The Unfair World
BOOM!
After the initial explosion, the auction house descended into chaos. People scattered in panic, and Yume muttered in shock.
"Challenging Sky Group head-on...? Do these guys even know what they're doing?"
In Zone 1, considering Sky Group's influence, it was hard to believe. Taking control of the building itself was terrorism on a whole different scale from kidnapping. But Zien thought differently.
No, that's exactly why they chose this place.
The Christie Auction House, a symbol of Rain City. And Sky Group's only daughter, Yume. If this operation succeeded, Rebellion would make its name known across all of Zone 1 in a single blow.
But... this doesn't add up financially.
Franklin glanced at Zien and Yume.
Jane, the Rebellion spy, was a 5th-rank Hunter that Franklin could never hope to face.
There's no guarantee no stronger ones will show up. Risking our lives for this pittance...
Franklin wasn't the only one. Kumo and Sin Ha-seong, who had thought it would just be simple bodyguard duty, looked grim as well. Yume bit her lip hard, seeing her teammates' faces calculating the costs.
Faces weighing profit and loss while looking at her—it was a reaction Yume was all too familiar with.
"You guys..."
"D-don't look at us like that. The truth is... I only came to build up my resume. Who'd want to die in a mess like this instead?"
Kumo tossed aside the badge issued by Sky Group as he spoke. Yume grabbed his wrist tightly, snarling.
"...That's a contract violation. You think I'll let that slide?"
Franklin pried her hand off.
"Stubborn to the end, huh? You think empty threats like that work when our lives are on the line?"
Franklin's eyes shifted to the same cold glare he'd shown in the testing room.
"The fallout from crossing your group is still better than dying here."
"You..."
Yume trembled with rage, but that was all she could do. With her life on the line, her weapons of money and power held no sway over Kumo and Franklin.
"Team leader, those guys are after this rude girl anyway. Let's evacuate together?"
"Yeah!"
Kumo looked at Zien with hopeful eyes. Sin Ha-seong stayed silent. In the end, Zien fell deep into thought.
Guess I can't count on any help after all.
This was Zone 1.
They were Hunters, not Sabers—and teammates in name only, not true comrades. Realizing that afresh left a bitter taste in Zien's mouth.
"I..."
All eyes turned to Zien.
It was clear who now held Yume's leash. As if she'd already foreseen the outcome, Yume stared at the ground. Zien couldn't see her expression due to her bowed head, but he had a pretty good idea.
"I'll stay."
Zien continued calmly.
"But I won't stop anyone from leaving. You wouldn't be of any help to the fight anyway."
Sin Ha-seong smirked.
"I see. Then I'll stay too."
"Didn't expect that from you. I figured the team leader might stick around, but not you."
Sin Ha-seong snorted at Franklin's words.
"It's not about loyalty or anything. I just want to get stronger. I don't wanna live out my life as a 3rd-rank."
Surviving this terrorist attack alongside Zien would definitely make that possible. Hunters grew stronger and awakened when they hit their limits. Of course, it might lead to 'mana overload,' but Sin Ha-seong's ambitions ran high. Kumo shrugged.
"Fine. No matter how we get there, surviving is what counts."
Franklin and Kumo departed.
Abandoning their client made them cowards, but in a life-or-death crisis, no one could blame them. Yume, lifting her head, asked Zien with an anxious expression.
"Why... didn't you leave with them? The money?"
There was no sarcasm in Yume's words.
She was always so willful, but peel back that mask of bravado, and her bare face was revealed. Even as Sky Group's heiress, she was just a scared 17-year-old facing reality.
"...The reason."
Zien's real reason was the quest.
If the protectee Yume died and he got the [Mana Seal] penalty, there'd be no one left to stop Rebellion's leader.
Then the gate raid would fail.
Zien looked at Yume.
She was just a side character in the gate. Pitiful as she seemed now, she had no real connection to Zien.
"That's what the contract says."
But despite Zien's cold reply, Yume somehow looked relieved.
"...Right. Yeah, it is."
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the building with vibrations. In the urgent moment, Sin Ha-seong asked Zien hastily.
"What's the plan?"
This is a 5th-rank gate. The ones launching the terror attack now aren't the fully formed Rebellion led by the 7th-rank Hunter Jeokhyeol—it's their early days. Only four members.
Since they targeted the auction house, at most one or two will be assigned to Yume...
A spot to block enemy reinforcements. Zien quickly made his judgment.
