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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Choice
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Anyone can become a Player.
All you need is a contract with a Constellation.
But not all Players are created equal.
A Player's level depends on the rank of the Constellation they've contracted with and the skills they've received from it.
At the pinnacle stand the Monarchs.
They are the ten superhumans who reached level 100 by contracting with the greatest Constellations and maxing out their unique skills.
In the Iron Age, the name of a Monarch carried immense weight.
Even a nation's president couldn't treat them lightly, and every faction bowed before them.
True to their title, they were the absolute rulers dominating everything in this era.
"What? Finally realizing you made a mistake?"
Having one of those ten Monarchs as a brother-in-law was backing of an unbelievable scale.
And he himself was a high-level Player in the level 80s.
No wonder he acted so untouchable.
Once you reach the heavenly ranks, people on the ground stop looking human to you.
"You shouldn't have gone for a sneak attack. Why'd you have to piss me off with that dirty trick, huh?"
"...Sneak attack?"
"Fuck, you ambushed me while I was drunk and defenseless!"
Rimon blinked.
He glanced at Yuna Kyung, silently asking with his eyes.
'Hey, do people nowadays call rampaging on a bull "defenseless'?'
'If that's defenseless, then arson is just fireworks.'
'Why's this guy spouting such nonsense?'
'Who knows? Maybe his memory cut out.'
'He might not remember, but there'd be records. The CCTV footage alone is a mountain.'
'Maybe someone fed him some bullshit?'
After a brief exchange with Yuna Kyung,
Rimon, unable to figure it out himself, asked the man directly.
"Just to confirm—what's your basis for claiming I ambushed you?"
"Who needs basis? If you didn't pull some dirty trick, there's no way my summon would've lost to a has-been like you."
Rimon frowned without thinking.
Not because of Seo Yongchan's absurd answer.
He'd realized the real reason for this nonsense all the way out here.
'Aha, his pride's hurt.'
He'd lived his life lording over lesser beings from on high.
But one of the pillars of that confidence—his summon—had been shattered in a single second.
No way he could accept that.
Especially against someone like Rimon, dismissed as a relic among Players.
And Rimon knew exactly how guys like this tried to salve their pride.
"A public servant assaulting an innocent citizen? How does that even make sense?! Thinking that scum like you live off my taxes gives me chills!"
How?
Simple.
Crush the culprit who bruised their ego.
Strangely, they always believed wrecking their opponent would restore their pride spotless.
"You think you'll get off with just compensation? Fat chance! If I wanted, pulverizing a has-been like you would be nothing."
In that sense, Seo Yongchan's threats weren't pure bluff.
CCTV, dashcams—
Wipe out anything evidentiary, and it was done.
One high-level electronic Player, and it was easy.
Witnesses?
Even simpler.
Just hint at his Monarch connection, and anyone not suicidal would shut up.
Toss in some cash, and you could fabricate absences too.
That alone would bury "[Infinite Monarch's Brother-in-Law Rampages in City Center!]" and splash Rimon's assault across the news instead.
But the one most sensitive to Seo Yongchan's threats wasn't Rimon.
"Seo Yongchan, are you threatening a Special Management Bureau agent right in front of me?"
"So what? Not allowed?"
"Have some sense!"
Kang Jeongsu's face twisted.
He'd held back due to the Infinite Monarch connection, but there were limits.
He bellowed at Seo Yongchan's overreach.
"If you keep this up, I'll call the Infinite Monarch myself! That okay with you?!"
Seo Yongchan flinched at the firm words.
Even as in-law, a Monarch's name weighed heavy on him.
Especially dragging a PAB Director into this mess— even he would face serious reprimand.
"Tch, fine. Got it."
Pride versus fear—he wavered briefly.
Then grudgingly backed down.
"Since the Director's begging so nicely, I'll let it slide with just compensation this time."
'Begging? When did I beg, you punk!'
Kang Jeongsu frowned at the arrogance.
But he didn't retort.
Dealing with a Monarch was burdensome, and settling with cash was a win.
"But only if that guy kneels and apologizes to me."
It happened right then.
Seo Yongchan pointed straight at Rimon.
Kang Jeongsu froze, Yuna Kyung's eyes widened, and Rimon tilted his head sideways.
"...You want me to kneel?"
"Isn't that obvious? If you hurt someone, show some sincerity!"
"Seo Yongchan, that's...!"
"What? Don't like it? Then forget it. I'll just get chewed out by my brother-in-law and move on."
'This idiot!'
Kang Jeongsu swallowed a curse.
Negotiations, settlements— all over.
