Level 4 Human in a Ruined World

Chapter 175

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 175: Master of Myths (1)

“It’s true. The continents will soon merge. Whether you believe it or not won’t change anything.”

Yeongwoo said this while gazing at the sky, which was stirred up by embers.

Knowing that the dungeon reward this time was an armor encyclopaedia, it was time to invite the chairman.

(Special Agreement) [Expensive Beads of Sweat]

-「Dogo」 will obtain an encyclopedia.

– If you choose a type, Dogo will acquire one within two days.

– In case of failure to meet the deadline, the headquarters will pay a penalty of 100 million Karma.

Special conditions of the previous advertising contract, wanted encyclopaedias.

Moreover, if this special contract is not upheld, a penalty of 100 million karma will be imposed.

Therefore, no matter what the outcome, Yeongwoo would not suffer any loss from the contract.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable right now?”

“…Why?”

“I need to call someone. There’s no one around, so now’s the perfect time.”

As Yeongwoo said this, Jeonggu reflexively furrowed his brow.

“What nonsense is that? Who would you call in this weather?”

However, Jeonggu also had a gut feeling.

The person this troublemaker was calling was definitely not an ordinary person.

But he never imagined that this person wouldn’t even be human.

“Chairman! I will use the special contract now! 「Dogo」…!”

“Chairman?”

As Yeongwoo shouted at the sky, Jeonggu’s expression turned fearful.

It was because he knew from experience that everything this guy said would come true.

So, the chairman he just called out to the sky must be a real person.

‘Where on earth is the chairman coming from? No, could it be…?’

It was only later that Jeonggu realized something.

Last time, didn’t a mutant team come down from the sky?

So, naturally, this time too…

‘That chairman must not be a regular person either.’

Only after realizing the situation did Jeonggu look at Yeongwoo, about to say something, when suddenly…

Crunch!

Suddenly, the sky turned blood-red and the abnormal weather in the area stopped instantly.

It was as if a night dungeon had appeared.

‘Oh, so the chairman can control the weather at the landing point.’

Yeongwoo, who dared to test the head of advertisers, looked around as if in admiration.

Within a radius of 3 kilometers from where Dogo set his landing point, not a single breeze blew.

“What… who’s coming?”

Jeonggu, unaware of the ‘extraterrestrial’, realized that something extraordinary was coming and looked up at the sky.

Then, soon after…

Crash!

The center of the red sky split open, and a gigantic anchor, also the Dogo chairman’s insignia, shot down.

Whoosh! Crash!

“Whoa, damn!”

The massive anchor that fell in the middle of the ruins of Gwangjin-gu emitted a chilling sense of danger.

Rustle!

Then, connected by chains to the anchor, the Dogo chairman’s airship slowly descended, this time with the lower hull already open.

“Chairman!”

As Yeongwoo waved his hand and approached where the anchor had landed, Dogo finally appeared leisurely from within the giant tomb.

– Jeong Yeongwoo07. You’re still alive, I see.

Dogo, who clearly witnessed everything in the dungeon, pretended not to know and Yeongwoo lightly placed his hand on Bastard at his waist in response.

“Yes, thanks to you, Chairman.”

Then, glancing at the imposing chairman’s airship once again, Yeongwoo uttered the next line.

“I have finally begun to ‘speak’, do you know why?”

It meant being able to express the meaning of 「Dogo」 in a transcendent language.

At this, Dogo chuckled silently within his thick armor.

No, to be precise, that’s how Yeongwoo felt.

– Your existence is rapidly escalating. The evidence being your ability to coin a single word.

After saying this, Dogo added one more thing.

– Unfortunately, it’s your choice.

“…Yes? Are you talking about words?”

To Yeongwoo’s question, Dogo nodded silently.

– Even your subconscious needs 「Dogo」.

“Ah, I see…”

Jeong Yeongwoo, a clever little creature, was inwardly tilting his head even at this meaningful moment.

He wondered if the chairman was using this scene as part of his promotional activities.

Anyway, if the chairman was the founder of the weapon brand Dogo, wouldn’t he be a salesman through and through, down to his bones?

‘My subconscious needs Dogo too…? It sounds plausible, but isn’t that a bit too prepared?’

As Yeongwoo gave him a cunning look, Dogo raised a finger clad in armor and pointed at his advertisement model.

– Request the special contract.

“Ah, right. I’ve taken too much of your time, Chairman. However, before that.”

Clank.

As Yeongwoo took a step back, he reached out and grabbed someone’s arm behind him.

Thunk!

“What…?”

It was none other than his father, Kim Jeonggu.

“I should introduce him to the chairman. He’s Kim Jeonggu, my father.”

As Yeongwoo pulled with force, Jeonggu could only be dragged out reluctantly.

“Father, please greet him as well. He’s the chairman who pays for the advertisements.”

“Oh. Uh, nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jeonggu… Is Yeongwoo doing well?”

As Jeonggu awkwardly blurted out whatever came to mind, Dogo stared at him for a moment.

Swish.

Seeing Jeonggu meet his gaze and then quickly glance at the spaceship, Yeongwoo thought,

‘What’s up with this guy? He’s not even fixing his gaze on his helmet. Is he the boss?’

Then, finally,

-Special contract.

Dogo once again ordered the contract to commence to Yeongwoo.

