The Hunting Dog of the Prestigious Family Has Returned Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“St-Still alive…”

One of the Late Awakened murmured under his breath.

It was Jung Soo-chan, an abiltiy awakened specialized in detection.

He swallowed dryly at the sight before him, Gwangjo, the king.

“Your Majesty—!”

But before any of the other Late Awakened could speak,

Kim Junghun, having adjusted his attire, stepped forward and spoke in a voice more respectful than ever before.

“By the grace of His Majesty, the future leaders of Joseon have gathered here! May Your Majesty look kindly upon them so that they may guide the new generation of this nation—!”

“May Your Majesty look kindly upon us—!”

The nobles who had followed Kim Junghun into the hall echoed his words.

Andong Kim clan, Pungyang Cho Clan, Bannam Park clan, Dongnae Jeong clan…

They were the heads of the powerful noble families who currently controlled Joseon.

“Furthermore, I humbly propose that the royal court officially bestow ranks upon these Late Awakened, so they may grow into the pillars who will support the Joseon of tomorrow!”

Clack… clack-clack.

As Kim Junghun finished speaking, a mechanical arm installed beside Gwangjo’s body began to move.

A brush, connected to the mechanical apparatus, quickly inscribed a royal edict, then carried it toward the king’s corpse…

The machine attached to Gwangjo’s arm maneuvered his hand to grip the royal seal.

And the very moment the seal in his lifeless hand was stamped onto the edict, a distorted voice, clearly altered but still recognizable, resounded from the speaker mounted near the corpse’s head.

– Carry out their wishes.

The king’s own seal. The king’s own words.

And with that, Kim Junghun’s proposal became an official royal command.

“May His Grace be boundless, Your Majesty!”

“May His Grace be boundless—!”

With that solemn cry from Kim Junghun, all the gathered nobles bowed their heads in unison.

Even the Late Awakened, including Kim Hyunwoo, found themselves reflexively bowing—paying homage to a corpse at the center of it all.

He didn’t understand.

From start to finish.

Not a single thing that had happened made any sense to him.

“This… is the secret of Joseon.”

As palace attendants entered to collect the stamped decree, Kim Junghun slowly turned to the Late Awakened, who stood frozen, speechless.

“The Third Prince’s Rebellion, three hundred years ago. Our clan’s ancestors, who led the core of the royal guard at the time, crushed the rebellion led by Crown Prince Yi Chieon.”

This much was widely known.

As a reward for that merit, His Majesty appointed Kim Soo-heon, then head of the Andong Kim clan, and the twelve commanders under him as the royal protectors.

And over generations, those protectors became what are now known as the Noble Clans in Power.

“But during that rebellion, His Majesty’s body… was gravely injured, and his sacred condition deteriorated.”

What Kim Junghun said next, however, had never been recorded in any history book.

“At the time, Joseon was in turmoil—monsters, rifts, and repeated invasions from the outside.”

Should word spread that the king was on the brink of death, the entire nation would fall into chaos.

And so—

No. Using that as a pretext—

Their ancestors devised a plan.

“Kim Soo-heon, the commander of the Twelve Royal Guards, placed His Majesty upon the royal throne, and using every piece of technology available in Joseon, succeeded in preserving His Majesty’s body.”

“…!”

“And as a result, His Majesty has remained alive for three hundred years, guarding the throne without death.”

Now no more than a skeleton.

Unable to speak or think. A mechanical device—stamping seals and playing back his voice.

‘Yu Arin… So that’s why the Elders reacted so strongly the moment she appeared…!’

Kim Hyunwoo thought.

The reason the powerful noble clans held their current authority was due to the title granted by King Yi Cheolheon.

[Protector of the Royal Family]

With that title, they were able to wield the king’s command as if it were their own, holding absolute power, shaping the fate of Joseon to suit their will.

‘But Yu Arin… she’s of royal blood. She’s the crack in this structure that could tear it all apart.’

She was the last remaining royal blood of Joseon.

A being who carried both the blood and aura power of King Yi Cheolheon.

What would happen if someone like her grew up and claimed royal authority?

