The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess - Chapter 126



126 – Prince of Ashes #3

126 – Prince of Ashes #3

Nam Woo-joo had heard a bit about the “special agents” from foreign countries.

They were people who handled tasks that ordinary people couldn’t, like Nam Woo-joo, who infiltrated North Korea and destroyed nuclear facilities.

High-ranking awakeners with at least a level 4 concept.

Half-jokingly, half-seriously, they were considered national power-level.

‘There are two “special agents” from the United States. The one who came to Korea must be Minerva, right?’

Minerva, a woman with a lively and bold personality, was called the living superhero of the 21st century.

Her true nature was that of a natural-born psychopath who loved to blow things up.

Nam Woo-joo felt dizzy at the thought of a woman who even the CIA struggled to control being on Korean soil.

Swoosh-.

At that moment, CIA agent Adam handed over a photo.

A boy was in the picture.

“Nam Woo-joo, you must be having a hard time finding Kore. It’s inevitable. Kore died without fulfilling her duty. But it’s okay. She had a son. We found out just recently. This boy.”

“This kid is…!”

Nam Woo-joo was genuinely shocked to see Hanamjin in the photo.

Moreover, he wondered how the American special agent knew information that even he didn’t know.

‘I thought I had kept everything thoroughly secret. Was there a mole?’

While Nam Woo-joo was narrowing down the list of potential moles, special agent Adam smiled.

Then, he placed a thick Bible on the bedside table and spoke in a strict voice, dropping his playful tone.

“From now on, we will handle all incidents related to Korea’s ‘Great Labyrinth.’ This is the will of the world. From the beginning, the pie was too big for Korea to eat alone.”

“Are you saying the CIA can handle it? The United States?”

“No, it’s not just the CIA. It’s not just the United States. Although the name hasn’t been decided yet, it will be an unprecedented multinational coalition. We’ve joined hands to continue the will of great creation.”

A multinational coalition, does that mean the United States and China have joined hands?

Nam Woo-joo was greatly surprised by something he thought would be impossible as long as he was alive.

At the same time, he got goosebumps.

“What are the great powers gathering in Korea trying to do? Are they trying to make that boy meet the ‘Red King’ instead of Kore?”

“NO. Even if they do, it would be like drinking seawater in a hurry. Fundamentally, nothing will be resolved. Let’s see─, it wouldn’t be bad to increase the number by about 10 people.”

“…Increase?”

“If the firewood is insufficient and the flames do not burn red and hot, then just add more firewood. It’s a matter of physically increasing it. We will revive the fairy royal family to greatness.”

Nam Woo-joo was a smart man.

Even with his mind not fully functioning after just waking up, he could accurately grasp the intentions of the great powers.

“Are you thinking of using Han Nam-jin like a stud horse! You’re saying you’ll simply increase the descendants of the Red King to prevent the collapse of the Great Labyrinth! It’s inhumane!”

“Right and wrong are for the parties involved to decide. But honestly, as a fellow man, I’m envious. Aren’t all the special agents beauties? Although they were deliberately selected that way.”

Of course, being high-ranking awakeners, they all had personality flaws─.

Adam swallowed that statement deep into his throat.

# # #

The ‘Great Labyrinth’ existed only in Korea, but awakening was a global phenomenon.

However, unlike Korea, where the main task was to attack the ‘Great Labyrinth’, overseas awakeners mainly hunted down unregistered awakeners called ‘villains’.

Among them, a few were called ‘special agents’ and enjoyed great power, and according to what I picked up on the internet, they were nicknamed ‘national power level’.

In comparison to Korea, it would be similar to Nam Woo-joo, the crown prince of the 7th Gong.

Anyway, I could tell that the foreign women who suddenly appeared were those ‘special agents’.

Of course, that made it even stranger.

“Everyone wake up! Get a grip! The fight isn’t over yet!”

“Cào ní mā! Don’t order me around!”

“There is no elegance to be found in that Chinese woman. How can such a being be a ‘special agent’? The future of the continent is bleak! If one is chosen, they should have the corresponding dignity!”

The ‘special agents’ seemed to be of different nationalities.

That meant that several countries had begun to extend their claws into Korea.

Could they be targeting Mi-bbang, the witch of ‘life’?

It wouldn’t be strange if the overseas old folks were interested in Mi-bbang, who held the secrets of life and death.

The Korean government and Nam Bada had requested help from overseas to find the missing witch─a plausible story.

But-.

【There are more obstacles.】

The great knight Hamern, who had been swept away by a huge explosion, slowly restored his shadow and regained his form.

As the woman who introduced herself as Minerva said, the fight was not over yet, and it seemed best to deal with that fairy first.

It was then.

“Tang Ga Bi Gi, Man Cheon Hwa Woo!”

The woman with the bun, who had been cursing in Chinese since earlier, reached out her hand.

Then, the mechanical device attached to her purple suit transformed into a small drone, and with a buzzing sound, it flew away and shot countless needles.

Pishushushushu-

Swoosh-

The attack was like a torrential downpour, and the knight was busy blocking it with his sword.

Watching this, Bbangdaengi was the most surprised.

“What was that just now? ‘Tang Ga Bi Gi, Man Cheon Hwa Woo’! That’s a secret technique of our Baekdang! And it’s not even a technique that uses drones to shoot needles!”

