They Are All Just Monsters

It was a literal bite. Before Bukjin could even think of defending himself, the giant’s "armor" sank its teeth deep into his shoulder. Only then did Bukjin realize that the green-tinted plate armor the brute wore was actually a bizarre, living green python.

Until that moment, the serpent had remained coiled around the giant’s massive frame, perfectly still. It hadn't emitted a single trace of life force, making it look like nothing more than an intricately crafted set of ceremonial armor. Even as Bukjin’s sword sliced the giant nearly in half, the dying python lunged, clamping its fangs onto his left shoulder and injecting a lethal dose of venom.

Bukjin felt a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠creeping numbness begin to paralyze his arm.

"Haha! You mongrel! You dare ambush me?" the giant roared, laughing through the pain. Even as his strength failed him, he forced himself to stay upright, refusing to collapse.

"Guards! Seize this mongrel! I need to find out which coward sent an assassin to take my head!"

At his command, the adventurers within the Tusu-won drew their blades and charged at Bukjin with savage intent. Mu-hong, still reeling from the chaos, hadn't even recognized who her savior was yet.

"Run! Don't worry about us, just get out of here!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

But Bukjin didn't move. Instead, a thin smile played on his lips as he looked at the giant.

"I didn't expect a brainless bear like you to be a snake charmer," he remarked coolly.

Bukjin momentarily drove his Doran Sword into the ground. He reached up with his right hand, grabbed the green python still hanging from his shoulder, and ripped it off with a violent tug before slamming it onto the floor. He brought his boot down, crushing the serpent's head instantly. Simultaneously, he activated a skill on the puncture wounds.

A halo of blue light wrapped around the injury, and the jagged holes in his shoulder began to knit together at a visible speed. At the same time, Bukjin reached into his digital inventory.

He swallowed the pill instantly. It was a treasure he had looted from the Ten Thousand Poison Ancestor. As a man who spent his life researching toxins, the old villain had been equally proficient in creating antidotes. By the time Bukjin finished his self-treatment, the first wave of malicious adventurers was already upon him.

Bukjin snatched his Doran Sword from the earth and began to move. The blade became a blur of silver.

Swish—! Snikt—!

The sound of steel parting the air echoed through the hall. It was the Sawol Sword Style. Though it was only a 1-star technique, in Bukjin's hands, it manifested with terrifying lethality. Cold starlight seemed to spill from the tip of his blade. In a single fluid motion, his sword light pierced the throats of the four closest attackers.

Just then, the effects of the Ten Thousand Poison Warding Pill kicked in. A refreshing sensation washed over him, and the numbness in his left shoulder vanished completely. Bukjin raised his restored left hand, and the Jeong-i Sword shimmered into existence.

"Die."

He unleashed his full assault. Sword light flashed incessantly. Not a single enemy could withstand even one of his strikes. The floor of the Tusu-won quickly became slick with the blood of the wicked.

Whoosh—!

The sound of a bird taking flight filled the room. Using Cloud-Walking Rain (Un-jung-bi-u), Bukjin soared toward the giant. In any battle, the most efficient path to victory was taking out the head. If he neutralized the Fifth Alliance Leader, the rest would crumble.

The giant, seeing the tide turn so catastrophically, bellowed in a panic.

"S-Stop him! Get in his way!"

The brute turned and tried to flee. As a 2nd-grade Martial Warrior, he was strong enough to force his body to move even while under the effects of the Heavenly Fragrance Three Laughter Powder, but he was far from his peak speed. Bukjin closed the distance in an instant with his superior footwork and lunged at the giant's back.

Driven by a primal instinct for survival, the giant shrieked and rolled to the side. Bukjin’s sword light missed his spine but tore through his left shoulder.

"P-Please! Don't kill me!" the giant begged, collapsing to his knees. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he groveled.

"Guh!"

With a final, agonized scream, the giant’s face twisted into a mask of pure resentment. He squeezed out the last of his strength for one final counterattack, throwing a desperate punch at Bukjin’s chest.

Crack—!

The sound of snapping bone echoed. Despite being poisoned and dying, the strike of a Martial Warrior was nothing to scoff at. The blow shattered Bukjin’s ribs. But Bukjin didn't even flinch.

So what if they're broken?

He raised his hand and cast Healing Ring on himself multiple times in rapid succession. Blue light swirled around his torso, and the fractured bones mended instantly. Bukjin planted his foot firmly on the giant's back and spoke in a booming voice.

"I hereby deliver the judgment of justice! Die!"

The Doran Sword swept down, severing the Fifth Alliance Leader's head from his shoulders.

"The Alliance Leader has fallen!"

"He killed the Leader! Kill him! Tear him apart!"

Seeing their commander decapitated, the remaining adventurers charged at Bukjin with bloodshot eyes.

"Die."

