Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Raid (5)
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With South Korea's elite hunters having left Seoul, the government and Hunter Association issued urgent recall orders to those dispatched to Chungbuk amid the emergency.
Deaths were continuing to mount.
"Association President! Trolls have appeared from the Jungnang-gu Gate...!"
They had no choice but to upgrade the Jungnang-gu Gate to A-rank as well.
"Why... why is this happening...!"
"It's not just Seoul. Osaka and Sapporo in Japan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu in China... dungeon gates are exploding simultaneously in major cities around the world. Satellites confirm one has exploded even in Pyongyang, now occupied by the Beastmen."
"Nngh..."
This wasn't the time to worry about other countries.
To overcome Seoul's crisis, the hunters dispatched to Chungbuk needed to return swiftly.
"Fortunately, Hunter Park Kang-hyuk began his return early... He should arrive in Seoul soon."
"That's a relief. Tell Hunter Park Kang-hyuk to support Dongjak-gu first."
"He's already heading there. His family is in that area..."
"...I see."
Just then, the vehicle carrying Kang-hyuk entered Seocho-gu.
Kang-hyuk fidgeted anxiously with his sword.
'Should I have just flown there?'
As the Dongjak-gu Gate was upgraded to A-rank, his anxiety intensified.
Traffic jams began in Seocho-gu.
People were even running into the roads, forcing the vehicle to a halt.
"We'll go on foot from here."
"P-Pardon? H-Hunter Park Kang-hyuk?!"
Kang-hyuk jumped out of the military vehicle and bolted toward Dongjak-gu.
Papapapap!
He sped past Bangbae Station in an instant, leaping onto the rooftop of a nearby commercial building.
Paht!
He then vaulted to a villa rooftop, crossing Dongjak-gu at breakneck speed.
Kwaang!
"...?!"
The orc general pursuing Yu-na's group swung its greatsword down at the GH Guild members.
"We'll hold them off! Hurry and evacuate!"
Two guild members threw themselves at the orc general and orc warriors.
Seogeok! Chwaaak!
The orc warriors were exterminated by the GH Guild members in seconds.
But the orc general blocked their attacks and counterattacked.
Watching this, the orc chieftain looked intrigued.
"Those humans seem to have some skill."
It smirked, leaping high into the air and swinging its greatsword at the GH Guild members.
Kwaaang!
The two guild members were crushed in an instant.
The orc chieftain glared at the fleeing GH Guild members with glowing red eyes.
"Kraaaargh!"
Its lion's roar echoed everywhere.
The fleeing guild members startled and glanced back.
The two who had blocked the orc general were dead.
'Damn it!'
Bark ground his teeth.
"Don't look back—keep running! You protect the Master's family! I'll stay behind...!"
Puuk!
"...?!"
A massive greatsword pierced through Bark's chest.
The GH Guild members whipped around in shock.
The orc chieftain, now right behind them, grinned wickedly.
"Struggle a bit more, humans."
"Kuh... kuuh..."
Bark trembled violently.
The orc chieftain raised its greatsword high and cleaved Bark's upper body in two.
Yu-na's group turned at the sound of the orc chieftain's voice from behind.
They were stunned by Bark's corpse.
"Kyaaak!"
Hye-in screamed and fell to the ground.
"Damn it! We have to hold it off until the Master arrives!"
"Time to repay the Master's grace! Give your lives!"
The guild members gripped their swords and charged at the orc chieftain.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Die!"
As the guild members unleashed Black Moon Swordsmanship in a joint assault, the orc chieftain's smile deepened.
"Kuhahaha! A dance of flies? Quite amusing!"
The orc chieftain tossed aside its greatsword and enveloped itself in red battle spirit.
Kwaang!
"Kuhuk...!"
One guild member flew dozens of meters from a single punch.
Terrified yet resolved to die, the guild members steeled themselves.
'For the Master...!'
As they charged with their lives on the line, one guild member ran to Yu-na's group.
"Hurry!"
"B-But those people..."
"Please don't let my comrades die in vain."
At the guild member's desperate plea, Yu-na's group turned and fled.
Then, an orc general appeared ahead.
It had moved on the chieftain's orders.
"Damn..."
The guild member rushed in front of Yu-na's group.
"I'll stop it! Evacuate now! Haaah!"
The guild member leaped at the orc general.
The problem was the orc warriors approaching from the side alleys.
Kang-hyuk's father, Park Jin-o, gritted his teeth and hoisted Hye-in onto his back.
"Run! We can't let their sacrifice be in vain!"
As Jin-o's group passed by while the GH Guild member engaged the orc general, the orc warriors ignored him and pursued Yu-na's group.
"Damn it!"
The GH Guild member clenched his teeth.
He needed to follow Yu-na's group and take down those orc warriors right now.
But blocked by the orc general, he could only watch their backs.
Kang! Kakakang!
"Get out of my way!"
Kwaang!
"Chwiik!"
The orc general bared a sinister smile, as if refusing passage.
The rear GH Guild members had already fallen to the orc chieftain.
'Damn it!'
