hotmtlnovel Chapter 355: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (1)
Chapter 355: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (1)
Chapter 355: Ranbir & An Hui-yoon (1)
‘Is this a hint about the existence of another elite group? Kim Sin-ryeong’s commission, K’s story—things keep popping up.’
Kang-hoo’s gaze deepened.
Whoever “Purple Eyes” was, one thing was certain: they were someone Kang-hoo could hardly gauge.
They had never been mentioned in the original. In other words, they were a being who had never appeared “in text.”
Of course, did that mean they din’t exist in this world? Naturally, no.
It’s simply a part not filled in by words—surely completed when the world solidified through possession.
After the possession—
What had always weighed on Kang-hoo’s mind was everything related to the Demon King.
In the original, the story ended with the Demon King’s advent, so there was nothing after that.
He hadn’t written side stories; before he could, he possessed Shin Kang-hoo. Now he had become Shin Kang-hoo entirely.
So while tales connected to the Demon King existed in this world, they were unknown territory to Kang-hoo.
“Purple Eyes” was likely a being on that boundary as well.
A being that must be directly or indirectly linked to the Demon King, like Wind of the God.
‘Damn.’
Kang-hoo bit his lip.
Whoever they were, to have slaughtered the Shinto Guild master and all the top executives—
Either they feared nothing, or they were confident those people could never touch them.
– Kang-hoo. For the time being, a representative I’m sending will manage the market in Seoul. I’ll hand over everything related to me, so feel free to drop by anytime. No need to worry about handover on that end.
“Thank you for the consideration.”
Kang-hoo answered Yu Cheonghwa briefly.
If she was sending a representative, she might be late returning from Beijing to Seoul.
Or... she might not return at all.
Perhaps thinking along similar lines as Kang-hoo, Emilia asked:
“Cheonghwa, what are you going back to do? Stabilize things? Emergency meetings? If you were only stepping out for a bit, you wouldn’t need to send a representative.”
Emilia’s timely question was appreciated.
Hearing her, Yu Cheonghwa stayed quiet for a while. A sigh slipped in midway.
A sigh that came when many thoughts crossed—hardly a light sigh of simple vexation.
But then, clearing her husky voice with a small cough, Yu Cheonghwa answered firmly.
– Given how things are, shouldn’t I at least try for the vacant master’s seat?
“...!”
He had anticipated it might go that way, but hearing a definitive answer still made Kang-hoo flinch.
Even as written in the original, Yu Cheonghwa’s temperament leaned ambitious—akin to Lars Abel.
In practice, The Thirteen Stars had been a fine purse for her, and they had played a key role in boosting her influence in the Shinto Guild.
All the more so now, when all potential top contenders had vanished—Yu Cheonghwa had a real shot.
Her lack of an internal power base was a weakness, but she wouldn’t throw a reckless gambit without countermeasures.
‘She could have her own privately built network. Or she might have many touchpoints with the Shinsu Guild, Shinto’s satellite. Since she has no faction inside Shinto.’
If you looked for possibilities, there were many. Clearly, she judged she had odds—and chose accordingly.
In that case, helping fulfill Yu Cheonghwa’s ambition while separating her from The Thirteen Stars wouldn’t be bad.
However, since Jang Si-hwan might strategically intervene in the succession fight within the Shinto Guild... it could be good to meet Yu Cheonghwa in person soon.
He wanted to give her psychological motivation to draw a line from Jang Si-hwan—or probe her true intentions.
If that worked— the split he had envisioned when he first saw Takashi, Yu Cheonghwa, and Emilia—separating the three—would become possible.
He could peel three away from the thirteen main villains.
A 23% reduction in enemy power without a single power contest—a strategic victory indeed.
‘A bloodstorm will blow through the Shinto Guild.’
Kang-hoo lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
For whatever reason, the leadership had vanished wholesale; civil war was unavoidable.
“Purple Eyes” had sparked it, but there was little chance of finding them. They couldn’t be that sloppy.
Only—
Kang-hoo could barely restrain his curiosity about the being called Purple Eyes.
Who in the world could personally punish the Shinto Guild’s master?
And would that someone be on his side—or an enemy who would stand with The Thirteen Stars?
The question mark stamped in his mind refused to fade for a while.
After that, Kang-hoo immediately set his return schedule.
He had to make the time set with the Groo Guild, and his arrangements with Emilia had also wrapped up.
In a way, he’d come a long way just for a test, but Kang-hoo considered it a highly meaningful investment.
Even if the monetary gain was small, he had at least left a clear imprint on Emilia’s heart.
The “question” he hadn’t asked would keep reminding her of him for a long time.
In front of the airport—
Seeing him off, Emilia lightly took Kang-hoo’s elbow as he headed for the gate and said:
“Will we be able to meet often?”
Kang-hoo smiled.
Not the question he especially expected—but the answer he would give was already fixed.
“If I were that idle, wouldn’t I be unworthy of your time, Emilia?”
