HG | Chapter 26

As soon as the command was given, a large black cavity appeared on the body of the monster that looked like black dust. The teeth, densely packed around the cylindrical mouth, evoked fear and disgust.

“AAAHH!”

Cheonghyeon threw Jang Yuseong into that cavity. The mouth, large enough for four adult fists, stretched wide in an instant to swallow the robust young man.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thud!

“Good, eat well. Don’t spill, chew it thoroughly.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

What on earth… has just happened?

The remaining thugs were utterly dumbfounded. A human, who must have been at least 180 cm tall, had vanished into the monster’s mouth in just a few seconds.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Crunch. Snap. Crack. Pop.

The sound of the monster chewing through human bones was unfiltered.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Bleurgh!”

Oh Jinhyeok, who had witnessed the scene from the closest distance, suddenly bent over and vomited. It wasn’t a sight that could be stomached by someone with an average constitution. The others, though not vomiting, had turned just as pale.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Like a snake with a full belly, the monster’s abdomen bulged out peculiarly. Moreover, it continued to gurgle, revealing in real-time the process of digesting and dissolving what was once human flesh.

It was a grotesque yet overwhelming spectacle. Everyone except Cheonghyeon held their breath, fearing they might be next if they even breathed wrong.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

‘Throwing a perfectly healthy human into a monster’s mouth…’

It was a method of discipline that shattered common sense, far beyond what was intended to awaken their minds.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

They knew Cheonghyeon was one of the greatest Espers in Korean history.

‘So what?’

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Just like Hakyung lamented not having seen his father’s feats firsthand, they had only learned of Cheonghyeon’s accomplishments through textbooks. In other words, no matter how great Im Cheonghyeon was, he was a figure from the past. Moreover, he was an Esper who had spent more time resting than active.

In contrast, they were still students, active ones at that. Even with the clear rank disparity, they thought Cheonghyeon’s skills would have diminished due to his long rest, so they didn’t feel the need to grovel. They could always ask their parents to intervene if push came to shove.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even if he got angry, how much could he punish them? They thought it would just be a suspension or a few hits at worst, since it was just a matter among kids.

Crunch, crack!

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The monster, however, paid no heed and continued to chew and swallow the human.

After some time…

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Grr…

“Hik!”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As the chewing noise gradually quieted, the monster opened its mouth wide again, even wider than when it swallowed Jang Yuseong. Its mouth opened almost as wide as its body.

Gulp, gulp…

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From the monster’s mouth, something black began to emerge head-first.

“Fuck, Lord…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Grk, urgh… Unlike when it swallowed Jang Yuseong in one bite, it now seemed to struggle, expelling its contents inch by inch. Even in this slow regurgitation, the thugs, instead of attacking the monster, stood there, stunned, because they instantly recognized what was being spat out.

Another monster.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The five humans finally felt a chilling sense of crisis.

Cheonghyeon, with a hand on each of the two ‘monsters” heads, gave a cold smile.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How about that, fun, right?”

He had said he would show them something fun, and it seemed this was what he had planned from the start.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Han Hee-seong tried to ignore the goosebumps on his neck.

“As you just saw, if you get eaten up to your skull by a monster, you become a new monster.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Madness.”

“Now, have fun with these two friends. If there’s a ‘human’ still alive when I return, I’ll give them the special privilege to beg Hakyung for forgiveness.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Easy, right?

Cheonghyeon explained gently, like he was addressing his son’s friends, breaking it down thoroughly. He maintained a minimum of courtesy as an adult towards these kids. What he wanted them to understand was that he had never been this kind to his enemies before.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

If something was irritating, he crushed it. That was his way.

“Begin.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With the signal, he removed his hands from the monsters. They immediately charged at the thugs. Despite their large size, they moved like bouncing balls, quickly closing the distance, and then dropped among the thugs like grenades.

The thugs, who had been standing there dumbfounded, naturally went into pandemonium. It was chaos.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

One of them, whose name might have been Kim Jeongwook, ran desperately towards Cheonghyeon and shouted.

“Sa-save me…!”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“‘Save’?”

“Please save me!”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just once, please, ugh!”

The monster that was Jang Yuseong bounced low off the ground, preparing for another leap. Whether close or far from the monster, everyone screamed in terror.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Tsk tsk. Using informal speech with an adult. Your manners are completely gone.”

Tsk tsk, what a time we live in. In my days, we trained skills surrounded by monsters.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

These so-called Espers didn’t even attempt to use their skills, just begging for their lives, which was truly pathetic and contemptible. And with this mindset, they had the audacity to assault and molest his son under the guise of guiding. Their actions were clearly indefensible.

A chilling aura surrounded Cheonghyeon’s eyes as he looked down at the thugs.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

‘Should I just kill them cleanly?’

If it were up to him, he would grind these bastards into powder and make their parents eat it, but even that wouldn’t be satisfying. The parents who raised such beasts were also at fault. Releasing such monsters into the world without correcting their children’s inflated egos was their sin.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Splash!

“Hey! Fuck, Han Hee-gyeom, you…!”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

At that moment, a scream full of horror caught Cheonghyeon’s attention. Finally, one of them had managed to use their Esper energy, and the monster lay sprawled in front of him.

