Chapter 56: Revenge!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56: Revenge!
Once again, battle erupted, and she quickly slipped to the rear. The battles were relentless, growing more frequent the deeper they ventured into the dungeon. Her friend, her companion, was dead, but she had to survive, no matter what. She hadn't always clung so desperately to life.
In fact, she had often wished for death, anything to escape this existence. She only remained alive because she lacked the courage to die. If she’d had that much courage, she would have thrown herself at the monsters long ago.
But now, everything had changed. I have to live. She had something she had to do.
“They’re breaking through! Hold the line! Hold the line!”
“Mina, get your spell ready! Magic!”
She kept running, the frantic shouts echoing behind her. Since she had positioned herself at the back from the start, it wasn't a major issue, but escaping a battle that erupted during a meal, in the middle of her duties, or while she was asleep was incredibly difficult. Still, she dragged her exhausted body and somehow managed to get out of range. Her legs were swollen, and a deep, internal ache from the constant sexual violation made every step agony, but she endured it, forcing her body to move.
Thankfully, she made it out of range and huddled against a wall, making herself as small as possible. They wouldn't protect her. Just like before, she knew they would kill her along with the undead if they got the chance.
Her only weapon was a single dagger. Hiding, she watched the fight unfold.
The undead swarmed forward, trying to crush the party members… Funnily enough, she was praying.
Die.
Please, just die…
CRACK!
A sickening crunch—a sound she found deeply satisfying—rang out, and she gripped her dagger tighter. Someone had been injured, and the defensive line had broken. The person she wanted dead most of all was, of course, the wind mage, Kim Mina. Every time she saw Mina’s face, it was a struggle to control the murderous rage that surged within her. Unfortunately, the one who got hurt this time was someone else entirely.
“Shit… Youngcheol!”
Go Youngcheol. Tearing him to shreds wouldn't be enough. The memory of him beating her was still fresh. She watched as he clutched his shattered shoulder and moved inside the formation to be healed by the priest. It was a bitter disappointment. How happy she would have been if it had been his head that had burst, not his shoulder. How happy… oh, how happy she would have been to see his blood, guts, and brains splattered across the floor.
Without realizing it, she scraped her dagger against the ground, a nervous habit born of her agitation.
Just then—
“Wind Blade!”
—Kim Mina’s voice rang out, and her wind magic sliced through the air, crashing down on the undead.
That bitch… I’ll tear her apart… I’ll tear her apart…
She, Baek Ahyeon, ground her teeth and glared at Kim Mina. Her grip on the dagger tightened.
Can I kill her? Right now… can I do it now? Can I run up and stab her with this dagger?
It was probably impossible. Even with his injured shoulder, Go Youngcheol was with the priests inside the formation. If she charged in with her weak body and swung her dagger, she would be subdued in an instant and killed. Even without Youngcheol, the archers nearby would take her down immediately. She was weak.
That’s why she would only get one chance. The time wasn't right. Baek Ahyeon closed her eyes, suppressing the murderous intent that threatened to boil over. With her eyes closed, the final image of her unni naturally came to mind.
Unni…
‘Aren’t you getting up? Do you want to die here?’
‘Ahyeon!’
‘RUN!!!’
‘Ahyeon. You have to live. Live.’
The final image of her unni—her body torn to pieces after shoving Ahyeon out of harm’s way—flashed in her mind again and again. Her unni’s expression had been so full of regret that she hadn't even been able to close her eyes. And they had just left her body there on the ground.
I killed her. It was my fault, my stupidity. If only she hadn't fallen… no, if only she hadn't cried out “Unni!” after she fell, if only she hadn't looked at her with eyes begging to be saved, then Kang Hana would surely still be alive. She would have died, and Kang Hana would have lived. Her unni was completely different from her. She hadn't become a squire because of debt, nor was she a worthless person like herself. Unlike Ahyeon, who only made mistakes, her unni was always sharp and carried out every task perfectly. She had even seen her training late at night when everyone else was asleep. She was the kind of person who, if she just held on a little longer, could have used her saved-up points to escape this hell and become independent.
She knew, of course, that the one she should resent most was herself, Baek Ahyeon. She would pay for her sins. But she couldn't die yet, not before she did what she had to do. Revenge against the bastards who had tormented and killed her unni, the only person who had been her pillar in this hell, the person she had loved most…
That was why Baek Ahyeon was so desperate.
I’ll kill them… Unni. I’ll get revenge for you… I’ll kill every last one of them, no matter what it takes… so you can finally close your eyes. I’ll avenge you.
She was still unconsciously taking out her frustration on the floor with her dagger when it happened.
A strange energy filled the air around her…
Slowly… slowly… her dagger began to move in an odd direction. Startled, she looked around, but there was nothing to see. Hesitantly… Baek Ahyeon let go of the dagger. She had to know what was happening. For a moment, she wondered if a ‘demon’ had appeared to help her.
