Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Night Raid on the Prison
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Three days.
That’s how long it took us to memorize the path through the “Conqueror’s Tomb” and grasp the enemies’ patrol patterns and movement ranges.
On the first day, we moved while hiding, confirming how well the map matched the paths inside the castle.
On the second day, we assessed the strength of the Japanese players and soldiers.
On the final third day.
While scouting the prison where the captured Korean players were held, I witnessed a shocking scene.
They dragged a Korean player in front of a square box about the size of a kimchi fridge, riddled with countless nails.
A middle-aged man with a swollen face clasped his hands together, begging the Japanese player.
“Please! Please spare me!”
The Japanese player, who looked like a mage, pulled back his robe’s hood.
A red skull mark floated above his head—the one you get after killing over a hundred players from other countries.
He looked barely into his early twenties, a young guy who didn’t seem much older than that. He kicked the man in the head.
Thud!
“Shut up and get inside.”
“Ugh…. I-I really don’t know! Please!”
“You Jo-sen-jing always have lies on your tongues, so I can’t trust you. Let’s see if you really know or not.”
At the mage’s glance, the soldier NPCs shoved the man into the box.
“Aaaah, please!”
Once inside the box, the man got pierced by nails with even the slightest movement.
Then the soldiers closed the box’s door.
Creeeak.
“Please spare m—”
And shook it hard from both sides.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
“A-ahh. P-please. Please! Please spare me! Spare me, you fucking bastards!!”
Every time the box rocked side to side, the man lost his balance, fell, and got impaled on the nails.
Blood was everywhere in an instant—his whole body drenched before you could even tell where it was coming from.
At first, he screamed and cursed. But as time passed, all that came out were “ugh” groans.
The man’s health bar slowly drained.
Just before the red gauge turned gray, the mage-like guy pulled him out of the box and stomped on his stomach with his boot.
“Hngh.”
“Guess you really don’t know.”
“I…. really…. don’t kn—.”
“Useless fuck.”
The mage spread his palm toward the man’s head.
“Fireball.”
Whoosh!
“Gaaahhh!”
It was a 2-circle spell, Fireball, but the size was as big as a head—clear sign of high proficiency.
Can’t underestimate him.
Lucky thing was I came alone, so I could stomach his psychotic shit.
If Jeongwoo had been here, he’d have charged out and fought the guy already.
‘Not sure if I’d win, given the matchup….’
Deeper underground, following the darkness, I found a place where people were hung upside down for water torture.
And another where they yanked out fingernails and toenails with pliers and poured filth into mouths—utter madness.
Is this what humans do?
The NPCs were just following player orders.
All the ones overseeing the torture were players—real people, not game AI.
“Fucking bastards.”
Having confirmed everything, I left the prison shaking with rage.
* * * * *
[That night]
The light drizzle picked up speed and thickened.
Soon, a storm hit.
With all preparations done, we used the pouring rain to mask our footsteps as we moved out.
Splash splash splash—
Between buildings.
We navigated the narrow alleys like a maze, picking the safest route to the prison.
About twenty players followed behind me.
Our group included, of course.
We were handling the south prison.
Jeong Ha-gyun and Kim Ria’s groups had the north.
When we reached near the prison, I relayed the plan.
“When facing enemies, don’t hesitate for a second. Everyone here is a seasoned player. Slow judgment against them means death.”
A balding sniper player asked me.
“We’ll wait in the opposite building.”
“Even in this downpour?”
“Of course. Everyone here’s mid-tier sniper. As long as the targets don’t move, no problem shooting.”
“……Then I’m counting on you.”
The ten-sniper unit nodded to us and dashed to the opposite building.
No wonder they call us an archery nation—most Korean players specialized in ranged weapons.
After half left, I checked my watch.
“……Ten o’clock. Let’s go in.”
Time for lights-out in the Japanese barracks.
Right on cue, over half the city lights went out.
No shift changes for the next two hours—no reports to their superiors.
As long as we handled these guys quietly.
Dash dash dash!
The prison gate guards spotted us running.
-Wh-what the hell?
-Can’t see. People?
-Fuck it. Shoot!
One soldier NPC at the entrance aimed at me.
“Freeze! Come closer and I shoot!”
“……Shoot.”
Bang! Bang!
Bullets pierced the rain and hit me. They tore holes in my coat, spun over my skin.
Stung a bit.
That was it.
Thanks to sharing stats with Park Gyuhwan, my body was warrior-tough and quick.
These guys were no match.
I raced through the rain, grabbed the two gate NPCs by the throats, and dropped them.
Splat!
They hit puddles, wind leaking from their necks.
The Japanese soldier face-planted, legs kicking.
Bang!
Gunshot. His head exploded.
Red liquid poured from his skull, staining the puddle.
I looked back—the sniper across the way, barrel poking out.
‘……Skills are the real deal.’
Jeongwoo caught up late, annoyed.
“Hey, Kim Cheonjae! I said I’d take first blood.”
“These are NPCs. Players are yours.”
“NPCs or players…. Fine, got it. Let’s go in.”
I nodded and opened the prison door.
Creeeak.
A bone-chilling cold poured out as it opened.
Like vengeful spirits screaming not to enter.
Even late at night, voices echoed from inside.
Man or woman, couldn’t tell.
So weak and frail.
-Pl-please…. Spare me.
Jeongwoo’s face flushed red.
