Ubermensch – Chapter 65

Chapter 65

“Responsibility. As a strong person, no, as a person’s responsibility.”

Mason spoke in an unwavering voice.

“What are you fighting for?”

“For money.”

“Then you wouldn’t fight if there was no profit?”

The interest disappeared from Steve’s face. Along with ridicule.

Perhaps it was because he had a hunch about what Mason was going to say next.

“Then if you become rich enough, you don’t need to fight, right? No, to make you keep fighting, they have to make sure you don’t become rich, right?”

“…”

“Money changes people. For better or worse. But there are things about a person that shouldn’t change.”

Tap.

Mason’s fist touched Steve’s chest.

“And I believe that’s… also inside here.”

Steve emptied his glass.

He chuckled.

“That sounds naive…”

However, unlike before, there was no ridicule in his expression.

“Alright. That aside, why aren’t you selling the Warlord Core? Is it just because you don’t like me that you won’t sell it?”

“I told you that if I sell it to you, the research data won’t be shared.”

“You won’t sell it to Chong Daolong, will you?”

“Right, I’m going to use it.”

Mason said with a calm expression.

“Because that would be my responsibility.”

“Then fine.”

Steve stood up from his seat.

“If we’re done talking, I’ll be going. Time is money.”

Steve gave Yekaterina a slight nod.

“Miss Yekaterina, you should keep a close eye on him. In my experience… I’ve never seen anyone who talks arrogantly not disappoint themselves.”

“I’ll try.”

“And Mason.”

Steve looked at Mason.

“With great power comes great responsibility. Someone I respect also said that. Your words are neither right nor wrong. Your life, your actions complete your words. Only by fulfilling your responsibility to the end.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Mason nodded.

“But, who said ‘With great power comes great responsibility’?”

“Why?”

“So I can use it next time we have this kind of conversation.”

“Uncle Ben.”

“What does he do?”

“Spider-Man’s uncle.”

“…Do you like comics?”

“Is there a man who doesn’t like Spider-Man?”

Steve grinned and said.

He walked out of the bar.

Mason let out a tired sigh.

“Whew…”

He was tired. Discussing the way people live was more tiring than fighting monsters for life and death.

“Kacha.”

“Yes?”

“Were my words right?”

“That… you can only find out by living.”

Mason stroked his glass.

“Can I… keep my word?”

“I believe so.”

Yekaterina sat next to Mason.

Clink.

The two glasses gently clinked.

“Because I… believe in you who believes that.”

Mason smiled bitterly.

His shoulders were heavy. Heavier than before.

But… it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Sharing a drink with someone who believes in me.

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Monsters changed a lot, and the Player System changed even more.

Powerful nations were able to maintain their administrative power and public order. Even with changes in social structure and power shifts, they maintained their framework as nations.

Weaker nations couldn’t.

Gangs, or Player gangs, began to take the form of warlords and illegally occupy territories, and various conflicts and disputes rekindled in the absence of administrative power.

Countless countries were being reorganized in countless ways.

And South Korea.

South Korea… was one of the countries that maintained a relatively sound social structure despite losing most of its national defense capabilities due to the influx of monsters.

There were two reasons for this.

One reason was that, due to strict gun control and regulations on violent groups, there were no armed groups that could develop into warlords. The other reason was the existence of the Empress of Violence, who tightly controlled the Players, the armed group with the potential to grow into warlords.

Yekaterina. Having ascended to the top of the Player System with her outstanding political sense, she offered a deal that benefited both the South Korean government and the Players.

She offered security and stability to the South Korean government, and in return, money and privileges to the Players.

It was a deal that satisfied the needs of the government, which didn’t want the rise of Player warlords, and the Players, who didn’t want to fight people if they could make enough money.

The deal was successful.

But not every country had a Yekaterina.

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“Mr. Mason.”

When Seo Yeonhee came to find Mason, he was looking at the people outside the window.

“…What are you doing?”

“People-watching.”

Seo Yeonhee glanced out the window. But there didn’t seem to be anything special.

“Is it fun?”

“Yeah, it’s fun. People all look different. Their clothes too.”

“You said future people look more amazing than modern people?”

“That’s true, but there haven’t been many gatherings of them to call them ‘people’.”

Mason said, looking out the window.

“And besides our Massachusetts Park family, there weren’t many humanoid ones.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, my best friend was Nguyen U Noc, and he was a gaseous human.”

“…Gaseous, but human?”

“Even if it’s gas, it’s still a person.”

Mason finally turned around.

“Anyway, what’s up?”

“We received a proposal.”

“What is it?”

“They asked if we want to do a raid together.”

“Who?”

Seo Yeonhee shrugged and said.

“Chong Daolong.”

‘Martial God’ Chong Daolong. The champion of Chinese Players, he commanded tens of thousands of Players and thousands of direct troops.

