Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Near the Barracks
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[Near the Barracks]
A hulking bald man in a floral shirt.
Jo Youngki chanted his spell.
“Ground Wave.”
The ground rippled like waves crashing across the earth.
Kwarung!
The Japanese soldiers chasing him lost their balance, tumbling over with groans.
Jo Youngki flipped the bird at the enemies pursuing him.
“Damn bastards! Quit following me!”
The ones chasing him were Japanese soldier NPCs.
Not players.
For some reason, even after taking damage, the Japanese soldiers refused to give up and kept after him.
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out here and there.
Jo Youngki bolted down the alley at top speed.
“Earth Field.”
Pillars erupted from the ground, blocking off the alley.
The pursuing Japanese soldiers stared blankly at the pillars in confusion.
-What the hell is this?
-That guy's a mage? He looks like a thug!
-Damn Chosun bastard. Catch him and kill him!
Jo Youngki sprinted to the other end of the alley. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down.
As he emerged from the alley.
Dozens of Japanese soldiers aimed their guns at him.
Click. Click click.
Two men standing in front of them stepped forward with sleazy grins.
The first to speak was a man dressed as a samurai.
He had a crescent moon mark on his forehead.
“Heh heh heh heh! Mukai-hyung, check out that guy's face!”
The man in samurai garb responded.
The man called Mukai had a new moon mark on his forehead.
“Kuhaha! Yeah, Noda, that punk's totally freaked. Hey, thug. Didn't expect us here, huh?”
Jo Youngki caught his breath and counted the enemies.
“One…. Two…. Three….”
Mukai drew his sword.
Shing.
“What're you doing? Chosun bastard.”
“……Chosun bastard?”
“Yeah, Chosun bastard.”
“You two aren't NPCs. Why call me Chosun bastard instead of Kankoku?”
Mukai shrugged.
“'Cause I feel like it.”
“……Fine. Call me whatever.”
“Haha…. So, why'd you attack us?”
Jo Youngki shrugged, mimicking Mukai.
“'Cause I felt like it.”
“What? You think this is a joke….”
“Looked like a joke to you? Bet a bunch of your soldiers are dead.”
A vein bulged on Mukai's forehead.
Noda, who seemed like the younger brother, stepped forward and said to his brother.
“Hyung. Let me handle him.”
“……Let's do it together.”
“Why? No need for both of us—”
“That guy's no pushover.”
“……Huh?”
Mukai unzipped the front of his shirt, revealing a palm print on his chest.
It was red and inflamed like a burn.
“See? Just grazed me and it's like this.”
“……Whoa.”
“Underestimate him and you're done. Stay sharp.”
“……Got it.”
Noda drew his sword.
Both held katana-style blades.
Jo Youngki eyed them warily, scanning for an escape route.
Dozens of Japanese soldiers had them surrounded—normal paths were out.
Mukai and Noda advanced slowly, swords at the ready.
Jo Youngki clenched his fists and said to them.
“Mukai, Noda. You two will die by my hand someday. Remember that.”
Mukai smirked.
“The guy about to die saying what now—.”
“Will you?”
“Still got a mouth on you. Front, back, sides—all blocked. You know there's no way out, right?”
“……Know what you do when there's no path?”
“What?”
Jo Youngki reached toward the wall beside him.
“You make one. You idiots who can't think beyond one dimension.”
[Earth Spear]
A stone spear formed in Jo Youngki's hand.
Less like a hunting spear, more like the lances used by ancient European cavalry.
Jo Youngki raised the lance high and swung it at the wall.
Kwang!
The wall crumbled.
Jo Youngki hurled the lance straight at Mukai.
Whoosh—
The spear cut through the air toward him head-on.
Mukai swung his sword to block the stone spear.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the spear ricocheted. Mukai shook out his wrist from the impact.
“Damn. Sly fox.”
“Comparing me to a fox? Thanks.”
Jo Youngki waved mockingly and leaped through the broken wall.
By the time Mukai and Noda rushed over, he was gone.
Mukai muttered to himself.
“Jo Youngki….”
* * * * *
[Inside the Conqueror's Tomb, Castle]
Several nurses clustered around Psycho Hanjo, wrapping his bandages.
His wounds from the enemy were deep—they still hadn't healed.
Even with three healing-class jobs tending to him.
Hanjo let out a worried breath.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Irritated, Hanjo snapped at the knock.
“Who is it.”
A voice answered from outside.
“Gunkichi here.”
“……Come in.”
Creak.
Thud.
A man in general's uniform gave Hanjo a light salute.