He had to protect them somehow!
The guild member battling the orc general dashed toward the right building.
As the orc general moved to block him, the guild member kicked off the outer wall and leaped over it.
"Hup...!"
He then hurriedly chased after Yu-na's group.
The enraged orc general pursued the GH Guild member.
"Chwiik!"
The orc chieftain leisurely picked up its discarded greatsword from the ground.
It then leaped high, landing hundreds of meters away.
Kwaang!
With successive jumps, the orc chieftain quickly caught up to Yu-na's group.
They were clearly important figures in this territory.
Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why Sword Master-level experts were protecting them.
Killing them would shatter human morale.
"Kuhahaha!"
The orc chieftain leaped high again, blocking Yu-na's group's path.
Kwaang!
"Kyaaak!"
The explosion right in front of them sent Yu-na's group tumbling to the ground.
"You lot are so fragile."
The orc chieftain raised its greatsword high.
"Ah..."
Death loomed once more.
As Yu-na paled, staring at the orc chieftain, Jin-o spread his arms in front of his family.
It was a futile gesture.
If that greatsword swung, they'd all die.
His wife Su-yeon and her friend Hye-in looked up at the orc chieftain in terror.
"Die."
With its word, everyone squeezed their eyes shut.
The pursuing GH Guild member reached out desperately.
"Ah... no—!"
With his cry, a black flash from the sky struck down on the orc chieftain's head.
Kwaaaaang!
Yu-na's group was flung back by the massive explosion.
The GH Guild member froze, staring blankly ahead.
Not just him.
The orc warriors and orc general too.
All eyes fixed on where the orc chieftain had stood.
"How dare an orc... lay a hand on my family?"
From the explosion emerged a black-haired young man.
His red eyes flashed as he glared at the orcs.
Flinch!
The orc warriors recoiled in fear.
"O-Oppa?"
"K-Kang-hyuk?"
Kang-hyuk checked his family's condition.
Fortunately, no serious injuries.
A moment later, and they might have died.
Was it because he'd always valued family since his past life?
His rage wouldn't subside easily.
"Wait just a moment. I'll finish this quickly."
As Kang-hyuk took a step forward, the orcs backed away.
Paht!
"H-He... disappeared...!"
Hye-in panicked at Kang-hyuk vanishing before her eyes.
And then...
Chwachwachwachwa!
Over a dozen warriors collapsed, throats slit.
Kang-hyuk slowly advanced past the GH Guild member, severing the orc general's head.
Seogeok!
Everything was settled in an instant.
Kang-hyuk approached the GH Guild member, Royard.
"Where are the others?"
Royard squeezed his eyes shut.
"...All perished blocking the orc chieftain and generals."
Kang-hyuk closed his eyes quietly and patted Royard's shoulder.
"Thank you... for staying alive and protecting my family."
"No, sir."
Royard bowed his head, tears flowing.
Their comrades' deaths weren't in vain.
They'd succeeded in buying time until the Master's return.
"Join up with the GH Guild members in Gwanak-gu and exterminate the magic beasts."
"Yes, sir."
Kang-hyuk rushed to his family.
Paht!
His sudden appearance startled them.
"Everyone okay...? Looks like some minor scrapes."
They must have gotten them tumbling on the ground.
"I'm fine, but..."
Jin-o glanced at his wife and daughter.
Kang-hyuk pulled out low-grade potions he'd brought.
"Take one each. And..."
Kang-hyuk looked at Hye-in.
"Who might you be...?"
"Ah, hello. I'm a f-friend from Yu-na's university."
"Ah..."
Kang-hyuk nodded and eyed her ankle.
It was slightly swollen and red.
Sprained while fleeing?
He handed her a potion.
"Looks like you twisted your ankle... Drinking this should help."
"Th-Thank you."
Hye-in drank the potion, healing her ankle and scrapes.
A sprain was no match for a low-grade potion.
"For now, we'll head to Gwanak-gu and link up with my guild members."
"W-Walking there?"
At his mother's question, Kang-hyuk pondered briefly.
Calling a vehicle was tough with Dongjak-gu inaccessible.
Roads clogged with empty cars, magic beasts, and evacuating people.
"Please wait a moment."
Kang-hyuk called the Association President.
[Yes, Lee Ho-seok speaking.]
"This is Park Kang-hyuk. Could you send a vehicle to near Noryangjin Station in Dongjak-gu?"
[Have you arrived in Dongjak-gu?]
"Yes, just linked up with my family. The orc chieftain is also eliminated."
[...?!]
Ho-seok let out a small gasp.
Already taken down an S-rank magic beast?!
[The vehicle... to evacuate your family?]
"Yes."
[Understood. Sending one right away. As for you, Hunter Park Kang-hyuk...]
"Once it arrives, I'll exterminate the magic beasts in Dongjak-gu."
[Got it. Please hold on a bit.]
The roads were in chaos.
A Hunter Association vehicle dispatched from Yongsan-gu crossed Hannam Bridge to Noryangjin Station.
Being an SUV, it could easily carry four people.