Chapter 158: I’ll Be Back
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: I’ll Be Back
Jeong Heecheol, Black Spear's opponent, was also quite a formidable foe. An agile archer. The matchup against Black Spear was about even. If he had a similar disposition to Kim Hyeji, Black Spear's chances of winning would be high, but I couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
I expected a long-range duel, with warriors from each clan naturally protecting their leaders, so I thought it would take some time. But it seemed that was just my own assumption.
Screeeech!
As I continued to run, I began to hear the sound of Black Spear's spear piercing the air. I could feel an immense magical energy as well.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
I heard human screams as well. I couldn't help but smile. Black Spear had succeeded in taking him down.
The scene before me was utterly gruesome.
Humans were pierced by black spears and pinned to the walls, looking like insect specimens. There must have been some still clinging to life, as I could hear them begging for mercy, but there was no way the members of the Black Spear Clan could understand them. The voices of the other humans, who were desperately trying to form a defensive line to survive, were also growing fainter.
“S-save…”
“Ugh-aaaaaaaaah!”
The one riddled with the most spears was likely Jeong Heecheol. They were embedded in his hands, feet, and torso. For an archer with such low defense, this was undoubtedly a fatal blow. He hardly seemed to be breathing at all. Though he took the occasional ragged gasp, it looked as if he would die from blood loss at any moment.
As I watched the remaining humans being finished off by Black Spear's tribesmen, I had to re-evaluate my ally.
‘He’s strong.’
He always deferred to me and Goff, entrusting us with the final say and taking a step back. Because of that, it seemed I had never properly gauged his true strength.
Come to think of it, Black Spear had arrived on this continent a full three years before us. While we had somehow managed to reach a similar level of power, he was undoubtedly a seasoned warrior with far more experience. I began to walk slowly toward the Black Spear Clan. Now that I'd confirmed the battle was all but over, there was no need to rush. Black Spear must have noticed me, as he placed a hand on his chest and spoke.
“You finished quickly.”
I nodded, looking him over. I hadn't expected him to be unscathed, but he was riddled with arrows. They must have been aiming to rob him of his mobility, as arrows were embedded in both his legs and his abdomen. There was even one that had pierced his ear and was still lodged there.
It looked like a wound he'd received while turning his head to dodge an arrow aimed at his skull.
The clan's shaman was continuously casting healing spells on him, so he would likely recover soon, but he wasn't in any condition to return to the front line. Black Spear looked at my unscathed body with a hint of wonder.
We were three warriors of a similar level, so he seemed puzzled that I was completely unharmed. A moment later, however, I saw him nod to himself in satisfaction.
I was curious about the details of his fight, so I spoke up.
“How was the battle?”
“It's been a while since I've faced a worthy opponent. He was respectable enough.”
“Hmm…”
So Kim Hyeji's case really was an exception. I'd heard that the dying Jeong Heecheol also had a poor character, but at least he seemed to have kept up with his training and hunting. When I gave him a look that asked for more details, Black Spear began to speak, looking amused. No Green Skin dislikes boasting of their valor.
“When he first dropped from above, he fired a volley of arrows at us. A few of my tribesmen died, but we returned fire with our spears, inflicting many casualties of our own. The battle truly began when that strong human and I started exchanging blows.”
“His evasiveness was a nuisance, but as you said, he had the skill to be called a formidable warrior. It wasn't until my own legs were a wreck that I finally managed to embed a spear in one of his. I suppose you could say the battle ended there…”
In other words, he had endured until he could decide the fight with a single blow. Getting hit by a spear powerful enough to shatter the skull of an Eastern demonic beast, the man must have felt like his leg had simply vanished. It was as if after peppering his opponent's leg with bullets, Black Spear had taken a small missile in return.
My gaze shifted to Black Spear's right hand.
He was holding the small, round shield I had recommended before this battle. It seemed to have been quite effective, judging by the staggering number of arrows embedded in it.
“It's certainly effective. A bit cumbersome, but great for protecting myself when fighting an enemy like that.”
“I’m glad you feel that way.”
Once things had settled down, he spoke again.
“Did Goff win?”
I smiled at his question.
“There’s no way he’d lose.”
I infused my ears with magic and could clearly hear the great beating of a drum echoing through the underground. The sound was growing closer. Goff, too, was heading our way after finishing off Kim Donghyun.
“So everyone's safe.”
Goff spoke, tossing the humans he was carrying onto the floor. His shoulder and one of his legs were mangled, but he seemed to have no other damage. He was certainly tough. I knew his fight would have been a close-quarters brawl, so I didn't expect him to be unharmed, but he moved with surprising freedom for someone with his injuries.
