The Protagonists Are Murdered by Me
chapter-69

Chapter 69.1 – Hello, Hellony

Three months passed.

Lee Dong-joon was lost in his thoughts as he sat on the sofa.

‘Seol Jung-yeon.’

Recently, her attitude had changed.

Seol Jungyeon kept asking for something whenever Lee Dong-joon came to the hut. He wasn’t sure yet whether this change was positive or not.

‘I want to have the horns of chilgaksu.’

‘I want to eat the meat of Wongung.’

‘I’d like to drink bamboo leaves made from dew that has been around for a hundred years, is there any?’

Most of those things were nothing for him, but it was extremely difficult to get them on Earth, so Lee Dongjoon, who hid his strength, had to visit Dungeons frequently.

When someone cleared a Dungeon, they would leave a record behind. So, there was a rumor that ‘Hong Yeopsa’ had become quite active these days. But no matter who tried to approach him, they always lost him. Well, no one in this world was capable enough to catch up with the supreme Dharma.

‘Do I have to think about it positively?’

Lee Dongjoon thought so.

Ever since he brought her to earth, her eyes were always dead. She never responded to anything he gave to her. But recently she began to ask for something with a lively look in her eyes.

‘Yes, it’s a positive change.’

The change in her attitude may mean that something had changed inside her mind.

Somehow Lee Dong-joon’s heart beat slightly.

Just a few days ago, when he gave her a pouch containing the heart of a spirit creature, Cheonma gave him a big smile. It was proof that she was happy. When he saw Seol Jungyeon happy, Lee Dong-joon felt as if he had regained his feelings of happiness that he had forgotten a long time ago.

‘This time, it’s the horn of a Chilgaksu.’

It was quite difficult to find a Chilgaksu on Earth. However, there was no problem. He just needed to raid all sorts of dungeons until he found a Chilgaksu.

When Lee Dongjoon was making various plans, Shin Hye-ji rushed into the bedroom.

“Daddy!”

“Tell me.”

“Can I go to Hellony’s concert in Korea with my friend this weekend?”

“It’s not necessary to get permission to do that. Take care.”

Lee Dongjoon stroked Shin Hye-ji’s hair. She smiled widely in return and nodded her head.

“Thank you!”

Watching Shin Hye-ji leave with an excited look, Lee Dong-joon pledged to himself once again…

To protect the peaceful lives of his loved ones.

* * *

THUMP!

The head of a giant rhino with six horns fell to the ground.

This giant monster was an A-rank monster called Diamond Armored Rhino. It was a monster with diamonds all over its body. This monster could only be killed by accurately attacking its vital spots. Even though it was only classified as an A-rank monster, the power needed to kill this monster was closer to that of an S-rank. But nevertheless, it was an easy enemy for Geom-hee, Ha Sunyoung.

Her eyes glistened as she extracted the ether crystals from the monster carcasses including one from the boss monster.

“How much will it be?”

“Hmm.. Three A-rank ether crystals come out. I think It will be around 300 million without taxes.”

“Wow, wow. For one?”

“And if you add the B-rank ether crystals, you’ll get a billion. Besides, this dungeon is an ‘undetermined’ dungeon, so the country will reward you with 30 million won.”

“WOAH!! The reward alone is twice the amount of my annual salary at the previous job.”

The salary of a part-timer working at an internet cafe wouldn’t be that much..

“That’s what Hunting is all about.”

That’s right.

This was the world of true hunters.

It was a world that Yoo Seodam wouldn’t dare to dream of a year ago.

Afterall, for hunters with superpowers, they could rake up money by hunting B-rank – A-rank monsters without worrying about their equipment.

“How much did I earn in three months?”

After the ban was lifted, Ha Sun-young received a B-rank Hunter license. If she did her best, she could easily become one of the 37 SS-rank in the whole world, but she decided to lay low for now.

For the next three months, Yoo Seodam took Ha Sun-young and searched for ‘undetermined’ dungeons in various parts of Korea.

