MTLNOVEL Chapter 17
Dawn Star Constellation Team 2 Leader Lee Tae-Jun made a deal with the Chinese Communist Party to regain his past fame.
In exchange for handing over Yi Sun-sin’s relics from the Noryang Gate, he would receive support from the communists.
Of course, Lee Tae-Jun didn’t make this deal without any thought.
He believed there were no longer any of Yi Sun-sin’s relics left in Noryang Gate.
After all, this wasn’t the first time Noryang Gate had gone berserk, and it was a gate that had already been cleared in the past.
The South Korean government judged that any relics worth finding had already surfaced during that process.
Noryang Gate was like an empty house where only dust remained no matter how thoroughly you searched.
So, the Chinese proposal to help him in exchange for relics was an offer Lee Tae-Jun couldn’t refuse.
Moreover, even if Yi Sun-sin’s relics were to appear, Lee Tae-Jun intended to hand them over to China anyway.
Because even if they did appear, they would be items he could never obtain himself.
Such top-tier relics were given priority to S-Rank Hunters.
“Conditions wouldn’t align anyway.”
Ancient-level and above relics choose their master.
If the relic doesn’t recognize you, it becomes nothing more than useless junk, no matter how much you hold onto it.
Lee Tae-Jun knew the likelihood of being chosen by Yi Sun-sin’s relics was low.
Above all else, regaining his past fame was far more important.
Ever since Kim Ha-Yoon appeared, Dawn Star Constellation had treated him like yesterday’s rice.
“Damn bastards.”
Lee Tae-Jun gritted his teeth.
His goal was to bring Kim Ha-Yoon down and reap the benefits for himself.
And that goal was soon to be realized, with all necessary resources for the Noryang Gate expedition preemptively secured by the Chinese side.
“Haha! They must be having a funeral-like atmosphere by now.”
Thinking about the depressed guild atmosphere due to the failed Noryang Gate expedition, Lee Tae-Jun chuckled.
“I should go pretend to console them and enjoy the show.”
“Heh.”
Recalling Kim Ha-Yoon’s stiffened face brought laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.
Just as he entered the guild headquarters with a smug grin, Team 1 Leader Ha Jin-Woo approached him.
“Lee Tae-Jun, where have you been?”
Hiding his smirk, Lee Tae-Jun bowed his head with a mournful expression.
“I apologize, I tried to obtain a Water Element relic but failed.”
It was a flawless performance that anyone could genuinely feel sorrow from.
However…
“Ah, don’t worry about that. We’ve already obtained it.”
“…Pardon?”
Startled, Lee Tae-Jun forgot his act and abruptly raised his head.
“Did you find a Rare Tier Water Element relic?”
“Haha, it’s not Rare Tier.”
“?”
Not Rare Tier? Then what is it?
“It’s an Imjin War Water Element relic.”
“!”
Lee Tae-Jun’s eyes widened.
“B-but isn’t that a relic from the Joseon Navy?”
“Yes, General Anwi’s relic.”
“!!!!”
Lee Tae-Jun nearly blurted out a curse in shock.
‘Shit!’
Anwi? Isn’t that the name of the general who was Yi Sun-sin’s right-hand man?
And they found that general’s relic?
“Is it really General Anwi’s relic?”
“We’ve just finished appraisal with the appraisers. It’s confirmed. Definitely genuine.”
“Where on earth… how did you…”
“Haha, someone contacted us saying they’d sell it in Yŏksam-dong, so we went and sure enough, it was real.”
Ha Jin-Woo happily divulged trivial details, completely oblivious to Lee Tae-Jun’s frozen expression.
‘What the hell!’
Anwi’s relic!? Why has it suddenly appeared now!?
While screaming internally, Lee Tae-Jun forced a bright smile as if relieved.
“H-Haha! That’s great news!”
His voice trembled, unable to hide his emotions.
At that moment, spotting Kim Ha-Yoon following Ha Jin-Woo, Lee Tae-Jun greeted her.
“Congratulations, Ha-Yoon. I just heard the news. The Noryang Gate expedition won’t be a problem anymore.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“By the way, Tae-Jun. Since you’re free, can you contact all the press? We’ll be holding a Noryang Gate briefing tonight.”
“…Understood.”
As Lee Tae-Jun turned away, his face twisted into a grimace.
‘Shit!’
*
Amidst the Noryang Gate situation, South Korea continued to unleash scathing criticism towards Dawn Star Constellation.
└These bastards, when did they ever promise to block it themselves and keep failing?
└Our home is Noryang; am I supposed to die because of this?
└Quickly run away. Strange beings are about to pour out soon.
└Kim Ha-Yoon, Kim Ha-Yoon they kept hyping up, but looks like she lacks skills after all. Just a water rocket then.
└Seriously, her one-hit kill got exposed.
The public community was in chaos, and the Hunt Web’s public opinion wasn’t favorable either.
Since it was obvious that stopping the Noryang Gate outbreak was impossible, regardless of circumstances.
Public sentiment towards Dawn Star Constellation was extremely hostile.
In the midst of this ominous atmosphere, a major exclusive was prominently featured.
[Dawn Star Constellation Acquires General Anwi’s Hwandou!]
Though it was merely a single line of text, it was enough to completely reverse public sentiment.
└Does Dawn Star Constellation look like trash to you??
└I trusted them all along.
└Wow, insane. Still, Anwi’s relic is legendary. Did they intentionally provoke hate comments before surprising everyone with this reveal?
