The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 79: Executioner Im Jaebaek (1)

The story of how Im Jaebaek came to be called the Executioner.

'It's a nickname that stuck because he beheaded villains by any means necessary.'

〔Was he a person overflowing with a sense of justice?〕

'No. Because of revenge.'

It's a very common story.

The older brother who volunteered for penal labor to save his younger brother who had been scammed.

He suffered for several years, but what he got back was a lifeless corpse.

'I heard that he meticulously prepared and took revenge for his younger brother.'

〔He managed to get his revenge even after being exploited for a long time.〕

'He had talent and perseverance.'

Im Jaebaek, who constantly honed his blade of revenge even during penal labor.

After confirming his younger brother's death, he waited a few more years for a more certain revenge and killed all the members of the organization.

Even after that, the flames of anger burning in Im Jaebaek's heart did not go out.

'He only sought out and killed criminals as a means of resolving his grudge.'

〔It's an excessive way to resolve resentment and anguish towards criminals, but this is also a great hero.〕

'I'm starting to get confused about the standard of what a hero is.'

Tsk tsk.

‘How can one fathom the mind of a noble constellation?’

Yoojin clicked his tongue.

"You seem to be doing well, debtor. You even have the leisure to play with your tongue."

A swaggering bald man.

He was the Seagull Group member who had roughly pulled Yoojin's arm from the car.

‘Yes. I'll remember your face in particular.’

Putt-Putt-Putt—

A small boat approached—

A man in a suit, out of place in the atmosphere, came out of the boat anchored at the coast.

"Let's see. Hannom, Doosik, Seoksam, Neoguri, Ojingeo. Are you all here?"

"It's been a while since we sent people, and you're asking for five more!"

"Oh, Jiwon hyung. Please understand our situation."

"Damn it. Do you know how hard it is to find martial artists, not just any debtors?"

"We're paying you that much. Please bear with it."

"Keep these guys alive as much as possible. We need to lay low for a while."

The two men whispered at a distance where the debtors couldn't hear.

The man in the suit nodded as if he understood and approached the debtors.

"Those who have come to find new hope. Welcome."

"Hope? What nonsense is this after kidnapping us for not paying our debts!"

When one of the debtors raised his voice, the man's brow furrowed.

"Hey, you! Shut your mouth when I'm talking."

Whack—

The debtor's face turned sharply.

Unable to even perceive the moment the 2 Star martial artist attacked, he collapsed after being hit by the man's fist.

The blood flowing from his busted lips and nose stained the sand red.

"So shut up and listen. Debtors don't have the right to speak."

The voice of the man in the suit made the frozen atmosphere even colder.

"You son of a bitch!"

"Are you going to attack me? That's even better. I can just kill you all."

"Aren't you afraid of the Hunter Association?"

Hunter-related crimes were treated as special crimes regardless of the severity of the crime.

Abilities that surpass ordinary people.

And skills.

If a martial artist is even a 2 Star, they can easily kill an ordinary person.

In the case of magic, there are no traces left except for mana wavelengths, so it's much easier to disguise it as an accident.

"Listen up, you idiots. Do you know where this is and that high-ranking people will come here?"

"E-Even so, there will be mana wavelengths!"

"You're all from the bottom anyway. The world won't know if one of you dies here. Should I kill one of you to prove it?"

When the man in the suit laughed frivolously, the faces of the four people, excluding Yoojin, turned pale.

The divine power he displayed when he knocked down one of the debtors.

Even if the four of them rushed him, it was clear that they would die a dog's death, let alone win.

'At that speed, he must be a 4 Star. It seems like he's been hitting the wall for a long time.'

〔He has crossed the wall by one step.〕

'He'll probably know how to unfold Aura. He must be quite high-ranking among those Seagull Group guys.'

There aren't many organizations like the Red Spider with four 5 Star executives.

A 4 Star is a strong person treated as a mid-level player in any group.

Yoojin leisurely observed the man in the suit. His tone and behavior.

'An appropriate show of force. This isn't his first or second time.'

