Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Chapter 22: Discarded (1)
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Vanguard received the halt order.
Upon receiving a halt order, they had to move to the nearest rest village from their current location.
It was a kind of safe house, hidden from outsiders.
"We need to replenish our personnel."
His request was ignored.
"All activities are suspended for the time being."
"Unconditionally?"
"Unconditionally."
Vanguard had no choice but to accept the halt order.
Vanguard's kill seat was empty. The Six Division seat was empty too. Six Division said he'd return, but they needed even one more person right now to carry out missions.
Yet headquarters refused to send reinforcements.
There are no missions left for you.
That seemed to be the message. But they didn't seem intent on eliminating them either. If they wanted them dead, they wouldn't have sent a messenger—they'd have sent assassins.
They weren't killing them, but they weren't using them anymore either.
Vanguard proposed a rest spot.
"We're comfortable at Samcho. It's a bit farther, but couldn't we wait for orders there?"
"Cheonbu is a day's journey away, Samcho is four days. What's the reason for insisting on Samcho?"
"As I said, it's comfortable. It feels like home, so we can rest easy."
"Understood. Permission granted."
Fortunately, his request to go to Samcho was approved.
"Is Four Thousand Four dead?"
Vanguard posed one final question to the headquarters messenger.
"He's dead."
"I see."
Vanguard nodded.
Vanguard was the one who had witnessed Four Thousand Four's death closest up. No one could confirm it more surely than him. And yet, he asked the messenger from headquarters, who hadn't seen it firsthand... because headquarters had its own way of confirming the death.
They released the last white ant left in headquarters.
The white ant was specialized for Four Thousand Four alone. It wouldn't track anyone else—only him.
If Four Thousand Four were alive, the ant would have moved.
The white ant didn't move. It stayed frozen at the spot where Four Thousand Four had burned away.
Fire Lin had completely erased Four Thousand Four.
Not a single bone fragment, not a handful of ash—utterly incinerated.
The white ant found nothing. It couldn't go anywhere and stopped before that handful of ash.
Four Thousand Four was dead.
"Consider yourself lucky this time."
The headquarters messenger gave a meaningful smile.
Headquarters must have decided to let Vanguard live. Or perhaps the messenger was presuming as much.
There was one more thing to confirm.
"It seems the Jegal Clan made their move."
"The connection is severed. You can rest easy."
The headquarters messenger answered without a second thought.
The Jegal Clan had pursued them relentlessly. Even when they could have captured them, they didn't... despite having superior experts, they didn't attack aggressively...
It meant they intended to tail them without striking.
Run as much as you want. Go wherever you please.
The Jegal Clan had let them go completely, then shadowed them covertly from a distance.
Their tracking skills were top-notch.
As far as he knew, no one caught by the Jegal Clan had ever escaped unscathed.
Yet the headquarters messenger claimed the link was cut.
They had severed the thread the Jegal Clan could follow. They could move freely now without worry.
How... how had headquarters cut the Jegal Clan's tie?
Well, since headquarters said it was done, he could believe it. Even if he didn't, there was nothing he could do about it.
"Anything else?"
"I don't know if it'll be days or months, but rest well while you can. You've worked hard."
The headquarters messenger smiled.
No missions left. Just go on leave and rest easy. He could stretch out his legs and sleep soundly.
"What? They said we're to be killed?"
Jaja asked bluntly.
"We're on leave. The official order is to rest well."
"Rest well..."
Hanbi muttered.
"Well, as you all probably guessed... it's time to choose. We'll rest here tonight, so decide for yourselves."
Hanbi and Jaja fell silent.
Fox blinked, not understanding at first. But soon, true to his name, he caught the hidden meaning in Vanguard's words.
"Ah!"
Fox let out a sigh.
Vanguard hadn't said it outright, but guests would soon arrive. And they'd come with swords drawn.
Headquarters had ordered them to rest. Not just a short break, but a deep, eternal rest. In other words, accept death willingly.
Leave could be spent nearby or far away. What did it matter where? They wouldn't reach anywhere anyway.
Now it was their choice. Die, or struggle to live like Four Thousand Four had.
Hanbi shot to his feet and headed up the mountain.
He wanted to be alone.
Jaja flopped down flat. She usually tossed a word or two at Fox, but not this time. She just lay there blankly, staring endlessly at the sky.
Fox hung his head low.
What article of oath had Four Thousand Four faced? He hadn't hesitated to abandon it. As if it meant nothing, he resisted calmly, without a second thought.
Fox couldn't do that.
From the looks of it, neither could Hanbi or Jaja. They weren't free of their oaths either.
And Vanguard? He was the same. If there had been even a sliver of choice, he wouldn't have taken on assassination missions.
