Ubermensch – Chapter 52

Chapter 52

“As the raid leader of the strongest raid team in existence, I have no complaints even if you give the orders.”

Liza’s words were dry.

It meant that she would have no complaints even if she followed Mason’s orders.

However, there were thorns embedded in it that were difficult to recognize.

That she could not accept Sung Kijun giving her orders, that the Holy Knights did not have the experience to give orders to the Forest Guard.

Sung Kijun understood, and he agreed.

“That’s right. Then, big guy, you take charge.”

Sung Kijun was not a person without pride, but his pride never made him fail to do what he had to do.

Mason, sensing the subtle atmosphere in the room, made an uncomfortable expression.

“I even left the command of our raid team to Yeonhee and Masika?”

“Then we can leave the command of our raid team to us.”

Mason scratched his head.

“If you tell me to do it, I have to do it, what.”

The meeting that day ended simply like that.

“…”

Along with Mason’s strange discomfort about Liza.

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That evening, in the training room.

Mason grabbed Andrei, who was working out, and asked.

“Are you close with Liza?”

“Are you talking about the elf noona?”

“Yeah.”

Andrei shook his head.

“No, I’m not close.”

“Weren’t both of you Heavenly King’s confidants?”

“It’s complicated.”

“How is it complicated?”

“It’s complicated enough to tell you to hear it from the person involved.”

Andrei lifted the bench press again.

When he openly tried to cut off the conversation, Mason lifted the barbell with one hand.

It was the weight that Andrei lifted with all his might, but it was enough for Mason even with one hand.

“…If you’re going to interfere with my workout, why do you even come to the training room?”

“There aren’t many places to talk to you.”

“Have a drink and talk. Why are you interfering with my workout?”

“Everyone who had a drink with me slept with me.”

“…”

Andrei got up with an annoyed look on his face.

“Alright, alright. I’ll answer what I can answer.”

“Liza and Celine…”

“Celine is Liza’s descendant.”

“Are they mother and daughter?”

“Mother and daughter? No, there’s probably at least a 2,000-year age difference between them?”

“That much?”

Looking at Mason clicking his tongue, Andrei nodded.

“Liza noona is the oldest after the Heavenly King. Celine was born in the late 20th century.”

“Really?”

“Liza noona is the first elf, and Celine is the last elf. It’s meaningless to talk about family ties because there’s such a big age gap.”

Mason nodded.

“Then… what kind of person is Liza?”

“The best spearman among the pseudo-humans. In terms of skill proficiency and skill as a martial artist, no one on Earth can match her.”

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

“…Hmm.”

Andrei swallowed a groan.

A look that he didn’t know what to say.

No, it was a look that he didn’t know what to say and what not to say.

He thought for a long time before speaking.

“…She’s a person who clearly distinguishes between public and private matters.”

“That’s too difficult to understand.”

“That’s all anyone else can say. You have to hear it from her directly.”

It was a fair point. It was so fair that it was annoying.

“…Okay, I get it. You’re saying that I’ll know when I experience it myself?”

“But, I think I can say this much.”

“What is it?”

“She’s the person the boss should be most careful of.”

“In a good way, or a bad way?”

Andrei grinned.

“Both.”

Mason suddenly thought that this quest might become quite troublesome.

Because of people, not monsters.

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As soon as the goal was set, preparations began.

“Since it’s a Ministry of National Defense quest, it’s easy to procure supplies.”

Once upon a time, Korean military supplies were synonymous with garbage. Numerous organizations, including the Military Mutual Aid Association, treated the Ministry of National Defense coffers as their own personal warehouses, and sold garbage-like goods at treasure-like prices.

Not anymore.

The Ministry of National Defense could no longer hand out cheap goods to those who fought. Because people had now become the most precious resource.

The supplies provided by the Ministry of National Defense were top-notch. Or at least equivalent to guaranteeing goods that were above average.

The quantity and variety of supplies were so vast that Seo Yeonhee and Masika were busy just inspecting them.

“We can’t fit all of this in just our camp vehicle.”

“The Ministry of National Defense said they’re sending two more transport trailers.”

The amount of supplies alone made it clear how much expectation there was for this operation.

“…It seems like it’s going to be a really big deal.”

The others also seemed to be inwardly tense.

“…”

Except for Mason, who was sitting around with nothing to do.

He was lost in thought in front of the people inspecting the supplies.

‘Liza Kronen.’

Mason didn’t know much about Liza.

He had only seen her once in person. When she was here to escort Yekaterina.

The impression he got at that time was that she was calm and quiet.

It wasn’t a situation where he could talk to her, but she herself had a quiet impression.

The only thing he remembered was her eyes. She had calm, no, empty eyes……

“…Hmm.”

Mason stopped thinking.

