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Gaia seemed confused by everything that was said.

"Protector Kim Si-Hun, can you swear that what you\'ve just said is true?"

"Yes."

Kim Si-Hun nodded without hesitation. Gaia took a deep breath at his answer.

"You said that Satan looked like a human, correct?"

"To be more precise, it was just the outline of his body. He was shrouded in darkness, so I couldn\'t see his exact features."

"I see."

Gaia nodded.

"First, I understand what you are saying. Taking into consideration that Protector Alec was being targeted by the Demon Cult, there is a high chance that Satan is a member of the Demon Cult."

"I guess our ultimate enemy is the Demon Cult, then," Oh Kang-Woo said.

The Demon Cult… They\'d existed for more than a thousand years. They were evil beings who worshiped demons and accepted their power.

\'They\'d be more than capable of being involved with the Demon of Prophecy.\'

He nodded. If one thought about it, it would be natural that Satan, the Demon of Prophecy and one who was trying to bring destruction to the world, would join forces with them.

Gaia\'s expression darkened.

"I guess so. Haaa. If he has already entered the Demon Cult, the situation has worsened."

"Even three months ago, Satan was able to overpower Alec easily. If that was his weakened state… I don\'t even want to imagine how strong he would be if he recovered his previous strength."

There was a grim atmosphere in the room.

Kang-Woo turned his head toward Gaia.

"Now, are you still going to stand your ground on the rule that only Protectors can join Guardians?"

"…"

Gaia remained silent. It didn\'t take long for her to make a decision. She turned her head toward Grace McCubbin.

"Grace, please bring that to me."

"Okay."

Grace brought out two rectangular boxes. As she opened the boxes, in each was a white mask and a crystal orb the size of a ping-pong ball.

Gaia fumbled around the table and raised up a mask in one of the boxes.

There was a blue shield engraved on the mask.

"There are many cases in which members of Guardians have to act secretly, so they must wear a mask while on missions. Hmm, to put it bluntly, you could say that this mask is the symbol of Guardians."

"Ah…"

"First, Protector Kim Si-Hun, may we ask for your help in protecting the world and eliminating the Demon of Prophecy?"

"Of course."

Si-Hun nodded as his eyes blazed with passion.

Gaia smiled. She gave the mask in her hands to Si-Hun.

"Welcome to Guardians."

"… Thank you very much."

Si-Hun accepted the mask while making a complex expression. He took the mask and placed it over his face. It seemed there was a special effect on the mask, causing a short exclamation to escape Si-Hun\'s mouth.

"Ah."

"Fufu. Did you think it was just a plain mask?"

After giving him the mask, she gave him the transparent crystal orb the size of a ping-pong ball.

"This is a communication device that\'s given to Guardians members. You can communicate with us even if you\'re inside a gate or on the other side of the world, and if you put it on the floor, you can open a gate that leads to here, the Hall of Protection."

"But what if it gets stolen from me…?"

One could open a gate that led to the base from anywhere…

It was an item that could cause a catastrophe if an enemy got their hands on it.

Gaia lightly laughed at Si-Hun upon hearing his worried voice.

"It is bound to its owner. Just a piece of Legendary-grade equipment, so there is no need to worry about that."

"Ah, I see."

Si-Hun nodded. On the other hand, Kang-Woo had a complex expression.

\'They aren\'t even considering the possibility of betrayal?\'

Even if the item was bound to its owner, the group would be stabbed in the back instantly if the person were to betray them.

From Kang-Woo\'s point of view, it was far too complacent of an item.

\'Well, it doesn\'t really matter to me.\'

They probably weren\'t giving out such an important item because they were dumb.

The mask and crystal orb were symbols of trust—that\'s how much Gaia trusted each Guardians member.

Considering that there were two boxes, Kang-Woo was certain that she was willing to accept him as a member of Guardians.

As her trust in him grew, Kang-Woo would be able to hide the fact that he was, in reality, the Demon of Prophecy even better.

"Next…"

She turned to face Kang-Woo, holding a second mask in her hands.