Less a subordinate to superior, more mutual respect between soldiers.
“Hanjo-nim, how's the body?”
“Yes. It'll heal soon.”
Their use of formal speech confirmed a relationship of respect.
Hanjo sat up and asked him.
“Did you catch Kim Cheonjae and his group?”
Gunkichi shook his head side to side.
“Those rat bastards. Not only did we not catch them, they raided our southern prison.”
“What?! The prison?”
“Yes. They freed the Korean players locked inside.”
Hanjo urgently rose despite his pain and said to Gunkichi.
“Where are those bastards now. I'll handle them myself—”
Gunkichi held up a hand.
“Calm down. They're long gone, and our guys are pursuing.”
“……I won't rest till they're dead. We'd finished prepping for the next round too….”
“Everyone's on it—they'll be caught soon. Rest till then.”
Hanjo, frustrated, had a nurse open the window.
Rain poured in on the wind.
He took a deep breath of the cool air.
Sigh—
“……They better be.”
“Hanjo-ssi, we've got just a week till the next game. No, precisely six days.”
“……I get it. Save your HP and stamina for then. Right?”
Gunkichi nodded, satisfied.
“Yes. No need for you to step up— we'll handle his crew.”
* * * * *
A rundown building at the castle's edge.
A tiny two-story house on the verge of collapse.
Korean players gathered inside one by one.
A place so decrepit it could be called monster-infested.
Cobwebs everywhere you walked.
The floor creaked underfoot.
Mold crept up the walls.
Kim Yeonhui grumbled.
“Why do we have to stay in a dump like this!”
I looked around the building with a satisfied expression.
“Better than nothing. Hate it? Go find somewhere else. You'll get caught by the Japanese before you do.”
“……Forget it.”
“Everyone, don't lock the doors. If it looks different from usual, it'll raise suspicion.”
-Yes!
We cleared just the innermost room enough to live in and rested.
Of course, some of us stood guard. Even in a deserted spot, surprises happen.
“……What the?”
Boom! Boom!
The ground shook.
A massive rumble that vibrated through the house.
I checked out the window.
Nothing happening nearby.
Looking far off, black smoke rose from the castle's west side.
Then, players in orange martial arts uniforms leaped across rooftops.
Not Shaolin monks, but definitely players—skull icons floated over their heads.
‘……Chinese players?’
-Kyaa-ho!
-Hanjo can't move, right? Go wild!
-Retake the prison!! Free our comrades!
No sneak attack—they charged right in.
So many orange uniforms the west buildings looked dyed.
Wasting strength before the real game even started?
Fine by us.
If China and Japan wear each other down, it's a win for us.
“……Hey. Ma Jeongwoo!”
Jeongwoo, dozing on the floor, jolted up in surprise.
“Wh-what. What?”
“Sleeping in this situation….”
“Why? Something happen?”
“Chinese players started attacking the Japanese. Look out the window.”
Jeongwoo got up and peered out.
Chinese in orange uniforms swarmed west like ants.
“What the hell, those guys?”
“Opportunity.”
“Huh?”
“Chance to grab Chakan i.”
“……Okay. Got it.”
I called Yoo Sora.
“Sora-ssi.”
“Yes? Yes!”
“Prep some injections. One each for Jeongwoo and me.”
“What kind?”
“……Red ones for both, please.”
Yoo Sora nodded meaningfully and chanted her spell.
She administered the created injections.
Sizzle.
Red liquid slowly entered my body.
Heat surged. Power boiled from deep in my chest, breath quickening.
Veins swelled under my skin.
Muscles pumped up like post-workout.
[Received red blood transfusion from player ‘Yoo Sora.’]
[The power of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who received the spirit of the giant boulder atop Mt. Huaguo, activates.]
[Activation time: 30 minutes]
Jeongwoo got the same injection.
Our muscles bulged like after a pump.
“Whew—alright, let's go.”
“The others?”
“They guard here.”
“Just us two fighting?”
“Yeah. Scared?”
Ma Jeongwoo's hands trembled.
“……No. Too excited!!! ”
He threw his hands up like a gorilla and cheered.
“Ma Jeongwoo, you've got 30 minutes.”
“Got it. You watch yourself.”
“……Yeah.”
We checked outside once more, then leaped out.
Leap!
Jeongwoo and I went different directions.
Leg strength enhanced—less jumping, more flying. High and far.
Cleared the opposite building in one go.
Boom!
The rooftop shook where I landed.
I craned my neck toward the barracks, scanning enemy movements and hiding spots.
‘Where Chakan i might be….’
Found it.
“There.”