Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Ameris's Salvation
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-First Strike
The surrounding view begins to stretch as if blurred by motion.
A speed that even the boosted dynamic vision from [True Ancestor] - Lv. 5 and [Heavenly Blessing] can't follow.
[Dark Screen] blinds my vision completely.
No problem.
My hypersensitive senses take over for my sight.
[Psyche's Blade Effect Applied]
The blade in my right hand slices diagonally across Lee Seong-hyeon's arm.
I drop into a low stance as it grazes past his arm. The blind spot in his vision created beneath his right foot.
'I won't miss!'
-Second Strike
The moment I lower my stance, I spring forward and slash both his thighs.
-Third Strike
His right eye.
-Fourth Strike -Fifth Strike
Both wrists.
-Sixth Strike
I discarded the sword.
Even as my hand grabbed Lee Seong-hyeon's face, my speed didn't slow.
I slammed his head into the floor at full force.
"Kaaack!"
"Haa... haa..."
The cathedral interior around Lee Seong-hyeon was drenched in his blood.
I won, Lee Seong-hyeon.
Strength drains from my entire body.
My legs give out.
My vision spins.
Dizzy enough that I can't grasp the situation properly.
"Let's go. Time to head back."
Before I knew it, I was staggering toward the cathedral door.
"Kim... Kim Si-woo!"
"You gotta help support badass Si-woo!"
Just as Erina and Baek A-rin came running toward me.
I stepped out the door.
A strange sensation hits me.
"Sunlight...?"
Outside the cathedral, we were already back in the Ghoul Field, no longer inside the dungeon.
And rushing toward it.
Were hunters who looked like a rescue team.
And a female reporter jumping down from a helicopter with cameramen.
"Please, just one word!!"
The S-rank dungeon that appeared in Jeju Island's Ghoul Field.
The entire nation had been glued to the live broadcast.
And the moment the dungeon vanished, the first person to emerge from its center—the first caught on camera—was none other than Kim Si-woo.
Nothing was clarified, but his appearance screamed someone who'd squeezed every last drop of strength in a desperate fight.
So the whole country went wild over the birth of a hero.
It wasn't just ordinary citizens who saw that scene.
Snow Mountain Clan's leader, Baek Ho-yun, had lost his cool upon hearing from the academy that an accident occurred during the training camp his daughter was attending.
In that state, the first thing he confirmed was Kim Si-woo. Followed by his own daughter, Baek A-rin.
Baek Ho-yun said to his secretary.
"A-rin goes to our foundation's hospital. Make sure we get a full report from the academy on this incident."
"Yes, sir."
"And put that student in the VIP ward with her."
"Who do you mean...?"
When his secretary asked puzzled, Baek Ho-yun smirked.
"That Kim Si-woo kid. Same room as A-rin. Make sure he gets proper treatment. Give him whatever he needs."
Naturally, Snow Mountain Clan wasn't the only one interested in this incident.
The top clans and hunters across the country were all paying attention.
Some in a good way.
-Find out his info right now. How is he not on our promising prospects list?!
-Scout him! Even if it seems impossible, make it happen. This is our chance to blow up!
And some in a bad way.
Erina Esnatia.
The head of the Esnatia family was furious that his daughter—born for a political marriage—was in such a place with some nobody whose status he didn't even know.
-This is absurd. Who the hell allowed her to act like that?
I open my eyes to a familiar ceiling.
Being familiar with hospitals is never a good sign.
The ornate lighting on the ceiling illuminates the space.
The feel of the blanket and pillow is far from any regular hospital.
Cozy enough to make me want to drift back to sleep.
This is better than a hotel.
Turning my head, paintings and sculptures adorn the walls, adding to the luxury.
On the bedside table, a few roses and tulips are arranged in a vase.
Around me are all sorts of conveniences: a high-end TV, sofa, personal computer, dining area, and private bathroom.
Yeah.
'This is basically just a hotel.'
If I'm in a hospital room this lavish, there are two possibilities.
First: I got royally screwed over, and the only job left is crewing a deep-sea fishing boat.
Or...
That's when someone approached.
"N-No way! Badass Si-woo, you're awake?!"
