"Is that where it is?"
"Yes."
They were at an S-rank gate located in Western Europe.
Unlike Korea, the gate wasn't being managed, so there were monsters all around it.
"The factory is located inside that gate."
"Inside the gate?"
Kadga nodded.
KangWoo looked at the S-rank gate with great interest.
It was the first time he'd seen a Demon Cult hideout located inside a gate.
"ShiHoon, let's kill the monsters around here before entering the gate."
"Yes, Hyeongnim."
The unit that was going to assist them was called the 'Celestial Wolf Troops.'
There were about 300 people.
Those people were under Kim ShiHoon, and even in the Guardian, they were among the strongest.
Han Seol-ah, TaeSoo, Chae YeonJoo, Baek HwaYeon, and most of the people KangWoo knew were there.
They were the special unit that had acted like a proper army after Guardian expanded.
'Although I'm not sure why it's called ‘Celestial Wolf Troops’.'
It was a bad name that seemed to have been made by a writer who didn't want to take the time to think of a proper name.
The one who'd made that pointless name was Kim ShiHoon.
- D-doesn't it sound cool?
He remembered seeing Kim ShiHoon with a proud expression wearing the epaulet with the troop's mark.
'He has a child-like side to him.'
KangWoo smirked.
His personality was like a manhwa protagonist’s, and he also seemed to like childish names.
Although he was in his twenties, he sometimes acted like a teenager who had just entered puberty.
'Although I don't hate it.'
There was a saying: ‘When one person does it, it’s romance, but when someone else does it, it’s infidelity.’
If Reinald or Alec had done it, he would've felt disgusted, but since it was Kim ShiHoon, he kind of looked cute.
There was a weird sense of duality, but he didn't consider that as very important.
'Is there anyone who isn't like that?'
How many people lived by absolute beliefs and values?
Even people like that were often criticized for being inflexible.
'It doesn't matter what your child does—it always looks cute.'
He saw Kim ShiHoon directing the troops with a bit of awkwardness in his voice.
Kadga walked toward KangWoo, who was smiling like a proud father.
"Excuse me…"
"Ah, yes?"
"Just like I've mentioned before, please. Get the research materials that are inside the base."
He looked at KangWoo with an uneasy expression on his face.
It seemed like he was really worried about the research materials.
No, he was more worried about those than the well-being of his allies.
KangWoo made a good-natured smile.
"Of course, I told them to be careful and leave them in a safe place."
"Ha, haha. Thank you."
He bowed.
"Are you really that worried about the research materials?"
"Yes? Ah, i… it's nothing! It's just that it's material used to investigate the truth."
"Woah."
"Yes, we still haven't made a lot of progress. After all, the truth is more complex and difficult than anything else."
He smiled awkwardly while avoiding looking at KangWoo.
KangWoo looked at Kadga while laughing in disbelief.
'He really sucks at acting.'
Was it because he was someone who'd spent all his life locked away while researching magic?
Not only acting, but he wasn't even capable of maintaining a proper conversation.
He was so bad that it made him wonder if acting as if he had been deceived wasn't more dangerous.
'Studying to find the truth, huh?'
It's true that it made him interested, but it was just interest.
'It's not like I'll be able to understand if I look into it.'
It would be comparable to someone who was bad at mathematics looking at a book full of complex formulas.
KangWoo had little magical knowledge, so he wasn't going to be able to understand it by just looking at it.
'Maybe Amon would have been able to understand it.'
There was no one who could match Amon's knowledge in the Demon King's army.
He thought about it for a while but shook his head.
'I don't need him.'
He already knew the truth.
Kadga was wrong.
The truth wasn't complicated but simple, and it was right next to him.
[Mr. KangWoo, should we do as planned?]
He heard Lilith's voice.
He didn't answer, but he nodded. That was more than enough.
[Everything as the King wishes.]
He heard a mischievous smile.
He ignored it and turned his head.
"Once we're done killing the monsters around the gate, we'll start infiltrating. Mr. Kadga, enter with the troops and guide them to where the magicians are."
"Can I just… indicate the direction? It’s not that complicated…"
* * *
"To make things faster, we need your collaboration."
"…"
Kadga bit his lips and nodded.
It was obvious he didn't want to do it.
'He can't refuse.'
While making a deal, the most important thing was who was the most desperate.
KangWoo had the upper hand.
He didn't need to force it to make him do as he wished.
"Then let's start."
He sent a short signal, and the battle began.
The 300 troops cleared up the monsters that were around the gate.
Then with Kim ShiHoon leading the way, they followed Kadga and entered the gate.
He heard screams and swords clashing against each other. He also felt demonic energy and smelled blood.
KangWoo used the Authority of Observation to look inside.
He didn't move because he didn't need to.
'I nurtured the forces for a reason.'
It was so he didn't have to move in fights like that.
'If I'm there, it will just bother the others.'
Experience was very important for players.
If he joined them, the amount of experience they gained would be reduced.
No, they wouldn't be able to get any.
"Okay, now…"
KangWoo looked around.
He didn't intend to stay still just because he wouldn't join the battle.
He had other things to do.
KangWoo slowly started to walk.
* * *
The fight between the Celestial Wolf Troops and the Demon Cult ended, and the Celestial Wolf Troops won.
