Chapter 175: Lewd Yokai After School (41)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: Lewd Yokai After School (41)
At dawn, before the darkness had fully lifted.
The exorcists, having finished their preparations for the transport, were on standby at the assembly point. There was no trace of tension among them.
"A transport mission, of all things. This is going to be boring."
"Tell me about it. He didn't even look like he had the energy to run away. Why are they being so careful?"
"They said he's a half-yokai. You never know."
"Ha, so what if he's a half-yokai? Look at the state he's in. He doesn't look like he has any power. He's just going to die a pointless death anyway."
A few exorcists chuckled as they chatted. But amidst them, Yoo So-hyun stood in silence. A part of her felt strangely uneasy.
Her gaze shifted forward to Kim Hyun-woo, bound in iron chains. Powerful sealing talismans were plastered all over his body, and his wrists and ankles were locked in specially crafted metal restraints.
His expression was empty. Without any resistance or emotion, he simply walked forward.
"Begin the transport."
At the senior exorcist's command, the others surrounded Kim Hyun-woo, forming a protective escort as they began to move. The prison transport was reinforced with a special barrier, a thorough design meant to prevent any yokai from breaking the seals or escaping.
Kim Hyun-woo silently stepped inside.
Clank!
The heavy iron door shut, and the vehicle slowly began to move. Yoo So-hyun boarded the rear of the vehicle, standing guard and watching the convoy.
If things continued like this, Kim Hyun-woo would be executed the moment he arrived at headquarters. That was the natural course of things. But she felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.
"Haa..."
Just as a sigh escaped her lips—
BOOM!
A violent explosion rocked the convoy.
"What was that?!"
"We're under attack!"
In that instant, a thick darkness descended upon them, writhing like a living creature as it enveloped the exorcists.
A bizarre energy distorted the space around them. Screams echoed from within the darkness.
Swoosh!
Black shadows shot out as if alive, lunging at the exorcists.
"Form a barrier!"
The exorcists quickly threw their talismans. The charms erupted in light, forming a massive barrier in mid-air.
Crackle!
But even that barrier was useless against the darkness.
It tore through the barrier as if it were paper, swallowing the exorcists.
"This is... a Heaven-grade yokai or higher!"
Someone shouted.
Yoo So-hyun hurriedly tried to pull out a talisman, but the transport vehicle was torn apart as if it had exploded.
CRACK!
A black mist seeped into the vehicle, immediately wrapping around Kim Hyun-woo.
"They're after the prisoner! Secure him!" the senior exorcist yelled, but it was too late. It had all happened in an instant.
The black energy swallowed Kim Hyun-woo and vanished into the air.
"Pursuit team, move out now!"
Just as the exorcists were getting into formation—
KRA-KOOM!
An even more powerful wave of darkness washed over the convoy.
In that moment, Yoo So-hyun saw Kim Hyun-woo's figure growing distant.
The black mist surrounding him rapidly broke away from the convoy and began to soar into the sky.
No!
Her body reacted on instinct.
Shuk!
Yoo So-hyun immediately broke through the barrier and sprinted forward. A glowing talisman shot from her hand.
"Bind him!"
Chwaak!
A golden light cut through the air and wrapped around the black mist enveloping Kim Hyun-woo.
But the moment it touched the mist, it shattered.
Fizzle!
Then, a low, resonant voice came from within the mist.
"Do not interfere."
The black energy charged toward her.
"Kuh...!"
Yoo So-hyun barely managed to twist her body out of the way, but she lost her balance and rolled across the ground before coming to a stop.
She pushed herself back up, a talisman clutched in her hand.
"I can't let you get away...!"
If she let him go now, Kim Hyun-woo would be gone for good.
"I borrow the power of the divine spirits...!"
A glowing talisman emerged from Yoo So-hyun's hand.
In an instant, a sacred barrier formed around her.
"Heavenly Thunder!"
A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky.
KRA-KRA-KOOOOM!
With an intense flash, the black mist was torn apart.