The man in his hand must have been Kim Donghyun. He was in the same state as Jeong Heecheol and Kim Hyeji.
“He was a truly strong opponent. By the way, Blood Dagger, you don't have a scratch on you.”
“I was just lucky.”
He, too, seemed amazed that I was uninjured. If I had fought Kim Donghyun or Jeong Heecheol, I would have been just as wounded as my brothers, but I saw no need to mention that.
I believed today's victory was won through intelligence and the enemy's sheer carelessness. It would be no exaggeration to say this was the result of running hundreds of simulations before the battle, researching who was best suited to fight whom and who would have the advantage in a matchup.
As I was lost in these thoughts, Goff spoke to me.
“So, is the battle over?”
“To be precise, our part is done. Now, it's in the hands of the demon with the severed horn. Black Spear, you should gather the spoils and get out of here for now. More humans might come down. To prepare for that possibility, I and a few of my clan will stay behind to cover our tracks before following you.”
At my words, they nodded and slowly began to move.
The strange thing was that neither Goff nor Black Spear looked particularly pleased. I quickly understood what they were thinking. They were just like me. They were likely realizing their own shortcomings from this battle.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who didn't let out a cry of victory.
The fact that they weren't drunk on this small victory proved to me that they were warriors of great character. This battle was a new challenge for us. We had finally reached a level that once seemed unattainable. Today's fight was nothing more and nothing less than a stepping stone to becoming stronger.
I clenched my fist, looked at my clan members, and began giving orders.
“Ragia. Hakajin.”
“Your command is our will.”
“Ragia, you and the assassins will eliminate all traces of this battle. If some signs are impossible to remove, just make sure to erase any evidence that Green Skins were here.”
“As you command.”
“Understood.”
It would be impossible to erase everything perfectly, but leaving traces so obvious that even a commoner could spot them would be foolish.
“Orbo and Mirror Blade, take the archers, patrol the surrounding area, and kill any and all humans who try to enter this underground level.”
“For Blood Dagger.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
“Jung Hayeon, Baek Ahyeon, and Half Blade, you will remain on standby in the central area.”
“Yes.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
As I'd told Goff and Black Spear, our part in this fight was over. It felt anticlimactic, but our battle ended here. Now, it was no exaggeration to say that everything was in Jang Ye Ri's hands. I was prepared to enter the castle myself in case of an emergency, but since I had decided not to reveal the Green Skins' presence, I would be the only one to go in if an unexpected variable arose. The clan members on standby would secure an infiltration and escape route, then retreat with me.
By now, Jang Ye Ri and Jang Gi Young should have met. The son might have already taken his father's head, or the old king could be resisting with his loyal followers. I activated the Ring of Covenant and sent a message to Jang Ye Ri.
[We're done on our end.]
A reply came back instantly, as if she had been waiting for a very long time.
[I knew it would be difficult, but you've done it... You have my genuine respect.]
From her relaxed tone, it seemed she hadn't confronted him yet.
[So you haven't faced the old king yet.]
[I'm on my way now. My father has likely run into my brother by now. All the guards inside the castle are dead. That was probably my brother's doing... My followers are holding back the other clans and guilds, so I'd say the situation is favorable.]
In other words, she was now alone inside the castle. My decision to wait outside, anticipating this chaos, had been the right one. Just as we'd planned, she was moving in after Jang Gi Hoo and his forces clashed with Jang Gi Young. For Jang Ye Ri, wielder of the Reaper's Scythe, fighting alone was more effective than fighting with a large group. Moving with allies who weren't in perfect sync would only limit the scythe's range.
It was a major city, so I couldn't say there were no strong individuals left, but there wouldn't be anyone in the same league as the monsters Goff, Black Spear, and I had just defeated.
Park Han Cheol, the Greenbelt Clan, and the other forces leading this revolution would block any remaining loyalists trying to protect their old king.
Since Jang Gi Hoo was the one initiating the rebellion, he would have already stationed his troops along a pre-planned route, naturally allowing him to strike first.
The plan was for Jang Ye Ri to hunt both targets at once, cutting off reinforcements while Jang Gi Hoo's and Jang Gi Young's forces clashed inside the castle. The plan was proceeding smoothly.
I was mulling over the operation when another message came from Jang Ye Ri. For someone about to enter battle, her voice was remarkably calm.
[Were you serious about what you said before?]
[What do you mean?]
[Your statement. That you wanted me to be yours.]
The thought of finally achieving her lifelong ambition must have thrown her mind into turmoil. I didn't know why she was asking me this now, but my words to her had, of course, been sincere.
[I was.]
After hearing my voice, Jang Ye Ri fell silent for a moment. Then, she spoke.
[I’ll be back.]