Chapter 67
Bukchon Hanok Village.
As Doyoon stepped into a deserted alley, a sharp voice pierced into his mind.
—Keep straight, then turn left at the second fork. At the end, look for the brick with the dragon pattern.
It was Jung Mintae’s voice.
“What is this, some kind of spy historical drama?”
Doyoon followed the instructions.
The street was lined with old hanok houses.
At the dead end, where no signs of life could be felt, his eyes caught sight of a weathered wall.
“Let’s see…”
Sure enough, faintly etched at the bottom was a dragon motif.
The moment Doyoon fixed his gaze on the dragon pattern—
The space before him rippled like water, distorting.
Swaaahhh—
The barrier opened.
Beyond it appeared a grand estate occupying a space that should have been physically impossible.
—Enter.
Without hesitation, Doyoon stepped into that unreal rift.
A silence fell.
A vast mansion where the noise of the world could not reach.
“I’ve been waiting.”
At the center of a wide wooden hall sat the King of Authority, Jung Mintae, cross-legged.
Though his eyes remained closed, the oppressive aura radiating from him dominated the entire estate.
But it wasn’t Jung Mintae who caught Doyoon’s attention.
It was the man standing beside him, a blue spear leaning against the pillar at his side—
The man who looked at Doyoon with eyes full of reverence.
[The title, ‘Breaker of Walls (S)’ manifests.]
[A lower-ranked player gazes upon you with awe.]
“Seonpoong Spear, Kang Ilho.”
The memory surfaced.
Now only AAA-rank, but unlike Yoo Jihoon, everything about him—from his martial roots, to his skills, to his potential—was on a different level entirely.
Within a year, he would ascend to S-rank, astonishing the world.
“…Other than me, he’ll be the first in this country to achieve the feat of becoming a ‘Postnatal S-rank.’”
Of course, comparing him to a descender like Doyoon was unfair.
But Kang Ilho was still an extraordinary figure.
For he was a descendant who earned reincarnation, despite not being of great cause lineage.
In the 11th and 12th iterations, the criteria for the guardian gods choosing their descendants to reincarnate were twofold:
Those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation,
or those who, regardless of loyalty, had abilities that shook the age itself.
Kang Ilho clearly belonged to the latter category, alongside the King of Authority.
“It’s been a while, Hyun Doyoon.”
At that moment, another man approached, standing beside Yoon Seha, who wore an uncharacteristically stern expression.
Neatly dressed, slender in build, with warm yet penetrating eyes.
Doyoon’s gaze fixed on him.
“…Grand Chancellor Choi Jinhyuk.”
The architect of a 500-year dynasty.
With his unparalleled insight, he transcended his era and even offered a vision for Korea’s future.
He was the very embodiment of great cause among the reincarnates.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Choi Jinhyuk of the <Ribbon Society>, a civil official.”
“…Civil official?”
Tilting his head slightly, Doyoon was answered instead by Yoon Seha.
“We divide reincarnates into two categories. Those like me, the King of Authority, and the Seonpoong Spear, born with martial talent—we are military officials (Mushin). Then there are those like Choi Jinhyuk, who move the world with their intellect—the civil officials (Munshin).”
Her gaze shifted to the corner of the estate.
“There’s also that guy.”
Over there, adjusting the artifacts that composed the barrier, was formation master Lee Seojun.
“…Neither this nor that type?”
“Call it balanced in both.”
With sharp eyes, Lee Seojun too had gathered here.
“So these are all the members of the <Ribbon Society>?”
Choi Jinhyuk answered calmly.
“There are likely far more reincarnates in this land than you imagine.”
“I thought as much.”
“The ones gathered today are only the minimum needed to share this ‘plan.’”
Just then—
As if waiting, Jung Mintae rose from the hall.
“Let’s get straight to it. Monster Hunter, we need your power.”
His heavy voice shook the entire estate.
“In my past life, I was the grand chief of the Yemaek. Even then, I was strong. I united the scattered tribes and was on the verge of founding a great nation.”
His expression brimmed with pride.
“But what awaited me in the final battle was…”
His face darkened with the memory of defeat.
