Chapter 57 (2/2)

“It is a simple test of your body's abilities, brain, personality and apt.i.tude. You see it as numbers right?”

“That’s right.”

“But we have no way of knowing this… You could lie as needed. Hide or inflate things. Due to this, we need to verify your figures.”

Director Oh once again pulled out his electronic cigarette, but the cartridge was empty.

“Of course, this is one-sided information, so you don't need to answer if you don't want to. We still have Soo-young so we can offer her the necessary supplies in her current situation.” Director Oh rose from his chair. ”But think about it. You haven't fully grown, and your mind isn't good enough yet.”

Then he held out a hand for me to shake. “It was a hectic day.”

“But thanks to that, things became faster.”

“I look forward to the future. Of course, the best thing for me will be for Kim Tae-hyun to become even stronger than you tonight.”

It was hard to say that there was no chance of that happening.

Director Oh asked me, “I heard that the purpose of the dungeon is to make an emperor.”

“Yes.”

“Maybe it is an accurate word, but it isn't always possible in a world like this. There is no way someone can become an emperor here.”

Since childhood, I wasn't the delusional type. I didn't want to become an popular celebrity, sports star or the president.

Anyway, Director Oh headed to the bomb shelter.  From there, the process leading up to midnight had already been described. Yang Su-jin and Yoon Ji-hee gave me encouragement and that incident happened with Jin Soo-young…

Now, I was thinking about the word 'Emperor.'

&

Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!

It sounded like cymbals being hit. One of the Tellans was tapping a thin sheet of metal.

Then in the darkness, noises were heard and more people with spears appeared.

”Kill!”

There were no questions asked as they aimed the spears at me. This place was different from the forest.

Perhaps there was a leader or it was a more advanced society. The Tellans already knew that the letters represented an offer of citizens.h.i.+p. They intuitively understood the phrases. Therefore, just knowing Tellan made it easy to recruit the people in the forest.

But now, they called me a demon, so it was hard to understand this drastic reaction.  No, it was a reaction that only came out once the words appeared.

Hwik!

I spread back and raised my palm while narrowly avoiding a spear aimed at my head.

Tang!

A light flashed and one person in the front collapsed. The reaction was encouraging. Rather than pouncing at me in unison, they stared at me with a mixture of fear and confusion. I didn't miss that gap. An explosion occurred in the s.p.a.ce where the man fell down. Although clearly trained, the Tellans couldn't respond immediately to unexpected situations.

I firmly shoved at the chest of someone on my left with both palms. Then I aimed a fly kick at the one on my right. They were attacks that demonstrated power rather than practicality, but I realized how to deal with large groups based on previous experience: Kill some and the solidarity between the others would weaken.

”…Uh…”

The fear from the first explosion gradually spread as I raised my palm at an angle. I didn't aim at anyone but shot out the biggest and loudest explosion possible.

Peng!

With that, the situation was over. There were cries and noises heard as they escaped. Soon they disappeared from my sight and the voices gradually faded.

”Aren't you going to slice me?' I asked Jin Soo-young who was a small distance behind me. The process of contacting and fighting the Tellans was also a method of provoking her to attack me.  Looking back, I could see a deadly weapon in her hand, She had an expression of a child wanting to eat the sweets put in front of them. The ingredient that caused conflict wasn't appet.i.te and self-restraint, but desire and fear.

I continued, “Well, you are better at suppressing yourself than I thought.”

”…S…Shut up.”

If she rushed over, I was going to show her an overwhelming defeat. I wouldn't kill her, but would make her hesitant to repeat the same behaviour. It was already much better than I thought.

“Can you speak Tellan?” I asked.

”Yes.”

“What do you think?” I pointed to the Tellans on the ground and to the castle on the mountain.

“Kill. Everyone.” As I narrowed my eyes, she added a few more words. “You offered them citizens.h.i.+p, right? That's why you were called a 'demon.' So there is an 'education' that makes people who offer citizens.h.i.+p 'demons'? It is based on a religion?”

“Go on.”

“Already in my… Now it is your city, but there are people living there. If you add these people here, then wouldn't a cult obviously form? It would be lucky if it wasn't called h.e.l.l.”

She covered her head and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. She covered it so the light of the cigarette wouldn't be seen in the darkness.  As she blew out smoke, Jin Soo-young finished her words.

”Religion isn't the answer. If you are going to occupy this place, then it would be best to clean it up before eating.” Jin Soo-young's eyes flashed as she said this.  “If you do that, then I can help you.”

I could understand.  The reason why Director Oh said 'no' despite Jin Soo-young's background.

I also agreed.

TL Note: Please read this

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