Chapter 7

Arrogant Bastard (2)

[…That is…!]

"That's right. The one who'll destroy you isn't me—it's what's inside you."

In a way, it was the very source of his original sin.

Zeus's breath caught.

Just the relic activating felt like invisible chains wrapping around his mind and squeezing his heart.

That alone was enough, but Ju-Heon transformed the tiara-like relic into a gauntlet.

Then, wearing a wicked grin, he leaped into the air.

Metis.

The goddess of wisdom and strategy, and Zeus's first wife.

When a prophecy declared that the son she would bear would surpass Zeus, he swallowed her whole, fearing that just as he had overthrown his own father, the same fate would befall him.

Later, tormented by a splitting headache, he had Hephaestus crack open his skull.

From within emerged Athena.

According to the myth, Zeus had been relieved that it was a daughter instead of a son.

"Why don't you try giving birth to a son from your head this time, you bastard?!"

CRACK!

It wasn't the sound of metal.

It was the sound of bone splitting apart.

Ju-Heon's fist smashed into the crown of Zeus's head, and something inside resonated violently.

[Guhk!]

[GAAAAAAAH!]

BOOOOOOM!

The Metis Relic had remained sealed all this time because it was a relic that invoked trauma—self-denial, terror, original sin, and the like.

In the end, Zeus toppled backward.

Silence fell over the entire power plant.

"A trauma relic really is perfect for a Captain who's committed so many sins…"

[Buff 'Efficiency of the Butcher' has been activated.]

[Enemy defeated. Majesty's combat power has increased cumulatively.]

Yoo Jaeha took another hit.

In other words, the relic didn't attack through external force.

It amplified the target's original sin from within.

The proof was obvious.

Strength drained from Zeus's body, and his mind collapsed.

But the gauntlet struck his jaw once more.

Zeus. Divine-Grade Relic. Defeated.

Ju-Heon casually dusted off his hands.

"You should've just quietly served as a power source. What do you mean, rebellion?"

Every trace of Zeus reverted back into the form of a lightning spear.

"Because I wanted to beat him up."

"..."

Was this guy really insane?

"Alright. Both wives can rest now."

Ju-Heon retrieved the two goddess relics as well.

His carefree tone finally made Yoo Jaeha snap.

"The least you could've done was just wear the Metis Relic as a tiara! Why'd you have to turn it into a gauntlet and beat the crap out of him?! You damaged Zeus's durability for no reason!"

Difficulty?

The instant the words left his mouth, Ju-Heon drew Gungnir.

"If you're going to tamper with someone else's relic, you shouldn't have left your own energy on it."

He answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Ju-Heon had sensed the aura of an unfamiliar ability user lingering within the Zeus Relic.

As he raised Gungnir—

[Yeouido District, Seoul]

[Please designate Gungnir's target.]

Checking the coordinates, Ju-Heon raised an eyebrow.

"The bastard who messed with my Zeus."

"...Yeouido? Hah. Did he think hiding among the skyscrapers would save him?"

[Buff activated!]

Ju-Heon summoned Gungnir and drew his arm back.

[Buff 3: Executioner's Sentence]

Any target designated as an enemy by Majesty will have their location exposed no matter where they are in the world. Escape is impossible.

"Captain! You can't destroy buildings! We can't clean up that kind of mess!"

[Target location confirmed.]

[37.5245° N / 126.9243° E]

Ignoring Yoo Jaeha's desperate plea, Gungnir tore through the air.

BOOOOM!

But at that very moment—

[Gungnir's trajectory has been intercepted.]

[Gungnir has been blocked by 'Gungnir.']

Ju-Heon's eyes froze.

The sky split apart, and light descended.

As the radiance faded, every member gasped.

"M-Miss Irene?!"

"Why is Madam here?!"

"Gungnir? The same relic?"

While the others lowered their weapons, Ju-Heon alone kept the spear's tip pressed against her throat.

Impossible.

There could only be one Divine-Grade Relic in this world.

Could another identical relic really exist in a parallel world?

As confusion spread, a yellow system window appeared.

"Who are you?"

[Congratulations!]

[As promised, I'll deliver the information.]

The woman wearing Irene's appearance smiled, ignoring the blade as she approached.

She wrapped her arms around Ju-Heon's neck and whispered into his ear.

"I'm the Majesty who contacted you. I'm hurt you didn't recognize me."

"Captain?! Are you insane?!"