“…a devastating and humiliating rout. I lost everything, fled south, and became a vassal of Gojoseon. I died still dreaming of revenge… but never achieved it.”
That such words as ‘defeat’ and ‘humiliation’ came from the arrogant King of Authority was startling.
Doyoon narrowed his eyes.
“Similar to the Sword Saint’s story… yet different.”
His teeth clenched.
“On that day, the one who crushed me like an insect and tore off my arm called himself the Martial Emperor.”
Jung Mintae’s emergence had already shocked Korea twice—once by his overwhelming destructive power as an S-rank, and again by his brazen claim to the title of king.
And now—there was someone who toyed with Jung Mintae just as Doyoon had toyed with Yoo Jihoon?
—The Martial Emperor.
The weight of that title—greater even than “king”—pressed heavily on everyone’s hearts.
“…His tomb, the ‘Sealed Mound,’ still exists. In life, he buried within it the treasures of the northern tribes he conquered—especially those of our people.”
“Hmm.”
“The Sealed Mound has become a dungeon. Our ‘plan’ is to raid it.”
Doyoon immediately activated the [Great Library of Memory] for cross-verification.
He input the keywords: Martial Emperor, Sealed Mound, Yemaek, Reincarnates.
Results emerged.
[Search Results: 8 volumes]
<The Sealed Mound of the Martial Emperor: First Raid> – 11th iteration, Jung Mintae
<The Sealed Mound of the Martial Emperor: Second Raid> – 11th iteration, Jung Mintae
<The Sealed Mound of the Martial Emperor: Third Raid> – 11th iteration, Jung Mintae
<The Sealed Mound of the Martial Emperor: First Raid> – 12th iteration, Jung Mintae
…
Without doubt, the author was solely Jung Mintae.
But the Sealed Mound’s existence was clearly etched into his memory.
“…So he challenged it across two iterations, and failed miserably each time.”
A secret dungeon lying outside the sphere of the three guardian gods.
Even Doyoon hadn’t known about it.
After all, the guardian gods didn’t scour every descendant’s memory at the nano-level.
“Now the Ribbon Society has Korea’s top talents, all sharing the fact that they’re reincarnates…”
It took Jung Mintae three lifetimes to finally create the conditions for such cooperation.
“But why me?”
“Because the Sealed Mound is brimming with ancient curses, the resurrected army of the Martial Emperor, and intricate traps.”
“You talk like you’ve been there.”
“I have. Recently. And alone, it was impossible. Worst of all, there was unpredictable interference from monsters. That’s your specialty, isn’t it?”
His eyes gleamed.
“More importantly, you are pure combat power, standing equal to us. Well? Will you join us?”
Instead of answering, Doyoon looked to Choi Jinhyuk.
“What’s your opinion?”
“Ordinarily, this matter wouldn’t even be discussed. Raiding another country’s dungeon borders on territorial invasion. But…”
Jung Mintae cut in.
“We alone know of the Sealed Mound. Unless the Martial Emperor himself reincarnates.”
“…And even if he did,”
Choi Jinhyuk finished,
“He’d hide it as thoroughly as you did.”
“If this raid succeeds, the harvest would be resources beyond imagination for this nation.”
Heads nodded all around.
The consensus was clear.
“So, am I the last piece? Is your aim to recruit me into the Ribbon Society, or simply the raid?”
“We want both, but if you refuse, joining just the raid is fine.”
“And my share?”
“As much as you contribute. The system will calculate rewards by contribution anyway. As for byproducts, they’ll be divided according to results.”
The King of Authority asked lightly,
“Shall we hear your answer now?”
Doyoon’s gaze shifted between Jung Mintae’s face and the stacks of Sealed Mound Raid Records.
This was…
“Worth attempting.”
His heart thumped quietly, but with distinct excitement.
Usually, butterfly effects led to ruin.
That was why he had been keeping an eye on the Ribbon Society—to observe and control this uncertain variable.
But now, that very variable—
The ripple that had started from him—
Was revealing itself as the key to a new raid.
“…This 13th iteration truly is different.”
A new path lay open before him.
Doyoon stepped onto it.
“Very well. I accept.”
After the meeting.
Jung Mintae approached Choi Jinhyuk.
“What do you think of the Monster Hunter now that you’ve seen him?”