"Kang-Woo."

"Yes."

She extended the mask to him.

"You\'re right. In times like this, we cannot afford to insist on the rule that only Protectors can join Guardians. However, I am accepting you as a member of Guardians not just because we do not have any leeway."

Her voice was passionate. Kang-Woo remained silent.

She said, "Your affection for Protector Kim Si-Hun and how angry you became when you realized that Satan had targeted him were the two decisive reasons."

"Si-Hun is a precious little brother to me. The Demon of Prophecy, or whatever his name is, cannot be forgiven for trying to kill Si-Hun."

Kang-Woo\'s eyes were burning with passion, and his voice was powerful.

It felt like a bit much considering they were only sworn brothers, but its effect was impressive.

"H-Hyung-nim."

"Fufu. You have a fantastic sworn brother. To be honest, when I first heard about you through Protector Kim Si-Hun, I was worried that his trust in you was excessive, but I guess I was worried for nothing."

Si-Hun was so moved that he was trembling. Gaia smiled in satisfaction.

Kang-Woo felt inwardly elated.

\'Thanks, Satan!\'

If Satan heard this, he would have shaken his head in dissatisfaction.

But from Kang-Woo\'s point of view, everything was flowing in a great direction.

"Kang-Woo, although you are not a Protector, I believe you are worthy of being called one based on your strong sense of justice."

\'Yeah, of course I am.\'

"Then, Kang-Woo, may we ask for your help in protecting the world and eliminating the Demon of Prophecy?"

"Of course."

He nodded without hesitation. He was overflowing with a strong sense of justice from being able to join Guardians.

\'Yeah, there\'s no one more righteous and pure-hearted than me.\'

Gaia nodded at Kang-Woo\'s choice.

"Welcome to Guardians."

He received the mask with a blue shield engraved on it.

He put it on.

Riiing.

[You have become a member of Guardians.]

[Activating the effect of \'Blessing of Gaia.\' This blessing has a greater effect on Players chosen to be \'Protectors.\']

[You are not a \'Protector.\' Reducing the effect of the blessing.]

[Raising all stats by 1.]

Rumble!

"Huh?!"

"This is…"

The Hall of Protection shook.

The Blessing of Gaia was a strong buff for Protectors, but Kang-Woo had only managed to receive a fraction of its full effect because he was not a Protector.

But…

\'It raised all my stats by one.\'\'

A smile appeared on his face.

For other players, a single point to all stats was probably nothing…

But from Kang-Woo\'s point of view, it wasn\'t just a single point to every stat.

His Demonic Energy stat was so high that it wouldn\'t be an exaggeration to say that it had surpassed the limit of what a Player could achieve.

So for him, the difference of a single stat point was huge.

\'Hell yeah, I\'m surging with demonic energy!\'

As his stat increased, an explosive amount of demonic energy was created anew.

He would\'ve probably been found out if he wasn\'t able to conceal his demonic energy with his Ruler of Demonic Energy Trait.

He would be able to fully use the energy once he melted the newly created demonic energy into his blood later through the Heavenly Dragon Cultivation Technique.

\'I think I could be a match for Doomguard now.\'

Doomguard, the protector of destruction. He was the commander of the 3rd Battalion of Kang-Woo\'s demon army and was also an archdemon among the demons of the Ninth Hell.

He wasn\'t as strong as Balrog or Lilith, who were both as powerful as the seven princes of Hell, but he was strong enough to massacre hundreds of demons of the Ninth Hell in seconds.

\'This was an unexpected profit.\'

He almost felt proud of becoming a member of Guardians.

"I hope we get along from now on."

After receiving the communication crystal, Kang-Woo shook Gaia\'s hand.

"Ah, yes. I hope so too."

Gaia was surprised by the explosive burst of energy, but only for a short while. She soon put on a bright smile.

"Please let me know as soon as you get information regarding the Demon Cult."

"Okay. As for missions, I will contact you through the communication orb at a later date. Oh, and feel free to visit the Hall of Protection any time you want. It gets lonely being here by myself."

