Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Omer Reveals His True Colors (Lol)
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Uninhabited island. The sixth day of hunting the monster.
That dawn.
Gonghyeok hurled the chest inside the house.
Crash!
The chest shattered, and a man popped out.
"Oh, friend! A strong and mighty morning! My name is Irving Forest!"
His speech was a bit off from living in the chest too long, but Gonghyeok didn't mind.
"Yeah. Friend. The time for revenge has come."
"Revenge?"
"Don't you remember? What happened two days ago."
"Two days ago? What happened? What was I doing then!"
You were stuffed in the chest, munching on fruit.
Putting that aside, Gonghyeok began fabricating a story he'd prepared.
It was a tale designed to ruin one man.
＊ ＊ ＊
The reason Omer Ashk defected to the northern forces was simple.
To take the life of the monstrous Ju Gonghyeok.
There was the request from 'B' practically singing to kill Ju Gonghyeok, but decisively, he believed no one would stand in his way once Ju Gonghyeok was gone from the uninhabited island.
'With Ju Gonghyeok gone, the north scatters. There's that Soma guy or whatever, but he won't interfere much with human hunting.'
The skies were blocked by 'B's pirate ships, and Omer would leisurely hunt down the remaining stragglers.
Then take out the stronger ones alongside B.
Complete resolution. Total victory.
That was Omer's plan.
Grrrrr.
And now, Omer and Ju Gonghyeok faced off against the Tyrannosaurus.
Ju Gonghyeok's sharp scythe sliced neatly through the monster's exposed tongue tip.
That astonishing technique in reading openings.
The guts to glide right between its teeth, life be damned.
'As expected of a monster.'
Omer stabbed between the scales with his wings, sweat beading coldly.
In a 1:1 fight, he was unfortunately no match. Assassination seemed difficult too.
The method he'd chosen for the kill was 'accidental death.'
An unfortunate accident during the raid.
The Tyrannosaurus was plenty strong enough to bury Ju Gonghyeok.
Boom!
The Tyrano slipped on the swampy ground and fell.
Two hundred hunters around unleashed a fierce barrage, and the completed holy beasts stamped down on top.
Grrrr...
The monster's remaining eye turned red.
Anyone could see it was seriously pissed.
A gurgling growl rose, and a bright glow began emanating from its throat.
'Good. That breath attack right now.'
Ju Gonghyeok had nearly died from that breath a month ago.
Even with the north's best healers giving their all, recovery took three weeks—a fatal wound.
But what if an even stronger Tyrannosaurus from the past month hit him with that breath?
'Even if he survives, he won't be my match.'
Raaaaawr—!
A scorching lava breath erupted from the monster's maw.
It wasn't a single burst. As it swung its head, the breath swept from left to right like a water cannon from a fire truck.
The holy beasts circled behind the monster, and the hunters swiftly pulled back.
Just as Ju Gonghyeok and Omer's wings spread wide to evade the breath's path.
'Now's the chance.'
Omer's wings writhed grotesquely as he seized the timing.
[Opening black magic to maximum output via contract power]
[Burning Right Wing (S-) alters your body! Demonization 6% progressed!]
[Limited Skill: Sky-Severing Demon Wings (A++) activated! Wing slashing power +444%! Breakthrough impact +300%!]
[High-Speed Flight (B) applied! Accelerating to max speed at 4x magic consumption!]
Omer's body shot toward Ju Gonghyeok like an arrow.
All while pretending it was an accident during evasion.
A mid-flight collision could bounce Gonghyeok into the breath.
Or he could slice off those white wings and drop him.
"Die, you annoying savior bastard."
I'll knock down your smug ass and become this world's destroyer.
No matter how great you are, the last one standing is the legend.
The one holding power at the end is the winner!
Muttering inwardly, he transformed his right wing into a massive blade.
The wing swept at high speed across Ju Gonghyeok's back.
But in that instant.
Ju Gonghyeok's white wings vanished completely.
Omer's Sky-Severing Demon Wings bent the scythe's shaft instead of its original wing target.
Crack—the scythe broke, and their shadows crossed.
Omer, startled, turned to see Ju Gonghyeok's wings regrown as if they'd never left.