Ju-Heon's eyes narrowed.

Majesty... from another world.

Could there really be a timeline where Irene herself was Majesty?

"To get straight to the point...

The child you lost...

came to me."

"What?"

"If you want this child back...

marry me."

But the sensation transmitted through his blade wasn't that of human flesh.

Crumble.

With a dry sound, Irene's body collapsed into a heap of mud.

It had been nothing more than a fake created by a relic.

At the same time, Ju-Heon realized something felt strangely light against his chest.

The three Divine-Grade Relics he had been carrying were gone.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

While everyone else stood frozen—

Ju-Heon drove Gungnir straight through Irene's chest without the slightest hesitation.

"You said you'd give me information, and instead you disguised yourself as my wife and picked my pocket?"

Whoever did this...

sure had learned a thing or two about dirty tricks.

Watching the entire scene with amusement was a shadow lurking nearby.

"How merciless.

Good... that's what makes this interesting."

It was another person wearing the Majesty Ring.

"...My apologies. Even the messenger birds can't detect them."

"What about the crows?"

At that, a crow descended like a shadow onto Ju-Heon's shoulder.

Fresh out of the shower, a towel draped around his neck, Ju-Heon picked up a glass of water.

The television was off.

[Same here.]

"...If even you guys can't find them, then they've really vanished."

"The hounds still haven't found them either?"

Ju-Heon frowned.

The fake Irene had stolen none other than the Egyptian Divine-Grade Relics—

Osiris, Set, and Anubis.

Ilya lowered his head apologetically.

"I'm certain it was that Majesty from another world."

What was the point of stealing Divine-Grade Relics?

Just then—

The television suddenly turned on by itself.

Ju-Heon let out a sigh.

[No Input]

[No Signal]

"...Rope, don't turn the TV on at a time like this."

[Me? It wasn't me! Seriously, it wasn't!]

"What?"

The Rope came scrambling out from behind the closet in flustered protest.

Ju-Heon expressionlessly pressed the remote to switch the TV off, but...

Then came the sounds from outside.

"Hm?"

"What the heck is this?"

Everyone on the streets was staring at their phones in confusion.

The screens wouldn't turn off.

Instead...

BZZZZZZT—

"Why did YouTube suddenly—"

"All the channels froze! Is this hacking?"

"What? I didn't do anything! My screen's moving by itself!"

People all over the streets screamed as they stared at their phones.

No—

It wasn't just phones.

Outdoor displays.

Computer monitors.

Laptop screens.

At that very moment, everyone in South Korea was looking at the exact same image.

The missing Set, Osiris, and Anubis were on the screen.

At that moment, Yoo Jaeha rushed out of the workshop holding up his phone.

[Today's Death Toll Report.]

[0 deaths. The executions have not yet begun.]

"Captain! Have you seen this?!"

"I'm looking at it right now."

"Phone calls, KakaoTalk, LINE—none of them are working!"

Ju-Heon stared at the television.

Then an unbelievable scene appeared on the screen.

At the center of a circular stage stood a massive execution platform.

People bound in chains shivered as they waited for their turn.

"...Those sons of bitches. I was wondering where they'd gone. Turns out they're putting on a circus over there. What the hell are they doing under someone else's master?"

"If you don't want to be devoured... stay silent, human."

More importantly...

That Majesty.

What was he doing to another world's civilians?

Just then, the cheerful voice of a masked host echoed from the screen.

[Hard Mode isn't over yet♥]

[It's time to judge those who have committed sins♥]

[The Majesty of this world cannot stop this calamity♥]

"WOOOOOO!!"

"Kill them! Kill them!!"

The audience roared like a bloodthirsty mob.

[Very well. Guilty♥]

A man sat strapped to the execution chair.

His eyes were blindfolded.

A gag stuffed his mouth.

Suddenly—

A crimson flash erupted atop the scaffold.

His head flew clean off.

Across the screen appeared the caption:

[First Execution Complete]

"Mmph! Mmmph!"

[First condemned prisoner♥]

[This man kidnapped and murdered children, then evaded justice for seven years. Do you agree with the death sentence?]

[Now, the second condemned prisoner♥]

[This person pretended to be starving in order to receive emergency relief supplies three extra times. They took more than their allotted share and undermined the public distribution system. They polluted the fairness of justice's distribution. Do you agree with the death sentence?]

"Ah... that's not really something deserving death..."

"But they lied! Shamelessly!"