"Kugh...!"
A groan came from within the mist.
Not missing the opening, Yoo So-hyun ran toward Kim Hyun-woo.
"Hey, give me your hand!"
Kim Hyun-woo stared at her with confused eyes.
The black energy that had been wrapped around his body was still entangled with him.
Yoo So-hyun gritted her teeth.
That's not just a simple restraint... There's a deeper power at work.
But there was no time to think.
The moment she reached out her hand, the black energy lunged at her once more.
Swish!
"...!"
Her body felt like it was floating in the air as her vision wavered.
Ah...
In that instant, she realized it. She couldn't dodge this.
And then—
CRUNCH!
The darkness enveloped her, and an intense force pierced through her chest.
"...Kuh."
Red blood trickled from her lips. Her body felt heavy, sinking.
"Yoo So-hyun!"
She could hear the other exorcists shouting, but she could no longer support herself.
The pain was gradually fading, as if her entire body was growing cold.
Is this how I die...?
With great effort, she lifted her upper body and looked at Kim Hyun-woo one last time.
Just then, something fell from the sky.
THUD!
No, it wasn't just falling. It was as if a meteor had crashed, unleashing a massive shockwave.
KRA-BOOOOM!
A colossal impact sound echoed as the ground caved in. The exorcists instinctively raised their weapons.
Amidst the swirling dust, something emerged from the darkness.
"Haa... what a pain. To think I'd be coming to save some kid at my age, all because of that bastard Kim Jin-ho..."
The voice was relaxed, yet it held a deep resonance.
A man with a massive build, over three meters tall, appeared from within the billowing smoke.
He had a mane of thick, golden hair, a powerful, muscular body, and an overwhelming presence like a predator that ruled the earth.
Tiger ears sat atop his head, and a thick tiger's tail extended from his tailbone.
His golden eyes pierced through the deep darkness, staring at the exorcists.
Tension exploded among them.
"The... the Tiger King?!"
Someone stammered in a trembling voice. In that instant, the very air seemed to freeze.
Every exorcist here knew of him. A being who inspired fear not only in the Otherworld but in the human realm as well.
The Tiger King.
He was one of the most powerful yokai in existence.
His presence alone was considered a 'calamity,' a being with enough power to overthrow a nation single-handedly.
He casually brushed off his shoulder and spoke softly.
"I'm taking Kim Jin-ho's son."
The moment he finished speaking, the tip of his foot pressed lightly against the ground.
KRA-KRA-KOOOOM!!
An incredible force erupted.
The wind howled, and nearby trees were ripped out by their roots.
For a moment, the atmosphere trembled, creating the illusion that space itself was distorting.
The exorcists instinctively backed away.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
A few of them muttered, their faces pale.
They knew.
The being before them was not one to make jokes.
"From now on, I will destroy anyone who stands in my way."
At his words, the air around them trembled once more.
The exorcists nervously raised their swords and talismans, but the tide had already turned.
Just then, the black shadow enveloping Kim Hyun-woo stirred violently.
A voice came from within.
"Tiger King...!"
The Tiger King slowly turned his head, a smile of amusement on his face.
"Heh heh, one of Do-cheol's lackeys?"
Shwaaak!
When he extended his hand, the black energy scattered in all directions like dust in the wind.
A massive power surged from within the shadow.
"How dare you! Do you intend to interfere with Lord Do-cheol's work?!"
Do-cheol. One of the most powerful yokai in the Otherworld, an incarnation of endless greed and destruction.
His followers always left a trail of bloody devastation.
"Insolent. Do you really think the likes of Do-cheol can face me?"
The Tiger King muttered lowly.
At the same time, he took a step forward.
KRA-BOOOOM!!
The ground split apart, exploding as if it had been bombed. The intense energy washed over the exorcists.
"Kugh...!"
The senior exorcist was pushed back, gritting his teeth. At that moment, the seals binding Kim Hyun-woo began to slowly unravel.
Fizzle!
"Ugh... w-what is this...!"