The way Hunter performed his mission is simple.

When an observatory detected gates and dungeons, they would publish their findings on their website or application. Then, they would accept requests first and collect them. After that, they would choose a suitable person who had the right to enter the dungeon. That person could do whatever they wanted, whether they formed a raid party or not. And if the chosen person gave up halfway, a penalty would be given to them.

Therefore, even a good hunter would have a difficulty to perform a mission they desired unless they were lucky, and in the worst case scenario, they would be sent to the provinces or do nothing at all. This system was created for them by the Hunting Agency.

‘Antenna dotcom’, who Seodam met the other day thanks to Wi-hoon, was a company that worked on that front. Instead of directly being involved in hunting, they booked a mission and assigned it to the right guild while charging fees. That was the reason why the growth rate of a guild who had ties with them would be quite fast.

Yoo seodam was also made a temporary guild, so he was able to sign a short-term contract with them. His guild quickly piled up some achievement by targeting the ‘undetermined dungeon’ assigned to them. It was because a guild needs to have some achievements every month or the authority of the guild would be deprived by the association and the most important thing was to make some money.

“Uhooooh, it’s crazy. Crazy.”

“Do you like it that much?”

“Of course I am! Even if I worked for my entire life, I can’t get this much money.”

She clenched her fist as if she had made up her mind.

“Okay. I’ve made a lot of money, so I’ll have to spend some.”

“Hm?”

‘Did she think of getting a car?’

Yoo Seodam thought so.

“I’ll be going to a beef restaurant in my neighborhood where I always wanted to go but couldn’t because it was expensive.”

“And then?”

“I will order everything on the menus!”

“Next?”

“I’ll only eat the lettuce and come out.”

“…..”

‘…..Just why?’

Looking at her, who was making plans happily with a serious look in her eyes, it really seemed that this was the ‘spending’ that Ha Sun-young had in mind. Since she lived far from luxury in the first place, shouldn’t she think of luxury bags, watches, cars and buildings that cost millions?

‘Isn’t that possible?’

Ha Sun-young had lived twice as much as Yoo Seodam had. She also has lived on Earth for quite a long time. Ha Sun-young was not that ignorant of the world, so that simple wish must be what she really wanted to do.

‘By the way, she’s a SS-rank, huh?’

Ha Sun-young’s state in martial arts was called ‘Hwagyeong’. Yoo Seodam didn’t know how high is that, but he was sure it was almost on the verge of breakthrough, which meant that she could reach the next stage soon. But that wasn’t the important part…

‘It means the average level of other masters was also around the A-rank to S-rank.’

Ha Sun-young was a woman who received the nickname ‘Geom-hee’. That’s why she was among the top of the SS-rank. The strategy of gathering masters from all over the world and attacking Dharma at once may not seem so impossible now.

Among the 3 kings and 6 emperors, there was someone who was stronger than the rest of them. Yoo Seodam expected him to be at the SSS-rank level. But in the end, Lee Dong-joon was still much stronger than them. His level was ‘URS’

The idea of catching Lee Dong-joon by force should be discarded. Things don’t seem very good, but there were quite a few hints Yoo Seodam had found.

First of all, Lee Dong-joon is Dharma.

Unlike the other sects, the conditions for Dharma to be strong were quite demanding. In some martial arts book, murder was banned and in other martial arts book, The power of Dharma will lost by simply holding hands with woman. Different people had different feelings about Dharma, but in the end, any martial arts always put ‘restrictions’ on Dharma.

And a protagonist must follow all of those clichés.

In other words, there must be a way to weaken him.

Shushu shu shu shu shu shu shu shu!

When Yoo Seodam and Geom-hee caught the Dungeon’s boss, the space blurred and their bodies were sent outside. Then the flower pot talked to him.

-Hey, Witch~

“Yes?”

-There’s a call from Miss Cheonma..

“Really? What did she say?”

