To be honest, KangWoo was quite happy the first time he’d fallen into Hell.
It was because that situation made him feel like the protagonist of a novel.
The thought that his life, characterized by poverty and misery, could change excited him.
Of course, as he went through many near-life-or-death situations, those thoughts disappeared completely.
In Hell, he wasn't a protagonist—he was an existence that was at the bottom of the food chain, he was lower than plankton.
'But…'
KangWoo looked at Kim ShiHoon, dumbfounded.
He was so handsome that he seemed to shine. Not only that, but he seemed to have a good personality and was well-mannered.
'Isn't he the real protagonist?'
KangWoo couldn't help but find Kim ShiHoon's status window absurd.
"Hmm…"
He took a deep breath and fell into thoughts.
'Someone born with the destiny of becoming the world's protector…'
Judging by the specs, that description seemed realistic.
He wasn't sure who the martial god Cheon TaeHwang was, but because of the title 'martial god,' he was probably someone really strong.
Not only that, but he had obtained an SSS-rank attribute just for being his successor. There was no doubt about the martial god's strength.
'Is that why his swordplay was so good?'
Kim ShiHoon's movements were too good to be only talent.
He was strong and was growing at a frightening speed.
"..."
KangWoo looked at him with deep, subdued eyes and became lost in his thoughts again.
He was wondering what he should do about Kim ShiHoon.
'Offer him complete support and try to build a good relationship…'
—That was what Chae YeonJoo had decided to do about him.
Recognizing the talent in someone and offering support to help them grow even faster to build a good relationship…
It was a simple and effective way to create a good investment return.
'But it isn't perfect.'
The biggest issue was that you couldn't use the other person based on your good relationship with the other party.
In the worst possible scenario, it was possible that you could be betrayed by the other person.
'Although Kim ShiHoon doesn't look like someone who would do something like that.'
He was a really good person, so the chances of that happening were low.
'But…'
KangWoo looked at Kim ShiHoon, who was receiving healing from Han Seol-ah.
'That's something no one can say for certain.'
Kim ShiHoon was a nice person.
Maybe he wouldn't betray KangWoo of his own volition, but there was a chance of him doing that because of someone else's influence.
He wouldn't think that if he had a strong positive opinion about him like Seol-ah or TaeSoo did, but that wasn't the case for Kim ShiHoon.
'Should I take him out in case he becomes a danger?'
Kim ShiHoon felt different from Seol-ah or TaeSoo.
Because Seol-ah and TaeSoo were talented, they could aim to become rankers in the future.
But that was all.
They wouldn't be able to become capable of putting him in danger.
But Kim ShiHoon was different.
If he became able to use his SSS-rank attribute at its fullest, or if he unlocked an even stronger one in the future…
He could grow into the exact type of person that could put him in danger.
Eliminating him, just in case, wasn't a bad option.
'No...'
KangWoo shook his head.
'That would be too much of a waste.'
Eliminating someone as talented as Kim ShiWoon just because he could put him in danger was stupid.
He was like a lottery ticket you knew was going to win.
If there was a way to make him become his ally, he could obtain an underling that was even stronger than Balrog.
'I want to make him an ally, but I can't just stand still and watch him grow.'
KangWoo crossed his arms and stroked his chin with one hand.
'Then…'
KangWoo's eyes shone.
He thought of a good idea.
—Something that could help ShiHoon grow and turn him into his ally.
'And it's something I can only do now.'
The tips of KangWoo's mouth went up.
He thought he was lucky to have found Kim ShiHoon at that point.
"Mr. KangWoo? Did something happen?"
Seol-ah had finished healing Kim ShiHoon and was walking toward KangWoo.
KangWoo erased the smile on his face and calmly answered.
"Oh, I was just thinking about something."
"Ha. What was that monster? It was my first time seeing it... Things could've gotten really dangerous if it weren't for Mr. KangWoo."
"I'm not sure... I also have no idea why a monster like that appeared in a D-rank gate," KangWoo said while analyzing the corpse of the demon wolf.
He wanted to know what a Fissure Fragment was and why demonic monsters were appearing in gates.
"How is ShiHoon doing?"
"Oh, he's gotten better. He still can't properly move, but walking should be okay."
"Hmm…"
* * *
KangWoo nodded and walked to Kim ShiHoon.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm feeling better, thanks to Ms. Seol-ah."
"That's good to hear."
"If it weren't for Mr. KangWoo, I would've been hurt even worse. Thank you. I've heard it from Mr. TaeSoo, but you're really strong."
Kim ShiHoon smiled while standing up.
The atmosphere seemed to brighten up just from his smile.
"Of course! I've never seen a player as strong as KangWoo hyeongnim!"
TaeSoo began bragging about KangWoo.
"He isn't just strong! KangWoo hyeongnim is someone with a strong sense of justice. He previously taught the members of Andras Guild a lesson all by himself!"
"Woah."
"Hehehe! I, Kang TaeSoo, promisedmy loyalty to KangWoo hyeongnim!"
"You have a good hyeongnim."
Kim ShiHoon nodded and turned his head to KangWoo.
It seemed like he was also starting to trust KangWoo.
"Oh, also, I've never seen someone like ShiHoon hyeong among second Awakening players. You're also no joke."
