Chapter 387: Human World[R-18] (41)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 387: Human World[R-18] (41)
The inside of the private jet was more spacious and comfortable than I’d expected. Several guild members were already seated in an area furnished with high-end leather seats.
“Alright, everyone, listen up!”
Jung Ji-hun clapped his hands, drawing the guild members’ attention.
“I’d like to introduce an external mercenary who will be joining us on this operation. This is Jin Seo-yun. He’s an S-Rank ability user personally vouched for by the Master, so make sure you treat him well.”
All eyes in the guild turned to me. Their reactions varied, but for the most part, their gazes were filled with curiosity.
Im Hye-rin stepped forward and spoke.
“Alright, let’s have our guild members introduce themselves in turn.”
The first to stand was a tall man. He had a muscular build and a sharp, memorable face.
“I’m Kim Tae-hyun, an A-Rank Enhancement-type. I’m usually the vanguard for the guild. It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
Next, a woman with glasses stood up.
“Park So-young, an A-Rank Healer. I look forward to working with you.”
Third, a young-looking man raised his hand.
“Lee Jun-ho, A-Rank Earthquake ability user! I’m still lacking in many ways, but I’ll do my best!”
Finally, a woman who had been sitting quietly gave a simple nod of her head.
“Choi Yu-ri, A-Rank Assassination-type.”
Though her introduction was short and concise, I had a feeling that out of all the A-Rank users here, she was the strongest.
I looked them over and nodded.
“Jin Seo-yun. I’m a Physical-type ability user. I look forward to working with you on this operation.”
Im Hye-rin sat down and added, “It’s a pretty long flight. Rest up until we arrive.”
Kim Tae-hyun tilted his head as he looked at me.
“But the Association never announced a new S-Rank ability user. What’s the story?”
Park So-young subtly adjusted her glasses and chimed in.
“He’s right. I tend to keep up with news from the Association, but I haven’t heard anything about an additional S-Rank.”
Im Hye-rin turned her head and said, “It just hasn’t been announced yet. It’ll be made official soon, so don’t go starting trouble.”
Lee Jun-ho scratched his head and laughed.
“Come on, Master. You think we’re crazy enough to mess with an S-Rank?”
“I’m saying it because I’m genuinely worried you might, Jun-ho. You’ve been an adult for a while now, it’s about time you started acting like one.”
“Ah, seriously. Nagging me as soon as I get back from the States. You’re worse than my mom.”
A light ripple of laughter spread through the guild members.
I naturally took the seat next to Im Hye-rin. Before long, the pilot’s announcement came over the intercom.
[We will be taking off shortly. Please be seated and fasten your seatbelts.]
Everyone settled into their seats, and I turned my head to gaze out the window at the runway.
Just then, Im Hye-rin gently tapped my shoulder and whispered, “So? What do you think? My guild members are pretty decent, right?”
I nodded and gave a short reply.
“They seem like good people.”
The plane finished its takeoff preparations and began to slowly ascend into the sky.
*
Unlike the ordinary reality I used to live in, this world was teeming with all sorts of ability users. As such, the technology they handled and the vehicles they rode were all extraordinary.
Hwayangyeonhwa’s private jet was a prime example. Its speed was incomparable to that of a commercial airliner. Yet, despite flying at such a velocity, there wasn’t a single tremor, as if we were gliding across the clouds.
In just a few hours, we entered the airspace over London Heathrow.
As we prepared for landing, Im Hye-rin stood up. The playful look she usually wore was gone, replaced by an aura so serious it was chilling.
“Now that I’m back from the US, mission failure is not an option. I won’t forgive any sloppy behavior. Everyone, keep your heads straight and act accordingly.”
“—Yes, ma’am!”
Their replies came in unison. At that moment, the plane began a smooth landing, and Im Hye-rin turned her head briefly to say, “We’re here. Let’s go.”
The moment the words left her mouth, the Hwayangyeonhwa guild members rose as one and followed her.
