Demon lord’s Martial arts ascension

There’s a guild that charges 5 billion won just to recruit a newbie?!
‘What kind of lunatic is this?’
I barely managed to hide my bewilderment.
“Here it is.” Here!

I looked at the place where the sound was coming from.
The guild officials who met my gaze quickly averted their eyes.
A bomb of 5 billion won (?)He strongly emphasized that it wasn’t him.
“Here I am.” “Jeon Min-cheol, Hunter!”
With a gruff voice, something sprang up from the spot.
Wait a minute.
Why are you here?
The identity of an unimaginable person.
Martin.

He was the branch manager of the Interstellar Alliance in Seoul.
‘So it was short and only made noise, so I couldn’t see it.’
I frowned as I looked at the short, stout dwarf.
He knows that I am the owner of the VIP code.
“What on earth made him demand 5 billion?”
Just as questions were piling up one after another.
I made eye contact with the short, stout guy.
Squeak.
He slowly opened his mouth.

-tion. Lo. This. Hey. Gee.
In front of so many people, they brought up 5 billion. What are they trying to say?
I nodded in agreement.
“I’ll go along with it for now.”
If you pull any nonsense, I’ll make you wonder where your spine went later.
“Excuse me!” “Jeon Min-cheol Hunter!”
“Just one comment on how you feel…”
“Are the recruitment conditions already discussed with the Interstellar Alliance?”

The reporters are crowding in.
The short and stout guy pushed through the crowd and approached me.
“Jung Min-cheol, the hunter, has something to discuss with the Interstellar Alliance.” I will announce the details through the official statement of the Alliance.”
Interstellar Alliance.
A massive force that is dividing the Earth into three parts, following Elysium and Pandemonium.
At the point when the short and stocky guy directly mentioned the name of the Interstellar Alliance, the reporters could no longer proceed.

“Jeon Min-cheol, Hunter.” “Let’s go.”
He winked at me.
Ew.
What kind of wink is that from a short, chubby guy?
My stomach churned as if I had drunk a lot of alcohol.
If it weren’t for the place, I would have cursed a lot.
“I will guide you this way.”
The beautiful woman took the lead and escorted me.
Thanks to her, I was able to break through the crowd and escape outside the exam hall.

On the road, a limousine with the Interstellar Alliance emblem was waiting for me.
“What kind of scheme are they up to with this?”
I frowned.
The short, stocky guy gave a sly grin.
“What do you mean?” I want to become your partner.
“I have no intention of joining the guild.”
“I know.” I just want to help you for your convenience.

It is.”
“Are you doing this for my convenience?”
“That’s right.”
Hmm.
This shorty.
What are you stalling for before bringing up the topic?
The shorty succeeded in their intention.
I was really curious about what he was going to say.
“Okay. How are you going to accommodate my convenience?

“Gate recruitment.” Building a dedicated support team for the client. Tax reduction benefits. All by-products from the hunt are bought at top prices…
“You must have misheard me.”
I furrowed my brow.
The support from that short guy wasn’t bad.
If you receive support, you can skip all the tedious processes except for monster hunting.
“The Interstellar Alliance isn’t a volunteer organization, is it?”

There is no such thing as a free favor.
If you receive such support, you should be affiliated with a guild or a mercenary group.
‘The Interstellar Alliance is extremely sensitive to money.’
If you invest, you will definitely get a return.
It’s the rule of the Interstellar Alliance.
I had no idea how many restrictions that shorty would impose on me if I accepted the support he mentioned.
“It was a waste of time.”
Tsk, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Just as he was about to get up and leave.
“I will register you as a free mercenary of the Interstellar Alliance.”
The words of the short and stout person held my feet.
“Free mercenary?”
“Yes.” The affiliation is with the Interstellar Union like a typical guild or mercenary group, but in reality, they are mercenaries who do not interfere with their activities at all.
“The Interstellar Alliance isn’t that lenient of an organization.”

“Free mercenaries are in an equal position with our alliance according to the contract.”
“What can we gain from that?”
“You can gain the customer’s trust.”
“My trust?” Or…
I trailed off my words.
The short guy’s scheme was obvious.
A customer with a VIP code.
The support of the massive force behind me.
“But all I have is the VIP code.”
Whatever that guy wants, he’ll get it.

There was no possibility.
All I have is the Dark Star registered on the back of my hand.
“Mr. Jeon Min-cheol, the Hunter.” “Would you like to review the contract details?”
The tablet presented in front of me.
It was the woman who escorted me earlier.
I confirmed the conditions of the interstellar alliance without hesitation.
‘No problem.’
Just as the shorty said.
All sorts of support and benefits.

