Resurrection Chapter 6 - The Man Who Was Once a Paladin

Swallowing a bitter, almost heartbreaking feeling, I assisted those struggling to kill the cockatrices. I swiftly slit their throats and carved out their cores to extract the magic stones.

Magic stones, hailed as a new energy source, are a prime dungeon resource and quite lucrative. Most hunters venture into dungeons to hunt for these stones.

I wasn’t here to hunt, but the magic stone from a five-star monster was notably large.

Seeing the fist-sized magic stone, the eyes of those who had been wailing about life and death moments ago widened in awe.

Trying to take control of the situation, the hunter from earlier approached, removing his glove. He extended his hand for a handshake and formally introduced himself.

“Thanks for the help. I’m Kang Cheol-jun, from the Mugunghwa unit of the Special Operations Division of the Otherworldly Ability Management Agency.”

Surprised by the unexpected revelation, I asked back.

“The Agency…? You’re a government official?”

Kang Cheol-jun nodded.

“Regrettably, yes.”

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Whether it’s surprising or expected, after the end of the Common Era (CE) and the start of the New Era (NE)—the First Year—South Korea undeniably rose to the ranks of a global superpower.

This was undoubtedly due to the rapid adaptation, application, and control of the awakened system.

When the cosmic gods appeared speaking of salvation, the backlash from Western nations and communist countries was surprisingly fierce. They refused to serve new gods, believing they could control the monsters pouring out of dungeons with human weapons, namely nuclear ones.

In contrast, Koreans, many of whom were atheists and highly adaptable to new systems, had no trouble embracing the awakened system, which resembled a game.

The government actively supported the cultivation of awakened ones, recruiting talented individuals into national service. As a result, many awakened ones in South Korea served the nation and its people.

The most prominent organization was the Otherworldly Ability Management Agency, or the Agency for short. Particularly famous was the Special Operations Division, directly under the agency’s director.

Classified by flower names, this division handled tasks beyond the scope of regular law enforcement. In short, they were awakened ones who took down other awakened ones.

Among the division’s teams, the Mugunghwa unit was known as the strongest, with members starting at B-rank.

Wondering why the famed Mugunghwa was here, I tilted my head.

“Is the emergence of a new god something even the Agency takes note of?”

“Seems like it. Especially if it’s a combat-oriented god with great power.”

A suspicion crept in, and I narrowed my eyes.

“So, you’re aiming to become the god’s apostle too…?”

Kang Cheol-jun shrugged.

“If that were the goal, the entire team would’ve shown up. I’m more interested in the person who’ll become the god’s apostle.”

“What, to recruit them?”

“If we help them reach the sanctum, that could be a possibility, right?”

The Agency, known for training and recruiting numerous awakened ones, was infamous for always extracting a price. There’s even a saying that it’s better to drown in dishwater than accept the Agency’s help.

And for good reason—turning awakened ones, who could amass great wealth, into salaried government officials was no easy task. Typically, they nurtured promising talents or directly trained them to become officials.

Alternatively, they scouted hunters in distress within dungeons, but the so-called scouting was more like a slave contract.

It seemed Kang Cheol-jun’s presence here today had a similar motive. Feeling uneasy, I waved my hand dismissively.

“Don’t even think about dragging Heesoo hyung into this.”

Kang Cheol-jun glanced at Heesoo hyung and said.

“You came here for Seo Heesoo?”

“Yeah, I’m the one taking Heesoo hyung to the sanctum, so stay out of it.”

“Hmm… It’s a bit unsettling to team up with someone who’s fallen after committing a sin. Honestly, I’m thinking it’d be better to recruit Kim Yitae, the former jack-of-all-trades and now A-rank magic swordsman.”

“Me?”

Pointing at myself in shock, Kang Cheol-jun nodded. Suddenly turning serious, he made an offer.

“Seeing your skills, you’re even more impressive than I thought. If I help you make Seo Heesoo the god’s apostle, would you consider joining the Special Operations Division?”

