Die 200 Times
The Apostle raised his hand. At that moment, a system message appeared before Han Seol-ah's eyes. It was the same strange, golden lettering she'd seen at the press conference, radiating an otherworldly power.
The world is calling you...
Will you respond?
[YES] [NO]
The content was different. But the choices were the same. Han Seol-ah selected [YES].
Whoosh!
Han Seol-ah vanished in an instant.
"!"
Min Ji-hee and Jin Cheon-jin jumped in shock.
"The disappearances from the press conference...!"
"...So the Apostle called her then too."
The Apostle nodded.
"I'll send her back in four days, same time."
"That must be when Scathach appears."
"It won't be late."
The Apostle departed. Only after his presence fully faded did Jin Cheon-jin and Min Ji-hee exhale the breaths they'd been holding.
"...He doesn't really mean to kill her. It's a trial for growth. Our daughter was far wiser than us."
"Yeah."
Min Ji-hee, feeling a decade younger as a parent, straightened up with a hardened expression.
"Let's head back. We have work too."
"...Lots to prepare."
"You'll have to lead the subjugation op, Association President."
"Suddenly? You're not doing it?"
"I have preparations to make."
Min Ji-hee's eyes gleamed.
"He emphasized it was the first request, and told us to ensure nothing interferes with his activities in this world. What do you think that means?"
"...Just prep what he needs?"
"If it were anyone ordinary, sure. But this is the Apostle, proxy of a transcendent. We can't think ordinarily."
"Then?"
"It's a test. To see if we're useful long-term pieces... or useless baggage that can't even understand orders."
"...Baggage?"
"From a transcendent's view, incompetent underlings are worthless. So we prove it. That we're smart. Useful."
"And your plan?"
"Show him. Prove our value—mine and the Association's."
"..."
"Heh. Fun, isn't it? A battle of wits with someone superior to me."
'...Complicated.'
Ignoring Min Ji-hee as she let out an eerie, ominous chuckle, Jin Cheon-jin quietly pulled out his phone. One message waited.
It was a threat from the traitor Kim Min-seok. Normally, Jin Cheon-jin would've lit a cigarette and racked his brain. But now?
Pfft.
Ridiculous nonsense. Jin Cheon-jin replied with a single character.
Then he blocked the number.
* * *
"...Has that old fart lost his mind?"
Kim Min-seok's head boiled.
'I was looking out for old times' sake, and he dares mock me?'
Grind.
His teeth gnashed. But he cooled off fast. He had to report to the 'Guild Master' now.
"Damn it."
The multinational mercenary group Pandemonium—named like a middle schooler's diary, but its reality was anything but cute.
Thud!
In his haste, Kim Min-seok's shoulder slammed into someone.
"Watch it, retard."
The guy who'd bumped him in the hall was yesterday's news: the family arson murderer. But here, 'Grade 3' crooks like him were more common than pebbles. Only 'Grade 2' execs flashed serial terrorist business cards. That was Pandemonium.
But the one Kim Min-seok faced now was on another level.
'Guild Master.'
The apex predator among those fiends—a Grade 1 criminal, one of only three worldwide with 'execute on sight, no questions.' A living catastrophe. Black Label.
Standing before the door where that monster breathed, Kim Min-seok's legs trembled uncontrollably.
Pandemonium's price for accepting his defection: two things. Make Korea owe Pandemonium. Recruit Han Seol-ah. Methods irrelevant. Just deliver results.
Kim Min-seok had thought it easy at first. Wasn't the Frost Dragon her perfect counter with ice immunity? An unbeatable foe. Humans always break in impossible crises. His creed.
'Damn, damn!'
When Han Seol-ah first vanished, he'd thought the time had come. A hunter with titles like 'Guardian'—so noble—finally cracking.
But she returned. Incomprehensibly stronger. And shattered the Frost Dragon's immunity.
'How the hell did she pierce it...?'
Still, he didn't quit. An alarm had hit him too—as nominal Korean. True Frost Dragon, Ancient Blue Dragon - Scathach, in five days.
'She'll break this time. Definitely. I haven't failed yet!'
The Guild Master's room: enter ten, five never return. Time to go in.
"Hoo. Hooo."
Steeling himself before the door. Gulp. As he swallowed—
"Come in."
A low voice from beyond.
"Y-yes, sir."
Kim Min-seok bowed 90 degrees, creeping inside.
"Don't stutter. Once."
"...Yes."
"Stuttering or whatever. Don't you know what really pisses me off? Twice now."
"I'll correct it."
His nape slickened instantly. Counting offenses. The Guild Master's habit. Any crime, any deed—he forgave the same mistake exactly twice. Third time? Instant death.
Gulp. Kim Min-seok snapped straight—eyes down, avoiding the Master's gaze.
"Report?"
