After Ten Millennia in Hell

'He was a persistent one.'

Balrog was so simple and hot-tempered that Kang-Woo wondered if his brain was only full of muscle like his body. Nevertheless, Balrog was one of the subordinates that Kang-Woo cared about the most.

"…First, let's get out of here," Kang-Woo said.

"Hahaha! Understood!" Kang Tae-Soo replied enthusiastically.

Kang-Woo tried to grab the sword wielder, who had lost consciousness.

"Allow me to carry him, hyung-nim," Tae-Soo intercepted.

However, Tae-Soo picked up the sword wielder instead. He hung the sword wielder over his shoulder and walked toward the Gate. The sword wielder was quite large compared to most guys, yet he looked like a kid when Tae-Soo picked him up.

'How is he not a monster?'

Kang-Woo smirked as he looked at Tae-Soo, who looked like a monster carrying its food around.

* * *

"Thank you very much!" Kim Tae-Hyun bowed to Kang-Woo as soon as they made it outside. "I'll definitely grow out of being a first-aid administrator and repay you for today's favor!"

"First-aid administrator?" Kang-Woo asked.

"That's what they call rogues because that's all they're good for, Kang-Woo hyung-nim. No one wants to form a party with a rogue. They can't properly tank or deal damage, so no one wants them in their parties," Tae-Soo explained.

"Aha." Kang-Woo nodded.

After bowing to Kang-Woo with a determined look, Tae-Hyun turned around and walked away.

Kang-Woo smiled while watching Tae-Hyun leave.

'It's a good thing when people owe you favors.'

Making acquaintances like that was a lot better than mindlessly creating enemies. Moreover, perhaps Tae-Hyun might truly break past a rogue's limits and become a high-level Player one day.

'Although the chances are low.'

Regardless, Kang-Woo had nothing to lose.

He shifted his gaze from Tae-Hyun to Tae-Soo, who was gazing at him with bright eyes. Kang-Woo felt as if he had a very well-trained bear next to him.

'The problem is what I should do with him.'

Judging by what Tae-Soo had said, it seemed like Kang-Woo wouldn't be able to shake him off easily.

"What level are you?" Kang-woo asked.

"I'm Level 12. I got my Second Awakening recently," Tae-Soo answered.

"Hmm… You didn't get basic training?"

"I got a C-rank Trait with my First Awakening, so I immediately hunted to level up."

"Oh, I see."

A C-rank Trait was considered incredibly high ranked for a First Awakening Trait.

Kang-Woo looked at Tae-Soo with interest. "So, what rank is your Second Awakening Trait?"

"Hehe, I got an A-rank Trait for my Second Awakening."

Kang-Woo's eyes lit up while gazing at Tae-Soo, who answered with great confidence.

'He's way more talented than I expected.'

A Player was considered talented if they acquired a B-rank or higher Trait with their Second Awakening. Yet, Tae-Soo had gotten an A-rank Trait. It was a rank that exceeded expectations.

'No wonder those guys were struggling with him.'

The two men from the Andras Guild had a hard time with Tae-Soo because the rank of his Trait was quite high, despite his level being very low in comparison.

"Why didn't you join a guild? With that rank, I'm sure you'd be able to join any you wished for."

"I've been looking for one, but I won't be joining one anymore."

"…?"

Tae-Soo clenched his fists and looked at Kang-Woo with intense eyes.

"Your sense of justice has moved me, hyung-nim! I, Kang Tae-Soo, want to follow you from now on!" Tae-Soo shouted while blasting air from his nostrils.

"Hmm…" Kang-Woo crossed his arms at this sight.

'Not bad.'

At first, he'd thought that Tae-Soo was annoying, but he'd changed his opinion a little bit after hearing the rank of Tae-Soo's Trait. Tae-Soo wouldn't be of great help to Kang-Woo yet, but he was certainly worth investing in.

'The chances of someone who got a high-ranking Trait with their Second Awakening getting even better ones in their subsequent Awakenings are very high.'

It was possible that Tae-Soo might get an S-rank Trait or better in the future.

'It wouldn't be a bad idea to have him as a subordinate.'

Kang-Woo was used to moving alone, so he didn't need someone to fight alongside him. However, it was a different story if it was someone who swore absolute fealty to him. Two people could do more than one, after all. Having someone who could do the bothersome things was a good enough reason to have a subordinate.

'And also…'

Kang-Woo could feel a strong sense of loyalty coming from Tae-Soo.

The most important thing that was needed in a subordinate wasn't strength but unchanging loyalty—the certainty that the subordinate wouldn't ever backstab their superior. In that sense, having a subordinate like Tae-Soo would probably be very helpful.

'Now that I think about it, Seol-Ah is going to get her Second Awakening soon too.'

Kang-Woo thought that Han Seol-Ah, who was a healer, and Tae-Soo, who was a tanker, would form quite a good party.

'He's worth the investment.'

Considering Tae-Soo's talent, he was certainly worth investing in.

"Okay, I'll lead you from now on."