On the contrary, there were no mandatory clauses.
“Isn’t it just good for me?”
The Interstellar Alliance only gives unilaterally and never receives anything in return.
Words like sponsorship or support were more fitting.
“Do I just need to sign here?”
“Yes.” “It takes effect legally as soon as you sign.”
They say if you open your mouth, they’ll feed you.
Is there any reason to refuse?
I scribbled my signature on the tablet.

* * * Interstellar Alliance Yongsan Branch Top Floor.
The top floor of the Interstellar Federation Yongsan branch.
Martin returned to the office immediately after finishing the preliminary contract with Mincheol.
“Branch manager.”
“Yes?”
“Freelance mercenary contract… Are you okay with that?”
Ellie had a clearly worried expression.
The freelance mercenary contract is Martan’s ability

It’s something that is far beyond reach.
Dragon hunter Kardum.
The giant of the reverse sky, Kai.
Dimension traveler Gun.
Those registered as free mercenaries are powerful beings from various dimensions, rivaling even the nobility of Pandemonium.
At least the level of a director.
Free mercenaries can only enter into contracts with the approval of the Union’s senior officials.
“I didn’t just act thoughtlessly.”
Unlike worried Ellie.

Martin replied in a calm tone.
“Today, I’m leaving work.”
“Yes.”
Martan, left alone in the room.
He reached out to the crystal ball on the table.
“Please enter the magic pattern.”
Martin put his hand in his pocket.
Suddenly, he grabbed the keycard and pressed it against the surface of the sphere.
Checking the magic pass.J
Assignment of Director Nox of the Intergalactic Federation

Here is the code.
“I request access permission from the owner of the assigned code.”
Gulp.
Martin swallowed.
Tense gaze.
The opponent was a big shot.
Even the bold one was made nervous by the superior.
One minute felt like an hour.
Whoooosh!
The crystal ball began to glow, and a hologram appeared.

Projected.
The twelve directors of the Interstellar Alliance.
It was Yongin, Nox.
-There aren’t many people who gave this code. Who is it?
“Ah, hello!” Director! Branch Manager of the Interstellar Alliance Yongsan, Martan here.
-Martan. Martin… Ah, that little dwarf. I remember now.
Martin let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘Phase 1 has been passed.’
A large-scale initiative conducted at the union level in the past

Project.
Thanks to my contributions to that project, I caught the eye of the union’s director and was appointed as the branch manager.
Direct line to the director.
With an item that can be used only once.
-Yeah. What’s going on?
“Yes.” “I have something urgent to ask of you, sir.”
Martin got straight to the point.
Time is money.
Just once, talk to a director-level mogul.

I even used items that I could have saved.
It felt wasteful to even use embellishments.
-Ho-oh. I hope it’s a story worth that much.
“I would like to register one Earthling as a free mercenary.”
-Freelance mercenary? There couldn’t possibly be a talent of that caliber from a lower dimension.
“I will explain.”
Martin briefly explained the incident where Mincheol used the dimensional warehouse and the events that occurred during the Hunter License exam.
-So, you’re a VIP code user… Interesting

It’s a story about fate.
“I am trying to maintain a continuous relationship with Hunter Jeon Min-cheol…”
-That’s not enough.
Nox’s cold voice interrupted Martan’s words.
Although it was a hologram.
It was a sight that exuded a chilling cold.
– Free mercenaries are licenses that are not easily granted even within our alliance. Do you know why?
“Because it’s impossible to control them solely with money.”

-You know well. Then I suppose you also know why Jeon Min-cheol is disqualified.
Director of the Union. Nox’s attitude was clear.
The value of a free mercenary is greater than the connection with the VIP.
The deal terms brought by Martan were not the right answer.
-Is that the end of the story?
A cold voice.
I felt like a snake’s long tongue was licking my neck.

**Martan’s Instincts**
Martan instinctively realized:
If he let this opportunity slip, his career within the Interstellar Union would be over.

“A-Ah, no! Director, please take a look at this footage.”

The damage was already done.
He had to prove, no matter what, that Min-cheol was worth recruiting as a free mercenary.

– *What’s this?*

“This is footage of Jeon Min-cheol’s performance during the exam.”

– *I hope this won’t be a waste of my time.*

Martan played the exam footage he had prepared in advance.
The battle with the Black Tri-Star.
And the raid against the Azure Sentinel.

These were the clips that had left guild headhunters in awe.
‘I need to find another way to win the Director over!’

The footage was only meant to buy time.
It showcased an awakener who had just begun to sense mana in a lower dimension.
Impressive skills, but not enough to capture the attention of an Interstellar Union Director.

Martan used the footage to stall while brainstorming alternatives.