He'd canceled and resummoned his wings perfectly in sync with Omer's attack timing.
An inscrutable smirk played on Gonghyeok's lips.
'He suspected my ambush.'
A chill like an ice pack settled in his mind.
But suspicion was just that. No proof.
'He can't do shit right now. Damn it.'
Grinding his teeth, Omer dodged the oncoming breath.
After evading, as they faced each other again, Omer feigned composure and spoke.
"Sorry about almost colliding back there. Wasn't on purpose."
"Yeah?"
A deep shadow fell over the face of the benevolent savior who couldn't kill a bug.
"Then this isn't on purpose either."
"What?"
From behind Omer, the terrifying fangs of a massive saber-toothed tiger lunged.
Crunch.
"Arrrgh!"
Trapped between those fangs, Omer let out a agonized scream.
Bitten by a holy beast, but his body didn't sever.
Still, he was completely pinned, unable to move.
"Ju Gonghyeok, what the hell is this! We're still raiding that monster dino. Doing this now..."
"Everyone. Release the 'bait' we've prepared."
Gonghyeok ignored Omer cleanly and commanded his subordinates.
The executives nodded, and holes opened in the ground, chains rattling as 25 humans rose up.
*Cough cough*, "These bastards kept us locked underground for days."
"Yeah. Yeah. We're people, damn it. Shit happens in life, right? You make mistakes. See a hot chick, you wanna tap that. You know."
"Crazy! What the hell is that! Why's that dino head here!"
They were criminals from the hideout who'd committed murders and rapes, plus raiders captured attacking empty hideouts.
They'd been stored in nearby underground caverns and pulled out now.
Hunters kicked their backs or used telekinesis to shove them toward the Tyrano.
"Wait, wait, what the fuck are you doing! We'll die like this!"
"Uwaaak! Don't push!"
The Tyrano tilted its head briefly, then snapped up the bait in front of it.
Screams and wails echoed as they were thoroughly chewed in the monster's maw.
The hunters and holy beasts retreated after the job.
Clearing a path for the Tyrano to the crater.
Having chewed every last human thoroughly, the Tyrano scanned around with a more relaxed expression before heading back to the crater.
It looked satisfied, its hunger sated as planned.
'That bait. They prepared it from the start to do exactly this.'
Whatever was going on, Ju Gonghyeok and the northerners had no intention of catching the Tyrano this hunt.
Hence, prepping that bait as tribute to send it packing.
Omer's mouth went dry.
Nothing was going his way.
The saber-toothed tiger king spat him out and pinned his lower body with a paw.
Still immobile, Omer watched as Ju Gonghyeok and ten executives gathered around.
"You bastards used people as sacrifices and never planned to catch it! Release me! Earlier was just almost bumping while dodging the breath. I had no intent to attack Ju Gonghyeok!"
"Even without intent, it was a situation where Gonghyeok could have died..."
Not one of the eleven gazes held goodwill.
'No, isn't this overkill?'
He'd expected some wariness, but getting cornered like this over one accidental slip?
And their eyes showed no pity or hesitation.
Pure 100% hostility and murderous intent.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The executives exchanged glances at Omer's question.
Soon, one executive, Jeremy, brought over some people.
Three men with legs severed and clear marks of beatings and abuse.
"Do you remember who these men are?"
Omer's face filled with shock.
"Why are they beaten like that?"
"You're still denying it even here!"
"No... I mean, who the hell are they?"
He couldn't even guess—they were three men Omer had never seen in his life.
"O-Omer-nim. Sorry. We got caught..."
"What're you sorry for! More importantly, how do you know my name?"
Gonghyeok clutched his face watching the farce unfold.
The story flashed back to the conference room three days ago, with everyone gathered.
＊ ＊ ＊
In front of the ten executives, Gonghyeok began gravely.
"I had a question. Why the Tyrano got raid-proof strong."
Gonghyeok lightly jotted stats on a wooden board.
- Strength A, Agility B, Durability S, Technique B, Will A, Mind B, Magic A
"Scout avatars confirmed: three weeks in, the Tyrano's durability was S-rank."
"No way our three-week group could take it.
