I Thought I Was Really Dead This Time
Honestly, I really thought I was done for this time.
When the Sap Gisa, flattened out in that grotesque pose, sprang up like a coiled spring and thrust his shovel at me like a spear. I couldn't even catch a glimpse of its afterimage. One moment, the shovel in his hand glinted, and the next, it was gone. In that instant, I knew I was fucked.
Ah, I'm screwed.
Those pink eyes gleaming with madness. As they rapidly closed in, I twisted my lips into a smirk.
But you still lost to me, you goddamn crazy shithead!
There wasn't even time to say it out loud. So in that split second, I glared at him as fiercely as I could, trying to beam the message straight into his skull with my eyes alone.
I could die happy. I was just a nobody chef anyway. Not a ranker, nothing to lose. But you? People would remember you as a cowardly, cheating, shit-stinking loser. Defeated in utter humiliation by some no-name chef. Then throwing a childish tantrum, screeching for a rematch like a pathetic knight.
Who suffered more, I wonder? With that thought, I flashed him the coldest smile I could muster with all my strength.
And just as I was calmly accepting my death—
Some burly middle-aged dude dropped out of the sky like a meteor and blocked that thing I couldn't even see.
BOOM!
SCREEECH—
"You done with business?"
"……!"
Who the hell is this guy?! I looked up at the giant blocking my view like he was my goddamn savior.
The burly dude glanced at me and smiled faintly.
"Long time no see, Hura-nim."
"Beda-nim!"
I stared at the rugged man, my throat tightening with indescribable joy.
He was Rank 6, Issneun Himkkeul Beda. The monster swordsman who'd vanished after his battle with Rank 1 Cheon-gong, saying his training wasn't enough. No one blamed him—it wasn't his fault at all. But he'd left to atone for not being strong enough.
And somehow, he'd returned at the perfect timing.
I looked up at the sky. A wyvern, snatched from somewhere, was screeching Kieeeek! as it flapped frantically away.
"Oh!"
The Sap Gisa spoke in a voice half surprise, half delight.
"What brings you here? Issneun Himkkeul Beda! Of all places!"
But Beda quietly yanked his massive greatsword from the ground. Then he swung it at the Sap Gisa without a word.
It was as swift as flicking a light one-handed sword.
"Haha! Good to see you! How about a handsh—"
WHOOSH—
WHAM!!
Just a single strike with the greatsword, and it sounded like a bomb going off.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
CRACK—
KABOOM!
The Sap Gisa, who'd approached without a care, smashed through several trees and flew deep into the forest like a baseball launched by a pro batter.
"……."
My jaw dropped at Beda's feat—one strike sending that village-destroying mad shithead flying.
Even if the Sap Gisa had let his guard down approaching casually, that blow felt sharper than before. He was clearly stronger now.
Beda, who'd blasted him away, turned to me casually.
"You've become quite the celebrity while I was gone."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Kinda happened."
"I enjoyed the videos."
"Haha. Embarrassing."
As we chatted, another voice cut in.
"…Issneun Himkkeul Beda-nim?"
Dahyun was staring at him with saucer eyes, one hand over her mouth, stammering.
"Oh my god! It's really Rank 6 Issneun Himkkeul Beda! Oh! Oh my gosh! What do I do?!"
She bounced in place, making a huge fuss.
"And this is…?"
I gave Beda a quick intro.
"This is Dahyun. She's a… friend. She's been helping me out with the business."
"Then…"
Beda trailed off with a meaningful glance. Asking if I knew she knew I was just a regular chef, not some unofficial ranker.
I whispered to him carefully.
"She's trustworthy. She knows everything."
Only then did Beda smile warmly and extend his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Dahyun-nim."
"H-Hi, Issneun Himkkeul Beda-nim! I'm a huge fan!"
"Just call me Beda."
"Eek! Y-Yes! Beda-nim! This is so surreal!"
It was like watching a celebrity and their rabid fan. Don't ask for an autograph now, okay?
"……."
…Wait, no. More importantly, why are we casually chatting like this?
The Sap Gisa could bounce back any second. Weren't we in a fierce battle just now?
I gawked at the two exchanging pleasantries so calmly—especially Beda, with that relaxed look on his face. That confident in his skills, huh?
"Master! Are you okay?!"
Tteoksoon-i rushed over in a panic.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about Gold Sun?"
"Ah, Senior!"
Tteoksoon-i finally noticed Gold Sun embedded in the ground and dashed over.
As she dug him out frantically, heavy footsteps approached—thud thud.
It was Molrangkau. Her eyes met Beda's.
"……."
"……."
Look at those narrowing brows. The eyes turning fierce in an instant. Anyone could tell things weren't amicable between them.
…How does Molrangkau not have a single friend?
Behind her came murmurs and hurried footsteps.
"Rank 6! The monster swordsman Issneun Himkkeul Beda!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Sap Gisa, Red Witch, and now the monster swordsman? Am I seeing this right?"
"Three high rankers in the top 10 gathered!"
"…Is this a bug?"
The crowd following Molrangkau swerved toward where the Sap Gisa had flown off like a baseball, eyes flicking our way but legs honestly sprinting after him. Like passersby pretending not to notice a celebrity on the street but sneaking peeks.
Oh yeah, the command was still active.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and activated the Lion's Roar skill.
"Stop!"
A bunch of them tumbled over like dominoes.
"Guh!"
"Argh!"
"Pfft!"
They'd suddenly regained control of their auto-piloted bodies.
"…Huh? My hand's moving on its own again!"
"Whoa! My legs too!"
"It's a miracle!"
…That's how it always was, you idiots.