“He certainly feels different, but…”
Trailing off, Choi Jinhyuk watched Doyoon’s retreating back as he stepped through the barrier’s exit.
At that moment, his trait [Exceptional Insight (S)] activated.
“A strong one. But not merely strong.”
A presence that only those who had ruled for ages could possess.
A charisma that bent the gaze of the masses.
“They said he was a warrior in Joseon. But why does he carry the aura of a king?”
It was strange.
His aura resembled the King of Authority’s—but seemed to stand even higher.
“…I’ll need to keep a closer watch on him.”
Daebang-dong. A shabby single-family house.
This was Doyoon’s dwelling near his office.
Considering his wealth, it was laughably modest, but compared to the cramped studio of the past, it was a palace.
Spacious enough for one, and he rarely stayed home anyway.
But tonight was different.
For the first time since moving in, he sat on the yard bench, gazing at the quiet night sky.
Above the city lights, faint stars glimmered.
He reaffirmed his resolve.
“The Sealed Mound raid, huh.”
Even with the Ribbon Society, nothing would go smoothly.
Greater risks and variables lurked ahead.
In the end, the only one he could truly rely on was himself.
[Activating ‘Cross-Species Fusion (Grade: None).’]
[Select items for fusion.]
Slot 1: (Waiting for selection)
Slot 2: (Waiting for selection)
It was time to unleash the materials he had stockpiled.
Slot 1: ‘Corrupted Black Armor (Heroic)’
Slot 2: ‘Pitch-Black Cape (Heroic)’
Both outdated equipment, long outclassed.
Though differing in type, both belonged to the dark-magic line, and thus were compatible.
[Corrupted Black Armor] had once been useful, but now it was time to let go.
Even if it broke, so be it.
[Fusion outcome: Unpredictable.]
[Warning! Irreversible once executed.]
[Proceed with fusion? Y/N]
“Execute.”
His finger pressed the button.
A roulette with Failure and Success spun in the air.
Spinnn!
Click!
[Fusion successful!]
Another roulette spun rapidly.
[Lineage not preserved.]
[Complete Mutation achieved!]
[Final item determined.]
[‘Baeknyeon Hasuo (Heroic)’]
—A mystical herb, 100 years old, brimming with the pure essence of the earth.
Armor turned into medicine…?
An utterly unpredictable result.
A faint smile tugged at Doyoon’s lips.
“This isn’t warm-up—it’s main-event level.”
He immediately prepared his next gamble.
Slot 1: ‘Mask of Darkness (Heroic)’
Slot 2: ‘Chronosa Battle Helmet (Heroic)’
The Mask of Darkness specialized in stealth and concealment.
The Chronosa Helmet contained battle-assist systems.
[Proceed with fusion? Y/N]
Failure would sting, but he was resolved.
“Heroic-grade gear can be replenished from the shop anyway.”
Without hesitation, he pressed the button.
[‘Slot 2’ lineage preserved.]
[Rank-Up achieved!]
[Final item determined.]
[‘Helmet of Insight (Epic)’]
—A helm infused with the power to pierce through the truths of battle. Dispels all veils of deception and lays bare the essence.
—Unique Skill [Insight Switch System]: Change modes to gain the following:
• Detection Mode: Automatically perceives stealth and camouflage within range.
• Intuition Mode: Senses threats, predicts movements, enhances reaction speed.
• Night Vision Mode: Grants clear sight even in total darkness.
• Trap Detection Mode: Reveals magical or mechanical traps.
• Distortion Detection Mode: Sees through illusions, mirages, and trickery.
—Stat bonuses: Combat Sense +1, Intuition +2, Perception +2.
“Jackpot!”
The sacrifice of the Mask of Darkness was more than worth it.
But the challenge didn’t end there.
Kwoooo—!
A strange, radiant gem floated above Doyoon’s palm.
[‘Heart of the Forcefield (Epic)’]
—The core of an orbital dragon. A pure energy crystal, itself a miniature fusion reactor.
[VVIP Advisory: Ultra-high-density energy detected. Apply with suitable category and purpose.]
[Use this item? Y/N]
The absorption of an epic-grade power source.
At last, the time had come.