It seemed that it was quite an important facility, even in the Demon Cult, so there was quite a bit of resistance, but they weren't able to beat the Celestial Wolf Troops—a unit made up of only Guardian’s elite forces.
The leader of the Celestial Wolf Troops was especially impressive.
He easily cut through the demons that were protecting the base.
Although the Celestial Wolf Troops knew about Kim ShiHoon's abilities, they couldn't help but open their mouths in surprise.
The demons of the 7th and 8th hells were dying so quickly that one couldn't help but feel pity.
It wasn't just Kim ShiHoon. Chae YeonJoo was in charge of the middle formations and took advantage of the solid offense to support with long-range attacks, and Han Seol-ah supported everyone with strong buffs and recovery magic.
Thanks to them, Kim ShiHoon was able to go through the battlefield more easily, and they quickly ended up winning.
"Kadga!!"
"Are you safe?!"
The Magic Tower magicians had been forced to labor as factory workers.
The faces of about 30 magicians brightened after they saw Kadga.
They were really thin, and their legs were chained.
"Ahem! I… I knew a day like this would come!"
"We're finally free from the hands of those damn demons…!"
The magicians that had been saved with the help of the Celestial Wolf Troops hugged each other and cried.
That only lasted for a short while. Everyone's attention soon focused on Kadga.
"We're glad you saved us…"
"You haven't forgotten about that, right?"
"Hahaha," Kadga laughed.
Those people were also magicians, so what they were talking about was obvious.
"Of course."
To the magicians, the research material was more important than their own lives.
The hint of the truth they'd researched for almost a thousand years was in the research material that the demons had taken from them.
"Everyone, come here."
As the Celestial Wolf Troops freed the magicians, they followed Kadga.
Kadga activated the tracking magic that was inside the research material.
"Huh…?"
The tracking magic didn't work.
Kadga looked around, flustered.
KangWoo walked toward him.
"Did something happen, Mr. Kadga?"
"Ah! M-Mr. KangWoo! The research material I asked—"
"Ah…"
KangWoo sighed and took him somewhere.
There, he saw a room that had been turned into ashes.
"Th-this…!"
"Everything was already burned down when I got here."
"Th-the research material was burned down…?"
It was something that shouldn't have been possible.
The Book of Hecate was a book that collected knowledge regarding the truth; it was protected by strong magic.
Forget about fire, the book could probably even survive being submerged in lava.
Burning Hecate's book shouldn't have been possible unless they had the Authority of a demon.
He ran toward the ashes and began to search through them.
More than half of Hecate's book was burned.
"Ah."
He became desperate and looked at the remainder of Hecate's book with trembling hands.
It was definitely the original copy.
If it were a replica, he would've noticed it for sure.
No, Hecate's book wasn't something that could be replicated.
It was research material created with changing passwords and patterns that had been put in place so that it couldn't be copied.
If they'd moved it, he would've been able to tell where it was thanks to the tracking magic, but he couldn’t feel it.
Burnt down…
Hecate's book had been burnt to ashes.
"Damn! Damn! What were you all doing?! How did you let them burn it?!!!"
Kadga angrily grabbed KangWoo's collar and shouted while saliva spurted in all directions.
"You worthless bastards! Do you know how important the contents of this book were…?!"
"Mr. Kadga, please, calm down."
KangWoo grabbed Kadga's shoulders.
KangWoo bowed his head and spoke in a regretful voice.
"I'm sorry for not having been able to protect the important research material."
"Ugh…"
"Instead… I'm ashamed to even say this, but what if Korea helps you recover the material and supports your investigations?"
"Supports the investigation?"
"Yes. Even if it's called research material, isn't the most important content inside your head? With enough support, replicating the book shouldn't be impossible."
"That's true, but…"
Kadga's eyes shone.
As if he hadn't been cursing KangWoo just a moment ago, he was talking formally to him again.
"But it will take a lot of money…"
"Don't worry."
KangWoo smiled.
"If you help us a little, we'll ensure you have enough money to conduct research."
"A bit of help?"
"Please make magic equipment for us."
"Hmm."
"Don't worry. The work conditions are going to be completely different. The work hours will be better than what most big Korean corporations have."
He could see the doubt on the magician's face.
Kadga didn't think for long.
The Magic Tower had been destroyed because of the Demon Cult, and Hecate's book had been burned down.
To be honest, he couldn't even ask for compensation for the damage.
Either way, the members of Guardian had saved them.
It was hard to refuse support.
"Okay…"
The 30 magicians nodded.
KangWoo smiled.
"Then, let's go to Korea… Ah, but the problem will be getting it funded."
"What does that…"
"In reality, I can’t really provide such support alone. First, I need to figure out how worthy the magic items that you can create are and make a proper report."
"Ehem! The magic we can do isn't just enchantment. We can also create very useful magic scrolls…"
"I know, but even still, it will take a lot of time to be accepted. If it's fast, about six months; if we're unlucky, a year."
"Th-that's too late!"
How much effort had they made to reach Hecate's knowledge?
They'd just become free from the hands of the demons, so he couldn't waste any more time.
"Hmm…"
KangWoo seemed to fall into thought.
"Ah! There's a way to get the initial cost of research."
"Woah."
"What way…?"
"A credit loan," KangWoo said with a smile.
