“Your hope has been received.”
“What the hell is that bastard babbling about? Hey—! What are you bastards doing? Take care of him already!”
“We will handle him right away, Boss—! Hey, you bastard, who the hell are you? Looking at you, it seems you have been in a fight somewhere. Are you part of Hyeong-sik’s gang? Even if Hyeong-sik was on your side, you should know who has our backs. Are you insane?”
“Hyeong-sik’s gang? I do not know who that is, but I have nothing to do with him.”
“Then who are you?”
“An Academy teacher.”
“What?”
CLICK—!
“No questions needed.”
“No questions needed? What the hell is that supposed to mean? You crazy bastard—! Do you know where you are? You look young, yet you have a cigarette hanging from your mouth, act tough before adults, and throw a fucking fit like some disrespectful punk!”
At my words, the man who looked to be one of the leader’s close aides wore an incredulous expression. Then, as though he found the situation laughable, he naturally summoned an axe into each hand.
Ding—!
◎ Using the Skill ‘Third Eye’ to check the opponent’s disposition.
- Name: Ma Seon-uk (Barbarian Warrior / Advanced Grade)
- Disposition: Red (Evil)
※ This trash does not seem likely to reform. Would it not be better to get rid of him for the sake of this healthy society?
“Trash, huh...”
“What? Did you just call me trash? You bastard, you are just some weak Gun Mage—! I will make you just like that cripple lying on the floor. I will pull every organ out of your body and send you off as an experimental subject! Yahap—!”
Swinging the massive axes in both hands with brute force, the bastard rushed at me. The attack carrying Ma Seon-uk’s power soon began to reach my body.
“You are dead! I will start by cutting off one of your arms!”
CLANG—!
Ding—!
[Armor Equipped]
- The armor of the God of the Army [Army Tiger] has been equipped.
- In accordance with the ‘Mythic’-grade Trait, the armor was automatically equipped after detecting danger.
- Due to the armor’s effect, all resistance at the ‘Mythic’ Grade or higher is activated.
“!!! W-What is this?”
He put all his strength into swinging his axe down at me, but I casually deflected Ma Seon-uk’s attack with my bare body. Startled by the unexpected situation, he wore a shocked expression.
“What the hell is this...”
“Are you finished attacking?”
“What?”
CLICK—!
BANG—!
Ding—!
[As the target is at close range, the rifle weapon automatically changes into a handgun due to the ‘Mythic’-grade Trait.]
◎ Skill ‘This Is the Heart of a Beast!’
※ It is said that this ability awakened during battle when a man, contemplating how to bring down an enormous being in a single blow, found his answer.
- In accordance with the Trait, the opponent can be killed in a single blow. (Chance: Headshot 100%)
- Its striking precision rises when used in conjunction with the Skill ‘Third Eye’.
“!!! Kugh—!”
After turning his head into a fountain of blood with my handgun and dropping him to the ground, I swiftly put the handgun away. Then, summoning something that fit snugly in my hand, I began throwing the item I had summoned at the leader and the bastards guarding him.
KABOOM—!
Ding—!
[As multiple targets have been detected, the summoned handgun changes into a bomb.]
◎ Skill ‘Explosions Are Art—!’
※ It is said that this skill naturally awakened after a Villain who loved art happened to become captivated by the beauty of explosions.
- In accordance with the Skill Trait, it deals damage to multiple targets.
- It attacks every being except the caster and those whom the caster recognizes as allies.
***
“Hmm... This skill’s effect is good, but its range is too wide. Earlier, I only threw it at the arena stage, yet everyone there died in one blow. It ended too quickly, and I did not even get to enjoy firing my gun.”
“Kugh, guhhh—!”
“Oh~ You really can hold on, unlike the others, because you are this organization’s leader?”
“Kugh—! My subordinates, dying so pointlessly...”
After a single explosion wiped out all the subordinates guarding him save for himself, the leader looked as though he could not believe the situation at all.
“All your subordinates are dead, and you can barely move your body now. Would it not be better to take your organs while they are still twitching than to take that man’s?”
“W-Wait—!”
“What?”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Haa~! I told you earlier. I am an Academy teacher.”
“T-That is impossible—! There is no way a mere teacher could be this strong...”
“Are those your last words? Then you are fine with dying now?”
“!!! Do you even know who you are provoking by doing this?”
“What?”
“I knew you would not know. There is an enormous organization behind me, one that a bastard like you could never handle on your own!”
“An enormous organization? How impressive is it? Let me hear about it.”
‘As expected, this ignorant kid does not know anything. If I can just coax him, saving my life will be easy. Once I escape, I will find out information about that bastard, report it to the higher-ups, and have him killed.’
The leader, who had spoken of an enormous organization behind him, wore a triumphant expression and opened his mouth.
“Have you ever heard of Root?”
“What? Root?”
“That is right. It is a criminal organization that not even the South Korean government or the guilds ranked in the top ten can touch carelessly! Do you understand whom you have provoked now? You are as good as dead.”
“...”
“Why have you suddenly gone quiet? Heh-heh—! Did you get scared?”
“...”
“Still, I am quite a generous man, you know? I will give you a chance to live! Immediately take that pathetic Awakened in front of you and me to the place I tell you. If my life is guaranteed to be safe, I will make a special exception and spare only you... !!! W-What are you doing right now?”
CLICK—!
“You have finished with your last words, right? I have heard enough, so die cleanly now.”
I no longer wanted to listen to the leader’s bullshit. I chambered a round and began aiming my gun at his head.
“Y-You—! If you kill me, do you understand what will happen...”
“It does not matter.”
“!!! What?”
“I was going to kill you anyway because you are trash. And if you are a Root lackey, should I not kill you even more?”
“If you kill me, people who will come after your life are certain to appear!”
