“I’ll get ready then.”0

Clearly pleased by Se-Hoon’s invitation to accompany him, Erika turned to leave. To Se-Hoon, her joyful departing figure was a curious sight to watch.1

I told her she could come, but she should know that it’s because I ultimately plan to make use of her… yet she’s still so pleased about that?0

Upon seeing her, he thought she was sulking because he hadn’t forged her equipment yet, but it turned out that it was because she was feeling excluded. It seemed that was more important than the equipment itself.2

Well… she also managed to get the Purifying Earthstone for me, so I should forge something for her the moment I get a chance.0

Raising Erika’s equipment to top priority, he took out his phone.0

This is where the path diverges.0

To get to the Black Arms, Se-Hoon needed exactly two things.0

The first was an S-rank or stronger bodyguard to protect him from any unforeseen circumstances. The second was an expert familiar with the Black Arms who could bring him there and guide him around.0

But even finding someone who met just one of the criteria would be challenging enough, so finding someone who met both would be almost impossible. Yet, Se-Hoon immediately thought of two such individuals.0

If I choose the one I’m more familiar with, it would be Ma Kwang-Soo.0

Kwang-Soon easily met both criteria. For the first, he was an S-rank hero with years of experience, so he was definitely proficient in both protecting and killing. Then for the second, he had very likely infiltrated places like black markets, perhaps even the Black Arms, plenty of times with the Executioners—the group he had founded to track down and hunt demons—and should be able to provide him with information.0

The problem with going with that guy is that it’ll get troublesome if we get caught even once though…0

Because Kwang-Soo and his Executioners ruthlessly disposed of those who collaborated...0