Defiant to the End
"Cough…"
Zhang Wei spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, forcing his drooping eyes wide open as he stared fixedly at the monster before him.
Three pairs of blood-red eyes gazing down at him.
Unlike himself, who was little more than a battered wreck, the monster looked barely changed from the start—still hale and hearty. Not even anger stirred in him at the sight.
Just hollow emptiness.
When he'd first arrived in Korea, Zhang Wei had been brimming with confidence.
Not only in his own abilities, but even without direct aid, he figured his clan's prestige alone would let him easily seize this puny peripheral nation.
But what was reality like?
If he'd known a monster like this lurked here, he'd have moved with far more caution.
No— he wouldn't have set foot here at all.
Of course, no one—not even his clan—could have imagined a monster disguising itself as human. It wasn't something Zhang Wei could have helped.
The one silver lining, if any, was that the victors of this affair weren't those monkeys from the island nation.
As a single hunter—and a human—he didn't particularly care about some monster threatening humanity.
He wasn't the type to worry about that anyway; from the start, Zhang Wei hadn't been a proper hunter but a man of the underworld.
Besides, in his current state, where death could come any moment, he had no desire to fret over the future after his own demise.
…And this monster's ambitions don't end here.
Recalling how it had bared its fangs toward his clan master, he could guess what would follow his death without needing to see it.
Imagining that obvious future, a smile clung to his lips even as the end drew near.
His utterly worthless clan master, and those so-called sworn brothers who'd never known true brotherhood from the outset.
This monster before him would surely grant them all an impartial death.
The thought of their faces made laughter bubble up in Zhang Wei.
Though his ruined body kept him from laughing freely.
Cough, cough—
Spitting more blood, Zhang Wei glanced down at his body.
Not a single intact part remained.
One arm petrified to stone by the Magic Eye of petrification; the other charred black, reeking of burnt flesh. Both legs frozen solid, turned blue.
And now, poison rapidly devouring him from within.
Without an Elixir—a complete recovery potion—survival seemed impossible.
Naturally, his clan master wouldn't have one of those rare Elixirs to spare for him. And in this state, even if one existed, he couldn't use it without help.
Those who might have aided him had long since been subdued.
Zhang Wei's gaze flicked sideways.
There stood a stunning beauty, so ravishing she made the phrase "a sight to topple nations" feel inadequate, staring at him with a listless, sullen expression.
At her feet lay his precious brothers, fallen one by one.
They still clung to life for now, but their fate later was anyone's guess.
…That woman must be one of the monster's kind.
She'd clearly known the monster's true nature from the start.
Otherwise, she couldn't be so nonchalant in this situation.
Zhang Wei's eyes returned to the monster.
It still glared at him, eyes flashing.
Gazing at its occasionally flicking long tongue, Zhang Wei suddenly felt the sting of injustice.
It was a familiar sensation.
A bit odd for Zhang Wei—an SA-rank hunter wielding great power in both the hunter world and the underworld—to speak of injustice. Yet he did.
He was impressive, sure, but the world brimmed with even greater beings: his clan master, this monster before him, and countless others.
Zhang Wei found it profoundly unfair.
Because it drove home once more that no amount of effort from a nobody like him could ever catch up.
Cough—
Fresh blood trickled from Zhang Wei's mouth.
The end was truly near.
[—I'll ask once more. Will you become my subordinate?]
Forcing his faltering eyes open, Zhang Wei stared at the monster.
Hiss——
A low growl accompanied the blood-red eyes peering down at him.
[If you wish, I can guarantee your subordinates' safety too.]
At the proposal, delivered like some grand benevolence, Zhang Wei let out a sudden chuckle.
His shoulders shook once.
The faint laugh didn't last long, stifled by his condition.
Cough, cough—replacing laughter with a short cough and more blood, Zhang Wei lifted his head to gaze up at the monster.
"I refuse."
His voice was ragged, torn to shreds, yet calm as he replied.
No grand reason behind it.
It wasn't because the being was a monster rather than human, nor because he lacked the will to live.
He just wanted to land one hit on this unjust existence before him.
Throughout the fight, it had utterly dominated him—just like his clan master, who always looked down on him. He craved even a petty payback against such unfair powers.
By forfeiting his one shot at survival for this small rebellion. But Zhang Wei felt no regret.
Because at the precipice of death, he'd finally done something he'd never managed in life.
The monster showed no reaction to his refusal.
As if it had expected as much from the start—no anger, just serene calm.
Apparently, Zhang Wei's little act of defiance hadn't fazed it much.
A faint twinge of regret at that, but he accepted it stoically.
With death breathing down his neck, he had no time for more.
Just…
"…One request."
[Hmph—After rejecting my offer, what makes you think you deserve anything?!]
The monster's left head hissed threateningly, shaa—.
It was the head that had hounded Zhang Wei most viciously during the battle.
Did each have its own separate mind? Pondering briefly, Zhang Wei looked to the center head.