And what if she were to see the current king—sitting in the royal thron—reduced to nothing more than a living corpse?

The power of the nobles would collapse.

The entire power structure of Joseon could be overturned.

“Our sacred duty is to preserve His Majesty’s body, and to ensure that this nation of Joseon prospers for eternity.”

“……!”

“You must remember this truth as well.”

The elders of the noble clans in power stood in formation behind Kim Junghun, their eyes fixed on the younger generation.

Finally, the young Late Awakened lowered their heads slowly, one by one.

Now they understood why this ceremony was called the “Formal Assembly.”

Why only a select few from the noble families had been allowed to attend.

All of it made sense now.

A king who became a walking corpse long ago.

And the noble clans who now puppeteer that body and wield the king’s authority as if it were their own…

Kim Hyunwoo thought bitterly.

It was power built atop a sandcastle.

Now that Yu Arin has been killed, the last of the royal bloodline is gone from this world… But still.

Could a system like this… truly last forever?

No. Of course not.

To base a government on the legacy of a king who lived centuries ago?

That was not normal by any stretch.

In that case…

Someone has to change this system.

Kim Hyunwoo turned his gaze to the heads of each clan waiting patiently before them.

His once-vague purpose had now crystallized with clarity.

‘Old men.’

Parasitic worms, sitting at the top of the nation without any merit or qualification.

His father chose to coexist with them.

But he would not.

He would grow stronger.

He would build a faction.

He would raise his name so high that all of Joseon would know it.

And once all of that was in place—

Once he had the strength, and the right—

‘I’ll wipe them all out from this land.’

Not a single one left standing.

****

“Ughhhhrrrgggh…!”

The moment I opened the taxi door, a groan erupted from my chest.

I was exhausted.

Not just exhausted, completely drained.

“Welcome home.”

As I stepped inside, Taewoong, one of my bodyguards, greeted me.

Unlike Moo-yeong, Taewoong’s entire artificial body was monitored by the clan.

That was why he had been stationed at the main house, to keep me updated on internal affairs.

“What a day. It was like going through a damn war.”

“I’ve received a brief report from Moo-yeong. I heard you’ve made quite a few new friends.”

“Yeah. Wonderful friends.”

As I walked down the hallway toward my private room, I reflected.

First of all—Yu Arin and Yu Sang-hyeon.

They now had to slip past the surveillance of the noble clans and corporations and make it back to their base in Hamgyeong Province.

It wouldn’t be easy—but I wasn’t all that worried.

‘It’ll go smoother than last time.’

From what I had learned in my previous life, Yu Arin had once escaped that distance on foot, with only a few surviving members of the Hahoe group.

Even then, they couldn’t be caught, and a full-blown rebellion erupted.

But this time, Yu Sang-hyeon was alive.

And Hahoe was still intact.

So yes—it would go much smoother.

I recalled the moment I parted ways with Yu Sang-hyeon.

“Thank you.”

“H-Huh?”

Just as we were about to part ways, after exchanging a short farewell.

Yu Sang-hyeon suddenly bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to me.

“For saving my daughter... and giving me the chance to plan for the future… I don’t even know how I could ever repay you.”

“Please, don’t. Why is the great Commander bowing to someone like me?”

“I swear this to you.”

Despite my attempt to stop him, Yu Sang-hyeon didn’t raise his head.

Instead, he gripped my hand tightly and spoke in a firm, unwavering voice.

“I will raise Arin to become someone who can build her own world.”

“…….”

“And I, Yu Sang-hyeon, along with all of Iron Tiger Corps, will never forget you—the one who saved Arin.”

“…Heh.”

Waking up from death really makes you witness the strangest sights.

In my past life, Moo-yeong, who once vowed to kill me, had ended up crying and thanking me.

And now, Commander of Iron Tiger Corps, a man I had only seen in archival footage, was bowing his head to me.

After saying that, Yu Sang-hyeon climbed into the vehicle bound for Hamgyeong Province.

“Mister! Let’s play again next time!”

With a bright laugh, Arin waved her hand at me.

As I waved back, the image of her from my previous life came flooding back.

Drenched in the blood of her enemies, her eyes filled with venom, she had set Hanseong ablaze.