“Didn’t you say he has over a thousand troops?”

“Well, it’s better to hear the details directly, isn’t it?”

Mason looked interested.

“Did Chong Daolong come in person?”

“No, Hong Long is here as his representative.”

Hong Long was Chong Daolong’s confidante.

Her being here meant she teleported.

“…Why bother coming in person instead of calling?”

“Everyone has different standards for courtesy.”

Mason shrugged.

When they went to the conference room, Hong Long was waiting with her escort.

Hong Long, a Chinese beauty with willow-like grace, smiled at Mason.

“Raid Leader Mason.”

“Hong Long.”

Mason reached out his hand for a handshake, but Hong Long performed a fist salute.

Their hands subtly missed each other.

“…Uh, um.”

Mason scratched his head.

“Let’s sit down first.”

“Yes.”

Hong Long and Mason sat down.

Mason got straight to the point.

“You want to do a raid with me?”

“Yes, we would like you to join us in subjugating a monster.”

Mason tilted his head.

“Our raid team is off this month.”

Top Korean raid teams were scheduled to have raid months, rest months, and reserve duty months. This was because South Korea’s top raid teams were part of its national defense.

However, Hong Long calmly said.

“This request is not for the Revengers raid team, but for Raid Leader Mason personally.”

“Just me?”

“Yes.”

Mason looked at Seo Yeonhee.

“Is that okay?”

“We have rest months so we can rest after raids, but… is it okay with you, Mr. Mason?”

As Mason and Seo Yeonhee made ambiguous expressions, Hong Long said.

“Don’t worry about any issues with the government. If the South Korean government takes issue with this, we will take care of it.”

“If that’s the case.”

Mason looked at Hong Long.

“What kind of monster is it?”

Hong Long gestured, and her secretary handed Seo Yeonhee a USB.

Seo Yeonhee loaded the data.

Hong Long calmly said.

“A-Rank monster <Wyvern>. A flying monster that has settled in the Songshan Mountains of Henan Province.”

“A flying raid boss.”

It was a dragon-type flying monster with a long neck and a body covered in scales. The unique features were that its front legs were practically atrophied and its tail had spikes protruding like a mace.

Mason carefully examined the monster’s outline and asked.

“Is there no way to attack it from the air?”

“It fires toxic saliva, but it doesn’t have much capacity. Its main fighting style is hand-to-hand combat.”

“Right, hand-to-hand combat will happen after we bring it down.”

The problem was being a flying monster itself. As with Darkwing, bringing down a flying monster to the ground was never easy.

“Is there a way to drag it down to the ground?”

“Yes. We have ‘Rain of Fire’ prepared. What we’re asking of Raid Leader Mason is the ground combat afterwards.”

Mason nodded.

“I can help with that. Alright, let’s do it.”

Hong Long and Seo Yeonhee were startled by Mason’s ready agreement.

“Why?”

Hong Long smiled and said.

“No, it’s nothing. Then we will come to pick you up when we’re ready.”

Hong Long looked at her escort.

The escort took Hong Long’s hand and disappeared with a flash of light.

Teleportation. It seemed she was a mage.

At that moment, Seo Yeonhee sighed and said.

“Mr. Mason.”

“Why?”

“How can you agree without even discussing how much you’ll be paid…”

Mason made an embarrassed expression.

“Wouldn’t they take care of it?”

“Where in the world would someone take care of it for you?”

Seo Yeonhee chuckled.

“The world isn’t full of suckers like Mr. Mason.”

“…”

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It was three days later when Hong Long visited again.

“Raid Leader Mason.”

“Hmm, yeah.”

She was in combat uniform, not civilian clothes. Mason asked.

“Is it time?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, so…”

Mason stood up from his seat.

“I’ll go get my armor and weapon.”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve prepared them for you.”

“Really? Then… I won’t refuse.”

Mason took Hong Long’s hand.

Flash!

The light of teleportation flashed before his eyes.

The place they teleported to was a camp outdoors.

It was a typical Player camp, except for the Chinese flag waving.

When Mason arrived, they were already in battle preparation mode.

“This way, please.”

Hong Long guided Mason.

The place she took him to was the armory.

There, Chong Daolong, clad in battle gear, was instructing his subordinates.

“…”

An ascending dragon.

That was what Mason felt when he saw Chong Daolong’s equipment.

Based on scale mail covered in tight-fitting blue scales, his entire body was adorned with decorations of a yellow dragon wrapped in clouds. The yellow dragon, holding a transparent green core like a yeouiju (a mythical gem said to grant wishes), was a work of art in itself.

Chong Daolong’s hands were equipped with gauntlets modeled after dragon heads. They looked sturdy, yet the movement of each finger was free, designed so that they wouldn’t hinder Chong Daolong, known as the Martial God, from displaying his skills.

“Whoa…”