Bath (1)
Four assassins lay in ruins from a single attack.
They had come prepared against the Sword Saint, donning unique item armors, but all that effort proved utterly futile in the face of her overwhelming might.
Theoretically, we should have the advantage... Four level 40s make for 160 levels of firepower, right?
Player battles were decided by levels. These fools had overlooked that and dared to challenge a level 89 Sword Saint.
"Juniors. Even a mere five-level gap makes victory razor-thin... What did you think you were doing, picking a fight with someone double your level? This isn't just stupid—it's straight-up trash-tier."
The assassins, their ribs shattered with a sickening crunch, could only listen to the mockery without retorting.
"I know exactly who sent you. I'll have a little chat with your employer soon, so keep that in mind. Now then."
"Guh, grrr! You gonna kill us? You're the idiot here. Don't you know players can't kill players?"
Babel's entities strictly forbade player-on-player combat.
The reason? They got their thrills from watching players slaughter the monsters they spawned. Human infighting? Not on the menu.
"Red text on your name? Oh, what a nasty penalty. Halves your EXP gains and everything."
"Heh..."
"You probably don't care since you're after the fat bounty on my head... But get this: that rule only applies inside Babel."
The Sword Saint raised her wooden sword as she continued. One assassin paled, grasping the implication.
"Meaning I can kill you right here and my name stays clean. Got it, you little shits?"
"P-please, spare..."
"Spare you? Got the guts to try killing me but not to die? Hyunwoo! Get over here!"
Responding instantly to his master's call, Hyunwoo stepped outside.
Sure enough, four bodies littered the training hall... What the hell?
"Who are these people?"
"Trash who tried to off your kind, pure teacher."
Hyunwoo figured his master must have committed some heinous crime to bring this on.
"No big deal. Wanna practice on these bitches? You need some experience."
"I don't think that's necessary. I didn't learn techniques to beat up people."
"I've told you a million times: players are all psycho bastards."
Coming from Ryu Ga-eul, exhibit A, Hyunwoo found the claim far more credible.
"So get a feel for fighting players. On these bitches right now."
"Uh, I..."
"It's fine—they're all half-dead already. Won't be hard. Sure, the level gap might make it tricky..."
Fight a person out of nowhere? It left Hyunwoo flustered. The assassins, staggering to their feet, were equally stunned.
"You nuts...? Even half-dead, we ain't losing to some puny little dude."
"Yeah, yeah. This here's my disciple. Beat him, and you're free to go. One at a time."
The assassin wiped blood from her lips with a finger and grinned. Her body swayed, but she glared with murderous intent.
"If you think a level 24 pipsqueak can take me..."
Big mistake! The rest of her taunt barely registered. She lunged at blinding speed.
Hyunwoo felt a chill at her approach—dizzying even in her wrecked state. At full strength?
But...
Fast as hell, but his eyes tracked her.
More precisely, the Sword Ghost's Eye let him read her movements.
"Kill h..."
No need to draw or swing. Hyunwoo sidestepped, snagged her throat with his left hand.
Light. Must be the level-up.
Player physiques scaled with levels.
A level 24 could hoist an adult effortlessly. But with their height gap—Hyunwoo the shorter one—the lift barely raised her off the ground. He flung her backward anyway.
"Whoa?!"
"How the hell did he react...? Even the Sword Saint's disciple can't catch a bullet-speed player!"
Another assassin, just rising, got crushed and blacked out.
Two left. The quiet one yanked a dagger from her instrument case and hurled it.
"Don't underestimate this tiny monster bitch!"
Her body was trashed, and her bard class sucked at throwing—slow despite her power.
Hyunwoo snatched it midair, chucked it back at the gawking player like a pebble.
"Gah!"
"Oh, hit."
Hyunwoo's throw sucked too, but his body was fine—enough for a one-shot knockout.
"Hmm... You're, uh, better than I thought."
Ryu Ga-eul blinked, stunned as he downed three in seconds.
Her plan: let him get beaten, swoop in to save him, then hawk pricey potions to rack up debt.
I knew he had talent, but this much...? What the hell?
To the Sword Saint, her disciple's gifts hadn't fully bloomed. Just the right trigger, and they'd explode.
One thing's clear: Hyunwoo's better at killing people than monsters.
Having casually dropped three, he fixed the last assassin with a cold stare.
The skirmish taught him efficient takedowns. Time to experiment.
Head only.
The optimal path to her vitals lit up in his mind. He executed.
She triggered her trait—but too late. His fist shattered her nose and cheekbone.
"Hmm... She didn't die, right? Player kills are forbidden, Master."
"Dunno who started that rumor. You can finish her."
But Hyunwoo didn't draw his sword. If he'd wanted her dead, he'd have started with it.
"Killing's a bit much... I got into this to hunt monsters, not people."
"What if these bitches power-level and come back?"
"Why worry? You've got my back, Master."
A satisfying answer. Ryu Ga-eul opted for mercy.
"You heard him? Scram. Show your faces again, and I'll skin you for drums."
The assassins knew she meant it. They bolted.
The stormy morning passed. I headed to the shower to rinse off the dirt.
Hot water enveloped me, loosening every muscle as I replayed the morning's chaos in my head.
Something's nagging at me, just out of reach...
Knocking out people leveled me faster than slaying monsters.
Unsettling. Deeply so. Like my talent leaned toward serial killer.
Too harsh? Hmm... Still feels off.
I'd rather have a knack for monsters. Cooler, right?
"Hyunwoo."
"Yes? Oh, I'm in here, Master."
"There you are."
Mid-rumination, her familiar voice came from outside. Obviously the master.
"Guess I'll come in then."
"Uh...? Master, what do you mean?"
"What else? This kind of thing."
Creeeak—!
The door that shouldn't open swung wide. Clothes discarded, the master strode into the shower.
Caught off-guard, I flinched as she grinned, pressing close.
"Let's wash together."
I moved to refuse, but she wouldn't budge.
Of course—she can touch me whenever.
To her, this was her rightful claim. No backing down. No idiot tosses away a hard-won prize.
"Time for my cute disciple to pamper me with a bath."
"Ahh..."
"Gotta scrub sis nice and thorough, yeah? Especially down here."
The master blatantly spread her pussy wide with her fingers. So raw, I was speechless.