Glancing just in case, he shut his eyes at the sight of Rimon launching a menacing punch.
Thwack!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Right on plan.'
Rimon lunging with a fist.
Seeing that feral face, Seo Yongchan smirked triumphantly.
'Falling for such a basic provocation—what a dumb old geezer.'
From arrival to now,
His arrogance wasn't just hubris.
He'd deliberately provoked Rimon to draw him in like this.
The reason was set.
Beat Rimon head-on and get revenge!
Of course, it required taking him one-on-one, but Seo Yongchan was confident.
Yesterday, drunk and unequipped, he'd failed to block the surprise hit.
Now, fully geared and prepared, a relic like this was no match.
Seo Yongchan never doubted it.
Not until Rimon's fist slammed into his solar plexus.
"Guh?!"
Seo Yongchan panicked.
He'd sworn he blocked it, but it burrowed deep into his gut.
True to his high-level status, he gritted through the pain, aiming a counter.
But that was just wishful thinking.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
"Hey, you little shit."
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
"If you fuck up, you gotta reflect on it."
Crack!
"What was that? Compensation? Kneel? You must really have a death wish."
'This can't be happening?'
Cheeks swelling from slaps.
Body kicked all over.
Face pummeled by fists.
No chance to counter, barely breathing—yet amid Rimon's assault, Seo Yongchan felt more shock than rage.
High-level Players were superhumans.
Level buffs made their bodies steel-tough, reflexes fast enough to snatch arrows mid-flight.
Armored as he was now, he could smash tanks barehanded.
So why did punches from a mere "civilian" like Rimon hurt so much?
Seo Yongchan couldn't comprehend.
But the bewilderment was brief.
The endless barrage of pain rolled his eyes back.
"Y-You bastard! Think you'll get away with this?! When I tell my brother-in-law...!"
"Tell who? You're about to croak."
"What?"
Only then did Rimon pause the punches.
He yanked Seo Yongchan's hair, forcing eye contact with a chilling smile.
"You thought you could mouth off like that and walk out alive?"
"...!"
A chill ran down Seo Yongchan's spine.
He was an expert at going off the rails himself.
So he knew at once from those gleaming golden eyes laced with killing intent.
Rimon was no different— no, on a whole other level of psychopathic scum.
'He's serious!'
In that instant, all rage and grudge vanished.
Survival instinct surged, and he blurted desperately.
"W-Wait. Let's talk...."
"Too late, asshole!"
"Gahk!"
No chance to speak.
Rimon smashed his knee into Seo Yongchan's jaw.
So hard, broken teeth poured from his mouth in a cascade.
Rimon didn't stop.
He pinned the rolling body with his foot, flashing that eerie smile.
"You're dying anyway— no need for this anymore, right?"
Writhing in agony, Seo Yongchan's eyes bulged.
Rimon's deadly gaze fixed on his lower body— crotch, specifically.
"N-Not there...!"
"Yes, there, asshole!"
Ignoring the plea, Rimon kicked mercilessly.
Crunch!
"Gaaaaaah!"
A man's scream.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Seo Yongchan blacked out in the end.
Obviously.
No one could stay conscious after that horror.
More horrifying: Rimon's violence didn't cease.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Passing out on me, you fuck?! This your bedroom? Huh? Yeah, sleep! I'll make it eternal!"
"S-Sir! Please stop! He'll really die!"
Kang Jeongsu rushed to intervene, unable to watch.
But the next moment,
He froze solid.
"I'm really gonna kill him, though?"
"...Pardon?"
"I'm beating him to actually kill him."
The casual reply stunned Kang Jeongsu.
Rimon continued indifferently.
"What, man? You think I was joking about killing this punk?"
"No, but...! He's the Infinite Monarch's brother-in-law! What if the Infinite Monarch finds out?!"
"He won't. Our agency's got experts at scrubbing evidence."
"You think the Special Management Bureau is some crime syndicate?! Dozens saw him barge in here— how do you hide that?!"
"Can't hide it?"
"Talk sense!"
"Tch."
Rimon smacked his lips at Kang Jeongsu's outburst.
Glanced at the mangled Seo Yongchan.
'Kill him? Or not?'
Rimon pondered.
Screw the Infinite Monarch, laws— just end this fucker now?
Or hold back like a proper civil servant?
Deep in thought,
Seo Yongchan's form shifted.
Shhh.
"...What's this now?"
Eyes rolled back, but still human-ish.
Then a black gleam flickered across his face.
Suddenly sporting a massive bull head, Rimon could only gape in disbelief.