〔He's excellent at utilizing fear. Just like the contractor.〕

'I'm offended that you're comparing me to a low-quality guy like him.'

〔Hahahaha. Alright, alright.〕

Unlike the other four, Yoojin's expression remained unchanged.

The man in the suit, seemingly pleased with his reaction, came closer and patted him on the shoulder.

"Well, well, look at you. You've got spirit, I'll give you that. Since you've already fallen to the bottom, you can just diligently pay it off and leave. Don't you agree?"

"The bottom, huh."

"Let's see. Your name is... Mr. Park Gitae, right? Oh my! You pulled 1 billion won?"

Park Gitae was the name of the man Madame had given him for disguise.

It doesn't really faze him to hear the amount he didn't actually borrow.

The man in the suit, mistaking Yoojin's stoicism for shock, laughed heartily.

"You'll have to roll around here for three years. Don't worry. Just work hard for that period, and it'll all be resolved."

"30 million won a month. That's generous."

"Right? I'm happy to meet a debtor who understands."

The man in the suit clapped his hands.

After confirming that the debtors' eyes were focused on him, he declared,

"Wow, I'm feeling good. I'll reduce it by one year for Mr. Park Gitae."

He shouted as if he had done a great favor.

The debtors' eyes widened at the man in the suit's bombshell announcement.

The man who had been punched and collapsed was no exception.

"M-Me too, reduce mine!"

"How can you be so unfair and only give it to him?"

"Ah, I love this proactive attitude. Then I'll reduce everyone's labor period by 1/3."

The debtors cheered.

Yoojin took a step back and chuckled.

'Kronos, do you know why that man is reducing the labor period as if he's doing a favor?'

〔He seems to have a merciful nature, unlike his appearance.〕

'It means he's not going to let them go alive.'

What's the point of reducing it by 1/3 or 1 year?

It's useless if they die before completing their labor period.

The reason why that sly-looking guy is boldly shortening the period is because he's certain that the debtors will die within that time.

Even though he didn't hear the conversation the two men had at a distance, Yoojin grasped the whole situation just from the circumstances and a few words exchanged, without even going to the site.

'It's not smuggling. Is it a Gate?'

All he knows is that Im Jaebaek has been suffering from forced labor for years.

He doesn't know exactly which organization he was mobilized for or what kind of work he was forced to do.

〔Try to recall more memories.〕

'It's no use. He's someone I didn't have much connection with.'

〔There are a lot of uncertain factors. Will it be alright?〕

'Mr. Im Jaebaek would have been a 2 Star around this time. But if he survived, I should be able to as well.'

There are three inheritable skills.

He didn't intentionally choose a new field either.

He has a hand that can create variables in any situation.

'If it really doesn't work out, I'll return alive even if I'm alone.'

〔You are my only believer. It would be troublesome if you die meaninglessly, so always be careful.〕

'Stop talking about heroes. Then.'

〔Ahem. Originally, constellations expect the appearance of heroes.〕

Ignoring Kronos's nonsense, he boarded the fishing boat.

＊ ＊ ＊

Putt-Putt-Putt-Putt—

The fishing boat cut through the sea, heading east.

How long had they been traveling?

A strange smell mixed with the salty air.

"Ugh, what's that smell?"

"Smells like something rotten."

"Do we have to clean up waste or something?"

The debtors grumbled and covered their noses with their hands.

Yoojin glanced outside the deck.

Something black was swirling in the currents beneath the blue sea, swaying back and forth.

People in diving suits were repeatedly ascending and descending.

'Are they making them collect Strong Algae?'

〔You mean that seaweed?〕

'That's right. Our constellation's getting sharper.'

〔Hahahaha. I am always watching over you, Contractor. I can easily grasp this much.〕

Strong Algae is a seaweed that only occasionally appears in underwater-type Gates.

It was also a necessary ingredient for making Blood Golems, so it wasn't unfamiliar to Yoojin.

'I didn't know there was an eroded zone like this in the East Sea.'

They said smuggling was the Seagull Group's main source of income.

He had thought it was strange that they kept moving east.

"How is it? The debtors' new workplace."