‘Electricity? Did he shock it?’

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Whether they lacked a clear skill or were just bad at using it, they failed to deal with the monster. However, the power of the energy they emitted was strong enough to knock the monster down, unable to maintain its balance.

The monster, which looked like it had been struck by lightning, convulsed intermittently. But it wasn’t dead, trying to get up.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Han Hee-gyeom shouted angrily:

“Fuck, what! The living should try to live! If you want to die, die on your own!”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Aaaah!”

Crack!

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Han Hee-gyeom roughly pushed Oh Jinhyeok, who was scolding him in shock, and he fell right into the monster’s gaping mouth.

It was a spine-chilling timing.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Now, four remained.

“Hik!”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Meanwhile, the monster Cheonghyeon had brought did its job well, chasing the thugs at a hair-raising distance. Among them, Kim Jeongwook seemed particularly talented at running, engaging in a breathless race with the monster.

Clack, clack!

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

If this were a scene in a movie, people would have clenched their fists in excitement at the thrilling sight. Even Cheonghyeon was impressed by the monster’s appearance. It ran, clashing its sharp, shark-like teeth, with saliva dripping between them, a terrifying sight for those being chased.

Meanwhile, a new monster was born from ‘Oh Jinhyeok’. Four humans, three monsters. The number of prey and hunters on the ring became almost equal.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“AAAAH!”

“Do something about that!”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“<Fireball>!”

“Don’t stick together, you bastards!”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The three being chased by the monster Cheonghyeon brought ran towards Han Hee-gyeom.

Kim Jeongwook, Park Woojin, Seo Yeonjae, and Han Hee-gyeom. They seemed to try to fight the monsters together, but Seo Yeonjae, who had cast magic, couldn’t overcome his fear and ran towards where Cheonghyeon had disappeared, trying to escape the woods. His feet were quite swift, but since the magic didn’t affect the monster, fear must have blinded him. He probably didn’t know where he was running to.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey! Seo Yeonjae! Where are you going!”

Kim Jeongwook tried to chase after Seo Yeonjae but had to change his route as the monster blocked his path.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Cheonghyeon couldn’t help but sigh in regret.

“That direction is dangerous…”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Why had Cheonghyeon returned so quickly after fetching the monster? It was because their habitat was right there.

‘Really… pathetic.’

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Is this the state of current Espers? Why do these kids, who went through awakener school, perform so poorly in actual combat?

Cheonghyeon’s original plan was to let them devour each other, then force the last survivor to fight while feeding them monster corpse powder. The original scenario was to grant their wish for death by turning them into powder when they finally begged for it.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

But at this rate, they would all turn into monsters before that. It wouldn’t take long either. Even though all but Han Hee-gyeom were B-rank or lower, if they had worked together from the start, they wouldn’t have ended up in this pathetic state.

The ‘giant monster’ was a creature equivalent to an A-rank awakener. Among monsters, it was high-tier, with the unique trait of turning other species into its own kind by consuming them.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

In Outbreak zones, there were many monsters like the ‘giant monster’ with unique properties. Researchers frequented Haegak Ridge to study these creatures, but how much could they learn without openly sacrificing humans?

Would they put endangered species in the monster’s mouth for experiments? Nature was not only harmed by humans due to awakeners’ overloads. Countless plants and animals were either extinct or barely surviving. Even livestock used for experiments 20 years ago were now mostly designated as protected species, unusable.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

‘To think Hakyung was hurt by such trash…’

My delicate, beautiful child.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Checking his watch, about an hour had passed since he entered the dungeon. Including the time to drag them here, he had been away from Hakyung for several hours.

Cheonghyeon decided to end this dull fight.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He observed the chaotic battlefield. One of them had lost a leg in the meantime. They wouldn’t help their injured friend; they were focused on surviving themselves.

‘There’s nothing more to see.’

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Cheonghyeon sent a wavelength to the ‘monsters,’ commanding:

The monsters stay ‘here.’ If a new monster is born, keep them here.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Here’ meant this clearing where only the thugs and monsters existed. Cheonghyeon planned to collect the powder from these ‘monsters’ himself. He had lost one, but harvesting from five was still a good haul.

With his plan set, he left without hesitation.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“AAAAH!”

“Sa-save me, ugh!”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Crack, crunch, snap…

Loud, unpleasant screams echoed beyond the clearing’s boundary. Cheonghyeon shook his head, looking annoyed.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This mukbang episode is quite distasteful.”

Next time, I should tell them to choose their menu better, huh.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He grumbled as if watching a video content from beyond a screen. Hakyung would have looked at him in disbelief if he heard this, but Cheonghyeon found his own humor amusing.

‘Monster mukbang… intriguing, isn’t it?’

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was actually tempted. Wouldn’t it be fun to bring someone annoying here and throw them into the monster’s den?

With such cruel thoughts, he ran lightly. His precious son was waiting for him, the one who had cried from pain and exhaustion.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Remembering Hakyung’s beautiful face contorted in sorrow, his heart ached.

