Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Rip Your Belly Open
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“…….”
In the silence.
Kang Jae-ho smirked and rummaged through his pocket.
He pulled out a cigarette and stuck it between his lips.
Chiiik!
The glowing ember burning in the middle of the desert looked incredibly sinister.
“Um, excuse me…….”
It was then that the older brother among the porter siblings stepped forward.
He pushed his younger sister behind him and asked cautiously, voice trembling.
“Party leader Kang Jae-ho?”
“Yeah?”
“What does ‘boss type’…… mean?”
[To unseal the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, you must offer a sacrifice.]
[Place the sacrifice on top of the two engraved magic circles.]
[The sacrifice must be a living hunter of F-rank or higher.]
The new stage’s information floated before every party member.
Kang Jae-ho chuckled.
“What does it mean? Can’t you see for yourself?”
“Huh?”
“It says to offer a sacrifice. Two living F-rank or higher hunters. Don’t you get it?”
“I get that part, but…….”
“Oh ho, you do? Then we’re good. What are you waiting for? Get up there already.”
Kang Jae-ho pointed at the altar.
“……Huh?”
The male porter panicked.
But Kang Jae-ho just lounged there, as if savoring the moment.
“Heh heh, what a clueless guy.”
“Yeah, no wonder with zero awareness like that.”
The nearby hunters snickered too.
The porter shouted.
“Are you insane, you bastards?”
“Insane? Hmm…… Yeah, if that’s how you wanna see it, go ahead.”
“W-what? Why are you doing this to us!”
His younger sister stepped forward from behind.
“You guys! You planned this from the start, didn’t you?”
“Aigoo, what’s the point of talking.”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you think it was weird? Higher pay than usual, and for scraps like you? There’s a reason for high pay—it comes with a high price. Didn’t you know that basic fact?”
The porters ground their teeth at Kang Jae-ho’s true colors.
I was stunned too.
‘The fact that they’re pulling this right in front of me means……’
Only one answer.
They’re confident they can crush someone like me with raw power.
Swish.
I stepped forward in front of Kang Jae-ho, unable to stand it any longer.
“Hmm? No need for you to butt in. We were just gonna use those two as sacrifices.”
“…….”
I glared at Kang Jae-ho without a word.
A guy who treats human lives like flies.
The world calls scum like that ‘villains’.
And me?
I had zero intention of compromising with a ‘villain’ for any goal.
“Well, well. More of a romantic than you look. Or maybe a goody-two-shoes?”
“Shut up. What’s your goal?”
I asked.
“Goal? Which one?”
“Why bother dragging me here from the mercenary guild.”
“Heh heh, so you’re not clueless after all?”
“Spit it out.”
Kang Jae-ho’s face hardened.
No idea why, but his presence felt different.
Not overwhelmingly strong, yet something spine-chilling?
“Impressive. So you didn’t luck into clearing that dungeon?”
Kang Jae-ho’s lips twisted.
“You guessed it. We were curious about your ‘fortuitous encounter’. No clue how you sweet-talked that ranker bitch, but it forced us to drag you all the way to this dungeon.”
He shook the sword in his hand.
The other hunters gripped their weapons and formed ranks.
“But remember this. We don’t wanna make an enemy of you.”
“No enemy?”
“Yeah. That’s why we showed you.”
Kang Jae-ho glanced at the trembling porters.
“We’re the type who uses people like this. So, wanna join us? Of course, if you do, you’d share some of that fortuitous encounter. Our team’s fair with splits.”
“Fucking lunatics.”
To sum up their offer:
I’m a villain. Wanna team up?
If yes, hand over the ‘reward’.
Yeah, shove it up your asses.
Shwoong! Shwoong!
Bone-Three fired arrows at terrifying speed.
The startled hunters quickly raised their arms.
Ting!
Kang Jae-ho deflected them swiftly.
“Hoo, that your answer? You’ll regret it.”
“No taste for teaming with beast bastards.”
My gaze was resolute.
By my standards.
They weren’t human.
More like monsters in human skin.
‘Monsters are best when hunted.’
Even if it meant losing.
I couldn’t back down here.
The ranker I dreamed of wasn’t a ‘villainous’ one.
‘And above all.’
Compared to facing that old man, this was nothing.
Felt worth a shot, even.
“…….”
Decision made, I charged with my skeletons out front.
“You think snagging a fortuitous encounter makes you strong overnight? A porter punk from just days ago!”
Kang Jae-ho spat curses, realizing talks were dead.
But I ignored him.
Their shouts rang in my ears like mere “Kreee!” or “Grahh!”.
[‘Bone-5’ uses the skill, Air Shield (Lv.1).]
After the basic defense skill, I slammed in with full force.
* * *
“Huff, huff!”
My eyes locked solely on Kang Jae-ho.
My breaths came ragged.
The skeletons except Bone-One were locked in fierce battles with the other hunters—
Only Bone-One and Kang Jae-ho stared each other down, reading moves.
