[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-424":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848111,2454,"Chapter 424","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-424",424,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 424: Sole Candidate (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandit leader, Jeong Yeongwoo07.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the absurd title, Jiseon burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ha! Seriously? Those guys are no pushovers either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, their opponents were the planetary council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yeongwoo didn’t expect the council members to yield so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The council is already trying to establish dominance right from the start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Are you sure it’s the council trying to assert dominance? Logically speaking, shouldn’t we, as the residents of Earth, be the ones greeting the council?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how capable Yeongwoo was, he was still, at his core, an Earthling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A resident of this planet, Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, in Jiseon’s view, the council, which was responsible for overseeing Earth, naturally outranked Yeongwoo in the hierarchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Aren’t we all part of the same family anyway? There’s no need to create unnecessary hostility. Go out and greet them properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Yeongwoo frowned and looked up at Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you seriously saying that as the root of this bandit clan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we grovel before the council now, how do you expect us to negotiate with Earth later? Besides, those bastards just called us bandits, didn’t they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Honestly, they’re not wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Renaissance, Earth’s first-ever family, had originally set its primary industry as banditry and violence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the council had no reason to speak kindly of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Still, being called bandit leader is actually somewhat restrained. It means they’re not going all out against us yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they don’t seem particularly fond of us either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…That’s true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiseon nodded begrudgingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, across from them, Song Jungho’s blue scales quivered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>∴ Looks like they’re here to establish discipline before we get too out of hand. If we let them dominate us right from the start, we’re screwed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jungho, perhaps without realizing it, was now using the term we.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo glanced at his uncle, then rested his hand on Bastard at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no intention of letting them intimidate us either. We are this planet’s only family. Why should we bow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, turning toward the front entrance of the venue, he raised his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《The doors are open. Council members!》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice carried a commanding presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no overt hostility in his tone, yet it was enough to send a chill down the spines of Jiseon and Jungho standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer presence in Yeongwoo’s voice made their backs shiver involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And naturally, the council members waiting outside the venue must have felt the full weight of the bandit leader’s presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「…….」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, silence fell outside the venue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What the hell? Did they leave or something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiseon glanced around in confusion at the unexpected stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jungho, meanwhile, dispelled the lightning surrounding his body and muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>∴ Did they chicken out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as if on cue—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle wall of the venue exploded, creating a massive hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You crazy bastards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his business venue get obliterated, Yeongwoo sprang to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could move, a voice heavy with authority rang out from within the gaping hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Just stay where you are. I won’t make unreasonable demands of a cripple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was clearly different from the one who had previously called them bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer weight and presence in this voice was on another level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, the earlier familiar voice called out once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The Chairman is entering!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Chairman?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a figure stepped through the opening created by the explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing to appear was a polished black leather shoe, shining to the point of reflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, continuing upward, sharply tailored trousers of a suit came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What the…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiseon muttered without meaning to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>∴ …Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jungho, too, let his maw, covered in blue scales, fall open in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman of Earth’s council—their so-called representative—was unmistakably human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man took a second step, fully emerging through the wall’s jagged hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a tall man dressed in a dark gray suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hair was slicked back, jet-black and immaculately styled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The face beneath it was so enigmatic that it was difficult to determine his ethnicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His age was equally ambiguous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, he appeared to be in his early 40s, but his smooth, wrinkle-free skin made him seem younger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, paradoxically, he exuded a profound sense of age and experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is he really human? No, that can’t be.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the chairman, Yeongwoo felt disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t tell if the man was a genuine human or an alien imitating human form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the chairman, seven men and women in black suits followed him through the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their presence was equally imposing, and Yeongwoo’s instincts told him that they were the rest of the council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The regular council members… they actually seem human.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the chairman, the seven council members were clearly of different ethnicities and varying ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they looked human enough that Yeongwoo could guess their age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They each had skin and eyes appropriate to their years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them, notably, had a long, graying beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that particular individual caught Yeongwoo’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That guy… He looks Korean, no matter how I see it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because the man had his hair styled in a traditional topknot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While topknots weren’t exclusive to Korea, the cap encircling it had a familiar design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why the hell is that old man staring at me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the seven council members, the elderly man with the topknot was the only one sending Yeongwoo an oddly warm, almost fond gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Yeongwoo narrowed his eyes slightly and returned a sharp look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, rather than flinching, the old man’s eyes grew even deeper, as if he were earnestly savoring the sight of Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Ugh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about the old man’s gaze felt as vast and boundless as the open sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Yeongwoo involuntarily lowered his eyes, and the chairman observing this scene wore an intrigued expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ So, you truly are human. Are you finally ready to talk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nuance in his words made it sound as if he were not human himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to hold back any longer, Song Jungho abruptly asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>∴ What the hell? Are you saying you’re not human? What about the ones behind you? Are they at least people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might have been a rash question, but surprisingly, the chairman let out a chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ I am a servant of Earth. Humans are of no concern to me. However…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman subtly tilted his head and glanced at the seven directors behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ The directors’ stance will inevitably be different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was implying that the directors were on humanity’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What? Does that mean the directors might actually be human?