The one that seemed to hold the most authority among the three.
[What request?]
[Kyaa—! You're not actually thinking of granting it, are you—?! Just try it! Today, I'll rip your neck clean in half!]
The center head ignored the left's savage threats.
As Zhang Wei had guessed, it wielded the greatest sway.
Meeting its steady gaze, Zhang Wei mustered his waning strength and spoke.
"Spare my subordinates."
[Kyaa—! That shameless bastard! No need to hear more! Just devour him now! The right one's hungry too!]
[Hun─gry….]
Ignoring the noisy voices echoing in his mind, Zhang Wei held the center head's gaze unwaveringly.
It flicked its tongue once, still watching him.
[Shameless. Do I look that merciful?]
"I know it's shameless. Never expected you'd grant it anyway."
[Hm… Then?]
At the intrigued gaze, Zhang Wei spoke again.
"A different request instead."
[Speak.]
"Nothing difficult. Ensure my clan master and dear brothers join me in the afterlife?"
Zhang Wei smiled faintly as he said it calmly.
The center head regarded him for a moment, then nodded slowly.
[Not a hard request. It was my plan anyway. But…]
"Grant it, and I'll give you a gift."
[Hm. A gift?]
At the puzzled look, Zhang Wei continued.
"My clan master has always lusted after treasures. Rare gear, anything of value—he collected it all without fail. My brothers and I handled gathering them."
[Hm…?]
"I'll give them all to you."
[You speak as if they're yours. Aren't they strictly your clan master's?]
"I managed them before leaving the homeland."
The center head let out a quiet sound of admiration at his steady tone.
"You lose nothing. Do what you planned, and claim all those treasures your clan master hoarded."
[How do you plan delivery? You'll be dead by then. If you're asking me to keep you alive until—]
"Never crossed my mind. No desire to cling to this wretched life any longer…"
Cough—he glanced aside after a brief cough.
His eyes fell on his fallen subordinates.
Unlike those false sworn brothers, these were true kin.
Gazing at them, Zhang Wei spoke calmly.
"They all know the secret vault's location."
[…Ha. So, spare them if I want the treasures?]
"Talented lot. Far more useful than me if kept close. Deeply loyal—once trust forms, they'll never betray you."
[Why not join me yourself? Seems your loyalty to Wang Feng is thin anyway.]
Zhang Wei smirked at the low voice in his mind.
"I want no more injustice."
[…….]
The center head stared, not grasping his meaning at first.
Under its quiet gaze, Zhang Wei simply closed his eyes.
He'd said his piece.
Now, just await the quiet end.
The monster's reply and his brothers' fates remained unresolved, but sadly, Zhang Wei's time was up.
His breath ceased silently, eyes shut.
* * *
I watched Zhang Wei, who had passed quietly with eyes closed.
[What an idiot. I could've hinted it out of him! A secret vault's location is child's play!]
The left head snorted briefly, turning to the right.
[What're you waiting for? Devour him already! You're hungry, right?]
[Hun─gry….]
At the left's urging, the right swallowed Zhang Wei without hesitation.
Though my body had shrunk, gulping him down posed no issue.
Ignoring my two partners, I glanced at Zhang Wei's subordinates sprawled at Snow's feet.
The left noticed my look and scowled fiercely.
[What? You're not thinking of sparing them, are you? That shameless prick—what's so special about his request! Just extract the vault location and kill them!]
[Hun─gry….]
Neither the left nor right seemed keen on mercy.
I wasn't particularly invested in their fates now that Zhang Wei—the one I'd wanted—was dead.
Just…
[They might prove useful. I'd like to observe.]
I couldn't judge their skills yet, but their loyalty to him had been genuine.
Even amid battling Snow, their first concern was Zhang Wei's safety.
If that loyalty turned to me, wouldn't they be worth keeping?
[Hah?! Ridiculous! Loyalty? A little brainwashing, and it sprouts on its own! You always hated having too many fanatics! And now you're inviting them in? Hilarious!]
With a kyaak— and a threatening snap, the left bit at my neck.
As usual, I ignored the annual ritual.
Competent, loyal subordinates were always a boon—the more, the better.
Unlike my dungeon-hiding days, I now had things to protect.
Still far short for my little sister's safety.
From a glance, one seemed S-rank. A touch of suggestion, and I'd have solid pieces.
I'd missed Zhang Wei, but his men made decent consolation prizes—not a total loss.
And Wang Feng's secret vault piques my interest.
I wasn't one for gold or jewels, but something beat nothing.
Especially from Wang Feng—likely brimming with rarities.
Perfect gift for Snow?
Glancing at her with that in mind, she stared back with an uncharacteristically sullen pout.
I flinched involuntarily.
"You took quite some time. Said it was urgent for me."
[…….]
Once this wrapped up, I'd definitely need resupplying.
Not just Wang Feng's vault—other preparations too.
Time to hurry. Only Kazuki left.
This long saga neared its close.