Liberate (2)
“You bastards……”
Yuna placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, her voice stiff and rigid as she spoke. She was well aware of the man with the foul expression.
“Hong Seung-geol.”
She glared at the man with eyes full of disgust.
The man burst into mocking laughter as he looked at her.
“Wow, for Salvatore's key executive, Choi Yuna, to remember a lowly summoner like me—I'm flattered.”
He smirked, his lips twisting as he said it. Yuna's face twisted in fury at his words.
“How could I forget trash like you? The scum who preys on newbie summoners.”
“Hahaha! Preys? That's harsh. I just gave them a taste of life's bitterness.”
Hong Seung-geol chuckled wickedly. Yuna bit her lip and spat back.
“Life's bitterness? Don't spew your dogshit. Because of you……”
Her eyes blazed as she glared at him.
The reason Yuna knew Hong Seung-geol was because of one woman. Back when she was a newbie summoner, that woman had fallen for Light Shield Guild's trap, been sold into slavery, and wandered brothels until Salvatore Guild dramatically rescued her.
After hearing the woman's story, Yuna had been furious beyond reason and suggested to Tiriya that they smash Light Shield Guild right then and there. They had even formed a subjugation force and clashed fiercely with the unit led by Hong Seung-geol.
Back then, Salvatore Guild had been an overwhelmingly powerful force compared to Light Shield. Hong Seung-geol had been forced to flee to another city to escape her.
But that didn't last. When internal strife hit Salvatore Guild, making pursuit and execution impossible, Hong Seung-geol slunk back to Bellen like nothing had happened.
“Tsk tsk. Meddling with stupid ideas like that is why your guild ended up like it did.”
“You son of a bitch!”
Hong Seung-geol mocked her. Yuna's face turned savage, as if she'd tear him apart on the spot, and she stepped forward.
Then Han-seong grabbed her shoulder.
“Calm down, Yuna.”
His face was tense as he scanned the surroundings.
Too many of them.
The Light Shield guild members encircling them numbered over fifty at a glance. And from their aura, they weren't some ragtag group—they looked like the guild's core elites.
How the hell…?
Han-seong stared at Hong Seung-geol in disbelief. Hong Seung-geol was just a branch leader in Light Shield Guild. He might be strong in Bellen, but on the Northern Borderline, he'd be ignored—a summoner of middling caliber at best.
How could someone like that mobilize Light Shield's elite forces? This kind of troop required the guild master himself to move.
“Wait… no way……”
Han-seong's face paled as the realization hit. At that moment, a hulking figure emerged from the encirclement of Light Shield guild members, exuding an aura as heavy as if carved from rock. In his hand gleamed a massive shield emitting a faint white light.
Han-seong's expression filled with shock.
“Han Cheol-ho! Why is Light Shield's guild master here……?!”
At his words, Yuna's face drained of color too.
Han Cheol-ho. A powerhouse summoner said to be on the verge of Ranker status.
“Damn it?”
Yuna frantically scanned her surroundings. Over fifty Light Shield guild members and Han Cheol-ho. No gap in sight—an overwhelming force.
Even without Han Cheol-ho, our chances are slim!
No matter that she, Chae-rin, and Han-seong were all over level 80 powerhouses, facing fifty-plus Light Shield elites head-on was insane.
With Han Cheol-ho added, escape was impossible.
“……Han-seong.”
Yuna spoke to him with a rigidly set face. He swallowed hard and turned to her.
“Tell Chae-rin to prepare her magic. Target the weakest point in their encirclement, blast it with a spell…… and everyone run.”
“……You planning to die?”
Han-seong stared at her in refusal. Yuna gave a faint smile.
“We still have work to do for Tiriya-unnie.”
“But……”
“Please.”
Her voice was firm. Han-seong bit his lip harshly.
“……Understood.”
He nodded grimly.
“So you're Choi Yuna. I've heard rumors about you a few times.”
Han Cheol-ho ignored the others and fixed his gaze on Yuna. He eyed the red dual swords in her hands.
“Those must be the A-rank rare item, the Hongryeon Dual Swords.”
His eyes burned with desire.
Han Cheol-ho had an obsessive compulsion to collect things. Even worthless trinkets, if they caught his fancy, he had to have them.
To him, the A-rank rare Hongryeon Dual Swords—also known as Ssang-sik—were an irresistible prize.