Gaia waved her hand. Her arms were so thin that it seemed like they would break if one wasn\'t careful.

Si-Hun\'s eyes sank as he saw those arms.

"Okay. I will be waiting for your call."

He turned around and opened the door. After they left the gate, they were greeted by familiar scenery.

It was the rooftop of the apartment where Kang-Woo lived.

"… Thank you, hyung-nim."

"It was nothing."

\'I should be the one thanking you.\'

Kang-Woo smiled and patted Si-Hun\'s shoulder. Si-Hun\'s eyes teared up as if he were moved.

"Hyung-nim."

"Hmm?"

Si-Hun raised his head and looked up at the sky.

\'This son of a bitch is too handsome.\'

Just him looking up at the sky made it look like he was in the middle of a photoshoot.

"I kind of feel like… I\'ve gained a new goal today."

"A new goal?"

"Yes."

Si-Hun nodded while making a serious expression.

"I\'ve fallen in love with someone."

\'What kind of bullshit is this now?\'

Kang-Woo looked confused. Why was he suddenly talking about love?

"Don\'t tell me…"

"I became sure of it the moment I saw her. It is my destiny to protect her."

Kang-Woo went silent.

Si-Hun turned and leaned against the rooftop railing.

"I can\'t forget her frail body, which could break at the slightest touch."

Si-Hun clenched his fist.

"And…"

A strong energy and deep bloodlust rose from inside him.

"I will kill Satan, who made her that way, with my own hands."

"…"

"You\'ve seen her too, hyung-nim. She couldn\'t even walk or see."

\'Si-Hun.\'

"It\'s all because Satan came to Earth. He ruined the Gaia System and killed a Protector."

\'Wait a second, Si-Hun.\'

"I\'m so frustrated and angry. I think it\'s the first time I\'ve felt this way in my entire life."

\'What\'s wrong, man?\'

"I want to protect her."

Kang-Woo could see Si-Hun\'s eyes burning with motivation. On the other hand, Kang-Woo was feeling more and more guilty.

"I want to protect her and make her smile."

\'I get it, so stop, dude.\'

"Hyung-nim."

\'I didn\'t know things would turn out like this either.\'

"Thank you for helping me."

\'I couldn\'t just rot in Hell forever, you know? I stayed there for ten millennia. Isn\'t that long enough? How much longer was I supposed to stay there for?\'

"I wouldn\'t be feeling so reassured if it hadn\'t been for you, hyung-nim."

\'Do you know Lilith? Huh? Do you know her? A thousand years with her, and you wouldn\'t give a flying fuck if coming back to Earth would paralyze someone\'s legs and make them blind!\'

Smiling awkwardly, Si-Hun scratched his head.

"Haha. It\'s kind of embarrassing to say something like that with my own mouth, but I became sure of it thanks to you staying by my side."

Kang-Woo lowered his head.

\'I\'m sorry, Si-Hun.\'

Kang-Woo\'s hands and feet trembled from guilt.

Si-Hun extended his hand.

"Hyung-nim, let\'s kill the Demon of Prophecy and protect this world together."

There was silence. Kang-Woo\'s expression seemed troubled, but that was only for a brief moment.

Kang-Woo grabbed Si-Hun\'s hand.

"Let\'s do it."

\'I don\'t give a fuck anymore.\'

He gripped Si-Hun\'s hand tighter.

"Let\'s protect this world from Satan."

The Demon of Prophecy, Satan.

That filthy and wicked demon had not been satisfied with ruling the Nine Hells and had come to Earth. He had damaged the Gaia System that was protecting Earth and was trying to take it over.

\'Unforgivable.\'

Kang-Woo surged with anger. Satan had dared to reduce Si-Hun\'s first love to such a state.

To him, Si-Hun was someone with whom he shared a bond thicker than blood, and even their souls were linked. As his sworn brother, Kang-Woo couldn\'t stand for it.

\'In the name of justice, I\'ll punish you.\'[1]