As they marveled at their reclaimed bodies, things were just as chaotic here.
"Senior…! Come on, snap out of it!"
Tteoksoon-i was still excavating Gold Sun.
"Whoa… It's really Issneun Himkkeul Beda-nim… Whoa…"
Dahyun stared at him from afar, gasping to herself in disbelief.
"……."
"……."
Molrangkau and Beda were still glaring like they wanted to devour each other.
…Gotta sort this mess out first. Who knows when the Sap Gisa revives.
I slipped between Molrangkau and Beda. Their sharp glares softened instantly.
"Ahem… Mind filling me in?"
Beda scratched his cheek and asked.
I explained simply.
"The Sap Gisa and I had a fair duel, and I won. He couldn't accept it, so the cowardly cheating shithead chased me down. I didn't wanna fight, so I was dodging."
"…Pardon?"
Huh. Pretty straightforward, right?
"So, basically, the Sap Gisa's chasing Hura-nim?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Then why's she here?"
Beda shot Molrangkau a displeased glance. She glared right back.
"What's it to you?…nim."
She glanced at me and tacked on a tiny -nim.
Beda's eyes widened slightly.
"She's my friend."
"What?!"
Beda gaped at me like Are you insane?
"Hmph!"
Molrangkau crossed her arms, her lips twitching smugly.
"Got a problem with me being friends with Hura?…nim?"
"Yeah. Big problem."
Beda answered flatly to her weird polite speech.
"What?…nim?"
"Who'd like a pyro who burns people for fun?"
"What? When did I?!"
Beda snorted at her outrage.
"You did it to me. Attacked out of nowhere."
"Lies! You attacked first!"
"Don't lie. You got me last time, but not this time."
"Wanna bet?"
"……."
I looked away from their growling to Tteoksoon-i, who'd finished digging.
Thankfully, Gold Sun was still breathing, limping over with her support. One leg completely shattered, hopping on the other.
"…Tch."
I approached.
"Gold Sun. You okay?"
"Y-Yes… ngh. I'm fine."
"……."
Like hell you are. He looked wrecked. Just two hits from the Sap Gisa, and he was a miracle for still being alive.
…Thank god he's tough. If Tteoksoon-i had carried me, she'd be dead by now.
Seeing him stirred an uncomfortable boil in my chest. Like how a dad feels when his daughter comes home beat up by some punk.
"…Tch. I'm unsummoning you. Rest up."
"I can't… I have to escort Master… to safety…"
His eyes kept drooping, but he mumbled on. Out of it.
"…Shut up and go."
I canceled the Cooking Summon.
Poof—
"……."
I picked up the half-charred, battered fried egg from the ground and stashed it in my inventory.
If I'd been stronger, I'd have beaten that shithead to a pulp myself. What a shame.
But I knew people who could, so that'd be my consolation.
I approached the still-sniping duo.
"Beda-nim."
"Ah, yes."
He stopped glaring at Molrangkau to reply.
"How'd you get here?"
"Well…"
He scratched his cheek.
"I heard you were selling ramen here. Came for a bowl. Too late?"
"Yes. Business is over."
"Damn…"
He scratched the back of his head disappointingly.
"But not that late."
"Huh?"
"Do me a favor, and I'll treat you to handmade spicy ramen till you burst."
"Sluuurp— Tempting."
Beda licked his lips.
"What's the favor?"
I pointed toward where the Sap Gisa flew.
"Sap Gisa. Beat the shit out of that crazy bastard."
"Got it."
I shook his hand to seal the deal.
"Honestly, he's one I never wanna face again. But you ask, I can't say no. Ramen's my weakness."
"One you don't wanna face?"
"Plenty. Cheon-gong, Geogi Seora, and—"
He caught himself.
"Ah, your sister. Sorry."
"Nah. Even I'm scared when sis gets mad."
Something moved in my peripheral. Molrangkau nodded in agreement.
…What about you?
"Anyway, you'll beat him good?"
"Yes. He's tanky—should be fun."
Beda grinned faintly, glancing at the forest.
"He's about to get up. Better go now if you're going."
"Roger."
"I'll hold here. Boil that ramen. I'll go before you light the fire."
So confident, like a war god.
"Hold up."
Molrangkau cut in.
"Why the brag? One slip and Sap Gisa gets you."
Beda frowned.
"What do you know, Molrangkau."
"More than you."
"Training paid off."
"Hmph. Got stronger, big deal."
"…Wanna test it?"
Beda gripped his greatsword hilt confidently.
"Rematch might swap our ranks."
Molrangkau smirked.
"Bring it."
"What?"
"Wonder if you ditched that brute-force style. Probably not."
They started growling again.
…Why are they fighting each other?
Without me, they'd probably clash already.
-Kuhuhu… You two.
Then, a gloomy laugh leaked from the forest where the Sap Gisa flew.
-Kuhuk… ku ku… Sap haha!! Great! Great! Perfect! Sap haha!!
It turned into manic laughter, echoing loudly.
The bickering duo's faces turned serious. They yelled at me.
"Go now!"
"Hey! What're you doing? Hurry!"
"I'll hold here. Ramen, got it?"
"Ah, cut the bravado! It'll go cold before you light it. Hey! Don't boil it!"
"Scared?"
"Why so cocky? Maybe a quick roast'll wake you up."
"What'd you say?"
…Unsettling, but no better backup now. Rank 5 and 6 tag-teaming.
"Alright, she's yours!"
I bolted before the Sap Gisa burst out.
"Tteoksoon-i! Dahyun! Let's go!"
"Yes!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
-Sap haha!!
I sprinted toward the Flame Palace, leaving the laughter behind.