"We'll head to the rooftop."
Zien had already scouted the place beforehand with Jin Yura.
The rooftop has only one access point and entrance.
And there was a slim chance that Hunter Association helicopters or Sky Group's might be deployed later. The problem was the Rebellion Hunters approaching from below. Fighting them head-on would pin Zien and Yume helplessly on the 7th floor.
"Got it. You need time, right?"
The mana signatures of the Rebellion members climbing from below were no joke. Sin Ha-seong headed toward the stairs and said,
"Just so we're clear—if things go south, I'm outta here."
Against Rebellion, Sin Ha-seong's defeat was a foregone conclusion. But the time his defeat bought would be Zien's golden opportunity. Zien replied amiably to Sin Ha-seong.
"Sure. I don't plan on attending any teammate's funeral either."
"Didn't know you had jokes in you."
At Sin Ha-seong's sacrifice, Yume whispered to Zien in a small voice.
"I... I swear I'll repay you both, no matter wha—"
Yume couldn't see Zien's expression as he walked ahead. But she could guess his mood from his subdued tone.
"Shut up."
"...What?"
Zien turned to Yume. His chilling gaze made her shrink back.
"Sin Ha-seong isn't sacrificing himself for your money."
Zien's sharp words pierced her.
Yume tried to make an excuse but couldn't find the words.
"Th-that's..."
"Don't taint his intentions just to soothe your conscience."
Staring at Zien's back, Yume silently followed to the rooftop.
On the auction house's 2nd floor.
With her mana sealed, Amy Rose and a regular cameraman had no chance of outmaneuvering the 5th-rank Hunter Bruno. In the end, the cameraman filmed as Bruno demanded, and Amy aimed her mic at him with shaking legs.
"Y-yes! It's all set up just like you wanted!"
"Good. So I just talk while looking at that?"
"Yes, yes!"
In the end, even as a Saber, Amy was now handling broadcasts both inside and outside gates. Viewers found the situation hilarious.
Watching the hologram chat, Amy gritted her teeth and muttered.
"I'll get revenge on all you teasers later..."
"Hey, what're you grumbling about? Start the broadcast already."
But when Bruno glared menacingly, Amy shook her head vigorously.
"Yes! Starting right now!"
Amy was grateful the viewers' chats weren't visible to Bruno.
Everyone's having a field day, huh?
As Amy wiped away tears of humiliation, Bruno grabbed the mic and stepped in front of the camera.
"...Ahem! First broadcast, so I'm a bit shy."
Embarrassed, Bruno scratched his head. Seeing the man who could crush a watermelon act like that, Amy subtly frowned. But she didn't have the guts to show it.
"E-everyone struggles at first. Why not just talk like you're chatting? It'll be easy."
Loyal retainer Amy's advice.
Bruno stroked his chin, then nodded.
"...Yeah. Good point."
Thanks to the advice, Bruno's eyes grew calm. He was speaking as if addressing someone specific.
"We're broadcasting... to spread Rebellion's will and recruit members."
Bruno hoped this broadcast would reach beyond the nation, to somewhere out there.
"We Hunters... are strong. The ones slaying monsters and saving the powerless non-ability users are always the awakened ones. Us Hunters."
A gentle voice.
But Bruno was suppressing his rage inside. Even mana-sealed Amy felt her hairs stand on end from his killing intent. Now Bruno stared straight into the camera.
"So why do non-ability users rule over us... and exploit us under the name of 'the system'?"
As Bruno clenched his fist,
A menacing crunch echoed from his hand. He slammed that fist into the wall with all his might.
CRACK! RUMBLE!
First came the vicious whoosh of air.
Then a barrage of rocks rained down from the wall. Without a hint of strain, Bruno roared.
"This world is unfair! We are the agents of all Hunters here to shatter that injustice!"
Bruno growled like a beast.
He was like a lion incarnate. But only for a moment. As if gazing at someone beyond the camera, Bruno stared intently.
"And the first to be judged... is your Sky Group. You've forgotten that man's death, but we haven't. Oh, and."
Bruno looked up confidently. His target was a rat in a trap. And their leader had gone to catch it.
"I swear. What we'll lose this time... won't be us. It'll be you, Sky Group."
Rebellion, including Bruno, were victims who had lost someone.
"If you want to stop us, you'd better hurry."
Avengers for that someone.
My Previous Life was the Strongest Sword God