– *Hah. This individual is truly…!*

But unexpectedly, Nox’s reaction was the opposite of what Martan anticipated.

– *Every movement is deliberate and efficient, with no waste at all.*

Nox’s gaze didn’t leave the screen for a second.
In a noticeably relaxed tone, he let out a series of admiring remarks.

The footage Martan had prepared…
Even through the eyes of Nox, a Director of the Union, Jeon Min-cheol’s performance was flawless.

– *It feels as though I’m watching *his* fighting style.*

“H-His?”

– *Ah, no, forget it. The one I’m thinking of is already dead, so it couldn’t be his duplicate.*

By the time the footage ended:

– *Hoo…*

Nox let out a wistful sigh.

Gulp.
Martan’s eyes were locked on Nox’s mouth.

An anticipation born of a faint glimmer of hope.
If Nox dismissed the footage, Martan was ready to present the alternatives he’d devised during the screening.
But he remained tense, waiting for Nox’s next words.

– *Proceed with the free mercenary contract.*

“Thank you, Director!”

– *I’ll make the code I gave you permanent. Support him unconditionally, and if anything happens, report to me immediately.*

**”Report to me.”**
“Understood!”

– *And keep the free mercenary contract confidential for now. There’s nothing to gain from making it public.*

“Yes, sir!”

The crystal orb darkened as soon as the conversation ended.
[Communication terminated.]

“Hah… I thought I was done for,” Martan muttered as he collapsed onto the spot, his legs giving way.

Nox’s cold tone lingered in his ears like an auditory ghost.

“At least the conversation ended on a good note,” Martan murmured weakly.

The footage he had played to stall for time.
Even in Martan’s eyes, Min-cheol’s skills were exceptional.
But not so exceptional as to elicit awe.

What, then, had Nox seen that surprised him so much?

And who was the person Nox had thought of?

There were many questions, but Martan couldn’t dare question a Director of the Union.

“Whatever. I managed to pull it off for now, didn’t I?”

For the time being, Martan chose not to think further.

—

**At the Same Time**

In Gangnam, Seoul, stood the towering headquarters of the *Holy Guild*.

The 35-story building reached for the sky, exuding an air of power.
Ranked third in the nation, it was a prestigious guild rivaling *Hwarang* and *Geumsan*.

On the highest floor, in the guild leader’s office, sat a stunning woman.
Her flowing red hair reached her waist, her flawless complexion and prominent features complemented by large, bright eyes.

She stared intently at the footage playing before her.

It was the recording of Jeon Min-cheol.

The video ended with the fall of the *Azure Sentinel*.

“As you said, Manager, he’s remarkable. No, ‘remarkable’ doesn’t even do him justice,” said Cheon Ji-yeon, the Holy Guild’s leader, her eyes sparkling.

“Yes, his movements are beyond what even our guild hunters can emulate,” replied Lee Jong-su, a middle-aged man with a balding head who sat across from her.

He was the guild’s recruitment manager.

Cheon Ji-yeon absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long hair—a habit of hers whenever she was deep in thought.

“So, the Interstellar Union got to him first?”

“Yes, although there hasn’t been any official announcement yet…”

“Fifty billion won. That’s not an unreasonable amount.”

“It was too large a sum for me to decide on my own. My apologies.”

“I’m not blaming you, Manager. That amount is unprecedented in this industry, after all.”

The highest recruitment sum prior was 10 billion won, offered by Hwarang Guild to a promising hunter, Yoo Seung-woo.
Min-cheol’s price tag was five times that.

“Manager, do you have the data?”

“I’ve brought it with me.”

It hadn’t even been a few hours since Min-cheol’s exam ended.
Yet in that short time, the Holy Guild had uncovered all available information on him.

“Everything is rated E, except for magic power. Even his potential is listed as E-rank?”

“Yes, that’s what the evaluation states.”

“The Association clearly has no eye for talent. How could those movements belong to an E-rank?”

“Perhaps the potential reading was incorrect, or he may have undergone a second awakening.”

A *second awakening*.
Or a *limit break*.
Either way, Min-cheol’s abilities had surpassed the Association’s records.

“Well, that works out for us. Leak this data subtly to the other guilds.”

“Pardon?!”

“Let’s sprinkle some chili powder so no one else can get to him easily.”

“Are you saying you plan to recruit Jeon Min-cheol?”

“Indeed. A 100 billion won signing bonus. I’ll secure approval from headquarters myself.”

“Understood. I’ll carry out your instructions.”

After Lee Jong-su left the office, Cheon Ji-yeon continued to stare at the footage of Min-cheol.

“Jeon Min-cheol… If we bring him into our guild, overtaking Hwarang and Geumsan won’t just be a dream.”

Her gaze burned with determination.