The information he had now was too little. Thinking about someone he had never actually spoken to was not reasoning, but fantasy.

‘Should I go to Andrei?’

It was while Mason was thinking that his phone rang.

It was Sung Kijun.

“Yeah, but why?”

“Work-related?”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

Mason got up from his seat.

“I didn’t have anything to do anyway.”

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The place where Mason arrived was a coffee shop at a luxury hotel in Gwangju.

Sung Kijun had already arrived there.

“Leader.”

“Mason.”

However, he did not come alone.

“No, isn’t this our Eun young lady?”

“Hello, Mason.”

Eun Yuri smiled innocently.

Mason asked with a generous smile.

“What brings you here?”

Sung Kijun answered instead of Eun Yuri.

“She said she wanted to call you here. She said there are some things to sort out.”

“Sort out? What is that?”

It was then.

Liza Kronen, dressed in a black women’s suit, was slowly walking into the hotel. With her platinum blonde hair hanging down long, she had a stiff presence, unlike Yekaterina’s oppressive presence.

If Yekaterina had a pressure like a perennial ice wall that you wouldn’t dare touch, she had a dry and suffocating distance like a desert.

However, all three of them were drawn to her companion rather than her.

“Eric….”

Former KCP Middle Level Champion, Eric Yoon.

Eun Yuri’s former party member and the one who reported Mason to the police.

He was a man who remained as a bad memory for all three of them.

“….!”

Eun Yuri flinched momentarily, but only for a moment, glancing at Mason, she straightened her shoulders and glared at Eric.

Sung Kijun said with an unpleasant look.

“There’s a companion you didn’t tell us about in advance?”

“Yes.”

Liza, who didn’t notice or ignored people’s displeasure, continued calmly.

“Telling you about him is the purpose of this meeting.”

Liza was looking at Mason, not Sung Kijun or Eun Yuri.

“He is a member of our Forest Guard. If you don’t object, we plan to bring him along on this quest.”

Mason crossed his arms.

“And if I object?”

“We will exclude him from the quest.”

“That’s…”

Mason thought for a moment and looked at Eun Yuri.

“I don’t think it’s my place to decide.”

“…Please have a seat for now.”

Eun Yuri also thought for a moment before speaking.

“I think we need to talk.”

The two of them sat down.

Looking closely, Eric Yoon’s impression had changed quite a bit.

He used to have dyed long blonde hair, but now he had his hair cut short like a chestnut burr. He had a calm look in his eyes, unlike his previous arrogant gaze.

At first glance, he looked different from before.

Eun Yuri opened her mouth.

“Eric….”

“Piljung.”

Eric opened his mouth.

“Call me Yun Piljung. That’s my real name.”

His way of speaking was also different from before. Eun Yuri had a puzzled look on her face.

“…That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Because it’s the first time I’m saying it.”

Eun Yuri hesitated before speaking.

“What happened? You… seem to have changed in many ways.”

“It’s thanks to Raid Leader Mason. Thanks to him… I came to my senses.”

“…”

Eun Yuri was silent for a moment. Because Eric Yoon, no, Yun Piljung, had become a completely different person from the man she remembered.

“…Anyway, you said you’re a member of the Forest Guard?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Forest Guard was the 3rd ranked raid team in Korea.

It was a prestigious raid team among the top three in Korea, a powerhouse of the Player System, and especially one of the three direct raid teams owned by the Heavenly King, the king of the Player System.

It wasn’t a place where he, a level 39 tanker, could enter.

“Are you talking about the level restriction?”

“Yes.”

“The Heavenly King helped me. My limit level is now 52.”

“Your limit level increased? By 13?”

People were surprised. It was an unprecedented event that they had never even heard of a level limit increasing. But to increase by 13?

“How?”

“I can’t tell you. I took an oath of secrecy. Let’s just say it was an opportunity I was able to get thanks to Raid Leader Mason.”

“…”

“I’m now the sub tanker of the Forest Guard. If you forgive me, and if you allow me… I want to stand on the same battlefield and repay my past mistakes.”

The word ‘reformation’ is often used, but it is not common to encounter someone who has actually reformed. Before discussing whether they liked it or not, they only felt confused.

“I… I…”

Eun Yuri, lost in confusion, looked at Sung Kijun and Mason.

Mason opened his mouth instead of Eun Yuri.

“Yun Piljung.”

“Yes, Raid Leader Mason.”

“As I told the Heavenly King, I believe people can change. But believing that you have changed is another story.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll be watching. Especially, if I see you being rude to Eun young lady… I won’t treat you as a human. You understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good, then…”

Mason smiled bitterly.

“I approve.”

Sung Kijun also nodded.

“There are few places that bring out a person’s true nature like the battlefield. I’ll be watching too.”

Only Eun Yuri was left.

She hesitated, and Mason held her hand tightly.