Compared to that version of her—mad with revenge—this cheerful girl was a much better sight.

Just as Yu Sang-hyeon and Yu Arin began to walk away—

“Take this.”

Suddenly, Imetal stretched out his hand toward me.

“…What’s this?”

In his hand was a ridiculous-looking mask.

Bulging tadpole eyes, a stumpy, smashed-in nose, and a twisted, lopsided mouth.

Every ugly feature imaginable crammed into one grotesque mask.

“It’s a Chorangyi Mask* In traditional Hahoe mask dance performances, this character usually plays a servant from a noble family.”

“So what? You want me to go dance around on a rope with this?”

“…Scan the code engraved on the back.”

The back, huh… Ah, there it is.

As soon as my eye scanner activated—

[Biometric registration complete]

With that brief message, a flood of data appeared before my eyes.

“This is…”

“It’s a database built by me and other members of the organization. Information collected from all over the country, including Hanseong, as well as locations of temporary safehouses. I even set up a dummy account in your name. Use it for expenses you don’t want traced.”

So this was a data access device, huh?

Still, why give it to me?

“You want me to join your organization? Sorry, but I’m not really interested.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

Imaetal looked mildly disappointed but then said slowly:

“That’s exactly why I’m giving you the Chorangyi Mask. Not as an official agent—just an external collaborator. That’s acceptable, right?”

“A collaborator, huh.”

More like surveillance than collaboration.

Still, just as he said, it wasn’t a bad deal.

‘It could come in handy.’

Access to part of Hahoe’s existing intelligence network, and a dedicated account I could use without being tracked.

Most likely, the funds Hahoe promised would also be deposited through that account.

‘Money, information network, solid bodyguards, and reliable allies. I’ve more or less gathered everything I need.’

It was about time I started planning my next move.

As I was thinking that—

“Hmm?”

I saw someone approaching from across the corridor, and Taewoong immediately straightened up with a formal bow.

It was Kim Hyunwoo.

He was still dressed in ceremonial robes—it must’ve been right after the Formal Assembly Ceremony.

“You’ve been roaming around outside quite often lately. Mingling with lowlifes, no less. What’s that about?”

“Shocking. I didn’t think someone like you would care about a lowlife like me, Master Kim.”

“…!”

Why does this bastard always know how to get under someone’s skin?

Would it kill him to just walk by without throwing shade?

As I smirked at him, Kim Hyunwoo’s expression twisted, just like always.

But only for a second.

“Foolish brat.”

He muttered as he passed by, a faint smirk on his lips.

The vibe was completely different from usual.

As I watched Kim Hyunwoo walk away, a thought crossed my mind:

‘That bastard… he saw the king.’

It made sense.

The Formal Assembly Ceremony.

Today wasn’t just the first day Kim Hyunwoo had ever lost.

It was also the day his plan had finally taken shape.

To destroy the corpse of King enshrined in the Royal Throne, and take that throne for himself.

That deluded ambition of his.

“Oh, right—hey, you.”

Just as we were about to go our separate ways, Kim Hyunwoo stopped and looked back at me.

“There’s some unpleasant gossip going around the clan. That a son of the noble family’s been seen lurking around the slums.”

“Yeah, well.”

Gossip, my ass.

Probably intel from one of the tails he’s had on me.

“What are you plotting?”

“Plotting? Come on, do I look like the type to plan anything shady?”

As if I’d ever pull something under your watch.

I shrugged with a smirk.

“A little project I was working on went surprisingly well. Made some serious cash out of it.”

“……?”

“And you know how birds of a feather flock together, right? I figured I’d share the wealth with some fellow lowlifes.”

“Share…?”

“Yup.”

I smiled lightly and said:

“I’m thinking of starting a little charity.”

“……?”

“The fun kind, if possible.”

[TL: Chorangyi Mask- This mask is one of the traditional masks used in the Hahoe mask dance drama. Chorangyi represents a cheeky, witty servant who mocks the upper class. His exaggerated, grotesque features are a satirical symbol of his low status and role as a social critic. ]

---The End Of The Chapter---

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