Chapter 9
Dinaria once said that human intuition is strangely attuned not to good fortune, but to impending doom—and it usually nails it. Like hitting the pity timer on a gacha pull, or foreseeing a long-term reinforcement failure in some RPG. I was the same. Good things never pinged my radar, but whenever my hackles rose at the sense of something bad heading my way or someone plotting against me, it always came true. Just like now.
I sprinted with my bag slung over my shoulder, lungs burning. "Hah, hah…."
My ragged breaths rose to my throat. I finally ducked into a shadowed alley corner and exhaled the mounting panic. That's when I heard thudding footsteps nearby—someone running full tilt.
I hunkered down as small as possible, holding my breath.
"Find him! That parasite bastard! If we lose him, we're the ones who get fucked!"
"Ah, shit! Where the hell did that dog go?!"
Not too many—about three. Still, I didn't have the confidence to take them down right now. Each one was bronze-badge level, not on Cheong-ah or Bella's tier by a long shot, but way above a mere iron-badge scrub like me….
I caught my breath, soothing my aching body. If I could just break through and reach the inn, I'd be golden.
"Fuckin' dogshit bastards…"
§ On my way back from the smithy to reunite with Cheong-ah and Bella. We'd agreed to meet at the inn after I grabbed some gear, so that's where I was headed when those guys showed up.
"Hey, parasite. Fancy meeting you."
"What the hell are you punks doing here."
Despite my words, I recognized them. Three from before I met Cheong-ah, back when they treated me like dirt—and two more I'd seen just the other day. Especially the piss-pants guy and the loudmouth; they stuck out.
"What else, asshole? We're here to fuck you up."
Five of them circling me, spitting venom. I flinched inwardly but kept a straight face. Showing fear now would only make it worse. Instead, I arched one eyebrow, smirked like it was ridiculous, and shot back boldly.
"Fuck me up? You losers aren't scared of the fallout? Forgot who's got my back? What, summer's coming—wanna end up as sun-dried rotten jerky?"
"Oh, those bitches? Terrifying, sure. Who around here isn't scared of the tiger and the meathead?"
"Then how about you fuck off? I can't stand looking at your ugly mugs…."
I was holding my ground when Piss-Pants twisted his face and cut me off, stepping closer.
"So where are those bitches right now, punk?"
"…Ha."
Fuck. The bluff wasn't landing. I rolled my eyes subtly. Good news: these five seemed to be all of them. They hadn't fully blocked the street, but the direct path to the inn was cut off. Backtracking might get me there eventually, but no guarantees. As long as I didn't get caught, I'd manage. Thanks to Cheong-ah's brutal training lately, my speed and stamina had improved a ton—I had faith in my legs. Just don't let them surround me.
I backpedaled step for step with their advancing feet, needling them to rile them up and buy time.
"What, you little shits getting cold feet now? Shoulda thought twice before acting tough, huh? Why not run cry to those cunts for help?"
"Fuck off, retard. So you needed five to take me? Scared? Think one-on-one you'd lose?"
"Scared? Says the parasite. I could handle you solo."
"Solo my ass. Only thing you're 'handling' is the piss still dripping down your pants. Take a fuckin' shower, man. How's it been three days and it still reeks? Wait—or is that your breath? Ah, fuck, got it. You travel in a pack like gays. No wonder. Sucking other guys' dicks explains the stench."
"You little shit! I'll rip your mouth off!"
"Whoa, back off! I said you stink—why come closer? Ugh… the smell. Hey, doesn't your mom say anything? Her big boy out sucking random cock? Nah, she probably thinks you're just a pussy-ass pack of cock-munchers chasing one guy. Go home and blow each other like usual."
"Fuckin' bastard!"
I pinched my nose dramatically, and Piss-Pants finally snapped, charging. Seeing him break away from the other four blocking the path, I whipped around and bolted, tossing one last jab over my shoulder.
"Sorry, dude! Hit a nerve?! Didn't know for real! My bad—have fun with your pretty boyfriends!"
"You fuckin' prick! Get him now!"
"Who the hell are you to give orders?"
"You idiot! He's running! If we lose him, we're all dead!"