With the expressionless face of a cold reaper, Bukjin turned to meet them. Everywhere he moved, blood flowed like a river. In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the blink of an eye, a dozen more men were cut down. These ordinary thugs were merely at the Warrior Rank, and even the strongest among them didn't exceed the 9th grade. Against Bukjin, they were nothing more than autumn leaves before a gale.

He took a life with every single swing.

"Surround him! Wear him down!" someone shouted.

Whiz—! Zip—! Thwack—!

A barrage of hidden weapons—darts, knives, and needles—flew toward Bukjin from all directions. He immediately transitioned into a form from the Jesujeon Sword Technique.

The wall of energy deflected every projectile. Simultaneously, his figure blurred as he swung both arms wide.

Thwip—! Thwip—! Thwip—!

Silver arrows shot from his sleeves, striking down the adventurers who had thrown the hidden weapons. Bukjin continuously cast Healing Ring on himself to maintain his stamina. After several minutes of this relentless slaughter, the remaining adventurers realized they were utterly helpless.

"H-Hurry! Get the other Alliance Leaders!"

"That mongrel is a monster! Run!"

The thugs broke and ran for the exit. However, they didn't even make it to the door before they began to collapse. When Bukjin had first entered the Tusu-won, he had quietly coated the doors and walls with potent contact poisons and anesthetics. The dozens of men trying to flee were overcome by the toxins and slumped to the floor in heaps.

A moment later, the only people left standing in the Tusu-won were Bukjin, Mu-hong, and the young boy. Mu-hong stared at Bukjin with an expression of pure disbelief.

Who is this man? To possess such overwhelming strength... and such cold-blooded cruelty!

"Thank you for saving our lives. I am Mu-hong of the Fire Rose Adventurers. Please, tell me your name so I may properly repay this debt," she said, bowing deeply with her hands clasped.

Bukjin didn't answer. He simply turned and cast Healing Ring on her. Mu-hong flinched, but as the blue light washed over her, a rare, shy expression crossed her face. That shyness quickly turned to shock. She watched in awe as the wounds covering her body vanished the moment the light touched them.

It wasn't just healing. As the blue radiance faded, her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exhaustion evaporated, and she felt eighty percent of her strength return instantly.

"Are you... a Priest from the Temple?" she asked breathlessly. Only Priests who served and were recognized by the gods could wield such divine healing powers.

Bukjin pulled back the hood of his cloak.

"Did you forget such a handsome young man already?"

Mu-hong’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her body trembled as a cry of joy escaped her lips.

"Y-You...? Ah! It's you!"

As Bukjin had suspected, there was no way she could forget him. To her, Bukjin was the benefactor who had appeared like a miracle on the night the Fire Rose Adventurers were first ambushed. He was the one who had brought hope when all seemed lost. However, every member of the team had also witnessed the horrific scene where Bukjin was stabbed by So-ryeong. Mu-hong had carried a deep, gnawing guilt in her heart ever since. Seeing him alive and standing before her brought her a joy she couldn't suppress.

Looking at her reaction, Bukjin felt his suspicions confirmed. What Ju-seong had told him was true—the female swordsmen of the Fire Rose had been deceived just as he had. There was clearly a deeper conspiracy at play behind So-ryeong's betrayal.

"I was sent to this world by a Reaper. I can't die that easily," Bukjin joked. In a way, it was the truth. He had been dropped into this world with a smartphone by a mysterious entity. He sometimes wondered if that 'Reaper' really was watching over him.

"I'm so glad! If Pung Sa-nang hears that you're alive, she'll..." Mu-hong started excitedly, but her voice trailed off. At the mention of her leader, her shoulders slumped, and she was overcome by sorrow. The fate of the Fire Rose Adventurers after the ambush had been nothing short of tragic.

Bukjin spoke firmly. "Find a place to hide for now. Once I've finished cleaning out the rest of the trash in this den, I'll find a way to get you both out of here."

"What?" Mu-hong blinked, wondering if she had misheard him. "You're going to take on this entire syndicate of evil adventurers... by yourself?"

"Is there a problem?" Bukjin grinned, flashing his white teeth. "Everyone who joined this nest of filth deserves to die."

"B-But... you're alone! You can't possibly face them all."

"Didn't I just do exactly that?" Bukjin’s smile grew even brighter.

Suddenly, he flicked his wrist, firing a silver arrow. It struck an adventurer who had been trying to crawl toward the exit.

"This won't do," Bukjin muttered quietly. "I really need to make sure they're dead."

What followed was a scene that made the hair on Mu-hong’s neck stand on end. She watched as Bukjin, humming an unrecognizable tune, walked among the unconscious and incapacitated adventurers, stabbing each one. He was methodical—one thrust to the heart, one to the throat. Even for those who were clearly already dead, he didn't skip a single body. It was like a reaper calling roll in a graveyard.

Yet, Bukjin’s expression remained entirely neutral, as if he were merely chopping vegetables for a meal.

Bukjin continued his grim work, silently hypnotizing himself to block out the reality of the slaughter.