Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 75

In the original work, Heo Mugong and Cha Jaeha end up confronting each other.

 

「 Heo Mugong was looking at the burning Enet.

Blood trickled down Cha Jaeha’s forehead. Among the streams of blood, the blood near his eyes looked like tears.

 

He had never imagined seeing people, not monsters, in a gate.

Through countless Gates and dungeons, he had seen ‘people’ within them. 

 

Cha Jaeha was confused. Who were they? Were they equal to the lives living in their own world? What did he have to do to save the majority?

 

Even so, the priority given to him did not change.

 

What Cha Jaeha prioritized the most was always the world he actually lived in. In fact, if you looked at it that way, he had no obligation to save the citizens of the city called ‘Enet’. He just needed to give Kim Daecheol the hope to live for tomorrow. Or even despair would be fine.

 

Either way, if that happened, he would live for ‘tomorrow’, even if just for revenge. Wasn’t it enough for just the protagonist to survive?

 

However, as time passed, Cha Jaeha began to think that he wanted to save the lives in front of him.

 

“Save me….”

 

A single life of Enet cried and burned just like that.

 

“…..I’ll kill you.”

 

Cha Jaeha muttered. Heo Mugong turned around. He looked at the sky.

 

Like a person who had been waiting only for this day,

 

“The real sky is truly beautiful, isn’t it, Cha Jaeha-ssi?”

 

Heo Mugong was smiling happier than anyone else. 」

 

It was a wretched ending. Though Cha Jae-ha manages to resolve it somehow through protagonist buffs, that event haunts him for a long time. 

 

‘I don’t want to see it turn out that way. I’m the only one allowed to torment our kid.’

 

—Just look at this mage’s personality. 

 

Hwashin, ignoring the dragon’s words, rested his chin on his fingers. 

 

Actually, this plotline itself isn’t flowing according to the original work anymore anyway.

 

‘Maybe the possibility of that happening has decreased, even if just a little. If Kim Dae-cheol joins properly from the start—.’

 

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

 

Normally, this would have been the timing for Jeong Mueum to throw such a question.

 

“You’re definitely a little different from usual.”

 

Cha Jaeha was standing next to Hwashin. With his arms crossed, he was scanning the entire situation.

 

—Shall we head over there for now? Our members are waiting. 

 

Heo Mugong guided the 1st Squad members and Kim Daecheol toward the lit area.

 

Cha Jaeha asked Hwashin, who was walking slightly apart from the group.

 

“This dungeon is a little different from before. Do you know something?”

 

“In what way?”

 

As if he had been waiting, Cha Jaeha fired off his words like a rapid-fire gun. Does the Nagging trait…. even give this kind of effect?

 

“First, the thing called light. It seems to be a concept similar to the magic power of the place we live in. It’s probably an expression of stats. And the character named Kim Daecheol. It was unpleasant during Lee Suho’s time too, but he’s too three-dimensional.”

 

“It’s only natural for a living person to be three-dimensional.”

 

“…..A living person, you say.”

 

A furrow formed between Cha Jaeha’s brows. 

 

“Yes, he’s alive. But that doesn’t mean I have any intention of sincerely saving these people. Whether it’s Illusion City or Enet or whatever, our goal is—” 

 

“To give Kim Daecheol a future so the dimension doesn’t stop, and repair the crack. And to close the Gate.” 

 

“Right, you know it well.”

 

“But aren’t you the one becoming too synchronized with this place, Jaeha? Your ‘Nagging’ trait has fully blossomed.” 

 

As Hwashin sneered playfully, Cha Jaeha sighed.

 

“It’d be better if you got rid of your mouth.”

 

“Then my charm would drop.”

 

“You two over there! Hurry up! Over here!”

 

Yoo Jian, who had already followed Heo Mugong, called the two from a few meters away. Jaeha and Hwashin’s gazes simultaneously turned to one side.

 

She shouted excitedly.