“True... yes. I do know you’re busy. I guess I just felt this meeting was too short and was left wanting more.”
“I feel the same.”
He meant it.
He thought that if they had run a few more dungeons together, it would have been far more fun.
In any case, Emilia’s home ground wasn’t Korea—it was France.
Which meant the scale and character of the dungeons she could offer here would be distinct.
“Next time—”
Emilia began to say something, then stopped.
But since she had already said “next time,” she raised her voice, deciding there was no need to dither.
“I want to go to a different dungeon together. And I want to match our rhythm properly then.”
“Is it a dungeon you own, Emilia?”
“Yes. I have a few that aren’t known publicly. You’ll find them interesting. Takashi did.”
“Oh-ho.”
Here, her “interesting” didn’t literally mean fun.
It meant suffering through trials near death, facing diverse variable situations, and pushing forward.
So of course Takashi—who had perverse dungeon tastes—had called it “interesting.”
It was what he wanted.
For whatever reason, it would be best if they had to seek him out—that would give him grounds to speak.
“I’ll contact you.”
“Call anytime. Even if I can’t come immediately, I’ll tell you when I can.”
“Good.”
“The meal you made with such care was delicious, and I liked the heartfelt talk too. I’m going back with only good memories.”
“Me too.”
As Kang-hoo drew farther away, Emilia waved with all her might.
Thinking of the finger gesture when he had arrived, it was a farewell full of heartfelt regret.
A smiling goodbye.
Kang-hoo showed Emilia the biggest smile he could and took his leave.
Before boarding, Kang-hoo stopped by a maintenance space inside Charles de Gaulle Airport.
It was to remove the grime and stains that had built up on his items.
Rolling through dungeons of various climates and environments, things naturally got dirty.
A simple rinse and wipe wouldn’t remove everything—regular maintenance was essential.
It cost a fair bit.
But Kang-hoo had a card to rely on.
The Spitfire Guild’s gold card with a monthly limit of 2 billion won.
He was still using it diligently each time the limit reset. He never wasted an opportunity.
‘The U.K., too, at least once...’
One way or another, he figured he’d have reason to visit the Spitfire Guild.
The U.K. was another land of opportunity. He planned to stamp his feet there soon.
Many places to go—each with chances and gains to seize!
For Kang-hoo, who still craved the sweetness of growth, those were necessary motivations and goals.
There was nothing more foolish than letting someone else snatch the chances he aimed for.
He didn’t want to yield a single one.
Only then— could he eat it all himself, right?
His return flight wasn’t a charter, but it was first class—booked by Emilia.
Thanks to that, Kang-hoo could return in comfort; he settled in, planning to sleep early.
He even remembered to use the restroom in advance so he wouldn’t wake mid-sleep.
But then—
‘Huh...?’
As he headed toward the restroom, the identity of a man who brushed past made Kang-hoo turn his head.
Boarding first class, he had known the man was a hunter—the constellation scan had triggered.
A wealthy hunter in premium seats wasn’t unusual, so he hadn’t cared.
But the constellation info he glimpsed from a passing scan was extraordinary.
It was the constellation of someone he had never expected to meet here.
【Nachal】
【A constellation that lets its contractor precisely and delicately perceive an enemy’s attacks in ultra-close quarters and respond. At times enabling a contemplative state as if time stands still, he still seeks much enlightenment.】
‘Nachal—here?’
Nachal.
A top-50 constellation, marked by a golden nameplate.
Normally, right after the first scan, before checking details, names displayed in ordinary colors.
But once Kang-hoo read through the details, Nachal’s nameplate turned gold.
In the original, only one hunter had this as his main constellation—and the timing fit.
‘Ranbir Kumar.’
An India-born hunter.
He would be the next to join The Thirteen Stars after Lars Abel—the tenth member.
And now he’d boarded a flight to Korea. In the original, it wasn’t yet time for him to go to Korea.
It was close in time, yes, but like Lars, more time should have been needed.
‘There’s only one reason for Ranbir, who has no ties to Seoul, to move—Jang Si-hwan called him.’
There could be no other reason.
Was it a butterfly effect from the Battle of Dongducheon? Or Jang Si-hwan’s instinct sensing danger?
‘Not good news.’
In the larger frame, Ranbir was certainly not an ally—rather, an enemy.
Constellation synergy was the reason.
Among Jang Si-hwan’s constellations, “Geumgang Yacha” had excellent synergy with Ranbir’s Nachal.
Because of that, not only were they mutually drawn to each other, but subconscious rapport formed easily.
Meaning they could fight as if fused into one body—surpassing even Jang Si-hwan’s close friend Chae Gwanhyeong.
They synced so well that, during serialization, readers even asked if there was a same-sex subtext.
‘So the tenth member is coming to our country now, earlier than scheduled...’
An unwelcome arrival to Korea.
Staring at the back of Ranbir’s head, Kang-hoo’s eyes deepened.
Was Lady Luck not going to smile only on him?