Chapter 6: Moving association.

Chapter 5: The Association in Motion.

As she used the artifact to enter the gate, a forest filled with red mist awaited her.

The forest was twisted, full of sickly, withered trees.

“…Thick mist and beast claws.”

Ha-yeon realized this gate was the Forest of Blood Hounds.

However, Ha-yeon, as if pleased, entered the mist and pursued the traces of people.

And not far away, she found Baek Yi-hyun’s group engaged in combat.

“Catch them, catch them!”

“Ah, they’re coming this way!”

“Hey, it’s stuck to your arm!”

“I didn’t notice, I was focused.”

“Wh-what is this?”

Watching Baek Yi-hyun’s group fight, Ha-yeon involuntarily spoke aloud even while stealthily observing.

Fortunately, her voice was drowned out by the sounds of battle and unheard by them, but the reason for her bewilderment was their fighting style.

While individual Blood Hounds aren’t strong, they move in large packs, making them quite troublesome monsters if you’re surrounded.

They are always aware of their enemies’ gazes, encircling in packs and precisely targeting blind spots, so one always had to be on edge.

But the battle before her eyes… no, it was a moment where she questioned if it could even be called a battle.

Baek Yi-hyun’s group wasn’t wary of the Blood Hounds at all.

To be precise, they were fighting while abandoning their defenses.

‘What kind of insane suicide act is this?!’

Even when bitten in vital spots, they only noticed belatedly and counterattacked, making Choi Ha-yeon wonder if she had entered a gate that showed illusions.

‘Wait, something’s strange?’

The situation before her was so shocking that she noticed belatedly, but despite clearly being bitten by Blood Hounds, there wasn’t even a scratch or a drop of blood.

Moreover, everyone commonly had a chain attached to their chest, and at the end of that chain was a box, presumed to be an artifact.

‘Could that possibly be the power of an artifact!’

She didn’t know the exact conditions, but it was likely an artifact with an absurd power that granted invincibility the moment one connected to it via a chain.

Having such an artifact made Ha-yeon understand the Crow Guild’s growth rate, but at the same time, she broke into a cold sweat thinking about the artifact’s cost.

Then, she closed her eyes and used all her strength to sense the presence within the artifact.

And then…

Thump- thump-

“…!”

A clearly audible heartbeat and a faint presence could be felt.

It was the moment she definitively realized there was a person inside the artifact.

And the only person who could fit into that small artifact was…

“A child…”

Ha-yeon continued to think, realizing that when a person gets too angry, their mind often becomes clearer.

When she had investigated beforehand, she hadn’t found any evidence of the Crow Guild engaging in human trafficking.

But how were they using a child as a sacrifice for an artifact?

No, in the current situation, that wasn’t what mattered.

‘If only I had noticed the child inside the artifact sooner…!’

Every time Baek Yi-hyun’s group was bitten by a Blood Hound, the box shook, and blood seeped out.

‘What kind of pain must they be enduring in there…!’

Ha-yeon bit her lip until it bled from regret.

Once activated, an artifact never returns the paid cost nor stops midway.

Literally, a cost.

That is, the moment the artifact was activated, the child who became the sacrifice could no longer be saved.

Ha-yeon wanted to go for Baek Yi-hyun’s neck right then and there, but she forced herself to hold back.

Because she had to punish him with undeniable evidence.

‘I’m sorry.’

Ha-yeon apologized to the child sacrificed within the artifact and continued to watch Baek Yi-hyun’s group.

Little did Ha-yeon know at that moment that this decision would later cause her even greater regret.

****

[Adaptation complete.]

“…!”

Ever since becoming this body, I had been feeling sleepy, as if I was adapting to something.

But seeing myself so clear-headed now, it seems the adaptation is complete.

“Yawn.”

As I was about to stretch, I suddenly realized I was still inside the box.

Moreover, seeing the chain on my chest and damage continuously coming in, it seems the noobs are fighting in what they call a gate, a dungeon, again today.

“Cough.”

Just then, someone coughed up blood, as if they had sustained a fatal injury to their neck.

To use a game analogy, it’s only about 3 points of damage, so I don’t know why they’re overreacting so much.

I recall my health regeneration being hundreds of millions per second, you know.

Well, in an MMORPG so old it’s rotting, numbers keep increasing, so calculation is meaningless, but anyway, it seems to be the effect of a game character becoming real.

Anyway, it seems it’s almost time for me to get out of the box.

These people have helped me a lot, so it seems it’s time to leave.

I’ve only been sleeping all this time, so I don’t know much about this world, but there probably isn’t that much of a difference.

