Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 239: Fourth Return, Earth (6)

“Really… a lot have survived.”

“Thanks to whom?”

Kim Hwiyeon laughed lightly and glanced sideways. Her gaze towards Taesan, filled with respect and trust, grew stronger.

And the leader from Daejeon twisted his face as if he was displeased with the current situation.

“If this many have survived… it’s even more feasible now.”

Their faces lit up with motivation as the possibility of survival had increased.

“Then who will be the leader?”

The leader from Jeju Island asked. They had all been managing players from their respective regions. But now that everyone had gathered in Seoul, it seemed best for one person to give comprehensive commands to avoid any confusion.

All eyes turned to Taesan.

“It’s not my place. You all know who the leader of Seoul is.”

“I’ve heard, but…”

“Still, I never thought it would actually be…”

Kim Hwiyeon had heard she was managing people as the leader in Seoul. But it was hard to take at face value, considering Taesan’s overwhelming presence. Kim Hwiyeon was seen as a figurehead, while behind the scenes, Taesan was thought to be the one giving overall commands.

However, the reality was different.

Taesan stepped back and left the overall management to Kim Hwiyeon.

“I’m not good at managing people.”

His forte was killing monsters. And Kim Hwiyeon was good at managing people and assigning roles accordingly.

Everyone should stick to their roles. That was Taesan’s philosophy. Recognizing this, Kim Hwiyeon gratefully bowed her head slightly.

Others’ expressions brightened. They realized Taesan was not the type to force his opinions on others because of his strength.

After all, no matter what Taesan proposed now, they couldn’t refuse. They had been slightly worried he might push them into a corner, but those concerns had now vanished.

The leader from Daejeon also looked happier. He gazed at people with satisfaction.

“Then…”

“Who is the leader?”

People’s eyes turned to Kim Hwiyeon. She made a grim face.

“Me again?”

“Of course.”

“You handle everything even in hard mode, don’t you? Just bear with it a little longer.”

“Ugh. I hate it. I really do.”

Kim Hwiyeon complained, but she did not refuse. She herself believed that it was best for her to take on this role.

“Please do your best.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Kim Hwiyeon steadied her breath. It was decided that she would be the leader.

The leader from Daejeon opened his mouth.

“I object.”

“Huh?”

People were startled by the sudden objection. Their gazes shifted.

“Lee Juhyeok. You object?”

“Yes.”

The leader from Daejeon, Lee Juhyeok, nodded.

He looked at Kim Hwiyeon.

“If Kim Hwiyeon becomes the leader, then we’ll have to follow her commands, right?”

“Of course.”

Being a leader was just that. It’s about shouldering everyone’s lives, issuing commands, and governing people.

It carried power, but also responsibility. If people died, it would be Kim Hwiyeon’s fault.

Lee Juhyeok spoke up.

“Then I don’t like it. I don’t want to entrust my life to someone else.”

“You want to be the leader?”

“Yes.”

Lee Juhyeok answered firmly.

Everyone looked at him uncertainly.

“Umm…”

“I don’t know.”

Kim Hwiyeon pressed her forehead as if it hurt.

“I had a feeling this would happen, and here it really is.”

Lee Juhyeok had often clashed with Kim Hwiyeon in the labyrinth.

Whenever she would propose a strategy, he would challenge it and speak his own mind. Expressing an opinion was not the problem, but Lee Juhyeok’s attitude was.

He spoke as if he was the only real leader, and that his opinion was the only correct one. His exclusionary and rejecting tone had led to several conflicts.

He was someone who believed only in his own answers and ignored others’ opinions. Someone who wanted to be an absolute king and govern everyone alone.

That was Lee Juhyeok.

“There won’t be a problem. You’re tired of leading, aren’t you? Just leave it to me.”

Lee Juhyeok’s eyes gleamed with a greed for power as he spoke.

“Umm…”

Kim Hwiyeon regarded Taesan with a complex expression. Taesan had only one response.

“As I said before, I don’t want to interfere in your affairs. Decide amongst yourselves.”

Taesan chose to remain a bystander.

The decision now rested solely with Kim Hwiyeon. She closed her eyes.

Truthfully, it was a burden. Managing people’s lives and assigning them numbers often led to sleepless nights. She had assumed the role because problems would arise if she didn’t, but she longed to relinquish it.

That’s when Lee Juhyeok declared his intention to become the leader.

