportation is banned.

Chun Yooha had wanted to earn this bonus skill. If she had this skill, it didn’t matter where she was. She could instantly head toward Lee Gun!

One of the Ten Stars possessed the Return Skill. He could easily protect his Saint, and most importantly, he could be with the Saint for all 365 days in a year.

And her little shit of a brother took that skill from her! Chun Yooha’s eyes were full of rage as she looked down at her phone.

Lee Gun became worried when he saw the serious expression on Chun Yooha’s face. “Yooha?”

“He stole Uncle’s first.”

What?

“He’s a magician. He can use a teleport spell.”

“Yooha?”

As if she had come to some decision, Chun Yooha put her phone back into her pocket. It was fine. Why?

Even if one satisfied the conditions needed to receive the Bonus skill, the skill didn’t appear immediately.

‘There is a chance that the skill hasn’t bloomed yet.’ This meant... ‘I just have to take care of business before that happens.’

Chun Yooha’s eyes twinkled. Red lightning flashed in her hand as a dagger appeared in it. She then approached her father and borrowed his wristwatch.

At a glance, the watch looked like a normal Tag Heuer watch, but it was actually the badge of the Archer.

Chun Yooha made several gestures above the watch. Then she heard a voice.

[A Saint-rank has made a request!]

[Archer Saint’s rental skill(VVIP rank) has been activated!]

[Tracking skill(SS)!]

[Please select your target.]

Chun Yooha immediately turned around.

The surprised Hugo looked between his watch and his daughter. “Wait a moment! Where the hell are you going?”

Goat, who had gone off to acquire some healing potions, returned at this moment. Hearing the name his Saint muttered, he froze in place.

“Yooha!”

‘What? Yooha?’ Just hearing her name made him freeze. He quickly looked at his surroundings.

When Goat turned to look behind him, a scream escaped his mouth.

“Goat!”

“Ahhhk!”

It seemed he wasn’t having an auditory hallucination. Goat almost sank to the ground when he saw Chun Yooha, who stood in front of him. Unlike his usually calm and collected self, this SS-rank Archer disciple looked nervous and on edge.

He quickly patted down his hair and clothes. “Miss Yooha! It... It has been a while...”

“Goat! Do you have any of Sungjae’s items?” Chun Yooha asked.

“What?”

“You said you were with Sungjae not too long ago.”

“Ah...!” Goat quickly took out a wooden tablet.

[Genius Workshop’s Wooden Tablet (S)]—the Genius Workshop was where the world’s greatest Makers gathered. This item was a rare item created there. Making it had been very tricky, so it was very expensive.

When Goat opened the folded wooden tablet, a black messenger bag appeared in front of him. “Sungjae gave this to me for safekeeping...”

He didn’t know what they were for, but the bag contained suspicious magic tomes.

“Why do you want Sungjae’s item—” Goat didn’t even have the time to ask why she was looking for Sungjae’s items.

Chun Yooha’s eyes flashed, and she took out a wallet from the bag.

Goat asked, “Excuse me! When did Miss Yooha come here...”

“Thank you!” Leaving behind that remark, Chun Yooha instantly disappeared.

A light surrounded her as she surged into the air. It was a teleportation spell, and not a simple one at that. She was using it in conjunction with the tracking skill. Chun Yooha had used the Archer’s high rank tracking skill and had gotten her brother’s coordinates.

When Chun Yooha disappeared, Goat’s face was ashen. He was mesmerized. He had seen her after almost half a year. Goat kicked himself for being an idiot who was unable to say a proper greeting to Chun Yooha!

Hugo clicked his tongue. “He froze again! Why does he act that way whenever he meets Yooha?”

Lee Gun cackled and made fun of his friend. “What do you mean why? He likes Yooha.”

“?!”

Hugo grabbed Goat by the neck, taking the SS-rank disciple by surprise.

Lee Gun cheekily laughed. “Tsk tsk! I know Yooha is pretty, but don’t you have a conscience? Aren’t you twenty-seven? There is a seven-year-age difference between you two. That’s almost theft. Also, you look very old for your age”

“?!” Goat felt aggrieved.

Lee Gun was the same age as Yooha’s dad! However, it was true that Lee Gun looked much younger than him. Lee Gun was much more handsome than him, too.

“Benjamin! You had evil intentions toward my daughter!” Hugo yelled.

“No way! Saint-nim! You’re mistaken! I have no such thoughts toward her! This is a misunderstanding—”

“When Yooha was young, she said she wanted to marry her father!”

“No! If I’m being honest, I’m pretty sure she said those words for Lee Gun-nim!”

“What did you just say?”

Lee Jaewon laughed as he watched their antics. His Saint’s love for his daughter was still the same. Lee Jaewon had been very surprised when he saw Chun Yooha. The last time he had seen her, she was ten years old.

‘She grew up really well.’

However, Lee Jaewon had no idea why she had joined the Leo temple. After all, the Leo Saint was someone Hugo hated the most.

Despite her affiliation, Chun Yooha’s tempered energy was giving off the impression of an S-rank at the very least. Moreover, she was a knockout in terms of appearance. Hugo’s nervousness was understandable.

Suddenly, Hugo said to Lee Gun, “Whatever! Just excommunicate Sungjae!”

“Hmm. Alright. Should I make Yooha my second disciple?”

“You son of a bitch! If you do it, we’re done!” Hugo didn’t care if Lee Gun was his friend or not. He tried to choke Lee Gun by the neck.

However, Lee Jaewon held him back. He did it because he had to tell them something urgent. “Lee Gun-nim! Saint-nim! I have something to—”

At that moment.

“!”