The small fishing boat stopped at an island floating in the middle of the sea.

Crudely built temporary buildings.

Rusty containers placed instead of lodgings added to the dreariness.

"Why is there an island in the East Sea?"

"It's a place that emerged with the erosion activity. It's small, but it's possible to take care of food and lodging."

Terrain mutated by the Gate's erosion.

A small island emerged.

And in the sea, Strong Algae, necessary for alchemy and leather equipment production, was growing.

Even if it wasn't as good as [Crimson Lair], one of the Red Spider's main sources of income, it was enough to feed the Seagull Group.

"What's with that corpse?"

"It's nothing special. Monsters sometimes appear because it's an eroded zone."

Well, that's debatable.

To say it's nothing special, the number of monsters rotting on the coast is quite large, and they're too big.

Yoojin's eyes couldn't leave the corpse of the monster fish with its bones exposed.

'It's a 4 Star monster, a Bloodfin Salmon.'

〔Oh ho. Only the small human who spoke so eloquently would be able to handle that fish.〕

'It would be difficult in the sea.'

〔Even though they have the same rank?〕

Even though Hunters have gained power beyond humans, the foundation of living beings hasn't changed.

In other words, it means it's difficult to demonstrate their full abilities in the ocean.

'A fish and a human who live on land shouldn't be the same.'

The man in the suit guided the debtors to a container.

Ding— Ding—

A bell rang, and those who had been collecting Strong Algae from the sea returned to the island one by one.

Diving suits with mana stones attached.

They are items that block the poison emitted by Strong Algae and assist with underwater activities.

"My lovely debtors, new colleagues have arrived."

"Is it Jiwon again?"

"That's right. Now we can meet the quota."

"Stop bragging about bringing in small fry and guarantee our safety."

"Supervisor Im, it hurts my feelings when you say that when I'm taking care of you."

Bang—!

An explosive sound erupted as the man in the suit threw a punch.

It stopped right in front of the man called Supervisor Im's nose, but he didn't even blink.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Kill me if you're going to kill me."

"Ha, that would be a bit difficult. Thanks to Supervisor Im, the debtors' working hours and efficiency have increased."

"Damn, it looks like everyone's going to die because of the Bloodfin Salmon!"

"So, I'm asking you to take good care of the newcomers."

Supervisor Im growled like a wounded beast.

The man in the suit nonchalantly brushed off his anger and gestured to the debtors, including Yoojin.

"Supervisor Im will teach the debtors the value of labor."

"If he's a supervisor, is he involved with the Seagull Group like you?"

"Haha, what an interesting joke. Supervisor Im is in a bit of debt, just like the debtors."

Supervisor Im's brow twitched.

The tendons on his exposed forearms bulged prominently.

Yoojin slowly approached the man and muttered softly—

"Are you Mr. Im Jaebaek?"

Supervisor Im's shoulders trembled slightly at his words.

The answer was as good as heard.

“Alright then. There's no need to stay any longer in this stench-filled place.”

The man in the suit flinched at Yoojin's remark, then approached him with a murderous aura.

"Mr. Park Gitae, what's your relationship with Supervisor Im...?"

Clang—!

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

The Skeleton Knight, summoned abruptly, swung its blade towards the man in the suit.

Despite the sudden attack, the man didn't panic, crossing his arms in an X to minimize the impact of the sword strike...

[Dark Fighting Aura]

[Spectral Sword]

[Fifth Form – Bloodlight Sword]

The Skeleton Knight's twin swords scattered crimson light.

The originally black Dark Fighting Aura was emitted as red due to the influence of the sword technique.

Kwaang—!

Unable to fully deflect the immense power imbued in the swords, the man in the suit was thrown back dozens of meters.

Supervisor Im's eyes trembled.

He parted his lips several times before finally managing to speak with effort—

"Who are you?"

"You can call me Cheon Yoojin."

Yoojin replied.

‘It's a pleasure to meet you, future Executioner. There's a lot to say, but since this is our first meeting in this life, let's start with introductions.’

Yoojin wore a relaxed expression, incongruous with the atmosphere.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]