Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

Originally, I had no intention of staying in such a harsh environment for long, but I decided to settle in the labyrinth for a few days.

With all its traps disarmed, this labyrinth was the perfect training ground to hone my skills without any interference.

In other words, it was perfect for testing out my newly acquired ability.

Sitting on the floor, I stretched out my arms. Like Iron Man from the Marvel movies, I tried releasing mana from my palms.

But what came out of my palms was a pathetic display that wouldn’t even make it onto an evening variety show, let alone an Iron Man movie.

—Remember the path I’m guiding you through.

As always in these situations, Ray’s nagging followed. Well, it couldn’t help but butt in if I didn’t speak up.

“I’m trying to remember, but it’s not that easy.”

Even though I understood it intellectually, I couldn’t get the hang of it physically. It was like being told to suddenly grow a third leg and do a tripedal walk after a lifetime of walking on two legs.

Without Ray’s guidance, my mana still wouldn’t budge from my body at all.

But relying solely on Ray’s guidance wouldn’t improve my skills. After Ray guided my mana, I repeatedly tried moving it on my own without Ray’s help.

It felt like navigating the vast ocean without a compass.

The countless mana circuits laid down only added to my confusion.

But after repeating the process over and over again, I could now find the right path with some proficiency.

Perhaps because I had already depleted my strength breaking down that wall earlier, the mana that came out of my palms was quite pitiful in level.

But I could definitely feel it.

What?

The chill.

—Focus on just one at a time.

“Since I don’t know what attribute might be needed, I should prepare as many as possible, right?”

Now that my entire body had close to infinite mana circuits inscribed, wouldn’t it be a waste not to utilize them?

I memorized five of the mana circuits Ray had guided me through.

The fire and ice attributes, which seemed decent enough, and the lightning attribute.

The earth and wood attributes didn’t seem too promising.

Well, it had been difficult for me to even visualize what those attributes would be like in my mind, so it was understandable.

Considering the mana was scraping the floor, my body’s output wasn’t very good.

Somehow, even putting my full strength into it, the most I could do was dent a stone wall.

“Hmm, this might not be enough for monster hunting.”

—The mana force within you, in other words, your manapower is at a pathetic level.

Perhaps feeling irritated, Ray’s tone was arrogant to an unbelievable degree for someone addressing their master.

“Well, it should still be effective enough against people.”

At my words, Ray exclaimed.

—What nonsense is that about using it against people?

“For the time being, I’ll be dealing with people more than gates.”

At those words, Ray cut off all the mana flowing through my mana circuits. Huh, my body instantly felt drained of strength. Was something like this even possible?

—Didn’t you say you would use your power to save this world?

“Wait, wait, just hear me out.”

—There’s no need to listen! I never believed a liar like you from the start! And now you’re already thinking of harming people!

“Geez, it really hurts to be called a liar by someone who knows I’m telling the truth.”

I spat on the floor. Faced with my menacing reaction, Ray finally shut its mouth.

“Didn’t I say a few days ago that I intended to get rid of the bastards ruining this country?”

No matter what, those were the biggest problems in Korea right now.

Although my goal had grown somewhat grander, to protect this world from those invaders, it was important to somehow save even one more precious awakener.

To do that, I had to take down the bad guys.

—The bastards ruining the country?

“There are plenty of cases like that. Dealing with others who might get in the way of their own advancement. Those bad guys will try to eliminate the very heroes who could save this world, simply because they’re in their way.”

I listened to Ray, but I still couldn’t fully grasp how to save this world. But one thing I was certain of was that if I couldn’t save those people, this world would be ruined.

The past annihilation had unfolded exactly like that.

“I can’t save the world alone. Not because I’m incapable, but because the world wasn’t made to be saved by one person alone.”

—There is truth in those words.

At Ray’s words, I smiled as if to say ‘I told you so’.

—You do have a tendency to wiggle your forked tongue excessively.

“Haha, it’s an old habit from my previous life.”

In any case, there was some truth in Ray’s words too. If I grew stronger, I would be much better equipped to deal with this world’s annihilation.

“So this level of strength won’t be enough to face monsters?”

—The mana circuits you’re currently utilizing are 1-stroke.

“1-stroke?”

—Yes, there are grades for mana circuits. From the most basic, to those you can’t even touch without reaching a certain level. Out of the mana circuits inscribed in your body, you can only utilize a small portion.

If there was a 1-stroke, it meant there were also 2-stroke and 3-stroke circuits.

—The highest you can currently use is 2-stroke.

“How do I advance further?”

—Well, there seemed to be some special training method, but I can’t recall it.

I clicked my tongue. Well, I hadn’t expected it to be that easy. If it were that simple, it wouldn’t be my life.

Still, it was a relief that I could at least use stronger techniques than this for now. I didn’t know how powerful a 2-stroke was, but still.

I rose from my spot.

With Ray’s help, I could at least use the basic 1-stroke level of five different attributes.

This should be enough, even if not for conquering gates, then at least to deal with the place I had in mind.

My broken ribs and bruised body had also recovered. Ray’s enhancement of my recovery had helped too (Ray said it had kept a 1-stroke recovery effect active while I slept).

—Where are you going?

“Since my injuries have mostly healed, I thought I’d head out now. I think I’ve got a decent grasp of how to use my abilities.”

To the place where the very first dominos that would lead this world to annihilation resided – the utterly wretched bad guys.

—With just that level of skill?

“This level is enough.”