If Lee Juhyeok took over, it might not be too bad. His judgments were generally sound. Unlike the safe and relatively passive Kim Hwiyeon, he made bold decisions and had the backing of several Hard Mode players who appreciated such decisiveness.

“Answer quickly. We’re wasting time.”

Lee Juhyeok urged, confident that Kim Hwiyeon would cede the leadership to him.

Kim Hwiyeon glanced at Taesan.

Taesan was silently observing her.

Under his gaze, Kim Hwiyeon made her decision.

“Sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Right. It should be… what?”

Lee Juhyeok’s expression of satisfaction quickly turned to one of disbelief. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly.

“I refuse, Lee Juhyeok. I should be the leader.”

“You’re refusing?”

Lee Juhyeok’s expression contorted.

“Do you crave the position of leader that much? To be so stubborn here?”

“It’s not stubbornness. It’s my choice. And aren’t you the one coveting it?”

“You.”

Lee Juhyeok’s expression twisted further.

Kim Hwiyeon shook her head.

“Either way, I have no intention of relinquishing the position of leader. So, what will you do now? Give up? Or…”

Kim Hwiyeon grasped her weapon.

“Decide by force, according to the laws of the labyrinth?”

At her words, Lee Juhyeok hesitated.

Kim Hwiyeon was strong. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was the strongest among the Hard Mode players. Even if he fought, victory was not guaranteed for him.

“…Let’s do it by majority vote.”

Even as he spoke, Lee Juhyeok knew what the outcome would be.

“Okay. Anyone who wants Kim Hwiyeon to be the leader, raise your hand.”

Everyone except Lee Juhyeok raised their hands.

Kim Hwiyeon said,

“Now, anyone who wants Lee Juhyeok to be the leader, raise your hand.”

No one raised their hand.

Lee Juhyeok’s face contorted. The leader from Jeju Island spoke cautiously.

“Honestly, Hwiyeon is doing a good job. Why should we ask someone else?”

“That’s right, Juhyeok. You’re not bad, but you’re too radical. That has almost gotten us killed several times.”

“…Yeah. That’s it.”

Lee Juhyeok twisted his lips.

“Sorry, but I can’t agree.”

He banged the table hard. The table creaked and made a precarious sound.

“The person who will be the leader is me. I will be the master of Korea.”

“But it’s already been decided. You’re not going to challenge that, are you?”

“Right.”

“What?”

Lee Juhyeok stood up.

“I can’t accept this. Daejeon will withdraw. We will operate independently.”

“You!”

Kim Hwiyeon’s face twisted. Lee Juhyeok smirked.

“Why? There’s no problem, right? I’m not particularly resisting or fighting you guys. I’m just going to move independently under my own judgment.”

“Are those even words?”

Not following the leader’s command and moving independently could clearly impact other groups. An uncontrolled limb was worse than not having one at all.

Just as voices were about to raise, Taesan spoke.

“Really?”

A moment of silence circled. People swallowed their saliva and broke into cold sweats.

“…Yeah. I’m going to move alone.”

Lee Juhyeok tried to sound calm, but his eyes betrayed an unmistakable tremor.

Taesan nodded.

“Then do as you please.”

“…What?”

“Do what you want. Take the people of Daejeon and do whatever you want; I won’t mind. But if it harms others… you know?”

Taesan smiled slightly.

With a tingling sensation, Lee Juhyeok forced a smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He stepped outside. Taesan closed his mouth. Finally, the tension eased, and people sat down.

“That crazy guy. I knew he was obsessed with power in the labyrinth, but to think he’d be like that outside too…”

“It’s probably even more so because it’s outside. ‘The master of Korea.’ Sounds grand, right? Would that proud guy not aim for that and give up?”

Sighs and lamentations erupted. Kim Hwiyeon, pressing her temples, said,

“First, let’s not worry about that damned guy right now, and deal with the immediate issues at hand.”

She managed to shift the topic and asked, with a more subdued gaze, as the overall leader of Korea,

“Now that all the survivors in Korea have gathered, what’s the mood among the people?”

“It’s good. Families separated by different modes have reunited, and there’s a sense of unity now that all of Korea is together. There’s hardly any discrimination between the modes. Even Daejeon, well, there are no issues. He’s the only problem.”

Overall, there were no problems. Kim Hwiyeon lightly tapped the table with her fingertips.

