“You aren’t human, right?”
Everyone froze. For a moment, they were unable to understand what Lee Gun was saying. Their reactions were normal. Out of the blue, Lee Gun had said the Scorpio Saint wasn’t human.
Everyone’s gaze headed toward Hailey. People had seldom seen Hailey frozen like this. It looked as if something she didn’t want to get revealed had been revealed.
Therefore, the group was having a hard time making sense of everything.
‘She looks human one way or another.’ Hugo was shocked.
Of course, Hailey’s unparalleled beauty meant she often heard from others that she wasn’t human. People described her as the goddess of beauty or a devil that bewitched humans.
However, Lee Gun wouldn’t say such words in this situation.
“If she’s not human, what is she? Zodiac?”
“Unknown civilization.”
“?!”
The others’ expressions were a sight to behold.
As for Hailey, she couldn’t meet Lee Gun’s eyes as cold sweat appeared all over her.
On the other hand, the corners of Lee Gun’s mouth lifted.
[The Sagittarius is shocked at your words.]
[The other Zodiacs are angry. They are saying you are speaking nonsense.]
Lee Gun’s snake eyes could accurately sense Hailey’s magical energy, so the comment didn’t matter. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “In the past, I thought you were too good-looking to be a human. I confirmed it when I saw you today. You give off the smell of the unknown civilization.”
After hearing his words, the disciples immediately grabbed their weapons.
Kwahng!
Chun Sungjae used his spell; the Archer disciples brought up their bows. As humans, they carried out these actions on instinct. None of them had realized this truth until Lee Gun had spoken about it. In truth, they were still having a hard time believing it.
However, the one saying it was none other than Lee Gun. He had the best sensing ability among all of them. Therefore, they gripped their bows with cold sweat on their backs.
“Unknown civilization? Is she perhaps a monster? Is she a humanoid monster?”
No, the idea of her being a monster was more terrifying. It would be game over if Hailey was a monster that had gone undetected by the Zodiacs and the Zodiac Saints for the past dozens of years.
Lee Gun laughed at them. “She isn’t the type of monster we know.”
Hugo became a bit relieved and lowered his bow. ‘I guess that makes sense.’
If their opponent were a monster, Lee Gun would’ve immediately decapitated it after seeing it.
‘Gun truly hates monsters.’
Lee Gun looked at Zodiac Saints like they were cockroaches, and the monsters were below the Zodiacs Saints in his ranking. He would never let monsters live within the territories of humans. It wasn’t in his nature.
As expected, Lee Gun laughed as he clicked his tongue. “That’s right! You’re so impatient. Don’t attack her.”
Nodding, Hugo put away his bow. “If she were a monster, there’s no way you would have stopped us.”
The others relaxed too. Hailey’s expression brightened a bit as well. However…
Kwahng!
After reigning in Hugo, Lee Gun rushed forward.
“?!”
In the blink of an eye, Lee Gun disappeared, then reappeared next to Hailey.
“Gun?!”
He was like a terrifying beast. Lee Gun had moved at the speed of a bullet, his movement containing springiness. He made an attempt on Hailey’s life; his hand extended toward her neck.
The strike held incredible killing intent.
Hugo cursed as he took out his bow again. He should have known; it wasn’t like Lee Gun to stop a fight! ‘He stopped me because he wanted to attack?’
Letting out a hair-raising killing intent, Lee Gun was about to snap Hailey’s neck.
[Princess!!]
Ggahng!
An incredible sound rang out. Hailey’s loyal subjects stopped Lee Gun’s hand.
Kwah-jeek!
[As expected, this bastard is dangerous!]
[He deserves to be killed!]
The black hands were barely holding back Lee Gun’s arms, surprising the disciples.
‘Constructs!’
Then…
Chaeng!
Accompanying a sharp sound, the hands of Hailey’s loyal subjects turned into blades. The razor-sharp blades aimed for Lee Gun’s neck.
[We should’ve done this from the start!]
[You’re a god of disaster!]
“Stop!”
However, their hands stopped at the sharp outcry.
Hailey murderously glared at her subordinates. “Stop attacking him! Stand back!”
[But!]
“Do you plan on going against my words?”
The flustered loyal subjects retreated a step, but quickly shouted,
[Princess! You shouldn’t do this!]
