Chapter 317: Reunion & Return
Chapter 317: Reunion & Return
Lee Gain, the attacker, and Jung Hyunwoo, the male Vagabond awaiting rescue.
Shin Ayoung, the other female Vagabond attacking, and Lee Haein, awaiting rescue.
And then there was Baek Seoyeon, who could do nothing but watch.
The game had begun. If Lee Gain won, Jung Hyunwoo would live. If Shin Ayoung won, Lee Haein would live. I watched the two before me with great interest, then glanced over at Baek Seoyeon. Even though her mouth was gagged, she was screaming so hard it seemed her throat would tear, and her bloodshot eyes gave her a truly murderous look.
I hadn't set up this confrontation for no reason. There was a purpose behind pairing them up this way.
The Baek Seoyeon I remembered was a rather unusual Vagabond. While you couldn't generalize all of them with the single word 'Vagabond,' they tended to stick to their own kind. As a result, they were less attached than Users. But she was different.
Baek Seoyeon was mercilessly cruel to her enemies, but she cherished the Vagabonds who followed and depended on her. In a way, you could say she was similar to me. That was the kind of person I remembered her to be.
I calmly sank into thought. Baek Seoyeon was a tough one. Ko Yeonju's Eyes of Temptation ability had already failed, and I doubted she would willingly give up any information, no matter how brutally she was tortured. That meant I'd have to use Mind Control to extract the information, but her mental fortitude was surprisingly strong.
That left only one conclusion. I had to break her spirit while forcibly preventing her from taking her own life.
Fortunately, Baek Seoyeon was exactly as I remembered. The fact that she had organized a pursuit party to chase us down, even after her successful raid on the city, told me everything I needed to know.
So, how could I break her? There were many ways, but I decided to focus on the Vagabonds around her first. I had a feeling a path would open if I could properly twist her personality and her relationships with them.
In any case, capturing Baek Seoyeon was an unexpected boon. Whether I made good use of this prize or squandered it was entirely up to me. There was no need to rush. Just as Ko Yeonju had said, I planned to take my time.
And so, with my Third Eye, I observed the two women who were still just staring blankly at each other.
〈 Player Status 〉
1. Name: Lee Gain (Year 3 User)
2. Class: Delusion Mage (Rare, Delusion Mage, Master)
3. True Name · Nationality: Beautiful Fool · Republic of Korea
4. Sex: Female (22)
5. Alignment: Chaos · Gloom
[Strength 16(-22)] [Durability 8(-18)] [Agility 10(-14)] [Stamina 14(-32)] [Magic Power 30(-64)] [Luck 80]
(You have 0 stat points remaining.)
(The User's magic circuits are nearly 70% damaged. Her physical condition has deteriorated rapidly of late. All stats except Luck have decreased, and if this condition persists, there is a possibility of permanent stat loss. Natural recovery is already impossible. A full recovery requires one bottle of Elixir or at least six months of complete rest.)
I'd learned one thing through Eyes of Temptation: Lee Gain and Lee Haein were Baek Seoyeon's confidants. She had apparently turned Lee Gain into a Vagabond herself, and Lee Haein had been with her since their Rite of Passage. That was why I had deliberately separated them.
No matter who won or lost, the outcome would be the same.
“Three minutes have passed. And for the record, there are no draws. If those two die, you two die with them.”
I said in a leisurely tone, propping my chin on one hand. These Vagabonds were already pushed to their physical and mental limits. My words must have been the catalyst, because one of them finally began to move.
The first to move was Shin Ayoung. With her legs tightly bound by shadows, she began to drag herself across the floor with her arms. As for Lee Gain, she still showed no reaction, as if she had lost her mind.
Shin Ayoung stopped right in front of Lee Gain. Her eyes swirled with all sorts of negative emotions. She stared at Lee Gain for a moment before swinging her hand violently.
Smack!
The blow was so hard that a sharp crack echoed as Lee Gain's head snapped to the side. Shin Ayoung's hand trembled, and Lee Gain's head remained turned, as if frozen in place. Just as Lee Gain's eyes widened and her mouth slowly fell open, another dull thud followed.
Thwack! Thwack!
The first blow is always the hardest; after that, it gets easier. After that first strike, Shin Ayoung began to lash out without hesitation. Even though she wasn't in peak condition, her combat experience hadn't vanished. She relentlessly aimed for the face, swinging with both hands, while Lee Gain seemed resigned to her fate, her head lolling helplessly with each blow.
“Mmph! Mmmph! Mmmmmmph! Mmmmmmmmmmph!”
One attacked while the other took the blows. It was too pathetic to even be called a fight, yet the violence was only escalating.
Soon, Lee Gain's cheeks were swollen and red, and a thin trickle of blood ran from her mouth. I could hear Baek Seoyeon's muffled, scream-like noises, but I paid them no mind and turned to Ko Yeonju.
“Ko Yeonju. Release her.”
“What? You mean Baek Seoyeon?”
“Yes. Keep her legs bound, but release everything else.”
