Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Dark Shadow Group (3)
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“Alright, I’ll tell you everything.”
As I spoke with a resolute expression.
“Yeah, that’s more like it.”
Go Jae-young briefly pulled back the dagger pressed against Kim Jun-seo’s throat.
Then he licked the blood off it.
It was a truly grotesque sight.
Something you’d only see in Japanese manga, right?
“Heh heh, if you want to save your life, that is.”
Wow.
Was this guy always like this?
His mental age hadn’t stopped at middle school second year, had it?
But right now, I had to play along with his tastes.
No matter how much I’d grown recently, realistically speaking.
There was zero chance of beating three A-ranks and ten B-ranks.
“Of course. Any one of the hunters here could crush trash like me without breaking a sweat. I’m just grateful for the chance to survive.”
“Hmph, you’ve still got a way with words, just like last time.”
Go Jae-young snorted, but he didn’t seem upset.
I continued.
“The fortuitous opportunity is simple.”
“Go on, then.”
“There’s a master who’s been training me.”
“A master? That old man Kang Jae-ho mentioned? The one even Gi So-yul struggled against?”
“Yes, exactly.”
I nodded.
“To be precise, he’s a powerhouse who could shatter Lady Shadow even after dozens of challenges.”
“Huh. I knew it, but hearing it again is still shocking. To think such a being exists.”
Go Jae-young sighed.
As a fellow assassin.
It seemed he still couldn’t believe that Gi So-yul—someone in a completely different league from him—had been crushed.
The Dark Shadow Group hunters nearby stirred.
“A master who overwhelms ranking 380? That’s definitely an impressive opportunity.”
“Yeah, if it’s true.”
“Of course it is. Why else would Zakan make a move?”
“But where’s this master? Is he only visible to that guy? Then he’s useless.”
As expected.
Someone voiced their doubt.
“Oh, about that.”
I said.
“My master is a ghost, so he won’t be visible to you right now. But with a special method, I can make him appear. And that’s not all. I can even share him with you. With all of you.”
I wet my lips as I spoke.
Want to know how to lie well?
Mix 10% lie into 90% truth.
Most people get hooked on the 90% truth and miss the 10% lie.
Just like right now.
“Is that for real?”
“You can show us your master? And have him teach us too?”
As the hunters buzzed, I grinned.
“Of course. That’s why Lady Shadow stuck by my side.”
“……!”
Go Jae-young’s eyes widened.
“That woman. She had ulterior motives after all.”
“No wonder she was clinging to the newbie like a hidden treasure chest!”
“Was she getting trained by him on her own?”
Some still harbored doubts.
Others nodded as if they finally understood.
“But the training process might be a bit grueling. Our master is a bit eccentric and Spartan. Honestly, I don’t think you all could endure it.”
I shuddered.
This wasn’t acting—it was real.
My muscles were still aching from this morning’s massage.
“So.”
Go Jae-young spoke up.
“Can you pass it on right now?”
And.
Lust was clearly gleaming in his eyes.
‘He can’t help it.’
That was exactly what I was aiming for.
He’d been obsessed with my “fortuitous opportunity” from the start.
He wanted to hear about it and claim it.
‘But until now, he had to hold back.’
Because Zakan, the head of the Dark Shadow Group, was personally involved!
The rights to spoils went to the superior, Zakan!
‘That’s why.’
I bluffed that I could share my opportunity with everyone.
So it wouldn’t go straight to Zakan first, but tempt him to grab it himself.
But.
Why go through this lie?
“Of course. I can pass it on right now. It’ll just take about 30 minutes to chant the incantation and prepare.”
To buy time.
Here’s what really happened.
After Gi So-yul left.
Bzzz!
With a vibration, several texts arrived.
[Gi So-yul: Dong-hoon.]
[Gi So-yul: Don’t try to fight them alone no matter what.]
[Gi So-yul: Those connections I said I’d introduce you to. It’s a bit early, but if I ask, they’ll definitely come, right?]
[Gi So-yul: Just 30 minutes. Hold out for 30 minutes.]
That’s right.
I was stalling.
Waiting for Gi So-yul’s contacts.
‘Even if they don’t come, it’s fine.’
Coming here was my choice.
Even if I lost, I had no intention of running.
‘Plus, I have Taeyang.’
He said it himself.
Just give the order, and he’d handle it to the best of his ability.
Though it pains me to say, he was once an absolute being who slaughtered all humanity.
He wouldn’t be an easy opponent for them.
“So, shall we start with the assassin?”
There, the ball was tossed.
A ball of greed, uncertain if true or false.
Catch it or not.
The choice is yours.
* * *
Time passed.
“Mm.”
Go Jae-young’s facial muscles twitched.
‘He’s mumbling something, but it feels off.’
The guy who said he’d give the opportunity.
Had been chanting for over 30 minutes.
He’d asked for a bit more time since it wasn’t going well.
But something felt uneasy.
The other hunters were frowning in boredom too.
‘Come to think of it, he did this last time.’
The situation was different, but the pattern was the same.
He cleverly stalled, and in the end, Gi So-yul appeared, forcing him to flee.
What guaranteed it wouldn’t happen again?
‘That relaxed look too.’
Joo Dong-hoon.
He definitely wasn’t ordinary.
How could an E-rank hunter face a group of high-rank hunters like him without flinching?
‘He must have something he’s relying on.’
Go Jae-young’s face twisted as his thoughts reached that point.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
Joo Dong-hoon, mid-chant, lifted his head as if asking what now.