He would never let him cry like that again.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Repeating his resolve several times, he kicked off the ground.

In the distance, the dungeon entrance shimmered.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Fortunately, Hakyung didn’t wake up until Cheonghyeon returned. He was releasing all the tension and accumulated fatigue, breathing deeply in a deep sleep.

Cheonghyeon’s scent and energy had unknowingly seeped into the bed, aiding in his deep rest. Hakyung, curled up like a child on the spacious bed, had settled in the spot where Cheonghyeon usually slept. Unconsciously, he had moved to the place where he felt most at ease.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”

Upon returning, Cheonghyeon first went to check on Hakyung, leaning against the door frame, holding his breath.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Hakyung, asleep in his place. The sight of him, as if seeking protection even in Cheonghyeon’s absence, touched his heart.

Beautiful. Delicate. Lovable.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He wanted to shower him with all the gentle words in the world.

Hakyung, at this moment, was just that.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Quietly, he stepped back and left the bedroom. After washing up in the bathroom on the opposite side, he noticed a message from Secretary Song.

Cheonghyeon replied casually and changed into light indoor wear. Instead of a suit, he wore casual black pants with a slightly glossy black shirt.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Having gotten into the habit of wearing only black clothes due to bloodstains since the old days, his wardrobe was filled with nothing but black shirts and pants. The details were so similar that unless closely observed, it would seem like he wore the same outfit every day.

Ten minutes later, Secretary Song arrived with the healer.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Long time no see, Mr. Im.”

“You look well.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Thanks to you.”

The healer, Cho Jeongho, respectfully offered a handshake. He was someone who owed his life to Cheonghyeon. Although Cheonghyeon didn’t remember much from that time of dungeon raids, Jeongho had been completely swayed by Cheonghyeon’s nonchalant attitude, dedicating himself to being his assistant. Being one of the rare healing type Espers in the country, with considerable skill, Cheonghyeon hadn’t immediately dismissed him. Their connection had now lasted over a decade.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“I was waiting for you to call me, but there was no contact, so I almost felt slighted.”

Jeongho chatted affably as he followed Cheonghyeon, keeping half a step behind him. Both Secretary Song and Jeongho maintained this distance naturally.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Cheonghyeon let out a low chuckle.

“You’re saying you want to see me on my deathbed, huh?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Will such a day ever come?”

Secretary Song gave Jeongho a look, indicating to keep the joking to a minimum. Ahem. Jeongho cleared his throat to change the atmosphere and asked carefully:

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So, why have you called me here? You seem perfectly healthy, sir…”

“My son.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Ah – your son is injured?”

Cheonghyeon’s F-rank son was famous in a way but also kept secret. Like Cheonghyeon, there wasn’t much known about him beyond his rank as an ‘F-grade Guide.’

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

While even low-rank Espers had paparazzi, none dared to follow Cheonghyeon. No scoop was worth more than one’s life.

When those who tried to dig into his private life kept dying, the rumors couldn’t help but spread. Not only did they lose their lives, but Cheonghyeon made sure to sue for privacy invasion, whether it was individuals or corporations, leading to a halt in attempts to probe him or those around him.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

To put it bluntly, Cheonghyeon was someone who followed the law while also being above it. From the government’s perspective, it was highly problematic; there was no way to restrain him. Every time they sent an Esper unit to capture him, they ended up being annihilated.

Among high-ranking government officials and the executives of the Awakener Associations, it was unanimously agreed that Im Cheonghyeon was at the apex of S-rank Espers. It was just that human technology wasn’t advanced enough to measure his capabilities precisely.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Quiet.”

In front of the door they soon reached, Cheonghyeon issued a warning. He even brought his index finger to his lips to emphasize silence.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Don’t wake the child. Heal him and leave immediately.”

“Yes.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Secretary Song, attend to your tasks.”

“Yes, sir.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

After Secretary Song left, Cheonghyeon opened the door as quietly as he could.

Shh, shh…

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The sound of Hakyung’s peaceful, heavy breathing filled the room with a serene atmosphere. Cheonghyeon moved aside to make way. Jeongho gave a short nod and moved on tiptoe.

Hakyung was curled up, revealing his injuries. He couldn’t lie on the side of his cheek that hurt, but Jeongho clicked his tongue in sympathy as he brought his hands over the wounds.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Ugh… Must have hurt a lot.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a warm light enveloped Hakyung’s face. It was a white light that seemed to only illuminate that spot. Cheonghyeon recalled the light Hakyung had emitted. It was a light so intense it could blind one momentarily.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Hakyung had called it the <Regeneration> skill. Judging by his bewildered expression, it was clear he didn’t understand when or how to use it. That meant there was a possibility it might activate without him even knowing.

Cheonghyeon watched the fading bruise marks closely, forming a new plan in his mind.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

‘…Maybe I should take over his classes?’

To watch Hakyung use his skill and to get a sense of the school’s atmosphere.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

It was a somewhat impulsive plan, but the more he thought about it, the more appealing it became. He unconsciously rubbed his chin.

‘But… to get a teaching position, would I have to resort to threats again?’

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com