Plus, info from the angel: other zones caught theirs weeks ago and left."
The conference room buzzed.
"Is that certain?"
"I can't confirm 100%, but I have leads. The Tyrano's too strong compared to quest rewards.
And the saber-tooth cave clue. Everyone remember?"
'Monsters on the uninhabited island grow stronger by eating supplies and coins.'
Realizing the implication, the room turned icy cold.
"So someone's been supplying the crater with coins and materials?"
The sharp-minded Jeremy voiced the conclusion.
Gonghyeok nodded in affirmation.
"It's a guess, but yes. From now on, executives take turns hiding at the crater to check if they come."
Gonghyeok crushed the cigar in his hand mercilessly.
"Drag out whoever caused this mess and make them pay."
＊ ＊ ＊
Three men climbed the volcano with a bundle of luggage.
"This uninhabited island's gotten quieter."
"Fewer people."
Whispering among themselves, they were the ones sneaking to the crater weekly at night.
At the crater, they unpacked familiarly.
"Getting used to this gig after a while."
"Yeah. Was scary at first."
"Well, if all goes to plan, just four more weeks."
"Goes to plan? What plan?"
A chill ran down their spines.
A fourth voice had intruded on their talk.
Turning, they found pot-lid-sized hands gripping two men's sides and shoulders.
Iron-severing grip crushed white ribs and shoulder bones like twigs.
"U-Uwaaa!"
The lucky one not grabbed by the sudden giant screamed and spun.
But eight hunters closed in, surrounding the area.
"Eeek..."
The man deflating with a hiss collapsed.
His bundle spilled, sending ark supplies and purple coins tumbling down the volcanic slope.
"So Gonghyeok-nim was right."
The muscular giant, Soma, gripped harder.
"Kaaaak! Hurts! Blood! Blood's coming out!"
"Indeed. But you have facts to spill first..."
Other hunters stabbed a thigh of the captive.
"Soma-nim, no need to dirty your hands. We'll handle it."
"No can do. This is my duty to step in."
Soma's thick hands seized their thighs.
"Continue your talk. No issue removing unnecessary parts."
Squish.
Soma wrung their thighs like apples.
Endless screams echoed in the crater.
＊ ＊ ＊
"What! Me supplying the crater? Bullshit, you morons!"
"Wow, denying even with witnesses. Including your attack on our leader just now, you know we can't trust you at all?"
"It was my mistake, fine. But..."
"Omer Ashk."
Jeremy paused as Ju Gonghyeok stepped forward.
"Then killing over 150 subordinates recently was just another 'mistake'?"
"What...!?"
Omer's face flashed panic before shifting to incredulity.
"You're pinning that on me too! I didn't do it! You're making me the culprit without evidence!"
"We have evidence."
Gonghyeok snapped his fingers.
A man stepped out from the executives.
"My name is Irving Forest! Omer Ashk, I'm the sole survivor who escaped your massacre!"
The man from Gonghyeok's chest.
Before brainwashing, he'd been a squad leader under Omer Ashk.
Gonghyeok placed a hand on Irving's shoulder.
"Omer Ashk. Betraying and slaughtering your men. Colluding with murderers. Sending those three to strengthen the Tyrano—Irving here testified to all. As everyone knows, he was your confidant."
"No! That guy's been gone two weeks suddenly! He wasn't there when it happened!"
"A top executive vanishes two weeks ago and shows up now? How convenient."
Gonghyeok looked down at Omer pinned under the holy beast's foot.
"Who proves that? Anyone know? All evidence and witnesses back Irving's story."
Omer choked.
No way to prove it.
All southern survivors who could were dead by his hand.
Checkmate, no escape.
"Omer-nim!"
"W-What happens to us!"
The three legless men wailed.
"Ha. Fuck. Completely fucked."
Omer glared up at Gonghyeok with hatred.
Gonghyeok smirked just for him and whispered in his ear.
"Pissed? Bark if you're pissed."
"!?"
"Or beg to live and lick my toe. Ah, not that it'd save you."
"Ju..."
Omer's molars trembled with rage.
"Grrr—ong, t-tong—!"
"Come at me, mutt."
Ju Gonghyeok's playful flick split Omer's forehead.