 

“There are American heroes here too!”

 

***

 

“Hello.”

 

“Hi~.”

 

The two heroes from the US had a free-spirited vibe. Due to the nature of the gate, all languages were automatically translated and heard.

 

“I guess they really did request help from the Korean side? I wondered how they’d manage to get in, right?” 

 

“I know. Since we’re on the same side for now, shall we at least shake hands? I’m Adam Hardy. Please call me Adam.”

 

One of the two was tall. At a glance, he had a muscular body that looked to be at least 190cm tall. He stood up from his seat and held out his hand. A brave puppy grabbed that hand and shook it.

 

“Hello.”

 

“I heard Koreans look young for their age, but you really look young? Are you an adult?”

 

“I’m a high school student.”

 

“Oh! No way!”

 

It seemed the country’s unique reactions didn’t sound any different.

 

Adam tilted his head to the side.

 

“You’re still a minor? ….Hmm, well, we have minor heroes too. But a Red Gate must be quite dangerous?”

 

Then, the small man standing next to him chimed in.

 

“But Adam, he might have better stamina than you! How old are you over there? I’m 20!”

 

“I’m 18.”

 

“Oh! We’re similar! Let’s get along! It was already so uncomfortable hanging around a bearded mister anyway.”

 

“Nathan, that’s too harsh. Mister’s feelings get hurt too.”

 

It was then.

 

“Has everyone finished their introductions? Hmm. It’ll be a problem if you get this close before even enlisting.”

 

Heo Mugong was smiling, but his eyes were not.

 

“I’m going to drop anyone who’s below the standard. Let’s start with the entrance test first.”

 

“Alright!”

 

Nathan, who had red hair and green eyes, shot his hand up. Adam and the SH1 Unit also turned their eyes toward the arena.

 

“Well, we are short on manpower after all. I’d like to pass all the applicants if possible. …But we still need a standard, right? How about we make it so you enlist if you fight and win against the guys from our side?”

 

“Is it that simple?”

 

When Yoo Jian asked, Heo Mugong laughed loudly.

 

“Is it simple enough to say that? I’m looking forward to it. Then the first runner, come on out. We already have our fixed members, you see.”

 

Saying that, Heo Mugong stepped back. One of the people who had been huddled together on the stone steps came out and stood in the center of the arena.

 

“Who should go from our side?”

 

At Hwashin’s question, Nathan fluttered his hand again this time.

 

“Me! Me! Me! I want to go!”

 

“Then I’ll go next~.”

 

“Then….”

 

Once the order was somewhat decided, Nathan took the lead.

 

He had a rough idea about the information on the American heroes.

 

Nathan was a man with a small and skinny build. Instead, unlike Adam, his characteristic was agile and fast movements.

 

“Hi. Nice to meet you.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

Shall we begin then? Heo Mugong looked at Park Sodu. As if he had been waiting, the match began as soon as Sodu blew the whistle.

 

“Huh, what the.”

 

Before the man could even move, Nathan had already dashed right up to his nose. Nathan’s ability wasn’t rare. There was a hero with the 「Acceleration」 ability among Yoo Jian’s peers as well. It was just that the level of utilization was different.

 

Speed was added to the fist thrown by the small physique. A strange light gleamed in Nathan’s eyes. The speed he rushed at, the arm pulled back, and the force pushed forward again.

 

‘Acceleration, Acceleration, Acceleration.’

 

“Hah, there he goes again.”

 

Adam slapped his forehead and lowered his head.

 

With a loud crash, the man who had been standing on the arena flew backward. The man, who flew far out of the 5m arena and hit the exterior wall of the building, crashed to the ground just like that.

 

Nathan dusted off his hitting hand and said.

 

“Did I pass?”

 

Watching that scene, Heo Mugong took the smoking pipe from his mouth and smiled.

 

“Yeah, congratulations. A new member.”