“Don't eye my babies with that disgusting look.”
Yuna snarled venomously, gripping her dual swords tight. Hot flames began to blaze around her body.
Blaze Aura.
A special skill of her hidden class, Blaze Warrior.
“Chae-rin.”
While Yuna prepared for battle, Han-seong approached Chae-rin with a dark expression. He calmly explained the plan.
Her eyes widened in shock.
“W-what are you saying, oppa……?”
She stared at him in disbelief. Han-seong shook his head slowly, face hardened.
“Sorry. No other way in this situation.”
“D-don't joke! How can we abandon Yuna-unnie and run?!”
She grabbed his clothes, yelling fiercely, tears welling in her eyes.
Han-seong gripped her shoulders sadly, opening his mouth to speak.
“Kill all the men! Capture the women alive!”
But before he could, Hong Seung-geol's shout rang out. The Light Shield guild members charged with lust-glazed eyes.
“Nngh……!”
Yuna swallowed a grunt, blocking the oncoming guild members with a fierce stomp.
“Han-seong……!”
She called desperately. Han-seong grabbed Chae-rin's shoulder urgently.
“Chae-rin, please!”
His plea was desperate. Only Chae-rin's explosion magic could open an escape route now.
Chae-rin shook her head, face ashen.
“I-I can't……”
“Please. You know we'll all die if we don't……”
Han-seong begged. Chae-rin bit her lip, eyes downcast, then spoke in a choked sob.
“Hic. Why…… why do we always go through this……? We didn't do anything wrong.”
Han-seong had no answer. He clenched his fists, biting his lip.
“……Prepare the spell.”
His voice was strained. Chae-rin nodded slowly, tears streaming.
Han-seong turned to Yeong-sik.
“Everyone hide behind Yuna. When I signal, run. Yuna and I will hold them as long as we can.”
He cast healing magic on Yuna, who stood alone against the guild members. Her minor scratches vanished, her movements quickening.
Whoosh!
“Aaagh!”
“Kugh! You bitch!”
Desperate cries erupted from the ten or so Light Shield members charging while maintaining the encirclement. Astonishingly, Yuna wasn't yielding an inch against over ten—she was overwhelming them.
“Impressive. Stronger than the rumors.”
Han Cheol-ho watched leisurely, nodding with a satisfied smile. But his face showed no worry.
Of course. His guild members were all core elites. They might seem pushed back by Yuna now, but he knew she couldn't take them alone indefinitely.
A fine woman.
His eyes gleamed as he watched Yuna fight fiercely, flames wreathing her as she swung her dual swords. Unlike Hong Seung-geol, he had little lust for women, but she stirred greed in him.
“Heh heh. Like her, hyung-nim?”
Hong Seung-geol sidled up, bowing obsequiously. Han Cheol-ho frowned slightly at the shameless display but murmured low.
“Yeah. I like her.”
“Heh heh heh. Just wait a bit. Tonight, you'll enjoy her thoroughly.”
Hong Seung-geol grinned sleazily. Han Cheol-ho clicked his tongue but said nothing more.
It was true—he wanted her.
“What are you ten idiots doing, struggling like that? Grab her quick!”
Hong Seung-geol yelled at the guild members fighting Yuna. They glared distastefully but couldn't openly defy him—a high-ranking branch leader.
“Hurry……”
Yuna glanced back anxiously amid the fight. Even at over level 90, holding off this many alone wasn't easy.
She prayed Chae-rin's spell would finish soon, letting the others escape.
I don't care what happens to me.
Defeat and capture here meant a hellish fate. Yuna knew it well, yet she smiled faintly.
Make unnie's dream come true, no matter what.
She thrust her dual swords into the Light Shield member before her, whispering inwardly to Han-seong. A horrific scream rose with the acrid stench of burning flesh.
“I'll…… be fine.”
She muttered like self-hypnosis.
In truth, she wouldn't be. She was human, feeling pain and despair. Imagining her gruesome future made her want to flee alone.
But she couldn't retreat. Even if it meant falling into despair's abyss, she had a goal.
If I'd known, I should've experienced it at least once.
She gave a bitter smile, regretting her preserved purity would end so futilely and miserably.
That was when.
“Blade.”
Click.
Yeong-sik's low voice reached her ear.