“Soohyun, you’re really something else. Alright~.”
Ko Yeonju let out something between a chuckle and a scoff and casually waved her hand. The shadows enveloping Baek Seoyeon partially peeled away. The moment they did, her body jolted.
Realizing she was no longer fully restrained, Baek Seoyeon immediately began crawling toward the center.
“What the hell are you doing! You stupid fool!”
No matter how much Baek Seoyeon yelled, Shin Ayoung’s hands didn’t stop. The game only paused when she finally reached the center and roughly shoved Shin Ayoung away.
“Shin Ayoung! Are you crazy? Don’t you see you’re playing right into that bastard’s hands?”
As Baek Seoyeon glared, Shin Ayoung lowered her head slightly. Her shoulder-length hair fell forward, hiding her face.
“Get a grip! You…”
Just as Baek Seoyeon was about to speak again, a low voice seeped through the curtain of hair.
“…Move.”
“Wh-what?”
“I said move, you fucking bitch!”
“What did you just…?”
“This is all your fault! If you hadn't been so stubborn about chasing them…! Why… why am I going through this? It's all because of you, you fucking bitch!”
Shin Ayoung’s voice was now a desperate shriek as she shoved Baek Seoyeon aside and lunged for Lee Gain again. Baek Seoyeon stared blankly for a second before reflexively reaching out.
The moment Shin Ayoung’s hand was about to reach Lee Gain, Baek Seoyeon grabbed her by the hair. Unable to fight the momentum, Shin Ayoung’s face was yanked toward the sky. And that was the beginning of the dogfight.
“Let go! Let me go! I said let go!”
“You…. Stop it! Snap out of it, you crazy bitch!”
“St-stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.”
Shin Ayoung thrashed her head before flipping over and lunging at Baek Seoyeon. She seemed to be trying to subdue her, but in the end, she got her own hair grabbed. They clawed at each other’s hair, rolled on the ground, hit each other’s faces, and scratched at each other’s cheeks. Lee Gain, with a helpless expression, tried to intervene, but it was no use. It was a dogfight in the mud. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Heh.”
A faint laugh came from somewhere. I looked to the side and saw the female priest I had captured earlier. Finding the scene hilarious, she covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
“Are you enjoying this?”
The priestess stopped laughing the moment I spoke. She lowered her hand and answered with a gaze that felt surprisingly bold.
“Yes. It’s very amusing. And that’s not all. It’s so satisfying. So cathartic. So refreshing. It’s driving me wild.”
“I see. In any case, this is a problem. It’s hard to say who won at this rate.”
“Can’t you just let them all die?”
“I can’t do that. I promised to let the winner live.”
“Oh, what a shame…. Oh my?”
The priestess let out a pretty gasp, as if she had discovered something amazing. I turned my head back to the center and saw an unexpected sight.
“Stop. It!”
Baek Seoyeon and Shin Ayoung were a ridiculous sight. Their hair was disheveled, of course, but they also had bloody noses and torn, blood-soaked lips.
And between them, having pushed her way to the center with some unknown strength, was Lee Gain. As the other two panted heavily, I slowly rose to my feet. It was then.
“Uu…. Uu….”
Making a strange sound that was somewhere between a cry and a sob, Lee Gain slowly raised her head to look at me.
Her face still had its usual foolish expression, but something felt different. She was staring at me with a resolute gaze that was completely unlike before.
Our eyes met, and just as I took a step toward the center…
Lee Gain briefly turned her head to look where Lee Haein lay collapsed.
Then, as her eyes turned back to me, they seemed to flash. Her body suddenly went rigid. Before I could even register that something was wrong, her mouth slowly opened, and a thick liquid gushed out.
“Gain?”
“Ah…”
“Gain! Gain!”
Don’t tell me…
I had kept the priestess on standby just in case. I was slightly surprised by this unexpected turn of events, but I quickly composed myself, hurried down, and checked Lee Gain’s condition.
When I forced open her trembling mouth and felt inside, I could feel a half-severed tongue amidst the warm blood. It seemed she couldn't bear the situation any longer and had bitten her own tongue. I clicked my tongue and straightened up.
“She bit her tongue.”
“Gain? Gain! Gaiiiiin!”
“Hey, shut up.”
Thump!
“Aargh!”
Annoyed by Baek Seoyeon’s screaming, I kicked her hard in the stomach, sending her rolling across the floor with a sharp cry. I let out a deep sigh and looked down at Lee Gain. Her body was still twitching intermittently; she was alive.
Biting off your tongue can lead to death by shock, blood loss, or suffocation. She wouldn't die immediately, but if left like this, her death was certain.
The area fell silent. The only sound was the heavy breathing of several people. I scratched my head for a moment, then looked back and forth between Baek Seoyeon and Shin Ayoung. Baek Seoyeon was clutching her abdomen, still in pain from the kick, while Shin Ayoung was staring up at me with a blank face.
As I pondered what to do, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
Maybe this could work out.