[Did you not feel this bastard’s killing intent right now?]
[He really was trying to kill you, Princess!]
Hailey glared at her loyal subjects again. “You guys will be dead the moment you touch that man.”
The loyal subjects trembled under her cold gaze. Their princess’s spirit sent chills up their spines.
If they moved even 1 mm closer to Lee Gun, Hailey would kill them with her own hands. In the end, the loyal subjects trembled as they moved away from Lee Gun.
Not expecting this, Lee Gun looked at Hailey. “I thought you would kill me because I revealed your true identity. This is unexpected.”
Hugo furrowed his brows. Was this the reason Lee Gun attacked like a bull in a china shop? Kill him?
‘There is no way she would kill you.’
Hugo had seen the answer sheet. In truth, he could tell by how Hailey looked at Gun. ‘She’s smitten with him.’
Hailey would never harm Lee Gun. Everyone here knew this. Of course, Lee Gun was the sole exception oblivious to this, but it didn’t matter.
“Unknown civilization? What do you mean?”
Lee Gun smirked as he looked at Hailey’s loyal subjects, who had tried to kill him.
“I’m not sure, but the henchmen she keeps are from the unknown civilization too.”
“?!”
His words once again shocked the disciples.
As a fellow Zodiac Saint, Hugo was the most dumbfounded. “What nonsense are you spouting? Those are Constructs—”
“They are wearing the masks of Constructs.”
“!”
After cutting off his friend’s words, Lee Gun extended his hand. Heaven’s Punishment appeared in his hand.
Tuhng!
“These bastards are all monsters and powerful ones at that.”
“What?!”
“They are probably stronger than you.”
“?!!”
Lee Gun immediately tried to activate Heaven’s Punishment, and this weapon could be activated only one way. He was about to sever these monsters’ heads.
[W-We get it! We’ll let you have our heads!]
[Instead, you will stop after you kill us!]
“!”
[Please spare the princess!]
Lee Gun’s hand came to a stop. He laughed as if he found them contemptible. “These monsters are doing pretty well in speaking like humans.”
He then looked at Hailey. ‘She’s strong.’
It had been the same case in the past, but even he couldn’t underestimate her. ‘She smells more like the Zodiacs than the monsters we know.’
This was why Lee Gun didn’t let down his guard. “You look normal for being their leader. Is this your true form? Or are you a mutant?”
Hailey flinched at the question, and it was for no other reason.
“You look too much like a human to be called my daughter. You’re a mutant!”
Once, a man had said these words to her. Hailey recalled the words of the man that she didn’t know.
With a sigh, she answered Lee Gun. “This is my true form. I’m hiding nothing.”
Those words relieved everyone. They had worried the Scorpio Saint would suddenly change into a monster, saying that was her true form.
Hailey continued, “It’s true that I’m not human; however, the elements that make up my body aren’t that much different from that of humans. Anyway, I’m indeed from what you refer to as the unknown civilization.”
Everyone froze, and even the Secretary was shocked.
Lee Gun looked at Hailey in contempt. “You’re the enemy of humanity, so why are you pretending to be a Zodiac Saint?”
“That’s—”
Suddenly…
“What do you mean why? It’s probably to kill humans more easily.”
“!”
Accompanying a sharp voice, a fierce storm of ice hit them.
Kwah-gwa-gwa-gwahng!
The severe cold tried to instantly freeze the Scorpio Saint and her party.
Gritting her teeth, Hailey unsheathed her sword.
[Second Domain]
Her sword clashed against the sharp and freezing winds.
Kwahng!
The incredible power made it hard for anyone to open their eyes.
Doo-doo-doohk!
However, something surprising happened when Hailey put her magical energy into her sword.
Kwah-jeek!
As if space had ruptured, a black fissure appeared and swallowed up the freezing winds. At the same time, the clashing magical energy exploded.
Kwahng!
The freezing winds disappeared. Hailey’s subordinates had protected her, but her black dress was ripped.
[Princess!]
Hailey used the hem of her dress to cover her pale chest. Then she glared at her attacker as if he were a nuisance.
“Virgo Saint!”
The blonde Kevin stood in the doorway. “I should’ve known when I saw her converse with the monsters.”