"You're exaggerating."
"Hehehe. But why didn't you enter a big guild? You probably could join any guild you wanted. The Mir guild has been seeking out new members. Aren't you interested in it?"
"I'm not planning to enter a guild. Especially the Mir guild."
After hearing the name ‘Mir guild’, Kim ShiHoon's expression became cold.
TaeSoo realized that his expression had changed.
"Hmm. I see. Did something happen with the Mir guild?" He asked while scratching his head.
"Nothing worth mentioning," Kim ShiHoon said in an uncharacteristically cold and firm voice.
TaeSoo thought he had mentioned something he shouldn't have, so he lowered his head.
"Well, it seems like something bad happened in the past. I'm sorry for asking something I shouldn't have."
"No, it's not that. It's just that it's a bit complicated... I'm sorry for reacting in such a way."
It seemed like Kim ShiHoon managed to control his temper. He once again turned around while smiling.
"I feel better. So let's search for the next..."
"You still haven't fully recovered, so I think it would be better if we stopped for the day."
"I'm okay."
"You don't need to overwork yourself. We can always hunt tomorrow."
"Hmm... Understood."
Kim ShiHoon nodded and turned around.
KangWoo walked toward the entrance of the gate with the rest of the party.
"Hyeongnim! Are you going to come tomorrow, too?"
"No. Do it yourselves. Also, don't forget what I told you earlier."
"Ah..."
"I can't be watching your backs forever."
"Hmm. Well, understood. I'm going to level up more so I can farm with hyeongnim!"
"Okay, I'll be waiting."
KangWoo laughed and walked out of the gate.
"Then, I'll be going this way."
"Yes, let's see you tomorrow, eonni! Oppas!"
After finishing hunting, everyone went their own way.
KangWoo was walking with Seol-ah since they lived in the same house.
"Seol-ah."
"Yes, Mr. KangWoo."
"There's something I must do, so go first."
"Ah... Is it urgent?"
"Yes."
"Okay. What about dinner?"
"Eat first. I might be a bit late."
Han Seol-ah looked disappointed that she wouldn't be able to return home with KangWoo, but she turned around and walked into the station.
"Then..."
After parting ways with Han Seol-ah, KangWoo turned to where Kim ShiHoon had gone.
"Should I start?"
With a deep smile on his face, he kicked the floor and soared into the air.
* * *
"Oof... Mir Guild."
Kim ShiHoon thought of the name that had come out while talking with TaeSoo.
Thinking about someone that was in that guild, vague emotions filled his heart.
He shook his head to erase those emotions and kept walking. It was at that moment…
"Mr. KangWoo?"
Kim ShiHoon was walking to the bus station to return to his house when he saw KangWoo, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, and tilted his head.
KangWoo carefully walked toward Kim ShiHoon while looking around.
"There's something I needed to talk about with you."
"Oh, yes. What is it?"
"Hmm... It's something important, so let's go somewhere private."
"Understood."
Kim ShiHood nodded and walked into an alleyway.
Once inside it, he turned around toward KangWoo.
"What did you want to s—"
Paf-!!
"Ugh!!"
KangWoo hit Kim ShiHoon in the stomach.
ShiHoon wasn't expecting KangWoo to hit him, so he fell to the ground.
"Coff! Coff! Wh-what are you..."
"Oh. This is just insurance."
"Coff! In-insurance...?"
KangWoo got on top of Kim ShiHoon, who was lying on the floor.
He spoke with a calm voice.
"Mr. ShiHoon is going to become stronger from now on. You're probably going to become overwhelmingly stronger than other players, so I want to build a good relationship with you?"
"G-good relationship...?"
"To put it simply, I want us to become allies."
"Coff! How can you say something like that after doing such a crazy thing?!"
Kim ShiHoon tried to shake KangWoo off from on top of him.
KangWoo looked down on him with a smile.
"This is insurance for that."
"What does t—Cough!"
KangWoo moved his hand laden with demonic energy toward Kim ShiHoon's heart and through his chest.
While gathering as much demonic energy as possible, KangWoo used an Authority.
'Authority of Subordination.'
It was an Authority that forced the other party to become your subordinate.
To put it simply, it made someone the familiar spirit of a demon.
It allowed you a higher degree of control than the Authority of Fear.
"Ugh! Coff! S-stop...!"
"Don't worry. You'll forget everything that happened here," KangWoo said calmly while looking at Kim ShiHoon.
"Once you open your eyes, you'll live your normal life as you've been doing until now. You just have to hunt and keep getting stronger as you've been doing until now. You, TaeSoo, and Seol-ah will be able to become a party stronger than any other."
"Ugh! Coff!"
"Oh. If you become a familiar spirit, you'll be able to use a bit of my strength. It will probably be very useful for you to grow and get even stronger."
KangWoo used the power of the Authority to check if ShiHoon’s soul was under his control. Once he confirmed it, he took his hand out of ShiHoon’s heart.
Surprisingly, there wasn't any wound on Kim ShiHoon's chest. Not only that, but his clothes were also clean.
"Ah..."
Kim ShiHoon waved his hand in the air as if he were trying to grab something.
"You don't need to worry about anything."
KangWoo grabbed his hand and spoke in a low voice.
"We'll become really good allies."
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