Knew it—hothead like him.
We sprinted inside fast.
“Ma Jeongwoo, you take the first floor. I’ll head underground.”
“Got it.”
Past the narrow inner path, a high-ceilinged round chamber appeared.
Dozens of iron cages lined the sides, Koreans inside.
I assigned Jeongwoo, Michael, and the alliance members to the first floor, then went underground with Yoo Sora.
Click-clack. Click-clack. Click-clack. Click-clack.
Her heels echoed down the stairs.
“……Sora-ssi. You might wanna change those shoes later. Hard soles make too much noise.”
“……Should I take them off?”
“No, it’s fine now. But for next op, they could be risky—better switch.”
“Oh….”
“After this, I’ll get you a pair. Don’t worry.”
“Uh…. Thanks.”
Yoo Sora smiled brightly.
Was that smile fake or real?
Everything she did bugged me.
End of round two, Jeongwoo casually dropped it on me.
Yoo Sora’s lying.
No idea why it hit me now, but all my nerves were on her.
In this critical moment.
I steadied my face and told her.
“Sora-ssi, watch your step—slippery.”
Yoo Sora whispered.
“Yes….”
“No need to whisper that quiet. We’re this far in—op’s a success.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mentioned the footsteps for safe moves next time.”
“Oh….”
At the stair bottom, I lit a torch to light around.
-Kieeeek!
Weird shriek—thought zombie, but it was a torture victim blinded by light.
“Ughhh. Wh-who the hell at this hour? Torture’s one thing, but let a guy sleep?!”
Gutsy bastard. Wait, woman?
Female voice.
Saying that mid-torture, bold as hell.
I approached and checked the prisoner’s face.
“……What.”
The woman in the cage saw me and lit up.
“Huh? Huh?! Huh!! Kim Cheonjae!”
Kim Yeonhee, separated in round three.
Thought she’d gone with Chakan i to safety—why’s she in prison?
“Why’re you here?”
“Huh? Well…. Got caught.”
“Caught? Alone?”
“Yeah.”
“Chakan i? No, Jo Younggi-ssi?”
Kim Yeonhee shook her head.
“Dunno. We fought together, then they vanished.”
“Jo Younggi ditched mid-fight?”
“No, no! Younggi-ssi ordered retreat. I kept fighting and got nabbed….”
Serves her right.
I nodded.
“What? What’s that look?!”
“Nothing.”
“Ugh…. Huh? That pretty noona from before’s here too. Hi, noona!”
Yoo Sora awkwardly waved, stiff as a robot.
Made sense—she’d said she hated Kim Yeonhee.
Foxy or something.
“Kim Yeonhee, I’ll get you out—but do me a favor.”
“……What favor?”
“Nothing hard. Find a key in this building.”
“Key?”
“Prison key.”
Kim Yeonhee nodded.
“Deal.”
“Then out you go.”
I gripped the bars and shoved with all my strength.
Creak. Creeeak.
Bars bent slowly with friction screech. Hole big enough for a kid.
Kim Yeonhee yoga-flexed through.
“Yahoo! Wow, mister, you’re strong. Necromancer for real?”
“Hoo—. Yeah.”
Kim Yeonhee touched the bent bars, shocked.
“What necromancer bends bars…. Circus strongman?”
I shoved her back.
“Cut the chatter—find that key quick. Probably on a first-floor guard. Our group’s up there—get their help.”
“Uh….”
“Bring it back to me when found. Can you?”
“Peanut butter!”
Kim Yeonhee backflipped, thumbs up.
After sending her, Yoo Sora and I walked deeper into the prison.
Maybe ’cause the player in charge was a torture-loving psycho.
Prisoners in cells stared at the ground with dead eyes all the way.
Like avoiding eye contact to not get picked.
“……Sora-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Stop. We’re here.”
At the underground prison’s end, a thick, sturdy iron door.
Sighs and murmurs from prisoners everywhere.
Old man in corner overheard us, spoke up.
-Y-you Korean?! Save me! Please, I beg. Get me out, all my jenny’s yours.
Young guy tapped cage with fingers.
-I can do more. I’ll be your porter. Sir, please save me!
Movie-star pretty woman crawled to bars.
Clang!
“Spare, spare me. Haa…. Now….”
Her legs burned like severe burns.
I raised a finger to my lips.
“Want to live? All quiet.”
They got it, shut up—solemn silence.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
I knocked on the door with my fist.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Waited a bit—answer from inside.
-Who’s there.
“……Open the door.”
-What?
“Open the damn door, you moron fuck.”
He didn’t know my voice.
I knew his.
One difference between enemy and me: info on opponent.
Young voice from behind door cursed.
-Who the fuck are you ordering me around?! Who?!
I stepped closer to door.
“See when you open.”
-Hah…. Yeah, punk. Don’t know who I am, huh? New guard?
“Dunno.”
-……I’ll show you what happens mouthing off. Stay there!
Quick footsteps approaching.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Creeeak—
Door opened slow.
Robe guy’s face peeked through gap.
I seized the moment, shot hand out.
Smack!
Grabbed both wrists.
Pinned him to wall with brute force.
Smack!
His face twisted.
“Ack! Let go? Who are you? Let go! You fucking fuck!”
Adult vs. kid level strength gap.
I gripped till his wrists nearly snapped, whispered in ear.
“Time for divine punishment.”