Chapter 616

Neo Seoul was home to countless races.

The mainstream population was East Asian, including Koreans, but there were also no small number of whites and blacks.

In addition, there were the many demi-human races living in the North District.

With so many races crowded together in a narrow region for over a hundred years, they intermingled and gave birth to countless mixed-blood children.

Half-humans born from humans and elves, humans and dwarves, rarer still dwarves and elves, and even children born between beastfolk and humans, or elves.

Choi Sung-ho was born between an elf mother and a human father. But his father had been born between a beastfolk grandfather and a human grandmother.

Because of that, he had inherited all the traits of elves, humans, and beastfolk.

He possessed the sturdy physique of beastfolk and the beautiful face of an elf.

His flowing blue hair, rippling like waves, made his appearance even more beautiful.

Choi Sung-ho walked across the sand, his blue hair scattering in the wind.

In his sight was the back of a man rolling here and there as he fled.

That man was Adam Brine, the curse sorcerer and mastermind behind this drug crisis.

“A North District dungeon raid squad member being a curse sorcerer. What a bizarre world.”

Until Seo Tae-ran exposed his identity, no one had known Adam was a curse sorcerer.

Not even the captain and members of the dungeon raid squad who worked alongside him.

That was how thoroughly Adam had hidden his true identity while living as usual.

If not for Seo Tae-ran, no one would have uncovered the fact that he was a curse sorcerer.

Adam, who had hidden himself so carefully while spreading drugs, was impressive—but Seo Tae-ran’s insight in instantly identifying him was even more astonishing.

“There’s a reason we call her the Red Witch among ourselves.”

No wonder even Numbers couldn’t resist being completely controlled by her.

Still, he had never once thought it unpleasant.

Seo Tae-ran had more than enough qualification and ability for that.

Just then—

Shuuuu!

A sinister energy suddenly rushed at him.

The fleeing Adam had unleashed a curse.

Curses were invisible.

Because curses were condensed malicious intent that negatively affected the human body.

But that was only for ordinary people.

To Choi Sung-ho’s eyes, the true form of the curse was perfectly visible.

Thanks to his unique ability born from the mixed blood of beastfolk and elves.

What made curses terrifying was that they couldn’t be seen and had no physical form.

But to Choi Sung-ho, they were crystal clear.

There was no reason to fear something visible.

Above all, Choi Sung-ho possessed a special power.

When he playfully waved his hand, a stream of water shot out like an arrow and intercepted the curse.

Chwaaa!

The curse evaporated upon contact with the water.

“Tch!”

Adam’s face twisted hideously.

Choi Sung-ho was a water-element awakened.

Water-element awakened were extremely rare.

Because the environment was so harsh and water so scarce, their power was usually not great.

No matter how powerful a water skill one possessed, fundamentally, without water, it was difficult to exert full power.

Perhaps due to such environmental factors, water-element awakened were exceedingly rare in Neo Seoul.

Among even those rare water-element awakened, Choi Sung-ho possessed unmatched ability.

He could gather microscopic moisture mixed in the air and create waterfalls.

It was on the foundation of that overwhelming power that he had become one of Numbers.

Water originally possessed the power of purification.

The water Choi Sung-ho wielded held even more special power.

It could instantly wash away curses like those Adam cast.

Choi Sung-ho was the absolute worst natural enemy of curse sorcerers.

“Die! Just die already!”

Adam screamed at the top of his lungs as he continuously hurled curses.

But every one of his curses was washed away without a trace by the water Choi Sung-ho controlled.

With a bored expression, Choi Sung-ho muttered,

“Let’s end this now. This is boring.”

Puk!

The moment his words ended, a water arrow pierced Adam’s ankle.

“Kyaaaah!”

Adam screamed in horrific pain.

Choi Sung-ho sneered at him.

“You’re hurting from just that? You’re more fragile than I thought.”

“Fuck! What would you know?”

“Do I need to know anything? If I just kill you, all problems are solved.”

“You think I’ll just die like this?”

A vicious light filled Adam’s face.

He knew he was going to die. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He had realized there was no escaping Choi Sung-ho’s grasp, no matter what he tried.

If death was unavoidable, then at the very least, he refused to die pathetically.

He shouted,

“O power of curses flowing in my blood. Let all my knowledge be transferred to the enemy of my enemy. In exchange, I offer my soul and flesh. Abrozoa mo hahmme……”

The incantation he recited was the curse formula written on the very last page of the Book of Curses.

A special curse that, when faced with an enemy impossible to defeat, sacrificed one’s soul and body to transfer all knowledge to one’s enemy’s enemy.

“What a pointless thing to do……”

Choi Sung-ho looked at Adam with contempt.

To him, it looked like meaningless struggling before death.

“Water Screw.”

Before his words had even fully ended, a thick stream of water spun violently and shot toward Adam.

Puhk!

The water stream blasted a massive hole through Adam’s chest.

Adam stared in disbelief at the hole in his chest.

Blood poured from the gaping wound like a waterfall.

“Fuck! At least my final curse……”

Thud!

Adam collapsed.

That was the end of Adam, boss of the drug organization Illusion.

Looking down at Adam’s corpse, Choi Sung-ho muttered,

“There’s nothing good about leaving behind the corpse of a curse sorcerer.”