"Oh, shit—right!"
"Right my ass! Chase him, you morons!"
Five of them hot on my heels, desperate. Damn it. The market was just straight paths—no good hiding spots came to mind…! I zigzagged through alleys as they appeared, anything to shake them. But they knew what happened if they failed, so they pursued relentlessly. Could I loop around to the inn? Worth a shot.
§ That's how the endless chase led to this mess. Luck held—no dead ends yet—but how long would that last?
"…Seems like they're gone for now."
No footsteps nearby. I peeked out cautiously. People milling about, but no sign of them. Still, better safe. I pulled the crossbow I'd bought from my bag and checked it over.
Magazine-fed bolts that clicked into place, arm-mountable. A ring trigger hooked to my middle finger—bend it to fire. Even had a scope. The body alone was hefty, but after rolling with Cheong-ah, this was nothing. Adding the mag wouldn't weigh it down much.
This world had tech for days—just no guns. Or maybe I hadn't seen them yet. Never fired this thing, so I hoped I wouldn't have to. I strapped it to my right arm.
"Time to move."
I muttered and crept out—then froze. From the opposite end of the alley, one of them popped up, spotted me, and yelled.
"Here! Found him! The bastard's hiding he—!"
"Shit."
I bolted forward, glancing back. The shouter's crew converging—three total, including him. Narrow alley meant they strung out single-file behind the leader.
I snapped my arm up, aimed at the front guy, and yanked my middle finger.
Pfiuuung!
The bolt sliced air with solid force. Would've been nice if it hit, but first shot? No chance.
Thwack! It ricocheted off the wall beside their path.
No beginner's luck, damn it. But it spooked them—the leader stumbled to a halt.
"F-fuck! He's got a crossbow! Fall back!"
"Crossbow? Screw that—grab him now! Here, shield!"
"Hell no! One bad hit and I'm dead! You take point!"
"You chickenshit! Fine, move, idiot! Lemme up front!"
They shuffled positions. I fired another bolt—missed again, but the would-be leader flinched hard. I glared, bluffing hard.
Bluffing was my specialty lately. Ho-go-ho-wi, as they'd say—raising their spirits by proxy.
I hardened my face, narrowed my eyes fiercely, but curved my lips in a smug half-smirk.
"Don't. Move. Moron. Unless you want a hole in that thick skull. Been missing on purpose so far. Next one's on target. This is your warning—get a shield before I fire again, yeah?"
All bullshit, of course. But sell it with conviction, and it becomes art. As Pyeon-kyung-jang said. My soul-infused lie made him shrink further.
"…F-fuck."
"No cussing—hands up, turn around. Now, dumbass. No funny business. You know pulling this is faster than whatever you try, right? One more hole right in your thick head."
"P-please, spare me. I just went along with these guys…."
"Fine, I'll spare you—turn. Or you wanna die?"
"O-okay."
As he turned, blocking his buddies' approach like a human wall, I backed away slowly.
"Stay put. Twitch and I fire."
But I'd overlooked one thing. Five total—not three. Three in front meant two could slip in from the wide-open rear.
"Gotcha now, you little shit."
Crack! Piss-Pants' voice, then a club to my skull. My head throbbed.
"Gah!"
Riiiing— Ears ringing, vision spinning, legs buckling.
"F-fuck."
So close….
They closed in. "This bastard shot a crossbow?!"
"Fuckin' prick. Finally caught him."
I crumpled. Piss-Pants grabbed my hair, shoving his face in mine.
"Talk big for a parasite, huh? Wanna spew more shit?"
"…Piss-breath."
"You fucker!"
He snarled. Fist smashed my eye—vision blurred. Hair released, then all five stomped me.
Consciousness fading. Then—a familiar voice.
"How dare you lay hands on my Yeonja…! These vile wretches, I shall not forgive!"
"What? That kid… guk?!"
"Urk! Wh-what?! Aag…!"
"Hey, fuck! What the—aaargh!"
"R-run…! Khek."
"S-spare…! Gurk, guh."
Their screams cut off as they beat me. Then blackness.
"Yeonja? Yeonja! YEONJA!! You must not die, Yeonja!"