“Yes, Chairman. The encyclopaedia I request is…”

Yeongwoo hesitated until the last moment, but ultimately, there was only one encyclopaedia he needed to request.

“It’s a weapon encyclopaedia. I just obtained an armor encyclopaedia earlier. So now, I can always walk around without armor.”

At this, Dogo showed a hint of joy for the first time.

“Good news.”

Perhaps because he was pleased with the news.

Dogo, who was about to return immediately, left some room for further discussion.

-Is all business concluded?

“Ah…!”

Given Dogo’s position and personality, even if he disappeared right in front of him, Yeongwoo wouldn’t have anything to say.

So, Dogo giving him another chance to ask was a tremendous favor.

“If you permit, I’d like to ask two more things.”

-Speak. I’ll give you ‘a hand’ of time.

A hand.

It meant one minute of Earth time.

So, Yeongwoo used this precious time firstly to seek tax advice.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

“I will transition from a simplified taxpayer to a general taxpayer starting tomorrow. How much tax should I prepare?”

Though it seemed like a pointless question to ask the chairman of a cosmic corporation, it was actually crucial.

In this world, taxes were absolute.

Even if it was the rising star of the cosmos, Joseon’s Strongest Sword defaulting on taxes meant instant obliteration.

And surely, Dogo, the chairman, must have been well aware of that fact.

-Speak the name of existence. I will entrust your affairs to that person.

As expected, the chairman had an answer.

However.

‘The name of existence…? So, he means to say the name of the person who will serve as my tax consultant?’

Yeongwoo, with his cosmic experience, only knew one name… that of the mediator Kubu.

‘If I do this, I might have to pay Kubu some under-the-table money.’

There wasn’t much time left.

Yeongwoo immediately pronounced the name that came to mind.

“Kubu… Guardian of the Otherworld, I choose Kubu.”

-Good. What’s next?

How much time was left?

Since the chairman kindly didn’t set a timer, Yeongwoo could only guess the passage of time by intuition.

“Bastard!”

-…?

“Why did you give me the Bastard? As the chairman, you must have had many other mythical items.”

The decisive weapon of the Vessedel royal family, the Bastard.

Why was this sword in Dogo’s possession?

And why did he hand it over to Yeongwoo?

“Was that a slightly uncomfortable question?”

Seeing Dogo’s cautious reaction to Yeongwoo’s careful question, Dogo turned his gaze to the tomb he had come on.

-Next.

As he had no intention of answering, he was ready to accept another question instead.

Then, unknowingly, Jeonggu, who had been holding his breath beside him, blurted out without thinking.

“How much tax do you pay, Chairman? Do you pay any? You might do a bit of tax evasion.”

“This…!”

Yeongwoo was taken aback by the unexpected intrusion, but upon hearing it, he realized it was actually quite an interesting question.

Did taxes exist even in the world of a cosmic corporation?

“Do you pay taxes?”

After a while, Yeongwoo officially asked the question at Jeonggu’s urging, and Dogo drew a heavy sword.

Swooosh!

Immediately, Jeonggu panicked and flattened himself on the ground.

“Eek! Chairman! I’m sorry! I dare to…!”

However, Dogo, only left a mysterious line.

-The only way to escape the sacred duty of paying taxes is to become someone beyond death.

After leaving this eerie line, he disappeared as if scattered into thin air.

Pah!

He spatially shifted into the airship.

Upon this, Yeongwoo stood dumbfounded for a moment before quickly bidding farewell to the chairman.

“Chairman! Please take care…!”

Tap!

Thud!

As Yeongwoo sprinted towards the chairman’s airship, like a child chasing a bird, Negwig followed closely behind.

-Squeeeak!

And surprisingly, at that moment…

Whoosh!

Following Negwig’s path, Dogo’s spike pattern glittered brightly.

It seemed he had his own tracking function.

Joseon’s Strongest Sword, chasing after the chairman’s airship while holding the Bastard high.

And beside him, the iron horse scattering spike patterns.

“…”

Still lying on the ground, Jeonggu only lifted his head in astonishment, feeling disoriented by the bizarre sight.

“No, how does the world even work?”

And in the midst of all this…

“Chairmaaann!”

With Yeongwoo’s utmost sincerity in seeing him off, the chairman’s massive airship rose into the sky like a flash of lightning.

Shooaaat!

Then…

Pop!

As if nothing had happened, the space where the airship had been was now clean and empty.

“…Phew.”

Finally, Jeonggu breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Yeongwoo returning to his side, Jeonggu attempted to take off his cape.

Thwip!

“What… what’s this? What the hell, you crazy guy!”

“Oh, right. Father would die if this was taken off, wouldn’t he?”

Seemingly forgetting, Yeongwoo startled, removing his hand.

“I almost wasted 2,000.”

Then Jeonggu, sweating in the suddenly reignited storm of embers, asked,

“What, what was that? Why did you suddenly try to take off the clothes again?”

To which Yeongwoo scratched his chin and replied,

“I finished my work, so I was going to put it in the encyclopaedia.”

Then, he unfolded today’s biggest harvest, the Armor encyclopaedia.

Pop!

[Armor encyclopaedia]

〔20〕

「The Collection Effect Level 1 has been unlocked.」

「The Collection Effect Level 2 has been unlocked.」

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]