Her charisma is insane.
When I first met her, she just seemed like a doting, silly woman. But seeing her like this, I could understand why she had so many impressive titles attached to her name.
S-Rank ability user, the Witch of Dreadfire, and the Master of one of Korea’s top ten guilds. Those weren’t just empty titles.
I sure know how to pick my women.
A smirk played on my lips as I followed her off the jet.
As soon as we disembarked, we saw several black vans waiting at the end of the runway. But my eyes were drawn not to the vehicles, but to the people lined up in front of them.
They were dressed like medieval knights.
Clad in white cloaks bearing a red cross over steel-reinforced breastplates, they were members of the Knights Templar.
…It’s not just tacky, it’s cringeworthy.
It was so cheesy I could feel my hands and feet curling up. Just then, one of them stepped forward. He was a tall, well-built, middle-aged man.
“Members of the Hwayangyeonhwa Guild, and the Witch of Dreadfire. Welcome. I am William Chester, Vice Commander of the Knights Templar.”
Im Hye-rin responded to his fluent English greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you, Vice Commander. I’m Im Hye-rin.”
“This way, please. We will guide you to your accommodations first.”
We quietly split up and boarded the vans. The interiors were high-end, well-soundproofed models, but the air inside was strangely heavy.
Jung Ji-hun, in the seat next to me, whispered, “Something feels off. The knights all look grim.”
Im Hye-rin spoke while looking out the window.
“Looks like something happened before we arrived. We’ll get the details at the briefing.”
The vehicles passed through the city of London, gradually heading toward the center.
Choi Yu-ri, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up.
“By any chance… when are the other guilds scheduled to arrive?”
From the front seat, William glanced at us through the rearview mirror and answered, “Japan’s Nagitsune arrived last night. The rest of the guilds are expected to arrive by this afternoon. Currently, of the four guilds participating in this mission, Hwayangyeonhwa is the second to arrive.”
After that, William said no more. The van fell silent again, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought as he stared out the window.
I lightly probed his presence. I could sense the ether emanating from William’s body.
This puts him in the upper A-Rank. He’s quite strong.
It seemed he wasn’t the Vice Commander for nothing.
Just then, the driver answered his radio with a short reply before turning his head to say, “We’re about to arrive.”
I looked out the window to see a sprawling garden and a classic marble building spread out before us. With its Gothic-style towers, domed roof, and an ornate gate carved with intricate sculptures, it boasted a magnificent presence.
“That is your accommodation and the temporary operation headquarters. Somerset House,” William explained.
“It was originally a space for royal events and cultural activities, but it is now under the complete control of the Knights Templar.”
The van glided to a smooth stop in front of the main gate.
When the door opened, the cool London air seeped into my lungs. Throughout the garden, members of the Knights Templar in their white cloaks stood guard, armed and silent.
After getting out of the vehicles, we followed William’s lead and headed straight inside the palace.
“Please do not leave these premises for the time being. We will contact you separately for the briefing.”
With that formal farewell, the Knights Templar departed cleanly.
Im Hye-rin turned to us and said, “Unpack your things first. Reassemble here in ten minutes.”
“Got it.”
Just as everyone was about to disperse, I felt it. A rather grating killing intent and a hostile gaze. I could tell just from the presence. Someone, and a group that was clearly spoiling for a fight, was approaching.
The figures that appeared before us were a group dressed in matching black combat uniforms. A red fox emblem was emblazoned on their chests.
“…It’s Nagitsune.”
Jung Ji-hun muttered in a low voice.
“They don’t look very happy to see us, though,” Kim Tae-hyun added.
Just as he said, their expressions were all ice-cold. The man at the very front, in particular, had long, narrow eyes filled with a malicious smile.
“I heard some Korean rejects were coming, but I didn’t think it’d be Hwayangyeonhwa. Ha, what a letdown.”