"Kill them! Kill them!"

"...Wait... they really did it because they couldn't afford medicine?"

A few anonymous voices spoke up.

Once again—

A head was taken.

This time it wasn't a blade.

A golden scale descended from above and crushed the prisoner's skull.

The screen displayed:

[Second Execution Complete]

Then...

"They stole. Theft is theft!"

"Don't sympathize with them! Everyone should be equal before the law!"

[Next condemned prisoner♥]

[This person stole money to pay for medicine for their sick mother. Do you agree with the death sentence?]

Amid another flood of condemnation...

The prisoner wept.

Kneeling with head lowered, hands clasped together, trembling lips whispered,

"I'm sorry...

But back then...

I...

I really..."

The audience suddenly fell silent.

Someone whispered quietly.

[Very well. Guilty♥]

Watching the broadcast, Ju-Heon raised an eyebrow.

'That bastard... he's taking this little game way too far.'

Support the righteous executions of the new Majesty by calling the dedicated number below.

☎ X399-489X-989

Is there no way to stop this insane act of terrorism?

Something flashed through Ju-Heon's mind.

'This has to be the power of a relic.'

A relic based on the urban legend that calling a certain phone number connects you to the underworld.

Then I just have to destroy the relic itself.

Where are you... What relic are you?

Ju-Heon pulled out his phone.

Ilya looked up in alarm.

"Captain? You're not actually going to call that number—"

At that moment, another message appeared beneath the broadcast, almost like a bank account for funding terrorism.

Even the crow stiffened.

[That relic is dangerous.]

"Dangerous? You don't stop making soybean paste because you're afraid of maggots."

[Calling...]

He pressed the numbers.

Immediately...

Ju-Heon's vision went black.

X

3

9

"Ugh...!"

9

4

8

9

X

9

Rising from a cloud of dust, Ju-Heon rubbed his jaw.

Yoo Jaeha, who had been dragged in with him, groaned in pain before barely managing to stand.

"Where are we...?"

"Over there!"

Before them stood the very execution platform they had just seen on the screen.

It had been recreated perfectly.

Another execution was about to begin.

Ju-Heon's eyes narrowed.

Then he summoned Gungnir and hurled it skyward.

Lightning burst from the spear, tearing across the execution grounds.

The guillotine exploded into countless fragments.

At once, the audience erupted into chaos.

Ju-Heon shouted,

"If this deserves a death sentence, then half the people in this world should be executed!"

[Is that so?♥]

Instantly—

Every eye in the execution grounds turned toward him.

"WOOOOOOOO!!"

"An intruder!"

"He's interfering with the judgment!"

"He's a criminal! Drag him down!"

"!"

Shouts and fury poured out from every seat.

Gradually...

The voices transformed from condemnation...

into fanatical devotion.

There was only one thing they desired.

Execution.

[Now then, everyone♥ Here's our next execution target.]

[This man mocks the judges, rules over relics, and places himself above the gods.]

Before the announcement had even finished—

The entire audience fell into complete silence.

No curses.

No jeering.

Only fear...

and reverence.

An overwhelming presence.

Some spectators trembled.

Even Set, Osiris, and Anubis simply stared at Ju-Heon in silence, unable to move.

As though they were measuring him.

Judging him.

A long silence hung in the air.

Finally...

The host spoke in a cold voice.

The target...

was directly above Ju-Heon's head.

Dodge?

Impossible.

This entire place existed solely for execution.

No matter where he fled—

the guillotine would fall there.

[This man has committed countless sins for his own benefit♥]

[Judgment will now be carried out. Death sentence♥]

[Guilty.]

Click.

The sound of guilt being decided.

The sky split apart.

Above the atmosphere, a colossal guillotine blade materialized.

A dark crimson blade of iron.

A scythe forged from death itself.

Its smooth black curve sliced across the heavens.

Ju-Heon lowered his head.

Then...

the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

"...Heh."

[?]

"Hahaha...

After feeding you and raising you...

you ungrateful bastards have really turned into rabid dogs."

(To be continued)

The blade descended.

The compressed air screamed.

And at that very instant—

CRACK!

The falling blade...

shattered.

Inside Ju-Heon's hand.

Having blocked divine judgment with nothing but one palm, Ju-Heon slowly raised his head.

"First of all...

you runaway brat.

Guilty."

The next instant—

Gripping the broken guillotine blade, Ju-Heon swung it straight into Osiris.