His attitude was utterly insolent.
“How much longer? There’s a limit to my patience.”
“Sorry, just a bit more. And if you keep interrupting like this, I lose focus. Then we’d have to start over.”
“…….”
“Or maybe.”
He pushed it further.
“Are you getting cold feet? Eh, if you’re scared, feel free to back out.”
Snap!
A vein bulged on Go Jae-young’s forehead.
‘Is he really insane?’
He seemed to know the value of his “opportunity” and was acting this way.
No helping it then.
Swish!
Go Jae-young fluidly spun the dagger in his hand.
Then pressed it back against Kim Jun-seo’s throat.
“Mmph! Mmmph!”
“What are you doing?”
As expected, a reaction from the guy.
Go Jae-young replied coldly.
“You said 30 minutes. You broke the promise first, so taking this one’s life should be fine, right?”
At the same time, he glanced at the surrounding hunters.
A gesture asking if they agreed.
“Keheh, that’s right.”
“Yeah, we just need that guy alive anyway.”
“Agreed. Kill him first. We’ve been too nice, not like us.”
The Dark Shadow Group hunters grinned slyly in agreement.
“Phew, don’t blame me.”
Go Jae-young tightened his grip.
“You brought this on yourself.”
And as he went to slice!
Bam!
Sudden excruciating pain exploded from his hand.
‘What? Where’d that come from?’
Clutching his throbbing hand and stepping back.
Flash!
A long spear shot right in front of his face, embedding itself.
‘Huh?’
What?
Such speed and precision?
The power was weak, sure, but the follow-up was so fast and accurate that a mistake could’ve been fatal.
“…….”
In the end, Go Jae-young gritted his teeth, abandoned Kim Jun-seo, and fully retreated.
And the one who caught Kim Jun-seo.
Was a single skeleton wielding a frail bone spear.
Go Jae-young doubted his own eyes.
“A mere skeleton pulling off an attack like that?”
Its spearwork was impeccable.
As if the ranking 10 spear king from China had descended.
Its presence was majestic.
And.
“Ha.”
That’s when Joo Dong-hoon’s relaxed expression changed.
“A shame. I thought I could stall a bit longer.”
A voice completely different from before.
Go Jae-young’s rage boiled over.
He’d finally realized he’d been tricked.
“You bald thunderbolt bastard! You’ve forgotten your place and are acting up!”
Go Jae-young spat through clenched teeth.
“You dare mock me? You think one weird skeleton can turn this around?”
Ridiculous.
He’d been startled briefly, but that was it.
He was A-rank.
Like how a 4-year-old boxing prodigy couldn’t beat a 20-year-old adult.
The skeleton and he had a fundamental power gap.
“Kill the hostage and capture that one! Make him pay for deceiving us!”
He shouted to the hunters.
“Charge!”
“Kill him!”
“No, subdue him, don’t kill!”
The hunters rushed Joo Dong-hoon.
More precisely, they unleashed skills at the five skeletons in formation.
Each one an unstoppable attack from B-rank or higher.
“…….”
But.
Joo Dong-hoon watched the attacks with cold, icy eyes.
“Taeyang.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“It’ll be a tough fight, but I’m counting on you.”
Swish!
Taeyang’s spear danced brilliantly.
In the dark night sky, sunlight flashed.
Skill.
Solar Chain Strike!
A scorching wind whipped up.
The hunters faltered at Taeyang’s attack.
‘What?’
‘Chilling technique.’
‘Gotta dodge for now.’
One by one, ominous instincts made them retreat.
Everyone dodged, thinking ‘I can afford to pull back.’
All because of a technique from an E-rank hunter.
The top hunters all stepped back in a laughable display.
The baffled Go Jae-young flew into a rage.
“You idiots! It’s obviously just flashy with no substance—what are you doing!”
Even for a criminal group like the Dark Shadow Group.
How could they all be so selfish?
Go Jae-young, tired of watching their pathetic retreat, stepped up himself.
‘I’ll take him down.’
Swoosh!
He carefully melted into the shadows.
In the dark night, an assassin’s stats shone even brighter.
‘I’ll become a ranker assassin.’
One way or another.
He’d uncover why Gi So-yul stuck to that man.
Hum!
Go Jae-young infused his dagger with killing intent.
The essence of assassination: kill without them even knowing why.
‘First, decapitate that spear-wielding skeleton.’
Sss!
Just as Go Jae-young’s dagger elegantly pierced toward the back of Taeyang Spear’s neck.
Boom!
The ground suddenly shook.
No, the entire island of Seonyu-do trembled.
“Eup?”
A chilling sensation made Go Jae-young halt his attack unwittingly.
He held his breath and lowered his stance.
“Gah!”
“W-what?”
“What’s this aura……?”
The other hunters lunging at Joo Dong-hoon froze too.
Immense pressure.
An unknown force dominated the space itself.
Everyone’s gazes naturally turned to the source.
“…….”
And there.
Stood a man with rippling upper-body muscles.
He’d appeared out of nowhere, as if fallen from the sky.
Like a meteor.
“Whew, am I too late?”
The man’s tone was incredibly casual.
Cold sweat dripped down Go Jae-young’s forehead.
It had to.
Who in the world wouldn’t know this man?
“Why is Jang Dae-woong here…….”
Berserker Jang Dae-woong.
A ranker, world ranking 20.
The world’s most infamous madman had arrived.