None of them here were cut out for killing.
Night deepened.
Their deliberations grew heavier.
Vanguard made his choice first.
He hadn't really chosen from the start. There had been no room for choice.
Vanguard lay down comfortably and fell into a deep sleep.
Enemies lurked everywhere. Even if headquarters had shaken off the Jegal Clan warriors, who knew if it was true? And now, headquarters' own assassins were coming.
Yet Vanguard snored soundly, deep in slumber.
The second to decide was, unexpectedly, Jaja. She rolled onto her side and fell asleep.
Yeah. There was no choice. Four Thousand Four... what was your oath? What oath let you make that choice? Were you really that cold-blooded, without blood or tears? Hah! No, you're not that kind of person... Ah, whatever. Let it be what it will.
Fox lay down comfortably too.
Wherever he was, Hanbi was probably doing the same.
Wasn't the reason they couldn't defy the Heavenly Annihilation Division's orders because of their oaths? Without that, why would they go around killing like puppets?
The Heavenly Annihilation Division's order was to fight and die.
Doomed to die anyway. Whether by an enemy's hand or the Division's, it was all the same.
But his heart felt heavy. Death, after all...
"Not sure if we can make it, but I'm thinking of heading to Samcho."
"Let's just hit a tavern instead."
Hanbi said, his face somewhat haggard.
"What? Scared of dying?"
Fox said, looking surprised. But before he could finish, Jaja jabbed his side.
Fox shut his mouth immediately.
Everyone had their worries. Hanbi did too. It wasn't death he feared—it was his oath. He didn't know what it was, but it worried him more than dying.
Truth be told, Fox felt the same.
Death didn't scare him. When he was dragged to the Nineteen Hells, he thought he'd never see sunlight again. He figured he'd never see the world outside, resigned as he was hauled away.
And that was because of his oath too—captured and dragged for it.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division was a truly卑鄙 organization. A bunch of vile, filthy scum. If he could, he'd snap their necks right then and there.
But the world was survival of the fittest.
A world where if you didn't kill, you'd be killed. Using everything at your disposal was only natural. The fools were those who let themselves be used.
Vanguard spoke.
"We're survivors. We have to live like survivors until the end."
"'Rest well' means our role as survivors is over too. Let's go drink our fill."
Jaja chuckled.
"Is that so? Alright, then let's get properly drunk today. Hahaha!"
Vanguard laughed heartily.
Assassins could strike anytime. A passing merchant stabbing him with a knife wouldn't be odd. The server bringing booze could slip poison into the jar—no surprise there.
"Hey! Another round here!"
Hanbi called the server.
The only side dish was a single cold duck, untouched. But they'd already gone through five jars of booze. They picked only the strongest stuff.
"Ugh! So this is dying drowned in booze."
Fox slurred.
"You're weak to booze. Heh heh!"
Jaja staggered, unable to steady herself.
They drank without a shred of tension or caution. It had to be the most carefree drinking they'd ever done since birth.
But at some point, they all fell silent together.
Thud!
Jaja slammed her head on the table. Or rather, rested it there. Forehead against the booze-stained wood, she didn't move.
Drunk?
"Damn it! No matter how much booze..."
Hanbi twisted his lips.
He didn't want to know when the enemy came. He'd welcome death gladly if it approached, but he hoped it'd end his life gently without him noticing.
Was even that too much to ask? That's why they drank. To take a sword blow while plastered. That way, they could die without a care.
But... a warrior's senses sharpened.
Body drunk, yet senses caught the blade.
"Heh heh heh! Didn't I say booze is useless? You should've listened to your elders."
"Indeed."
"Hey! One more jar here. No, make it four."
"Aigoo! You've already had plenty, sir."
"Bring them."
Vanguard pulled out his money pouch and set it on the table.
The pouch was heavy. A fortune inside. Fittingly so... Vanguard's money was a lifeline for a month's survival.
He laid it all out.
Trading a month's living for four jars of booze.
One jar each. An attack would come while drinking, and they'd meet death with booze on their lips.
"Ah! I'm drunk."
Jaja lifted her head and said.
"Still, one more jar. Ghosts who die drinking supposedly haunt in style."
"Hoho! Hey, we're dying soon anyway—wanna swear eternal love or something?"
"What?!"
Fox jumped, staring at Jaja. As if the booze had instantly worn off.
"Why so shocked? Didn't you know I like you? Playing dumb when you knew... What? You don't like me? Fine. Fiiiine. We're dying soon anyway."
"No, it's not that, just... unexpected..."
"What's unexpected?"
Jaja glared at Fox with fiery eyes.
Fox fidgeted, face beet red.
In the meantime, four jars arrived on the table. And the blades of death drew near on the rooftop.