“No way! I don’t want to be a government official. Besides, I’m Team Breaker. Doesn’t that make you uneasy?”

It’s awkward to say myself, but I carry a particularly nasty jinx. Every raiding party I join ends up falling apart.

It’s not entirely my fault, but after my presence was highlighted during the split of Aec1, it became accepted as fact.

But being a government official, Kang Cheol-jun didn’t seem to care. He pressed on persistently.

“If you don’t want a full-time position, how about a contract role…”

“I’m a busy guy. You think I’m helping Heesoo hyung for no reason?”

For a moment, his eyebrow twitched.

Hmm, something’s off about his reaction.

As I raised my eyebrow in response, he softened his expression.

“My offer stands not just for today but anytime, so keep it in mind. And take these magic stones.”

Kang Cheol-jun pointed to the pile of cockatrice magic stones. I shook my head.

“Today’s goal isn’t making money—it’s reaching the sanctum. Carrying those would just be a burden. Take them to add to the national treasury, use them yourself, or distribute them to the others. Do whatever you want.”

“Distribute them to the others, you say…”

“Destroy them.”

A sudden voice cut in, and both Kang Cheol-jun and I fell silent.

It was Heesoo hyung.

He stared intently at the magic stones rolling on the ground and said.

“You won’t make it out of the sanctuary alive carrying those.”

Heesoo hyung was right. Magic stones were valuable, but since they came from monsters, they attracted others. They were likely to lure in monsters stronger than the cockatrices.

Hearing this, one of the guys eyeing the magic stones spoke up.

“Destroy them…? No way!”

The others joined in, voicing their opposition.

“That’s worth a fortune…!”

“A five-star monster’s magic stone is worth at least millions!”

“You’re just gonna crush it? That’s insane…”

“If you’re gonna do that, give them to us! We’ll take them!”

“Yeah, thanks for the help, but we’ll handle things from here!”

Blinded by the magic stones, they clamored about taking care of things themselves. I furrowed my brow in disgust.

Of course. These so-called hunters, who pride themselves on slaying monsters, are typically like this.

To them, money is worth more than their liver, their gallbladder, or even human lives.

Irritated and unwilling to engage further, I contrasted with Heesoo hyung, who looked at them sternly and spoke gravely.

“No matter how valuable magic stones are, they can’t be more precious than your life.”

Kang Cheol-jun chimed in from the side.

“He’s right. No matter how chaotic the world is, this isn’t a game. There’s no restart. You die once, and it’s over. Shouldn’t you prioritize your life over money?”

One of them bristled at that.

“That’s easy for someone like you, who’s had their fill of everything, to say!”

“Yeah, why do you think people like us risk our lives coming to places like this?”

“We came prepared to die, and now you’re telling us to go back empty-handed instead of becoming a god’s apostle?”

Not every awakened one becomes a first-class apostle basking in wealth and glory. It’s obvious, but many awakened ones are unremarkable.

Low-level with no qualities to catch a god’s eye, these fourth- or fifth-class so-called apostles couldn’t hear divine messages and had negligible abilities to borrow.

They must have entered the sanctuary hoping a new god might choose them as a first-class apostle, but to me, they were doomed. Already losing sight of their main goal and obsessing over immediate gains, they’d be lucky to make it out alive.

Looking at the protesting group, Heesoo hyung said coldly.

“If you came prepared to die, shouldn’t you be grateful to at least walk away with your life?”

“What’s so great about this pathetic life…?”

The guy who shouted that glared menacingly at Heesoo hyung. Absurdly, it was the same guy whose life Heesoo hyung had saved from having his skull pecked by a cockatrice.

“Being alive isn’t enough if you’re just breathing. A useless awakened one who can’t become a proper apostle is worthless! I don’t know if you’re clinging to life because it’s so precious despite your fall, but I…!”

Crunch!

Unable to listen any longer, I crushed one of the magic stones under my foot. The protesters’ eyes widened in shock, but none dared confront me. How do they expect to carry these stones out like that?