‘Stronger than expected.’
C-rank hunter, but nearing B-rank power.
Far beyond the scorpions I’d faced.
‘But.’
That made it better.
Just days ago, I’d trembled before D-rank orcs.
Now I could hang with a top C-rank hunter. Proof of growth.
“Kekeke.”
Sensing my ease?
Kang Jae-ho laughed like it amused him.
“Think you’re hot shit handling just me? Big mistake.”
“……?”
“Why do you think we dive nameless rank dungeons without fear?”
I furrowed my brow.
His gaze fixed somewhere.
Like waiting for someone.
A bad premonition hit just as I hesitated.
‘Killing intent?’
A razor-sharp sensation like my throat would be slit—I leaped back.
Shouted at the same time.
“Bone-One!”
Clang!
Bone-One smacked away a dagger from the darkness.
Chilling.
A split-second slower, and it’d have pierced my throat.
“Urgh.”
Strong impact—even I, the summoner, felt the shock.
‘What the?’
My heart sank cold.
No presence, insanely fast movement.
High-rank hunter for sure?
“Kekeke.”
Kang Jae-ho laughed at my fluster and answered.
“Because we’ve got someone covering our backs. They call us the Dark Shadow Crew in the shadows.”
“Dark Shadow Crew?!”
I yelled without thinking.
Even as an E-rank merc, I’d heard the name endless times.
Vicious criminal syndicate lurking underground.
The guild and association had headaches from them.
“Kekeke. Yeah, you pitiful fool. The hunter you’re facing now is an A-rank assassin dispatched by the Dark Shadow Crew.”
“A-rank…….”
Despairing news.
Barely holding a C-rank as is.
Not even B-rank—A-rank?
Two rank gaps were massive. No hoping for luck.
Swish.
Then, a hooded figure emerged from the dark.
“This the guy? The one who cleared the dungeon Gi So-yul failed.”
He growled low.
Kang Jae-ho bowed politely.
“Yes, bro.”
The intense presence halted the fierce battle briefly.
Behind me, the two porters stood dejected.
Behind the new assassin, five hunters smirked leisurely.
“Haa.”
I sighed.
Honestly, no answer.
No solution.
The two porters clutched my clothes from behind.
“Sorry. Feels like you’re suffering because of us.”
“Thank you. Sniff. Even if…… this is the end…… we’re truly grateful. Hic, sorry.”
The young siblings sobbed.
Yeah, what fault did they have?
Just for being weak?
Any reason they deserved sacrifice?
Something inside boiled.
Emotions ignited.
‘Don’t wanna give up.’
Wanted to save them.
So I racked my brain.
Result? Only one thing I could lean on now.
‘Old man.’
I nodded.
No other choice.
Advice from a super powerhouse who called A-rank ‘mere’.
‘Cooldown’s up too.’
[You use the skill, ‘Teachings of All Arts’ (S-rank).]
[20 stamina used.]
[‘Master of All Arts’ appears.]
Here.
I summoned the old fart.
* * *
“Hmm.”
The old man with hands behind his back let out a heavy sigh.
Shook his head.
“Tsk tsk. Knew it from when I said a foundationless punk wandering around. You fool.”
His form was transparent, voice echoing only in my head.
The hunters ahead noticed nothing.
‘Sir, it’s urgent. Give me advice!’
I shouted inwardly. He scoffed.
“Advice? Hah, you couldn’t beat those even revived. Tsk tsk…… Shameful. A guy claiming my disciple can’t handle trash like that.”
‘Quit lamenting! If I die, you don’t resolve your grudge either!’
“Who told you to get in this mess? I’m the wronged one, fool! Even a master of all arts can’t turn impossible into possible!”
‘Damn it!’
Fuck.
I scowled hard.
This’d just waste stamina.
“Ugh……!”
Situation worsened.
Assassin’s killing intent intensified.
He spoke.
“First time, so nicely. What’s the fortuitous encounter you got?”
“…….”
Assassin asking about it.
Eyes flashed.
Clear goal in bringing me.
Won’t kill easy.
Means I can bargain.
“Hoo, indeed. That’s a way, huh?”
Old man murmured approval.
“Yeah, if just the assassin alone, not impossible. Can’t promise 100% win, but mutual destruction’s viable. Good. Try it. Succeed, and I’ll help.”
Mutual destruction.
Charging ready to die with foe.
Last resort against stronger opponent.
I glared at the assassin and spoke.
“……Want to know the fortuitous encounter?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Gi So-yul couldn’t clear it, so it tempts.”
“Then I’ll tell you. Of course I should, to an A-rank hunter.”
“Good choice. Smarter than thought.”
Assassin withdrew killing intent, nodded satisfied.
“But.”
I said.
“Gotta settle scores with those backstabbers first to vent.”
“What?”
Assassin scowled again.
“Till then, too wronged and pissed to talk. Rip your belly open or whatever.”