-She said she had a favor to ask.

“Good.”

The reason why Yoo Seodam kept communicating with Cheonma through the pot was to make Dharma do this and that. It was good to avoid Dharma’s eyes when Ha Sun-young was active in Seoul, and if he became more and more active as a ‘Hong Yeopsa’ his Mugong would eventually be exposed.

Lee Dong-joon’s interest in Cheonma, Seol Jung-yeon, was more than Seodam ever thought. Even when she asked him to get something so bizarre, he would come back after fulfilling her request. Perhaps such a process was also affected by the protagonist’s correction.

So, this time, she asked for the horn of a spirit creature called Chilgaksu. It seemed like Lee dong-joon already fulfilled her request.

“Oh, Seodam.”

“Yes?”

“I got a call from ‘Changje’. It seems like he’s interested in your story.”

“…I see.”

And…

For the past 3 months, Yoo Seodam had been in contact with masters from all over the world through Ha Sun-young.

Phoenix Emperor Daniel.

That was his nickname in Murim.

It may feel a little awkward, but there was nothing strange about it on their previous world.

“It’s nice to meet you. I heard a lot about you from TV and the news. I never thought you knew about ‘Dhama’, which even Murim people don’t know about.”

Daniel communicated with a translator that cost quite a bit. The original place where he lived was presumed to be South America, and the language there was something Yoo Seodam couldn’t speak, but thanks to the translator he could communicate with ease.

“I’ve listened to your story. Did you say that Dharma, Lee Dong-joon, broke the bans and is currently active?”

“Yes, this is the only thing I can show you right now as a proof of my claim.”

I formally asked the Hunter Association headquarters for a record of the activities of the ‘Hong Yeopsa’. There were a lot of people who were interested in it, and many fans and reporters of Hong Yeopsa were downloading these data right now.

There’s a record of Hong Yeopsa which had been steadily entering the dungeon and gate for several years, including his activity for the last three months.

“Indeed. He’s an unidentified hunter with power equal to SS-rank or higher… But this data alone can’t guarantee that Hong Yeopsa is Lee Dongjoon–“

But,

“–since I believe in Geom-hee’s words, I’d like to say that I can trust you without any evidence.”

Daniel grinded his teeth and clenched his fist after finishing his words.

How hard his life on Earth was since his Mugong was sealed? Mugong was everything for the people from Murim. How painful was it to have both his limbs and wings deprived from him?

But, he who imposed the ban was currently active and violating all the bans.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it.”

“Calm down, Emperor. If we turn around here, we’ll all die without even a chance of revenge.”

“Huuu…”

Daniel, who was sweating so much because of his anger, opened his eyes.

“Hunter Yoo Seodam, how many people have you met so far?”

“I met and talked to 31 people, including you.”

“What was their opinion?”

He pondered for a moment, before answering.

“Half gave negative reactions while the other half gave positive reactions. It didn’t seem like they were going to actively help. But they’re probably still spreading this news to other Murim people they know.”

“I see. Honestly I can’t believe your claim as it is, just like the others. I’m here to respect Geom-hee’s words, and I’ll trust your words. But, it won’t be easy to convince other masters. Do you think they’ll stand up with just a few of these feeble proofs?”

“That’s true.”

Daniel’s words were correct.

How would Seodam find the Murim masters that were hidden on Earth? What kind of evidence would he give them in order to make them move? What kind of ‘weapon’ would he utilize to defeat Dharma?

There was a rough plan.

‘First of all, about Cheonma.’

It was worth noting that the image of the Cheonma Sect was not so bad after meeting and talking with the Emperor and Gum-hee this time.

The other day, Yoo Seodam asked Geom-hee.

‘Ha Sun-young, what was the Cheonma Sect in Murim like? I heard they’re bad guys, is that true?’

In the world of martial arts, all the people of Moorim persecuted the Cheonma sect because they were deemed as ‘evil’.