Because the skills of those there were simply pathetic. Ignoring Ray’s concerns, I escaped the suffocating cave.

* * *

“Why the long face on the guy who just scored a great achievement in the conquest?”

Kim Myeong-cheol, the guild master of the guild, playfully smacked Jeong Ho-san’s back. His hand went numb. Although Jeong Ho-san was the one who took the hit, it was Kim Myeong-cheol’s hand that was in pain.

“Ah, solid muscles, really solid.”

Saying that, Kim Myeong-cheol let out a chuckle. Jeong Ho-san awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“My apologies.”

“Aigo, what are you apologizing for? I’m the one who hit you.”

It had been three months since he had brought the A-rank hunter Jeong Ho-san, whose very presence brought reassurance, into this guild.

In just those three short months, Jeong Ho-san had already risen to become a 5-Circle hunter, showing himself more than worthy of being called the guild’s rising star.

The fact that he was still only 5-Circle was due to lack of achievements, but he would likely reach 6-Circle soon.

Whether skills or personality, and with a muscular physique that made musclemen swoon on top of that. Even his face was good-looking enough. If Kim Myeong-cheol had a daughter, he would immediately want Jeong Ho-san as a son-in-law.

In this recent gate conquest too, Jeong Ho-san had made a significant contribution by decisively landing the finishing blow on the boss monster, despite being a novice.

Kim Myeong-cheol had even announced his intention to have an armor made from the boss monster’s hide for Jeong Ho-san, and yet Jeong Ho-san’s expression remained gloomy.

“Is there some problem?”

“I can’t reach my friend.”

“Can’t reach them?”

At those words, Kim Myeong-cheol’s expression also fell. While people might not have been so sensitive to the word ‘missing’ before the emergence of gates, ever since those damned gates appeared, it was impossible not to be wary of that word.

He hoped nothing had happened to that guy.

“When was the last time you contacted them?”

“It’s been over ten days now, I think. I tried contacting them right after the gate conquest ended, but there’s been no reply.”

“Huuh.”

Letting out a sigh, Kim Myeong-cheol stroked his chin and asked:

“Their home?”

“I went there, but it was empty.”

“Then anyone else you could contact separately?”

“No. He doesn’t really socialize much with others.”

The more he spoke, the more ominous the situation seemed to become. Rolling his eyes, Kim Myeong-cheol said, “There haven’t been any separate gate-related incidents recently, at least.”

Kim Myeong-cheol’s daily routine began by checking the news for any gate-related accidents or incidents. As someone who firmly believed it was his duty to conquer gates and protect citizens, having awakened with outstanding talents in this nation of South Korea.

So he could be certain. The disappearance of Jeong Ho-san’s friend seemed to be entangled with something unrelated to gates.

“Is this friend you’re talking about that guy? That, that, that…”

Kim Myeong-cheol struggled to recall the guy’s name, but instead of his name, what surfaced in his mind were derogatory terms like ‘that Babel disgrace’ or ‘that half-baked piece of trash’.

To Kim Myeong-cheol, Jeong Ho-san provided the name. 

“Kang Yi-sin. You saw him a few times before, didn’t you?”

“Ah, yes. Kang Yi-sin.”

Unlike Jeong Ho-san, with his scraggly appearance and slit eyes, Kang Yi-sin had a face that didn’t easily inspire trust no matter who looked at him. Unlike Jeong Ho-san, who had entered this guild through his own abilities, Kang Yi-sin possessed such a mediocre talent that no guild would accept him.

‘I had offered to at least let him join the lowest ranks of our guild, but the arrogant bastard refused even that offer.’

In many ways, he was an utterly displeasing person, but Kim Myeong-cheol had heard that for the orphan Jeong Ho-san, he was his one and only family.

For such a guy to go missing, it was understandable for Jeong Ho-san to be so dejected. Tsk, Kim Myeong-cheol clicked his tongue. But at the same time, an astounding thought crossed his mind.

A way to firmly bind Jeong Ho-san, who still kept his distance despite all the attention and care he had shown, to himself in one fell swoop.

It was to find that precious friend of his. A guy like Jeong Ho-san, who simply quietly did his job, would be forever indebted for such a favor.

The muscular Kim Myeong-cheol asked Jeong Ho-san:

“What did he say he was doing for work?”

“He said he was a gate miner.”

“Hmm.”

At those words, Kim Myeong-cheol nodded his head. He had heard that among awakener miners, there were many who couldn’t resist temptation and resorted to shady dealings, so he wondered if that might be the case here.

“Let me look into it first.”

“Really?”

Jeong Ho-san’s expression showed he hadn’t expected it, but Kim Myeong-cheol thumped his chest.

“Ho-san, didn’t I tell you? This hyung truly cares for you. It’s only natural for me to look into something involving you.”

“But Master, you…”

“Ah ah! Call me hyung, like I said.”

Saying that, Kim Myeong-cheol patted Jeong Ho-san’s shoulder.

“So don’t worry and just wait. This hyung still has quite a wide reach, you know. I’ll find him soon.”

“Thank you!”

Jeong Ho-san deeply bowed his head.

‘This kid really is a kid through and through.’

Even when offered a huge contract fee or an officetel, the kid had remained indifferent, but he was sincerely grateful at being told his friend would be found, bowing that expensive head of his.

‘To make Ho-san truly mine, I’ll have to find that Kang Yi-sin guy no matter what.’

And so, events began unfolding in a direction Kang Yi-sin would not want.