She had been diligently training to throw chopsticks, but someone was shooting thicker and sharper needles with a single click of a drone, making her feel wronged.

The woman with the bun also reacted to Baek Yeoul’s words.

“Could it be that you’re Tang Hwa Yeon’s daughter? How long are you going to stick to those outdated methods? Our Tang Clan has already surpassed the 4,000-year history of Chinese martial arts and entered a new era!”

━Pyu Bip.

She didn’t know what it was, but she wanted that drone flying in the sky.

Maybe she’s also a bit of a gadget enthusiast.

If this were a novel or a comic, it would be a cute drone that the author included to sell merchandise…

【Women and their petty tricks─.】

At that moment, the knight, who seemed to be infuriated by the sudden intrusion of foreign women, raised his giant sword.

Buzz, Buzz-

The vibrating greatsword.

Just by looking at it, one could tell that a powerful strike was about to be unleashed when a woman in a silver suit drew her sword.

“Now is the time to fulfill the duty of the chosen one! Knight of the unknown fairy! I, Emperor Luize, will face you!”

Buzz-

Luize’s sword shone brilliantly.

The knight Hamerun was astonished by the light.

【Is that the sword ‘Caliburn’ of the Fairy Lake? How is the legendary sword that disappeared from the fairy world in the hands of an outsider girl? Only the chosen one should be able to wield that sword─!】

Clang-!

The two sword energies collided, releasing a huge shockwave.

Seo Ga Eul frowned at the situation.

“What on earth is going on?”

She must have wanted someone to explain.

At that moment, someone grabbed my arm.

It was a woman wearing a red goblin mask.

“Uh…, it’s now. While they’re dealing with the enemy, we should escape! Let’s get out of the ‘Great Labyrinth’!”

Her awkward Korean was mixed with Japanese.

This woman in the goblin mask seemed to be Japanese.

Escape, you say.

We came here to face the ‘Red King’.

However, thanks to the foreign women buying us some time, we had a moment of respite. So, I patted my comrades on the shoulders and shouted with all my might.

“Let’s go to the throne room!”

“Wait-just a moment!”

“Chotto matte! You can’t go!”

From noble mtl dot com

The foreign women were flustered.

Of course, they couldn’t pay attention to us because of the fierce sword strikes from the great knight.

# # #

As we turned the corner and the sounds of explosions and sword strikes faded away, Yoo Yeoreum nodded in admiration.

“As expected of Han Namjin. To think he would seek help from overseas to face the great knight of the fairies.”

“I didn’t ask for them. They might be foreign pursuers after Mibbang. I think the Korean government has started to borrow foreign forces.”

As far as I know, foreign troops began to invade Korea just before the apocalypse.

Korea couldn’t handle the hordes of zombies and the monsters swarming over the land devastated by the black rain on its own.

“M-Mibbang can’t be given away! She’s my sister!”

At that moment, Bangdaengi hugged Mibbang’s neck and growled like an angry raccoon. It seemed they had grown very attached during the day they spent together.

Seo Gaeul, who had been watching this process, casually threw out a remark.

“More importantly, Han Namjin, your mother is Kore, right? Don’t you have anything more to say? The ‘Red King’ is your maternal grandfather. Are you really okay with fighting your kin?”

Ah, right.

So many things were happening simultaneously that even I, Han Namjin, the world’s smartest middle school dropout, had a momentary shutdown in my brain.

To think I’m the son of a fairy!

“Guahhh!”

Once again, I felt like my soul was being chipped away.

But, so what?

I just have to do what I must.

The “Black Rain” that fell upon the world was undoubtedly the work of the “Red King.”

If we succeed in defeating the “Red King” here and now, we might be able to prevent the end of the world.

That alone is worth the challenge.

“A man’s life is to retreat into the enemy’s camp.”

Let’s give it a try.

With that feeling, we arrived at the room with the throne, where the king in red armor sat on a grand throne.

He was as still as a statue, but a gloomy aura seemed to engulf the entire room.

The shadows cast by his armor were not mere darkness. They writhed like living beings, extending in all directions like tentacles, swallowing the surrounding light.

【Have you come, successor?】

The darkness swirled around him as if fear and despair had taken form.

A bloody silence emanated from his eyes, and his mere presence sent shivers down my spine. This was the oppressive force of one who possessed the concept of “darkness.”

【I have waited for a long time. The will of the kings must always be passed down from ancestor to descendant.】

Clank-.

The Red King rose from the throne, his heavy body lifting.

He appeared to be well over two meters tall.

【Successor, challenge me. Claim your rightful place. On the day my era ends, everything in the kingdom reduced to ashes will belong to you. You shall become the “Red King.”】

I become the “Red King”?

“Hanamjin, what is your grandfather saying!”

The Red King’s words deepened my thoughts.

Long ago, Seogaeul had told me that I had to make a choice.

At that time, I didn’t understand what it meant, but now I think I do.

It’s like a baton pass.

Defeating the “Red King” and taking his place was my duty.

Inheriting the concept that pushed that man to his limits was my obligation.

Then I would become the “Red King,” the final guardian who is both the destruction itself and the one who prevents it.