Besides, they seemed to treat me as some kind of artifact? But they’re the first people I’ve met in this world, so I’ll just let it slide.

Just as I decided to get out of the box, clear out all the monsters fighting, and say my goodbyes.

[Restarting.]

“…Huh.”

An alert window popped up, as if mocking my decision.

Do you think I’m a computer rebooting after an update?!

But despite my complaints, I felt an irresistible urge to sleep and slowly closed my eyes.

[…Hehe.]

****

Evidence secured.

The artifact’s cost: a living child.

“…”

Choi Tae-seok’s expression hardened involuntarily as he checked the message from Ha-yeon.

He had expected the artifact’s cost to be high, but he never anticipated it would be activated by sacrificing a living child.

“Hmph…”

Choi Tae-seok rested his forehead on his clasped hands, cooling his rising anger.

And then he immediately pressed a button next to his desk and spoke.

“Bring them in. Failure is not an option.”

At his single command, the Association became busier than ever that night.

At the same time.

“Die!!!”

With Baek Yi-hyun’s shout, the boss of this gate, the Great Blood Hound, spewed blood and collapsed.

Originally a strong boss they couldn’t defeat with their skills alone, the boss eventually fell due to their continuous suicidal assaults, abandoning defense.

“As expected of the Guild Master!”

“This gate was an easy victory too!”

“Right, now that the gate has reopened, shall we head back?”

“Understood.”

“Ah, make sure to clean the artifact well! Last time, blood got on it and strange rumors spread!”

Ha-yeon watched them, seething with rage.

‘Easy victory? Don’t make me laugh. An easy victory with skills like that? You just sacrificed a child, that’s all!!’

As Ha-yeon sharpened her blade of fury, a reply came from the Association.

Guards subdued and capture preparations complete.

Receiving the message, Ha-yeon put on a murderous smile and further suppressed her presence.

If she were discovered now, the Association would surely accuse her of illegal investigation and hinder her, so she decided to trust the Association hunters and wait.

“By the way, I heard you’re getting promoted?”

“Haha, it’s all thanks to you, big brother!”

The Crow Guild members, too, initially felt hesitant to use the artifact after learning its truth, but they became addicted to the situation where money and fame came so easily from safely clearing gates, and now they, too, were using the girl not as a person but as an artifact.

Furthermore, the girl herself obediently followed instructions without any complaints, removing any reason for them to feel self-reproach.

Convinced that only a path of success lay ahead, Baek Yi-hyun’s group exited the gate.

At that moment.

“Everyone, don’t move!”

“Wh-what is this?!”

Numerous Association hunters, fully armed, were waiting for them. Baek Yi-hyun’s group said in surprise.

“Big brother, that mark… it’s the Association!”

“The Association?! Why is the Association here?!”

“I-I don’t really know…”

“Didn’t you hear me say don’t move! Everyone, drop your weapons and surrender!”

“By what right is the Association trying to arrest us, who are innocent?!”

Sweating and flustered, Baek Yi-hyun was the first to regain his composure, stepping forward and shouting defiantly.

“Baek Yi-hyun and all members of the Crow Guild are hereby placed under emergency arrest for illegal artifact usage and human trafficking!”

“What?”

“Put down all weapons and artifacts in your hands!”

Baek Yi-hyun still considered the girl inside the box an artifact, but knowing she had a human form and could cause misunderstanding if shown to anyone, he had kept her thoroughly hidden until now.

‘Damn it, how did the Association find out?’

If things continued like this, they would be arrested and lose all the fame and money they had accumulated—the worst possible scenario.

The guild members on guard duty were already subdued, so a nearby guild member said, trembling.

“B-big brother, what do we do?”

“…”

Baek Yi-hyun recalled how he had rapidly grown the guild, receiving invitations not only from Korean guilds but also from other countries.

He smiled, remembering the astronomical sum offered by China, proposing he naturalize there with the artifact.

‘Yes, I just need to get through this situation. I can go to another country and get enough money to live on for life!’

The Association’s hunters are strong.

But…

“As long as we have this artifact, no matter how strong they are, we’ll win!!”

“!!!”

As Baek Yi-hyun tried to use the artifact, a gust of wind swept past him in an instant.

“…?”

“I won’t let you.”

Choi Ha-yeon, who had somehow exited the gate, snatched the box from his hand before he could react.

It was incredibly fast, but knowing what was inside, she held the box to her chest, keeping it from shaking.

“These pieces of trash…”

And her golden eyes were filled with such murderous intent that they glowed in the darkness.