The sealing talismans the exorcists had thrown began to burn up one by one.
"No! If the seals break—!"
But the situation was already beyond their control.
BOOM!
An intense yokai energy exploded from Kim Hyun-woo's body.
"Ugh...!"
The shadows holding him disintegrated one by one.
From within, Kim Hyun-woo slowly lifted his head.
A strange, alien red light glinted in his eyes.
Covered in blood, Yoo So-hyun watched Kim Hyun-woo through her blurry vision.
He was slowly turning into something else.
"No...!"
She felt it instinctively. If she lost him here and now, something irreversible would happen.
Yoo So-hyun gathered her remaining strength.
"Kuh...!"
She reached out, grabbed a talisman, and charged at Kim Hyun-woo with the last of her power.
CRACK!
A sudden impact. Yoo So-hyun's body was thrown backward.
A powerful yokai energy spread through her, and her consciousness began to fade.
"Ah..."
Her body wouldn't listen. Her vision narrowed as darkness closed in.
"Don't overdo it."
Golden eyes were looking down at her.
And the last thing Yoo So-hyun saw...
...was the Tiger King knocking Kim Hyun-woo unconscious with a punch to the face.
After that, Yoo So-hyun's consciousness completely faded.
The Tiger King placed his hand on the emblem carved into the unconscious Kim Hyun-woo's chest. The emblem was sucked into his fingertips and vanished.
"Damn bastard. I kept my promise."
He slung Kim Hyun-woo and Yoo So-hyun over his shoulders and slowly turned around.
Then he took a step, and the space around him distorted.
*
Night had fallen. The massive gate of the village ruled by the Tiger King came into view.
He walked silently, carrying two humans on his shoulders.
The yokai guarding the village entrance all bowed their heads in unison.
"Welcome back, my lord."
"Yes. Good work."
The moment the Tiger King passed through the gate, his expression brightened.
"Oh~ my daughter! You came to see your daddy!"
The Tiger King spread his arms wide, about to approach her.
"Ugh... get away from me. And how long are you going to treat me like a kid?! I'm already twenty-five!"
Her short, golden hair swayed.
Ho-yeon, who also had tiger ears, stood with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression on her face.
"Kugh..."
The Tiger King clutched his chest and staggered, as if he had been dealt a heavy blow.
"My cute Yeon-ie is already twenty-five... I can't believe it..."
He was so shocked that he nearly lost his balance, almost dropping Kim Hyun-woo and Yoo So-hyun from his shoulders.
"Whatever. Who are those humans?"
Ho-yeon pointed at the two, her brow furrowed.
"Kim Jin-ho's son, and probably an exorcist. She seemed to be trying to save him, so I brought her along thinking she was a companion."
Ho-yeon's eyes narrowed.
"...Don't tell me, you mean the Kim Jin-ho of the Heavenly Demon Extermination?"
"Yes, his son."
Ho-yeon examined the two with interest.
The unconscious Kim Hyun-woo was limp, and Yoo So-hyun was pale, letting out faint groans.
She sighed.
"Haa... Dad, you didn't bring home more trouble, did you? Getting involved with exorcists these days is just a pain."
"I had no choice."
The Tiger King fell silent for a moment as if lost in thought, then chuckled.
"I lost a bet to that bastard, so I promised I'd help his son once if he was ever in danger."
Ho-yeon sighed in disbelief and put her hands on her hips.
"Haa... fine."
She looked over the two again, her expression tightening slightly.
"But this human woman is badly injured. She's going to die soon."
The Tiger King glanced down.
"Hmm. Even so, I can't just let her die."
The Tiger King nodded and muttered to himself. He gave a light wave of his hand.
A few yokai emerged from the darkness and carefully placed Yoo So-hyun on a stretcher.
"Heal the woman."
At his command, the yokai moved immediately.
"My dear Yeon-ie~ It's been a while, how about a drink with your dad—"
"No thanks!"
Ho-yeon clicked her tongue and turned away. The Tiger King clutched his chest and staggered once more.