Chapter 6 / Episode 2: Chaos Walker
'This is a nightmare.'
Big Bo stared at Shin Ja-geon, who had claimed his bed.
Three days had passed since their return from the dungeon.
Ja-geon had been staying at Big Bo's place.
"Big Bo, I know housing prices in Baekje City are insane, but this? You call this a place to live?"
Ja-geon lay on the bed, taking short, impatient puffs from his cigarette.
Smoke filled the 500-square-foot semi-basement apartment.
Dampness seeped up from the floor.
Living here long enough could give even the happiest person depression.
[Baekje City, Korea's Raider Economic Zone]
A special district established for dungeon exploration and Raider-led economic activities.
The planned city was divided into 15 sectors—every nation maintained separate zones for Raiders.
Awakened individuals, known as Raiders, possessed strength beyond ordinary humans.
These laws existed to prevent social chaos and maintain control.
'These restrictions... infuriating.'
Ja-geon glared at the swirling cigarette smoke as he brooded.
Raiders faced constraints proportional to their power.
'That’s only true for the moderately strong. If you’re powerful enough to ignore national laws, it’s a different game.'
Top guilds and elite Raiders flouted government restrictions.
The state couldn’t touch them.
They existed beyond the reach of conventional military force.
Ragnarok and the Eight Dragons, Ja-geon’s former guild, had been such entities.
Raiders ranked S-class or higher operated outside national jurisdiction.
Only fellow Awakened or divine beings could challenge them.
"Huu... Shin Ja-geon. Nineteen years old."
Ja-geon muttered while reviewing documents from City Hall.
This body’s identity: Shin Ja-geon, orphan, age 19.
Records stated he’d Awakened a month prior and completed Raider registration.
'Even a minor god could forge this easily. Creating a fake identity? Child’s play. How impressive. Damned bastard.'
By that logic, restoring Shin Ja-kwon’s original body and power should’ve been trivial.
'He just wants to watch me squirm like a bug under his thumb.'
Ja-geon flicked ash onto the blanket,
burning holes into the fabric.
"Ugh... Use the ashtray, please!"
Big Bo begged, shoving the ashtray toward him.
Ja-geon tilted his head with a scowl.
"Shut your trap before I smash this ashtray into your teeth. Not in the mood."
He tossed the cigarette butt into a water glass and pulled out a pack.
Tap. Tap.
"Damn. Empty already? Big Bo, go buy another carton."
He threw the empty pack at Big Bo,
who sighed and shuffled outside.
Guns, missiles, tanks, bombs—
Modern weapons meant nothing to Raiders.
Inside dungeons, electronics corroded and firearms jammed instantly.
A phenomenon dubbed [Medieval Syndrome], as most dungeon weaponry mimicked medieval designs.
[Temple of Sylok, God of Scales]
The most frequented temple by Raiders.
Sylok, one of the Seven Prime Deities, governed fairness and transactions.
True to his title, he enforced strict give-and-take principles.
"One stat certificate."
Ja-geon stood before a temple attendant.
Attendants served as bureaucratic intermediaries for the gods.
‘This brat dares speak casually…’
The attendant masked his irritation and pointed right.
"Get scanned in that room, then collect your certificate on the left."
Ja-geon entered a dim chamber.
Sylok’s apostles emerged under faint light,
each holding a scale in their left hands.
‘Rustbucket androids.’
He despised these so-called angels.
Winged humanoid machines—divine proxies and loyal servants.
"Scan commencing. Remove all clothing, human."
A monotone voice ordered.
Ja-geon stripped to his underwear.
Sylok’s stat certificates held the highest credibility.
Other gods often falsified documents on whims,
but Sylok’s scales never lied.
Whiiirr.
The apostles’ eyes glowed,
projecting beams across his body.
After a minute, they dismissed him.
"100,000 won."
The attendant handed him the certificate.
"Highway robbery. Damn it."
Ja-geon grumbled, swiping Big Bo’s debit card.
He owned nothing but the clothes on his back.
Stat certificates were mandatory for Raiders—
updated monthly or after major level-ups.
Without one, no raid party would take him.