He pulled out a round object the size of a child’s fist from his pocket and threw it onto Adam’s body.

Puhk!

The round object exploded, igniting fierce white flames.

It was white phosphorus, created to destroy evidence or burn magical beasts.

The phosphorus burned Adam completely, leaving not even a grain of bone dust behind.

“Ugh! That smell.”

Choi Sung-ho wrinkled his nose at the acrid odor and waved his hand.

Adam was dead, and even his body had been perfectly disposed of.

It seemed Adam had attempted some kind of curse before dying, but since he had been killed before completing it, there was probably no need to worry.

The proof was that he himself felt no abnormalities.

“I wonder if there’s still work left? I’d rather not do overtime beyond this.”

Grumbling, Choi Sung-ho left the scene.

---

Seo Tae-ran sat in her office chair, gazing out the window.

She used the same floor as Jin Geum-ho.

Thanks to that, she too could comfortably enjoy Neo Seoul’s full view from her office.

“While focusing on the outside, I was completely unaware a tumor was growing inside.”

Seo Tae-ran bit her lip tightly.

This was clearly her mistake.

In place of Jin Geum-ho, it was her responsibility to oversee all of Neo Seoul’s affairs.

Normally, she would never have allowed a drug organization to take root inside Neo Seoul.

Because she knew once drugs spread through society, they were difficult to eradicate.

All diseases had to be treated before they worsened.

Even if it meant severing a limb.

The reason Seo Tae-ran failed to notice the birth of the drug organization was because too many things had happened recently.

She had to oversee the underground city and keep watch over the magic stone mine.

Above all, with the appearance of portals, she also had to concern herself with the Steel Fortress and the Primordial Forest.

She had only one body, yet there was far too much work.

At this rate, collapse was a real concern.

The only reason she endured was because she was awakened.

If she had been an ordinary person, she would have long since been hospitalized.

That was how murderous her workload had been.

“I suppose I need to raise a successor.”

For the first time, Seo Tae-ran felt the necessity of training a replacement.

“Hoo……”

She let out a deep sigh as she looked over Neo Seoul.

Beyond the tall walls in the distance, she could see the slums.

Among them, one street in particular was packed with people.

It was Sinchon, where the portal had been installed.

Thanks to the portal, Sinchon was bustling every day.

Countless people lined up to head toward the Steel Fortress and the magic stone mine.

When the time came, the Primordial Forest would also be partially opened.

In this barren desert, people would be able to instantly travel to a lush green forest.

Once the Primordial Forest opened, people would likely flood in like mad.

To people of this era, forests were like legendary places found only in old tales.

Though forests did exist in Neo Seoul, entry was strictly prohibited.

Even Neo Seoul citizens could only view them from afar and could not enter.

For slum dwellers, there was not even an opportunity to see a forest.

Seo Tae-ran herself could not predict the level of shock they would feel when the forest was opened to them.

Currently, the Primordial Forest was being managed through the combined efforts of the original dark elves, Serian of the North District, and Hera from Elharun.

Once they were fully prepared, it had been decided the Primordial Forest would then be opened.

“If I had it my way, I’d dump all this work on my successor and live in the Primordial Forest.”

Suddenly, Seo Tae-ran let out a faint laugh.

Because she knew such a dream could never come true.

At present, there was no one in Neo Seoul capable of replacing her.

Even if someone did exist, it would take considerable time before they grew to her current level.

“Still, if burning up my body can make Earth humanity’s once more, it’s a profitable trade.”

Just as Seo Tae-ran stood with a resolute expression—

“There is something to report.”

Secretariat staff entered through the door.

All of them were talented individuals personally selected by Seo Tae-ran.

“All remnants in the South District have been exterminated.”

“All collaborators in the North District are dead.”

“The West District base has been completely destroyed.”

“All drug dealers in the East District have been executed.”

“All those connected to Illusion have been identified and eliminated. That is all.”

The faces of the reporting staff were filled with deep exhaustion.

All of this had happened in a single night.

To achieve these results, they had truly worked like mad.

Seo Tae-ran directed the work, but they were the ones who carried it out.

It felt as though even their souls had been ground down.

Under normal circumstances, they might have boasted a little.

But this was not the time.

This was no ordinary matter—it involved a new type of drug.

Though the drug organization had been eradicated, many addicts still remained.

It was impossible to predict what drug addicts might do to obtain more.

Seo Tae-ran asked them,

“Our casualties?”

“A total of one hundred and seven dead or injured.”

“Even with Numbers deployed, there were many casualties.”

“We apologize. The casualties occurred in areas where Numbers were not dispatched.”

“And Numbers?”

“All members are unharmed.”

“As expected of Numbers. Understood. You’ve all worked hard.”

“It was nothing.”

“That doesn’t mean you can relax. You know that, right? Those junkie bastards will definitely move in search of drugs. Recheck the distribution routes and block them thoroughly. Designate spike moles as prohibited hunting targets.”

“It has already been done.”

“Good work. Go home and rest today.”

“Thank you.”

The secretariat staff responded loudly and left work.

But Seo Tae-ran could not go home.

She still had far too much left to do.

“Hah! When I really retire, I’m going into the Primordial Forest.”

Making that uncertain vow, she immersed herself in work once more.

Thanks to her sacrifice, Neo Seoul continued to function smoothly.

But only a very small number of people knew that truth.