“Then let’s talk about the quest.”

All of Korea had gathered in Seoul.

This fulfilled the conditions, and a new quest appeared to them.

[Special Quest Start］

[In one day, numerous rifts will appear around the safe zones in Seoul. Eliminate the rifts before they fully expand and open a passage for monsters.]

[Based on performance, rewards will be given upon return to the labyrinth.]

“What are these rifts?”

People muttered in confusion, unfamiliar with the term.

Taesan spoke up.

“There will be purple rifts appearing around us. Monsters will be guarding them. Just defeat them and destroy the rift.”

“Oh? You know?”

“I destroyed one during my first return.”

“Since the first return, you’ve been dealing with that…”

While they were solely focused on adapting and surviving, unaware of the rifts, Taesan had already noticed and resolved them. This fact impressed the leaders from other regions.

“Then Mr. Taesan and those, spirits?”

“I am Minerva. This is Barkaza. You can call us spirits comfortably.”

[To be called alongside the king. What an awkward situation...]

“Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry.”

Minerva waved her hand dismissively, while the others cast quite peculiar glances.

They were very curious about the identities of Minerva and Barkaza.

Taesan explained casually, as it was bothersome to elaborate.

“They’re definitely on our side. There won’t be any betrayal. You’ve seen their power, so you know.”

“Absolutely.”

The leader from Jeju Island muttered with a vacant expression.

He had observed closely as they cleaved through the sea and slaughtered monsters like bugs, rejecting any force directed towards Seoul. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly,

“Then, I’m sorry, but we’ll have to rely on Mr. Taesan again.”

“Don’t worry about things you can’t handle; I’ll take care of them. But I won’t handle everything. You know that, right?”

“Yes. We need to train too.”

A sense of gratitude washed over everyone’s faces.

As the conversation loosely wrapped up, they twisted their faces.

“So, what shall we do with that damned guy?”

“I’d like to bring him to our side, but he’s not the type to listen.”

Taesan said,

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll fill in where it’s lacking.”

“But…”

“That type of person is better off not in the group. Even if we somehow persuade him to join, would the conversation proceed smoothly? I don’t think so.”

They all agreed with this.

Lee Juhyeok wouldn’t follow orders even if he was forcibly brought under Kim Hwiyeon’s leadership. He would likely stir up internal discord. Thinking this, it was fortunate that they had separated early.

“Then…”

“Everyone’s resting. I’ll sort things out properly and tell you about it tomorrow.”

“Phew. I need some sleep.”

“Then good work, Hwiyeon.”

They left. Only Kim Hwiyeon and Kang Taesan remained as Junggeun also bowed his head and left last from the meeting room.

Kang Taesan broke the silence.

“That was unexpected? I thought you would yield.”

“I did consider it initially.”

The burden of leadership was heavy on her. If possible, she wanted to pass it on to someone else.

“But…”

She looked at Taesan.

Taesan gave her a questioning look. She shook her head.

“Just, suddenly I wanted to take it on. It seems I’ve opened my eyes to power.”

She joked, but there was a real reason.

Taesan trusted her.

He believed that she had the capability to govern and lead everyone. That’s why he had entrusted her with the leadership.

She wanted to live up to Taesan’s expectations.

That was her reason for accepting.

“But. Hmm. Lee Juhyeok also isn’t without qualifications to be a leader. It might have been fine if he had taken it.”

“No.”

Taesan said, his voice full of conviction, surprising Kim Hwiyeon a little.

“You think not?”

“That guy lacks something crucial.”

In his past life, Seoul had been destroyed.

Many people had died due to Choi Junghyuk and Seo Jangsan’s actions. Therefore, Lee Juhyeok, who had naturally become the leader of everyone as the leader from Daejeon where most people survived, knew.

That’s why Taesan knew that Lee Juhyeok lacked the qualities of a leader.

Lee Juhyeok probably thought he could move independently without issues based on his experiences in Daejeon. He must have been planning to prove his capability and seize the leadership.

However, Lee Juhyeok was unaware of one fact.

The power of the high gods was concentrated in Seoul.

The strongest monster he had faced in Daejeon was probably class C. He must have believed they could overcome it with their own strength. He didn’t realize how foolish that belief was.

“Don’t worry about it. He’ll fall flat on his face on his own.”

Taesan said indifferently.

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