"Frost Dragon eliminated. Break advanced to five days. Superior entity Ancient Blue Dragon - Scathach incoming."
"Han Seol-ah?"
"Unknown why she powered up suddenly, but I judge Scathach impossible for her."
"Basis?"
"Observer's analysis."
Hmm—bored nasal hum.
"If it's his analysis, probably right. So?"
"She'll fail to protect Korea. Her spirit breaks soon. I'll recruit her then."
"Your plan?"
"Yes."
"Frost Dragon, you failed. That's once."
"..."
"Fail again? Twice."
Kekeke. The Guild Master chuckled amusedly. Air thickened—literally. Creak—ceiling and floor groaned under invisible force. Shoulders crushed like lead weights. In pitch black, only the Master's eyes blazed red, staring like a predator toying with prey.
"You know my temper? Fail this time, I'll let it slide."
"Yes."
"But I think you'll fail this one too. Know why?"
"No."
"Your plan misses one crucial element."
He stopped. Amused, delighted. Only chilling, clear giggles like a smirking imp.
Gulp.
"Tell me, and I'll refine the plan to include it..."
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
Kim Min-seok's waist dampened. Cold sweat poured.
Forcing clear words, deliberate: "Han Seol-ah's recruitment would greatly benefit Pandemonium..."
"Not that. Idiot."
Kekekeke.
"You don't know why she got stronger. Why she pierced Frost Dragon immunity. Why. Why. Why. Know?"
"No."
"Won't that why hit again with Scathach?"
"Probability..."
"How can you be sure it won't repeat? You an Observer?"
"No."
He squeezed his eyes shut. Throat chilled.
"My take: fail this, still fine. Just once. Right?"
"..."
"But change mission. Find out why she powered up."
"Understood."
"Go."
Lightning-fast bow. Backward scramble out.
"Ah."
Right at the door—voice froze his hand.
"You didn't stutter to the end?"
"..."
"Pity."
Hmm—ending with a hum, Kim Min-seok slowly shut the door.
"Hahk. Hahk."
Slid down boneless.
"Hahk. Heuk."
Frantic rub at throat, waist—sweat sites. Blood on hands. Precisely where the Master's 'power' targeted. Would've shredded flesh on third offense.
"Ugh. Kugh."
Just aimed—and this damage. Korea's top tanker, now this body...!
"Ooh, Minsuck."
A massive black man approached the slumped Kim Min-seok.
"F-fuck off, shithead."
"Suck. I'm here 'cause I worry."
"Hngh..."
"You know my title, suck?"
"...Yeah. 'Observer.'"
"YES. Boss trusts my analysis. Saw that, right?"
Nod. Without him, no answers. Foolish repeats would've ended shredded.
"One more tip. Cool?"
"...Yeah."
The black man grinned.
"Don't do it."
"...What?"
"Don't do that. Literal, suck."
"What bullshit?"
Thud thud. Thick black hand clapped his shoulder. Kim Min-seok winced at pain.
"Tell Boss you failed. He forgives twice. Know?"
The 'Observer' lowered his voice, whispering.
"Don't touch 'that.'"
"...?"
Grin again, then left. Kim Min-seok's face filled with questions. But ignore Observer? Impossible.
Who was he? Sole hunter with EX-rank despite unknown awakening. His ability: knows every Tower beast. Earned EX with that alone. All of them. Even Break newbies—he knew. Like he'd scouted ahead. Hence 'The Scout-Observer.'
Such a man warned "don't." Normally, tuck tail and run.
But.
"Fuck what now."
Kim Min-seok clutched his throat. Master's killing intent still stabbed.
'Don't go? Die now. Future warnings mean shit.'
Immediate death swallowed vague future dread. Trembling hand dialed.
"Yeah, me. Gotta rush to Korea."
* * *
Saw Han Seol-ah vanish, rushed home. Teleported to first meeting spot—yep, she was there. Snatched her to hideout.
Second time, so no panic. Quietly steeling resolve. Unbreakable will on her face. True Han Seol-ah.
'Cool.'
Match that will. No chit-chat—straight to spar.
Thud! Flag flies, plants.
[Phew.]
Exhaling, Han Seol-ah focused.
Why stage 'kill 200 times'? To train her nonstop spars till time up.
But daily limit: 50 spars. 4 days left. 50 x 4 = 200.
Win all 200.
Ah, not with Nebula's Void Knight. No training value.
Switched jobs ahead. Ice mage like her. Frost Sorcerer.
Click shortcut, cast.
[...Ice magic?]
Han Seol-ah's fluster visible. Pfft. Hilarious.
'You don't think same element means winnable, right?'
Nebula now Frost Sorcerer. Even her EX-rank—no losses in Lost Honor.
Glacial Flash
Click, activate. Boom!
Han Seol-ah dead.
[Spar Victory]
One down.
"Focus, Han Seol-ah."
Or just die pointlessly.