 

Nathan raised his arms high in the air. A victory performance!

 

Nathan returned to his seat after enjoying the final pleasure to the fullest.

 

“Yahoo! Now, then next~ Who was next again?”

 

“It’s me.”

 

Yoo Jian and Nathan, having dropped formalities and gotten close at some point, high-fived and switched places.

 

The fallen man was dragged out by Park Sodu, and a new member was filling that spot.

 

The fierce-looking man spat on the arena. He briefly scanned Yoo Jian and then asked shortly.

 

“A woman?”

“Yeah, a woman.”

 

Yoo Jian answered the man while rolling her wrists. The man smirked and drew a line across his neck with his finger, saying, ‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’

 

“I don’t hold back just because it’s a woman, you see.”

 

“Oh my, you’re one to talk.”

 

Yoo Jian smiled and mimicked snapping a neck with both hands.

 

The problem was that when Yoo Jian does that.

 

It doesn’t end as just mimicking.

 

Thud.

 

Thud. Crack.

 

“Wa-Wait a moment—!”   

 

Hwashin, who was squatting on the stairs, couldn’t bear to watch and shouted.

 

“Jian, you’re going to kill someone.”

 

Yoo Jian answered in a calm voice. Her cheeks were already splattered with blood.

 

“Ah, he won’t die. He won’t die.”

 

Her white shirt was already covered in dust and blood. The man’s face was wet with tears. Perhaps because of his swollen eyelids, only the whites of his eyes were visible now.

 

When Hwashin called her name one more time, only then did Yoo Jian let go of his collar. Thud. Beaten to a pulp, the man crawled back to his spot. Yoo Jian returned with a refreshed face.

 

“Heh.”

 

Kim Daecheol, who had watched this entire situation, could only marvel. 

 

The only person with this level of ability within the rebel army would actually be the commander, Heo Mugong. Because there were many ordinary people among the initial members.

 

Adam, Jeong Mueum, and Lee Suho’s turns also passed by in a flash. At the never-before-seen abilities, even those watching from the stairs couldn’t help but let out gasps.

 

‘Among these people, the one coming out last…. that person, then.’

 

Glancing down at Hwashin, Kim Daecheol went next to him and asked.

 

“…..Is Hwashin-ssi also that strong? No, are you even stronger than that?”

 

At that question, Hwashin smiled and said.

 

“Me, at that level?”

 

Kim Daecheol nodded.

 

If the others were at this level, then just how strong was Yoo Hwashin, who possessed an unmeasurable amount? He couldn’t gauge the depth of it. It was even more so when he looked at his eyes. There was nothing that could gauge Hwashin’s age.

 

“I am….”

 

Just as he was about to answer Kim Daecheol’s question.

 

“Then only Cha Jaeha and Yoo Hwashin are left. Who wants to go first?”

 

After Lee Suho finished his match and returned, Yoo Jian threw out a question.

 

“I will.”

 

Simultaneously with his answer, Hwashin stood up from his seat. Telling Kim Daecheol to wait for a moment, he went up onto the arena. Cracking his neck to the side, Hwashin asked.

 

“I can choose my opponent too, right?”

 

Heo Mugong shrugged to mean it didn’t matter, and Hwashin also smiled gently.

 

“Then I’ll choose Kim Daecheol.”

 

“….What?”

 

Surprised, informal speech popped out of Kim Daecheol’s mouth involuntarily. The remaining heroes on the stairs also whispered softly with expressions mixed with shock.

 

‘Is he… originally that kind of person?’

 

‘Nathan, that person is even worse than you think. But to think he’d pick Kim Daecheol…’

 

‘That b*stard, seriously.’

 

With a flustered face, Kim Daecheol waved his hands and answered.

 

“I-I’m not a vice-commander anymore—.”

 

“Ey, you said you were curious.”

 

No malice whatsoever could be seen on his brightly smiling face.

 

“Come on out. I won’t kill you.”