A powerful energy suddenly appeared in the surroundings

Lee Jaewon was surprised by who was approaching Lee Gun. It was the Virgo Saint.

Kevin looked at the sight in front of him with a dumbfounded face. “Huh!”

[DEAD]

[DEAD]

[DEAD]

He and the Virgo disciples had turned pale.

“My god! The Virgo’s Constructs! All slaughtered!”

Yes, the things in front of them were the corpses of the Virgo’s Constructs. The Virgo’s Constructs were fabric gods made of quality cloth and the wood gods shaped like trees. They were specialty products for the Virgo temple that the entire world coveted.

No humans could produce such products. Basically, they were materials straight out of fantasy.

‘Of course, the Constructs have to be transformed for people to use them.’

For example, the Constructs could be transformed into capes, curtains, desks, etc. That was how they were used.

‘How can he do that!’

Even if Lee Gun coveted the materials, there should be a limit. How could someone even think about dismembering the bodies of lesser gods! However, Lee Gun had done something even more audacious.

[Now that the first disciple has appeared, the Serpent Bearer’s holy ground can be formed.]

[The levels of contribution provided by the disciple have accumulated. The holy ground’s level has increased.]

[You have acquired Development Points.]

[The holy ground has increased in size.]

[The holy ground is starting to develop basic attributes.]

[Serpent Bearer’s Holy Ground/Personal Palace (Lv. 2)]

[Size 16m2 (5 pyeong)]

[: Undecided]

[Holy Ground’s Special Attribute: Super Regeneration]

[Now that a disciple exists, the holy ground skill is available for use.]

[First Holy Ground Skill. The skill has been unlocked. The holy ground can be unleashed.]

- Serpent Bearer’s Personal Palace’s Holy Ground Skill (1/?) - [Holy Ground Creation]

- Domain skill

- The Serpent Bearer can deploy the holy ground field up to where the disciple’s faith reaches.

- Range: 16m2 (5 pyeong)

That’s right. On the ground was a magic circle emitting green light. It was regenerating the Constructs’ bodies.

Lee Gun meticulously timed his knife and scissors. “Ha ha ha! I can create an unlimited supply with this!”

Suh-guhk!

[Kyahhhk!]

A comical expression appeared on the face of Kevin, who had come looking for Lee Gun. “Heaven will strike you down!”

If the world found out someone like that had become the thirteenth Saint, it would faint.

On the other hand, the Archer Saint and his disciples looked at Kevin with murderous intent. The Virgo Saint believed that the whole universe existed for him. He had a special brand of arrogance and narcissism. Kevin was also hostile to all the other Zodiac Saints.

Then, there was the Archer Saint, who remembered being trampled by the Virgo Saint in the past. ‘He destroyed the entirety of my holy ground’

Hugo’s opponent had been the second-ranked Zodiac Saint. He had lost because the number of disciples in his temple couldn’t be compared to that of the Virgo temple.

In other words, Kevin had been the god of destruction! The Archer Saint had been overlooking that because of the incident with Pelio. However, the Virgo Saint was most definitely an enemy of his.

“I’ll shoot if you come any closer!” shouted Hugo.

The female Virgo disciples who had followed Kevin reacted with murderous intent.

“Whose presence do you think you’re in? How dare you raise your head like that! Stop your silly talk, Archer Saint!”

“!”

Above all else, the focus of their ire was Lee Gun.

“Lee Gun! How dare you do this to Kevin-nim’s arm!”

The woman who looked to be the leader of the female disciples imbued her sword with magical energy.

“I told you guys to stop!”

“!”

Unexpectedly, Kevin lashed out at his subordinates. “It’s fine. I reaped what I sowed.”

“What? B-but...”

“Be quiet! The loss of an arm won’t make me weaker.”

“!”

Kevin looked at Lee Gun, who continued to hunt down the Constructs. Then, as if he was making a declaration of war, Kevin yelled, “Know this, Lee Gun! It doesn’t matter what you do! My face and skills are above yours...”

At that moment, the Virgo disciples finally got a good look at Lee Gun. His appearance left them surprised. It was as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“My... my god! He looks more dashing in real life!”

“His unpolished beauty, muscles... He’s overwhelmingly better than Kevin-nim....”

“Hey! You guys...!”

Despite his feelings, the Virgo Saint dropped the subject as he called out to Lee Gun, “You were curious about the swords in my storage room, right?”

“!”

“Since I owe you for taking care of Pelio, I’ll tell you everything,” Kevin said in a serious manner. “I found that sword in the Scorpio Saint’s storage room around five years ago.”

“!”

The unexpected name surprised everyone. The Scorpio Saint was the thief Saint. She was the one vying for the north against the Leo Saint.

Although she was known for her powerful fighting skills, above all else, she was known for her beauty.

“In short, the Crab Saint, the Libra Saint, and the Scorpio Saint are in cahoots. They act like Zodiac Saints, but in the background, they run a lot of sinister plots.”

“Then....”

“The one to look out for is the Scorpio Saint. Shallow men get bamboozled by her absolute beauty, but that woman is a thing of evil. She is dangerous.”

“A thing of evil?”

“She isn’t like us, who wants to protect humans. She’s an evil person who preys on humans. She’s the worst type of evil.”

These words made Hugo tilt his head in puzzlement. His reaction was understandable. When he had been almost hauled away and killed by a monster ten years ago, the one to save him had been the Scorpio Saint.

Moreover, she was the one who had searched for a hospital suitable for his wife and subordinate.

‘It does bother me that she always runs away when she sees Gun...’

“She’s a cruel woman that sheds no blood & tears.”

- I don’t think that's true.

A voice rang out at that moment.