“If trash is going to come to me on its own, that is even better for me.”
“W-Wait—! At least listen to me first...”
BANG—!
“Kugh—! Guhhh—! I cannot die like this...”
“For a Villain’s end, he died much too peacefully.”
After putting a bullet into the leader’s head and turning it into a fountain of blood, I flicked cigarette ash over his head. Then I slowly began walking toward the Awakened who had been injured earlier.
“Can you move your body?”
“I-I can. More importantly, thank you. I truly thought everything was over, but I never dreamed that I would receive help like this. Sob... Thank you! Thank you so much!”
He forced his injured body upright and repeatedly bowed his head in thanks. I patted his shoulder and told him to calm down.
“It is alright. More importantly, how did you end up being dragged to a place like this?”
“At first, my family fell into their hands and began taking drugs. When I learned that, I was so furious at what my addicted family had become that I stormed their base without thinking.”
“Hmm... You were too reckless.”
“That is right. In the end, they overpowered me instead, and I became a fighting dog in the arena in exchange for my family’s lives. But my family, addicted to drugs, all eventually died while under the influence. They forcibly injected me with drugs too, leaving me unable even to resist. I became a ruined man, just a dog that kept breathing.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“Kugh, anyway, I owe you a tremendous debt. If it is not too presumptuous, may I ask your name?”
“My name is Baek Seon-woo.”
“Baek Seon-woo... I will remember it! My name is Kang Chae-yun. I will repay this debt one day.”
“It is alright. More importantly, what do you plan to do from now on?”
“First, I plan to recover, then build the strength to stand against them. Hearing what that bastard said earlier, it seems that Root is the true mastermind hidden behind them.”
“Will it not be difficult to fight alone?”
“I should do everything I can, at least.”
“Is that so?”
After hearing Kang Chae-yun’s answer, I contemplated it for a moment. Then I took a recovery potion from my pocket and handed it to him.
“For now, drink this and recover.”
“!!! Is this not a recovery potion? It also seems to be quite high-grade. Where did you get it? I heard that you are an Academy teacher earlier, but even so, it would be difficult to carry a recovery potion of this grade around...”
“I happened to obtain it through someone I know. More importantly, would you rest and recover here for the moment?”
“Kugh, I think I should do that for now. I will be sure to pay for the potion later.”
“Let us discuss that later. For now, please rest while you recover and wait a moment. I will make a call.”
“Understood.”
After handing Kang Chae-yun the recovery potion, I took out my phone and began calling someone.
RING—! RING—!
[This is Seok Jin-young.]
“It has been a while.”
[You are calling from this number. Is something the matter?]
“I will send you the coordinates. If possible, could you come to the scene in person?”
[All of a sudden?]
“I would appreciate it. Team Leader Seok.”
[Hmm... Alright. I do not know what this is about, but our guild received help from you as well, so I will come personally.]
“Thank you, Team Leader Seok.”
Click.
After finishing my call with Team Leader Seok Jin-young, I took a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. Exhaling smoke, I looked at the Villains lying dead on the floor and bleeding.
“Phew... Until Team Leader Seok arrives, I should take a short rest and smoke a cigarette.”
***
“S-So the corpses here are Villains or people who sympathized with them?”
Upon seeing the scene filled with the Villains’ corpses, Seok Jin-young looked at me with a startled expression.
“That is correct. I made arrangements for the people who were unjustly held here to leave safely, excluding the Villains and those who had sided with them. If you have any doubts, I will show you the recorders containing clear footage of the bastards right before your eyes.”
“To think that this many people were doing such things...”
With an expression of disbelief, as though it defied every piece of common sense he knew, Seok Jin-young alternated between looking at the Villains’ bodies and looking at me. He seemed to be lost in many thoughts.
‘He got rid of that many Villains? Alone? I knew he was strong, but this is astonishing.’
“Did you call me because you wanted our guild to handle this situation?”
“Of course not. I will take care of everything here myself.”
“Then?”
“Please take the person in front of you and treat him.”
“!!! Who is that person?”
Seok Jin-young looked at Kang Chae-yun, whose body had barely recovered thanks to the potion I had given him earlier, and asked me with curiosity.
“He is someone who was used as a fighting dog in arena gambling.”
“As a fighting dog?”
“Yes, and he is currently addicted to drugs.”
“Drug addiction?”
“Is Abel Guild not the best in South Korea at drug research? Please treat that man’s drug addiction.”
“This man?”
“Yes. In addition, once his treatment is complete, please provide him with a job at Abel Guild. He survived for quite a long time in that fighting-dog gambling den, so he will be a great help if you hire him as a combatant.”
“Even so, hiring someone we have never met...”
At my words, Seok Jin-young looked displeased. After studying him intently for some time, he let out a long sigh and nodded.
“Haa~! Understood. I cannot promise employment, but I will at least support his treatment. As a member of Abel Guild, I will formally report to the young lady and the Guildmaster later before making a decision.”
“Understood. I am grateful just for hearing my request.”
“More importantly, you—! What is your name?”
“M-My name is Kang Chae-yun.”
“Alright, Mr. Kang Chae-yun. Can you move?”
“Yes. I can move thanks to the potion Baek Seon-woo gave me earlier.”
“First, let us go to the hospital center operated by our guild. We will treat your injuries, then begin treatment for the drug addiction as well.”
“A-Alright.”
“Then, are we done now, Mr. Baek Seon-woo? We will withdraw...”
“Ah~! Wait a moment. I have one more request.”
“!!! One more? Is there another injured person besides that man?”
At Seok Jin-young’s question about whether there was another injured person, I smiled and pointed to the place where Choi A-rin’s father, whom I had tied up with ropes earlier, was being held.
“There is a piece of trash that needs to be taken very far away.”