‘I guess so… But, actually, I’m not too sure.’

‘What?’

‘They were quite active before the arrival of the Earthlings, but they were strangely quiet afterwards. Oh, yes, there was a saying that it was because of Socheonma Seol Jungyeon.’

‘The Socheonma Seol Jungyeon?’

‘That’s right. The evil deeds of the Cheonma Sect almost ceased since that woman, Seol Jungyeon became a Socheonma. But people from Murim said they were preparing for a huge war. In the end, we can’t know for sure.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Because Dharma obliterated them.’

‘……’

Ha Sun-young looked very sad.

When Seodam asked the Emperor, his response was ‘I got a lot of help from the Cheonma Sect. As someone from Murim, I was once ashamed because of that fact, but later I was proud to have been favored by them.’

‘Is that so?’

‘They had their pride as religious people, and in my days they used quite controversial methods to spread their religion to the world. Of course, their religion had quite violent doctrines, but there was no reason to be suppressed just for that reason.’

Not all main characters were righteous. Furthermore, Lee Dong-joon was the main character of ‘Earth’. The martial arts world view was nothing more than a tool for past recollection for the main Lee Dong-joon. In other words, whatever happened there, it didn’t really matter.

In addition, Dharma Lee Dong-jun solved everything so violently that it was rather beneficial for the plot that the Cheonma Sect tried to do something really bad. Although they were suppressed before they could do anything.

“Hmm…”

Presumably, if the Cheonma Sect had been left untouched, it was highly doubtful if the Murim invasion or other bloodshed accident would be started by Seol Jungyeon.

Dharma Lee Dong-joon was also highly likely to prevent such a thing from happening. However, as a result from Lee Dong-joon’s first move before the bloodshed, even the opportunity for people to hold grudges against the Cheonma Sect had disappeared.

In other words, Yoo Seodam could use that point.

‘There were plenty of weapons.’

Himalaya mountain range where the Cheonma was locked.

It would soon turn into ‘weapon,’ as well as the grave of Dharma.

‘In order to do so, all the people of Murim need to work together.’

Then, out of nowhere, a message popped into Yoo Seodam’s mind.

[The main story of the Protagonist Lee Dong-joon will proceed.]

“Huh?”

Along with the message from the system, a message also arrived on his smartphone.

[Shin Hye-ji: Guild Master-nim, I don’t think I’ll be able to attend the weekend guild training!]

[Shin Hye-ji: I’m going to Hellony concert with my friends]

[Shin Hye-ji: Photograph]

“Hellony?”

In the picture, Shin Hye-ji took a selfie with her ticket. It was a mystery for Yoo Seodam why women always added selfies for all their pictures.

And then another message arrived.

It was a message from Taylor nine.

[Taylor: Hey]

[Taylor: I am in Korea now]

[Taylor: Photo]

Taylor did not send a selfie.

[Taylor: So…]

[Taylor: Would you like to take over the request to catch Hellony’s stalker?]

[Yoo Seodam : Stalker?]

[Taylor: There is a guy who has been harassing her a lot lately.]

Something was weird.

Hellony’s S-rank Sound wave ability not only gave the best performance in wide range attack, but also in the ‘Detection’’ category. Yet, she couldn’t catch a stalker?

It smells…

Fishy.

Shin Hye-ji, who was going to see Hellony’s concert, a stalker which even S-rank soundwaves ability couldn’t catch, and the protagonist’s main story that was going to proceed.

“Emperor-nim. You said that if there’s evidence, people from Murim will move, correct?”

Only

“Yes, I’m afraid they won’t risk their lives for something that’s unclear. Is there anything that came to your mind?”

“Well.”

Not everything is clear yet.

However, the most important thing was that Shin Hye-ji was involved in the ‘main story.’

[Yoo Seodam: I’m coming.]

[Yoo Seodam: To catch the stalker.]

Perhaps, Hellony’s concert would serve as the last straw to instigate the hunt to catch Dharma.