Quickly organizing my thoughts, I looked down at Shin Ayoung and spoke quietly.
“It can’t be helped. The game ends here. The result is nullified due to Baek Seoyeon’s interference.”
“Then…”
“You die, of course.”
A look of despair clouded Shin Ayoung’s face. I calmly turned to Ko Yeonju.
“The fun’s over. Ko Yeonju, I’m heading back to the campsite. Please take care of the remaining four, and clean this place up…”
I turned to leave, giving the impression I was done. Just as I expected, I felt someone grab my ankle.
It was Baek Seoyeon, who had tenaciously crawled over, still clutching her stomach with one hand. I casually shook my foot.
“Well, who told you to interfere?”
“……”
Baek Seoyeon said nothing. I used my foot to forcibly turn her head to the side. Lee Haein was already collapsed, her limit approaching. Her eyes, barely able to stay open, were filled with the fear of death.
“She’s dead because of you. No, maybe her, or him, or that man over there could have lived. In any case, if you hadn’t cheated, at least two of them would have survived. Right?”
“…Save them.”
The first words finally escaped Baek Seoyeon’s trembling lips. Her voice, so harsh just moments ago, was now broken.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. The feeling bubbling up in my consciousness was a memory from the 1st playthrough. Someone else’s image overlapped with the prostrated form of Baek Seoyeon. I slowly raised my foot and placed it on her head. Just as Baek Seoyeon had once done.
‘You’re pretty arrogant for someone begging to be saved, aren’t you?’
“You’re pretty arrogant for someone begging to be saved.”
‘I’ll give you a chance. Oh my, say it again. Tell me~. Tell me~. Kyahahaha!’
“Say it again.”
“Save… them… please…”
I scoffed and turned away. I had only taken three or four steps when I heard it.
A thud echoed as a head hit the floor, and a trembling voice reached my ears.
“I… am truly sorry… for interfering… in the middle… of the game…. Please, show mercy… and heal my comrades…”
“……”
“Please…. I’m begging you. If you’ll just help us this one time…”
Hearing the desperation that now laced her voice, I stopped walking. When I turned around, I saw Baek Seoyeon on her knees, her forehead pressed to the ground. These were the words I had been waiting for.
“Hmm…. Well, you are guilty of interfering, but it was an entertaining fight.”
“……”
“Alright. The priestess next to me also said your interference was fun, so I’ll be especially generous. So, who should I save?”
“Wh-what… did you say?”
Baek Seoyeon stammered. I said nothing more and closed the distance between us. I reached into my pouch, took out a healing potion I had prepared, and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It’s only one bottle, but it’s high quality. Use it on one person, and all the injuries they sustained in today’s game will be completely healed.”
“……”
“You could split it between two people to save them… but the effect will be diminished. Three is out of the question.”
“B-but…”
“Anyway, you decide who to save.”
I patted Baek Seoyeon’s head and stood up straight. Then, without a shred of lingering attachment, I turned my back and walked away.
As I was leaving, my eyes met Ko Yeonju’s. She had been watching quietly the whole time. She gave me a small, silent smile.
“Thank you. That was quite a show.”
“I’m glad I could meet your expectations. In any case, the priestess and I will head back to the campsite. I’ll leave this place to you.”
“My, my, to think the great Baek Seoyeon would act like that…. Yes, I understand. Don’t worry. I just need to take care of two of them, right?”
“Yes. You can do it after Baek Seoyeon makes her choice. Thank you for your hard work today. Now then, Priestess, let’s go.”
With her ability to manipulate shadows, Ko Yeonju alone was more than enough to watch over the Vagabonds. To show there was no room for discussion, I deliberately took the priestess’s arm and led her away.
The priestess gave the Vagabonds one last sweeping glance, then followed me with a bright smile.
*
“You know, that woman is quite pitiful, now that I think about it.”
“Pardon?”
We were on our way back to the campsite. The priestess, who was walking with a cheerful spring in her step, spoke in a clear voice.
“The Vagabond who fought first. She fought the hardest, but now she’s just waiting to be chosen.”
“Ah.”
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
I didn’t answer her question. It was true I had told Ko Yeonju to dispose of two of them. Shin Ayoung’s injuries weren’t fatal, but if she wasn’t chosen, she would be killed.
In a way, it was killing one to save another. From an objective standpoint, it was the height of absurdity, but I felt nothing. They were Vagabonds.
“Oh, how pitiful. I wonder how anxious she must be right now. Hehehe.”
Pitiful, she says. Right.
I smiled to myself at the priestess’s words. Perhaps it was better for them to die here, now, before we even entered the city. No, it was certain. I said I’d let them live, but in truth, I didn’t have the slightest intention of doing so.
After that, we chatted amicably on our way back to the campsite and finished our watch duty without any issues until it was time for the next shift.
And the next morning.
As expected, the number of Vagabonds had decreased from nine to seven. After confirming that Lee Gain and Lee Haein were still pale but alive, I announced our departure for Eden.
We were almost at the city.