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo's eyes widened in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But of course, they couldn't be “human” in the true sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These beings were cosmic entities collaborating with planets from the hidden recesses of the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For them to be genuinely “human,” there was only one possible explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would mean they were ancestors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yeongwoo had already witnessed a similar case firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen Kim Jung-un, turned into a mutant, return with two predecessors at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the red-footed orcs, the natives of another planet, had preserved their ancestors' spirits through relics and each chieftain’s rites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, if Earth also had a similar \"preservation\" system…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Are you telling me that ghosts have been running the planetary council all this time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo blinked in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were true, the actual number of directors could be in the hundreds or even thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the chairman casually pointed at a broken chair lying on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yeongwoo's astonishment, the chair suddenly stood upright on its own and slid smoothly toward the chairman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was no mere telekinetic trick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having one of its legs broken, the chair balanced itself as though it were alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman then settled into the chair, lowering himself onto it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ The two most important duties of our council are as follows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the chairman pulled a palm-sized rectangular object from his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Made of ashen-gray metal, the object turned out to be a cigarette case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo cocked his head in confusion, the chairman flipped open the case and pulled out a cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An alien bastard smokes cigarettes?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was no way to be sure it was actually a cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman was clearly imitating human customs by wearing a suit, so why not smoking as well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he lit the cigarette without a lighter—just by snapping his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiik!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he took a drag, the chairman raised two fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Our first duty is planetary protection. That task essentially falls on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman made a clear distinction between himself and the human-born directors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then took a long, contemplative drag from the cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ The second duty is the prosperity of the inhabitants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prosperity of the inhabitants…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo's eyes widened at the unexpected mission of the council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, their goal was to promote humanity’s prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Strictly speaking, this falls under the directors’ jurisdiction. Within the given conditions, they make decisions that foster the inhabitants' prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least that’s a relief. Human-related matters are handled by the human-born directors.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the real problem came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ However, an issue has arisen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo asked, the chairman exhaled a massive plume of smoke, like a great dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwaaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ The problem is that your group is the only family to emerge on this planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renaissance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rising gang of bandits with Yeongwoo07 as their head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ In fact, 73% of the council voted in favor of you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the human-born directors believed that the bandit clan, Renaissance, would benefit humanity’s prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Seriously?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, Yeongwoo glanced at the seven directors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why is that… a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman flicked the stub of his cigarette onto the floor and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Do you truly not understand why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I genuinely have no idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo feigned innocence, staring at the chairman with a brazen expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chairman scanned the utterly wrecked hall of the wedding venue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, his gaze fell upon the signature plaques beneath the altar where Yeongwoo sat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plaques bearing the signatures of the galaxy’s most notorious criminals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Do you really think sending you into space would help protect this planet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, sensing the weight of the situation, finally stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the chairman also rose from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hand was a sword, forged at some unknown moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ In my judgment, you are this planet’s greatest threat. As chairman, I will carry out a duel for Earth’s safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Jiseon twisted her body into a combat stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Looks like we’re screwed, Yeongwoo. We’ve got a sharp one here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Song Jungho was already brimming with lightning in his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>∴ They said 73% of the council supports us! Why the hell are we getting this kind of treatment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, however, was already gripping his bastard sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You alien bastard… Now that I think about it, if you were gone, the entire council would be made up of human-born directors, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Momentarily startled by the audacity of a mere human making such a statement, the chairman’s mouth slightly parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that brief lapse, Yeongwoo grabbed the chairman’s signature plaque from the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the prosperity of humanity and the militarization of Earth, I challenge you to a duel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he hurled the chairman’s plaque toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! W-Wait! Careful! It’ll break!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ ……!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plaque bore the signature of a Grade 3 entity—a tremendously valuable artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, the chairman instinctively caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, Yeongwoo's eyes flickered toward the ground beneath the chairman's feet as he incanted a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Summon Twenty Swords Mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2018,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.907Z",1,"novelbin.me","d98a348a4805a229f9e011c7a8aa5e26ccce30f16571732d4f92128daefd08f7","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-425","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-223",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]