The dagger, floating slowly in the air, turned and pointed away from the battle, in a completely different direction.
It… it answered. It… it definitely answered.
Without thinking, Baek Ahyeon slowly began to walk. She didn't know exactly what was happening, but she started moving in the direction the dagger indicated. Her constant prayers—for the power to get revenge, for the death of those bastards, for punishment for the ones who tore her unni to shreds—had finally been answered.
The further she walked, the foggier her mind became. There was no doubt about it; she was growing dizzy. Could this be a trap? She considered it but immediately shook her head. The floating dagger was pointing steadfastly in one direction, as if it were waiting for her, beckoning her to come. It continued to move, leading her on.
Unni… Unni…
It felt as if the deceased Kang Hana herself was guiding her. She walked for a long time, calling out to her unni in her heart. Gradually, something began to take shape in her vision. It was too dark to see clearly, but she knew she could make it out if she got closer. Finally, as Baek Ahyeon slowly lifted her head, she saw them: red eyes, glowing in the darkness. It was a demon, massive in stature.
A demon…
No… it’s not a demon. It’s the Messiah. A savior… a savior.
A demon who had come to save her. A messiah who would grant her the power to take revenge.
“Ahhh…”
Without realizing it, she fell to her knees before it. Tears streamed down her face. It felt like finding a sanctuary in a world where she had nowhere to lean. It was so comforting, so pleasant. A sweet fragrance began to emanate from somewhere, and as Baek Ahyeon inhaled it, she bowed her head to the savior who would deliver her.
“What is your name…”
“Baek… Ahyeon. My name is Baek Ahyeon, O Savior…”
“I am no savior. I am merely someone who has come to help you get what you desire. Do you want revenge…”
“Upon them… upon those who killed your companion… do you want revenge?”
The deep voice hammered at Baek Ahyeon’s heart. How could she not want revenge? She wanted it more than anything. She wanted to rip them apart—the bastards who had treated her and her unni like pigs and dogs and had ultimately killed her. She wanted to tear them limb from limb. She wanted to gouge out their eyes, carve out their genitals, burst their organs, and crush their brains in her hands.
Like a madwoman, Baek Ahyeon nodded, pressing her forehead to the ground as she spoke.
“I would give anything… I would give everything…”
At her words, the demon nodded. As if to say, I understand your heart. I can comprehend it. I will help you. It nodded for certain.
Baek Ahyeon smiled brightly at her savior. The savior, in turn, gazed at her once more with its red eyes. Its mouth opened slowly.
“When you reach the end, you will obtain what you desire.”
“Quietly… quietly bide your time.”
“Yes… Yes!”
At the savior’s words, Baek Ahyeon fought through her hazy mind and continued to bow, pressing her forehead to the ground. When she heard nothing more, she peeked up, but the messiah who had guided her was gone.
Ah…
Baek Ahyeon slowly muttered the messiah’s words.
“When you reach the end, you will obtain what you desire. Quietly bide your time…”
There was no mistaking the meaning. The savior was going to help her get what she wanted. Revenge… the bloody revenge she craved… When they reached the end of the dungeon. If she made her move then, the savior would surely come. It would devour those bastards, kill them brutally, and finally appease her unni’s spirit.
For the first time in a very long time… a very, very long time… Baek Ahyeon smiled with genuine sincerity.
Baek Ahyeon began to walk back. As the messiah had commanded, she had to return to them. She hurried, and soon saw them resting, the battle apparently over. As expected, Kim Mina’s shrill voice accosted her. She had worried she’d been gone too long, but thankfully, it seemed the fight had just ended.
“Where have you been, you stupid bitch? I thought you were dead! You don’t want to die like your unni, do you?”
“N-no. Hehe…”
“Useless bitch. That one should have died instead of Kang Hana. Getting involved trying to save her… Ugh.”
At Kim Mina’s words, Baek Ahyeon just giggled foolishly as always and said she was sorry. She took a clean handkerchief from her bag and diligently wiped the blood and sweat from the clan warriors’ armor. She cleaned the blood from Kim Mina’s boots and brought water to the exhausted warriors, preparing their meal as usual. She kept herself busy, careful not to provoke them.
Her unni had been the same. She had always kept her head down, and no matter how humiliating or disgusting it was, she had always done her duties perfectly.
“I’m sorry… Heh…”
“Fucking bitch… Has she no shame? Look at her scurrying around. If only she’d been like this from the start. Just happy to be alive, aren’t you? Poor Hana, dying in your place. At least she was useful…”
“Yes… yes.”
All sorts of scornful glares and insults were thrown her way, but she didn't react. Some of the men were even staring at her with burning lust, eager to relieve their urges, but Baek Ahyeon met all their gazes with a placid expression. She waited, praying for them to reach the end of the dungeon quickly, for everything to be over soon, for them to clear this dungeon.
And Baek Ahyeon…
…smiled like a fool once again.