Hugo raised his guard and aimed his bow with a gulp.
Kevin also raised his blade and said, “Is that the reason you tried to kill Lee Gun? You guys thought you would be in danger if Lee Gun were alive.”
Hailey’s flustered loyal subjects yelled.
[No! Princess is on humanity’s side! She betrayed the other side twenty years ago! She did it for Lee Gun-nim!]
“!?”
* * *
Somewhere else around that time…
“What? The Scorpio Saint met up with Lee Gun?”
This was the domain of the absolute god that not even the unknown civilization could ever breach.
Balance Scale Palace! The home of the Libra Saint! The Libra Saint was the most prominent Saint, the first-ranked Saint, and the Saint possessing 2.1 billion disciples!
Right now, she was listening to a report by a Construct.
Giselle laughed in contempt. “She finally decided to betray me.”
The room was like the bath of an emperor. It was a gold bathhouse over 100 pyeong(331m2) in area. Beautiful drawings and decorations graced the ceiling, while the floor had a bath as big as a swimming pool.
Inside that bath was a beautiful woman soaking by herself. Her body was supple, yet she possessed trained muscles. She didn’t look like a non-combative Saint. The woman poured alcohol into her cup. It was a blood-colored wine.
The high-rank Construct giving the report tried to gauge Giselle’s mood.
[Are you sure it will be ok, Master? The Archer Saint can be discounted, but it seems the Virgo Saint has also decided to join Lee Gun…]
This made Giselle laugh. “It doesn’t matter. The Archer Saint is a fool incapable of doing anything without Lee Gun. The Virgo Saint is an idiot obsessed with Lee Gun. His obsession with Lee Gun has made him a perennial second place. These are moves I had expected to occur.”
From the start, the twelve Zodiac Saints had been smitten by Lee Gun’s skills, the only exception being the Libra Saint.
This was normal. After all, Lee Gun had appeared without the power of any Zodiac, flaunting a power far stronger than that of those who had signed contracts with the Zodiacs. He was a terrifying man. That wasn’t all.
The Zodiac Saints had always been worried about getting hurt or dying. Therefore, they were always hesitant to act. On the other hand, Lee Gun would straightaway head for the monsters as if to mock the Zodiac Saints.
Lee Gun was unafraid of death, and he had skills to back up his courage. This left the Zodiac Saints feeling humiliated; Lee Gun made them feel tiny!
Delight! Awe! Humiliation! Envy! Jealousy!
All this made some of them think about Lee Gun as if he were a god. Some became obsessed with him, some afraid. Some were in denial, and some wanted his destruction.
Everyone felt differently about Lee Gun.
“If you keep Lee Gun by your side, you become one of two things.”
[What?]
“You either become his fan or come to hate him.”
This often happened to notable geniuses. That was why the Libra Saint had gathered those who hated Lee Gun and brought them over to her side.
Anyway, she had already assumed Hugo, Lee Gun’s best friend, and Kevin to side with Lee Gun. However, the Scorpio Saint was a bit unexpected.
“I can’t believe she developed feelings for a human.” Giselle laughed as if she found something funny.
In the past, when the Scorpio Saint had gotten out of line, Giselle had threatened to reveal her true identity. It had been fun seeing Scorpio Saint turn deathly pale whenever she made the threat.
Anyway, the Libra Saint’s words overwhelmed the Construct.
[Master, isn’t this a big deal? The Scorpio Saint is an important figure. If she joins Lee Gun’s side, we’ll be in danger…]
“Don’t worry about it since the Virgo Saint is there too.”
[I see! He thinks the Scorpio Saint is the one who killed Lee Gun.]
“Anyway, I want you to bring the Secretary who is attached to Lee Gun. Steal him from Lee Gun at all costs.” Giselle smirked as she thought about the Secretary. “I was sad because I thought they had all been killed. I can’t believe someone that useful decided to stick next to Lee Gun.”
Moreover, the Scorpio Saint was the one who had hidden the Secretary.
At that moment, Giselle’s servant, also a disciple of the Libra temple, entered the bathhouse. “We have a problem, Saint-nim!”
“What’s going on?”
“She is heading toward Lee Gun!”
Giselle was uncharacteristically surprised.