"Whoa! Thank you, Kang-Woo hyung-nim!" Tae-Soo shouted with an excited voice and sparkling eyes.

"Will we be invading the Andras Guild base right now? Haha, I'll protect you with my life, hyung-nim."

"No, I'm going to the Andras Guild by myself."

"Huh…? Wh-Why?"

"Tae-Soo," Kang-Woo called Tae-Soo's name in a low voice.

Hearing that, Tae-Soo flinched, with his shoulders tensing unconsciously.

Kang-Woo kept talking in that same low voice, "You almost died while fighting against two measly members of the Andras Guild, right?"

"Y-Yes…"

"Do you seriously believe you'll be able to protect me?"

"…"

After hearing the facts, Tae-Soo couldn't say anything, and his expression turned sullen. He also knew very well that he couldn't be of help to Kang-Woo currently.

Kang-Woo put his hands on the disheartened Tae-Soo's shoulders. "It's okay."

"Hyung-nim?"

"You're just starting. If you're weak, you just have to get stronger, right?"

After hearing that, Tae-Soo's face regained its vigor. "Yes! That's right! My story hasn't even begun yet!"

"That's right."

"Haha. I'll soon become strong enough to be your shield!"

Kang-Woo smirked and nodded. "I trust you."

"Please give me your number, hyung-nim. I'll come running if you ever need me."

"Oh, yeah, I wanted to ask you a favor."

"Oh, just say the word, hyung-nim," Tae-Soo answered excitedly after hearing the word 'favor.'

"Someone I know will complete their basic training in a few days. I want you to form a party with that person and level up together."

"Oh? Could you tell me what class that person is?"

"A healer."

"If that's the case, I should be the one asking you to let them join me. Getting a damage dealer is relatively easy, so I think I'll be able to create a good party." Tae-Soo nodded while showing his signature goody-two-shoes smile.

"Okay, then I'll contact you later."

"Are you going straight to the Andras Guild?"

"I'm not sure…"

Kang-Woo looked at the unconscious man who was on the ground.

If he made use of this sword wielder, he would be able to find the Andras Guild's base easily.

'Facing the Andras Guild isn't going to be a problem.'

Things might be different if the guild in question were one of the big guilds that controlled Korea. However, the Andras Guild was only a mid-sized guild, so Kang-Woo would probably be able to face them with his current level of power.

The seal of his Ten Thousand Demon Core had become weaker after he achieved his Third Awakening. Due to that, he now had great power that was unimaginable from a Level 20 Player.

Furthermore, Kang-Woo's strength couldn't be measured only by his level and stats. He had the fighting skills he'd polished for ten millennia, and he could use them to overwhelm even an opponent with higher stats.

'The problem is how I am going to get inside without being discovered.'

It wasn't that Kang-Woo didn't have an Authority that allowed him to conceal his presence, but it wouldn't be easy to stay concealed for a long time from Players, who had senses more developed than normal people.

'If they discover me, I might lose the opportunity to find out more about the ritual.'

If that happened, his reason for investigating the Andras Guild would disappear.

"Hmm…" Kang-Woo thought about all of this with his eyes closed.

"Urgh, where am I…?" The man who had been unconscious trembled as he stood up at that moment.

He had recovered consciousness at the perfect time, and Kang-Woo violently grabbed his neck.

"Kurgh!"

"There's something I want to ask you. You can kindly answer me, right?" Kang-Woo asked.

"Kurgh! Hurgh!"

"If you understood, nod."

The man nodded as his face was turning blue. "Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"What's your name?"

"K-Kang Cheol-Ho."

"Okay. Cheol-Ho, you said before that you had to take the two Players that you had attacked alive. Right?"

Kang Cheol-Ho kept his mouth shut and tried to avoid Kang-Woo's gaze.

Kang-Woo could see cold sweat dripping from Cheol-Ho's forehead.

"I-I don't remember," Cheol-Ho finally said.

"Really?" Kang-Woo asked.

Then he kicked Cheol-Ho in the face as if his head were a football.

Slam!

"Cough!"

"How about now? Did that jolt your memory?"

"U-Urghhh…"

"Do you need more?"

"N-No!" Cheol-Ho paled and shook his head.

Tae-Soo's mouth was agape as he watched Kang-Woo question Cheol-Ho like a master interrogator.

"W-We were trying to take them alive to use them as sacrifices," Cheol-Ho yielded.

"Sacrifices?"

"Yes."

"For the so-called ritual?" Cheol-Ho nodded with a stiff expression.

Kang-Woo chuckled. "You guys are crazier than I thought."

He wasn't sure about the details of the ritual, but considering that you had to use a living person as a sacrifice, it was probably an archaic type of ritual.

"Hmm." Kang-Woo fell into deep thought.

'A sacrifice, huh…?'

Suddenly, a thought crossed Kang-Woo's mind, and a smile appeared on his face.

Kang-Woo turned his head to Cheol-Ho and spoke in a low voice, "I need you to do me a favor."