"Kim Si-woo! How the hell did you...!"
Tears in their eyes: Erina and Baek A-rin.
"No need to make such a fuss..."
As I tried to sit up, something felt off.
"My legs aren't moving...?"
At my words, their faces darkened.
And soon, Baek A-rin cautiously spoke.
"Kim Si-woo, don't freak out."
An ominous feeling creeps in.
"What's with the suspense?"
"You've been asleep here for five years."
"What? Five years?"
What kind of lame joke is this?
As I panicked and asked, Erina tried to calm me.
"S-Si-woo. No need to worry."
"Just tell me what happened."
At my words, Baek A-rin began explaining.
"It was five years ago already. The incident during our academy training camp. You saved us and collapsed right after."
"What do you mean collapsed?"
"You were hurt so badly, modern medicine couldn't fix it."
No way. Even [True Ancestor]'s power couldn't heal it properly?
As I thought that, Baek A-rin continued.
"Don't push yourself. After lying there for five years, it'll be hard to move."
Five years? Does that even make sense?
What about Lee Seong-hyeon? The Empress?
As my face grew serious, Erina teared up.
"Si-woo, don't get shocked yet."
"Yeah, Kim Si-woo. Listen without freaking out."
Is there something more shocking than this?
Maybe it's a hidden camera prank or something.
But Baek A-rin's words shattered even that faint hope.
"No sensation in your legs, right?"
Come to think of it, they really weren't moving.
I stared at Baek A-rin in shock, my legs feeling trapped and rigid.
"W-What's going on?"
"You've had your legs amputated since that day."
"W-What?!"
Shocked, I threw off the blanket to check my legs.
?
They're fine.
I wiggled my toes.
They moved perfectly.
Why weren't they moving then?
Looking toward my feet, I realized.
Erina had sneaked her hand under the blanket and was holding my legs.
"..."
I stared silently at Erina, who grinned.
This little punk.
"Hee hee!"
I grabbed Erina and Baek A-rin's hair.
"Today, I'm killing you two and ascending to nirvana myself."
"Aaaah! That hurts! Talk first, badass Si-woo!"
"K-Kim Si-woo! I always said it, but this was Erina's idea! Ow ow, it hurts!"
I'm gonna yank these roots out and give them both bald spots.
...
"So, what the hell actually happened?"
At my question, Erina rubbed her hair soothingly.
"Not five years, just about two days in bed."
"Really?"
I yanked Erina's hair again.
"Aaaah! Why even when I tell the truth?!"
"Nah, you deserve extra."
This spoiled brat.
"Aaaah! I'm a patient too!"
As I disciplined Erina thoroughly, Baek A-rin intervened.
"But your injuries really were serious. Know what the doctor said first when he saw you?"
"What?"
Baek A-rin struck a pose, mimicking someone as she stroked her chin.
"Hmm, this guy's a goner..."
Isn't that something a doctor shouldn't say?
"So what really happened?"
At my question, Baek A-rin shrugged.
"You just collapsed after, and got rescued."
"Lee Seong-hyeon?"
"He vanished at some point."
At Baek A-rin's words, Erina fumed.
"No! I was about to tell what that bastard tried to do, but A-rin stopped me!"
"It'd just hurt us if it came out."
Was that it?
She's right.
To be precise, we were the ones who attacked another hunter inside the dungeon over something called "Ameris's Heart."
Still, Lee Seong-hyeon won't do anything to us.
There's Erina and Baek A-rin's testimony, and above all, it's the last thing he'd want public.
A crazy bastard who'd risk his life for attention.
So he hid the moment cameras swarmed.
'Hiding with those injuries shows real madness.'
"Anyway, we cooperated fully with the investigation on everything else."
"Exactly!"
That's when the news came on.
The S-rank dungeon on Jeju Island was cleared by academy freshman Kim Si-woo...
"What 'truth' did you tell them, exactly?"
"That you badass-ly took down the dungeon boss and cleared the place."
"That's mostly true, right?"
Baek A-rin grinned and gave a thumbs up.
"I told you. I'd make you as famous as can be. The man who'll make me Snow Mountain Clan's heir."