└Where did those morning haters of Kim Ha-Yoon disappear to?
└Is Ha-Yoon here to protect our homes?
└Kim Ha-Yoon Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun Kim Ha-Yun.
Boards that were filled with insults towards Dawn Star Constellation earlier that morning were now plastered with posts worshiping them and Kim Ha-Yoon.
Given the context of the Imjin War alone, Anwi was one of the most renowned heroes.
There was no way the Hwandou he wielded would be anything less than extraordinary.
└But what’s the tier of Anwi’s relic?
└Not too sure, but it’s gotta be Epic at least.
└If it goes well, it might even reach Ancient level…
└Wow, envy-inducing.
Criticism towards Dawn Star Constellation disappeared, and mainstream media and Netube flooded with videos explaining who Anwi was.
The entire nation was in a celebratory mood. Meanwhile, there was one place where such joy wasn’t felt.
The Chinese Embassy.
“Wang Wei! What is the meaning of this?! You said not to worry because you couldn’t obtain the relic!?”
“Guh, how was I supposed to know General Anwi’s relic would suddenly appear? I’m just as shocked.”
Wang Wei’s face crumpled at Lee Tae-Jun’s insolent attitude.
‘This incompetent bastard…’
It was already a miracle that someone like Lee Tae-Jun was appointed as Team 2 Leader of Dawn Star Constellation.
Compared to Kim Ha-Yoon, he fell short in both talent and character.
Yet here he was, not only ungrateful for the help but also coming to argue over a minor setback?
Wang Wei’s anger surged, but he suppressed it forcefully.
To retrieve ‘that relic’ from Noryang Gate, Wang Wei still needed Lee Tae-Jun’s assistance.
“The gate’s clearance doesn’t matter. Koreans won’t know about Yi Sun-sin’s relic anyway.”
While South Koreans had concluded there were no Yi Sun-sin relics in Noryang Gate, Wang Wei knew otherwise.
That Yi Sun-sin’s relic existed within Noryang Gate.
Specifically, the helmet Yi Sun-sin used during the Battle of Noryang.
How come they didn’t take it back then?
‘Back then, it wasn’t a relic yet!’
Wang Wei’s ancestor was known as “Zhen Feng,” the greatest tomb raider of Ming Dynasty China.
A thief who excavated every Chinese tomb and was eventually executed by hanging for disturbing the emperor’s great-grandfather’s tomb.
People assumed Zhen Feng only raided Chinese ruins, but in reality, he also targeted Joseon sites.
During this process, Zhen Feng discovered Yi Sun-sin’s helmet within Noryang Gate.
However, at that time, Yi Sun-sin’s helmet wasn’t yet a relic.
After all, Zhen Feng lived in the same era as Yi Sun-sin.
Believing that Yi Sun-sin’s helmet would become a relic in the future, Zhen Feng concealed it deep within Noryang Gate using an “array.”
Keeping it within the gate, closely related to the helmet, increased its chances of becoming a relic.
‘Now it’s time to retrieve it.’
Through the records left by his ancestor Zhen Feng, Wang Wei knew exactly where within Noryang Gate Yi Sun-sin’s helmet was hidden.
Until recently, he had confirmed through Lee Tae-Jun that the array concealing the helmet remained intact.
‘If the array is undamaged, the helmet should still be there.’
The issue was that it was difficult for a Chinese person to casually enter Noryang Gate, controlled by Koreans.
Thus, Wang Wei had planned to infiltrate Noryang Gate with Lee Tae-Jun’s help.
‘I need to retrieve it quickly.’
Although it was unlikely the array would be discovered, Wang Wei couldn’t remain idle with Lee Tae-Jun pestering him incessantly.
He’d have to at least pretend to assist for the guy to cooperate.
With a friendly smile, Wang Wei spoke.
“If Mr. Tae-Jun brings in support from China, Dawn Star Constellation will welcome it.”
“Oh, so you’ll assist us?”
“Of course, we must. Don’t worry too much.”
“Haha! I trusted you would, Wang Wei Ambassador.”
Trusted my ass.
‘Disgusting.’
Cursing Lee Tae-Jun internally, Wang Wei stood up.
“Let’s go, Mr. Tae-Jun.”
Excited by the prospect of retrieving Yi Sun-sin’s helmet, Wang Wei’s heart raced.
*
At the moment Wang Wei moved towards Noryang, I was testing the Shadowstep skill.
“Whoa, this is good?”
Moving swiftly seemed perfect for emergency situations.
“Ki-iiik!”
The goblin warrior swinging a baseball bat toward me flailed uselessly in the air, gasping for breath.
Infuriated, the brute swung recklessly, but with Shadowstep, none of his attacks reached me.
Swoosh-
Dodging backward,
Bang!
Headshot with Napoleon’s Rifle!
[You have defeated the Enraged Goblin Warrior.]
[D-8 Gate Cleared]
[Clear Rank: SSS]
Reading these status messages indifferently, something caught my eye.
==
Twin Dragon Sword Quest (2)
─Retrieve Yi Sun-sin’s relic hidden somewhere in Noryang Gate.
[Difficulty: E]
[Clear Condition: Twin Dragon Sword]
[Reward: Yi Sun-sin’s Helmet]
==
“Yi Sun-sin’s Helmet?”
My eyes widened upon seeing the reward for the second quest triggered by the Twin Dragon Sword.