Im Hye-rin’s smile was gone, replaced by a murderous glint in her eyes as she shot back.
“What, you want to get burned again for acting up like last time?”
“Same old mouth on you, Im Hye-rin. But I’m not the same man I was back then.”
“Oh, really? You were running your mouth just like that last time before you were nearly burned to a crisp by my hand, weren’t you? Come to think of it, I burned off all your hair, but it seems to have grown back nicely, hasn’t it?”
In an instant, the atmosphere between the two groups froze solid. They had only exchanged words, but it felt like blades could be drawn at any moment.
And amidst it all, I was looking at something else.
Oh? She’s not bad.
My eyes landed on a woman in the Nagitsune group.
She had long black hair. Her face was cold, and her figure was voluptuous. Even though her combat uniform was quite baggy, it couldn’t hide her considerable curves.
That’s an E-cup, at least. And with those sturdy hips, she’d probably be good at bearing children.
Moreover, the aura she gave off was quite heavy. At least A-Rank, possibly S-Rank. She had both the looks and the skills.
It was then. As if sensing my gaze, she turned her head and stared directly at me.
I gave a slight smile and playfully mouthed some words.
Kimochi~ Ikuyo~
I made a circle with my left hand and repeatedly poked my right index finger in and out of it. Slowly. Provocatively.
Her brow furrowed, and her hand moved to the hilt of the sword at her waist. Then, in an instant, she lunged like a sharp flash of light.
Oh? She took the bait?
With a smile still on my face, I casually caught the blade flying toward my neck between two fingers.
“Ayame!”
“Lady Ayame!”
“Seo-yun!”
“Mr. Seo-yun?!”
Both Hwayangyeonhwa and Nagitsune reacted at once, the situation erupting into chaos. It was a surprise attack no one had expected.
The sword blade caught in my hand was trembling. On the other side, Ayame’s eyes, glaring at me, were burning with fury.
“Feisty, aren’t you?”
I gave her a wink while still holding the blade. Her face instantly flushed red.
“Kuh… You bastard…!”
With a slight twist of my fingers, the sword warped strangely and slipped from her grasp.
I used the momentum to pull her arm, twisting her waist and bringing her right into my embrace.
“So you’re the type to come on strong.”
I whispered, my lips close enough to touch her ear, and her whole body went rigid.
“You… pervert…!”
“Hmm, isn’t ‘pervert’ a bit harsh?”
From an angle hidden from the others’ view, I squeezed her breast.
The moment my fingers registered the sensation, her full nipple hardened intensely against my palm.
“Ugh… D-don’t…!”
“Oh!”
I slowly, deliberately, rubbed her nipple with my thumb. Her body shuddered.
It was then.
“—How dare you touch my daughter!”
The Nagitsune guild master, Nogi Kazuo, was glaring at me, the veins in his eyes looking ready to burst. His fists trembled. He looked like he was about to charge at me at any second.
“Seo-yun, that’s enough.”
At Im Hye-rin’s voice, I shrugged and let go of Ayame’s arm.
She hastily straightened her disheveled clothes, glaring at me with eyes that were a mixture of fury and shame. But she didn’t attack again.
Just then, Nogi spoke, his breath coming out like a beast’s growl.
“How dare you… a mere Korean, touching my daughter…!”
His gaze darkened with an even deeper killing intent.
“Nogi, you should stop there too,” Im Hye-rin said, turning to him.
“You saw your daughter draw her sword first, didn’t you? Or do you really want to fight us?”
“You… bitch…!”
Unable to contain his anger, he drew his sword and took a step forward.
Im Hye-rin immediately conjured flames in her hand, ready to attack, but in that instant, an immense pressure crushed the entire space.
“That is enough.”
The members of both Nagitsune and Hwayangyeonhwa froze, unable to move a single step. Only I, Im Hye-rin, and the Nagitsune guild master seemed to be able to withstand the pressure to some extent, but even they couldn’t hide the grim expressions on their faces.