The True Uninvited Guest (2)
Tadak, tadak.
The campfire crackled away.
The flames should have been radiating intense heat, but for some reason, the surroundings remained shrouded in darkness, refusing to brighten.
"What a creepy-ass forest."
Whoosh.
One of the pursuers hurled a branch into the campfire.
The blaze eagerly devoured the fuel, roaring higher, but the enveloping darkness didn't budge an inch.
"Now I get why they call this one of the five great forbidden zones."
Five Great Forbidden Zones.
The term for the five prohibited areas in Orision.
You couldn't see an inch ahead, so it was impossible to tell if you were heading forward or backward.
His companion, munching on a roasted fish, nodded in agreement.
"That's why the witch lives in a place like this."
"Yeah. A bitch who massacred countless people with poison? This hellhole's the only spot that fits her."
Kekeke.
The pursuer chuckled low in his throat and held out a skewered fish toward the side.
"Hey, you want one?"
"……."
"Keep starving like that, and you'll collapse before we even catch the witch."
The robed man stared blankly at the proffered fish.
After a long hesitation, he shook his head.
A faint smack of the lips from the pursuer at the refusal, then he bit into the fish himself.
"You really don't need the bounty, huh?"
"……No need."
"Then why the hell are you even here? The rest of us are all in it for the cash."
The pursuer formed a circle with his index and middle fingers.
The dozen or so others around them burst into knowing laughter at their leader's gesture.
The man glanced around at them before dropping his head low.
"Just... personal reasons."
"We've been comrades for over two weeks, and you're still playing it that close to the chest?"
"……."
Tch.
The pursuers clicked their tongues in boredom and started chatting among themselves, excluding the man.
That's when it happened.
"Hm?"
Whoosh.
A gust of wind from somewhere shook the campfire.
The pursuer sitting with his back to the fire reached toward the sky and muttered.
"Wind in this forest too, huh?"
Darkness was a forest of shadows.
Everything was consumed by darkness—no wind, no light.
Yet wind was felt.
Amazed, the man reached into the empty air.
And then.
"Nice and cool wind—"
Kwachak!
A sharp slash flew in from nowhere.
The man's outstretched hand sprayed red blood as he tumbled away.
* * *
He probably didn't die, right?
Man, controlling my strength is always such a pain.
Right after launching Muin, I perched on a nearby tree and peered down at the sprawled man.
His chest was rising and falling faintly—he'd live.
Perfect. That much should do it.
Nodding to myself, I held my breath and watched below.
"M-Maknae!"
Looks like the one I hit was the maknae.
A burly pursuer rushed toward him, calling desperately.
"Pull yourself together, maknae!"
Shouting, he pulled a vial of something from his pocket.
Soon, the maknae's faint breathing steadied into calm rhythm.
A potion, huh.
Couldn't tell from the silhouette, but yeah, potion.
His wound's probably healed now—no need to worry about him.
I'll—disrupt them.
Gini's voice echoed in my head.
I nodded and whispered back.
Damn, it really carries from that far. Wild.
Is it...?
I glanced at the shadow lurking behind me.
Omen.
Upper-tier darkness spirit, they said. Knows all sorts of tricks.
From granting vision in the dark to telepathy.
That's high-tier spirit power for you.
I turned my gaze back down.
The pursuers were scrambling into formation, scanning their surroundings warily.
They formed a tight circle, eyes darting everywhere.
The burly ones on the perimeter gripped weapons, standing firm.
Archers backed them up from behind.
No signals needed—they snapped into position instantly. Plenty of real combat experience.
And in the center...
A staff?
He was holding a staff.
A mage, maybe?
Anyway, these guys were definitely not like Earth's villains.
The moment they sensed danger, they formed up and raised weapons.
And that power radiating from them.
It dwarfed any villain's.
B-rank. No, A-rank.
I'd sparred with Jeong Chan-woo, top A-rank, so I could tell.
Every single one was A-rank hunter level.
What the hell kinda world is Orision?
Twenty or so at a glance, all A-rank or better.
If they were on Earth, they'd each be hailed as powerhouses.
"Over there!"
Fwoosh.
The darkness spirit under Gin's control deliberately leaked presence.
They whipped arrows toward the source.
I, on the opposite side, finally leaped lightly from the tree and approached.
First things first...
Shaaa—
Black mist blanketed the ground thickly.
Already on edge in the pitch-black forest, fixated forward, they missed the fog creeping at their feet.
I smirked faintly and surged the mist upward, swallowing a warrior guarding the right flank.
"Alex!"
The archer noticed too late and yelled, but Alex was already engulfed.
He loosed a desperate barrage into the mist, but it didn't so much as ripple.
It just sat there, devouring Alex.
"N-No way..."
The unyielding mist cocoon crumbled.
The archer gritted his teeth at the sight of Alex collapsing inside, eyes rolled back, and nocked an arrow at the air...
"Robin! Snap out of it!"
A shout from behind jolted him.
Robin shook off the panic and bellowed.
"Alex down! Support needed!"
Don't panic.
Panic loses even winnable fights.
Robin, maknae just months ago, recited the mantra drilled into him and refocused.
I watched quietly from afar.
Yeah, can't compare them to Earth's villains.
On Earth, half would've surrendered by now. These guys still had fight left.
Tsk. I crouched low and advanced.
"Kyaaak!"
"Keurk!"
"No, no—"
"Spare me!"
"Aaaahhh!"
"What the—"
"Get off!"
"M-Mother—"
"Kyaak!"
"Kuhuk!"
In the pitch-black void.
Screams echoed endlessly.
Like the eye of a storm, Robin's legs gave out, and he collapsed.
"Ha, haha..."
A dazed laugh escaped him.
Tears streamed hot from his eyes as he scanned around.
Gone.
His comrades, laughing and chatting hours ago—vanished.
Only inky blackness filled his vision.
Was that the scent of earth?
Was this forward?
Nothing made sense.
No one left to signal him.
Despair swallowed Robin whole. He slowly looked up at the sky.
Infinitely high sky.
3.3%
There, piercing the darkness.
Vivid orange eyes stared down.
The moment they met his, they rushed closer.
His last sight: that grotesquely scaled right hand.
Then Robin's consciousness snapped.
"Didn't mean to scare 'em that bad."
Tsk.
I looked down at the passed-out Robin.
Saved him for last 'cause he looked weakest.
Take out the strong ones first to minimize counterattacks.
But damn, I overdid the terror. His crotch felt wet—maybe dunk him in water?
Tsk again. I turned from Robin to face forward.
Amid the unconscious pursuers stood one man, firm as ever.
"...Who the hell are you?"
"Hm... good question. How do I even explain?"
I scratched my cheek, eyeing him.
This was awkward.
The others hadn't sensed the mist at all.
Easy pickings.
Made 'em think some unknown force—not the witch—took 'em out.
But one guy did sense it.
Yeah, the staff-wielder in the center.
The second the mist hit the ground, he ditched his spell, threw up defenses.
Couldn't ambush him from the shadows.
"That barrier was tough."
Always think it, but strength control's a bitch.
I could break it.
Just don't know how much force it'd take.
He gripped his staff tighter, watching me silently.
"...Where's the witch?"
"Why ask me?"
"Her vanguard should know."
Fair. Bashing pursuers in the witch's turf, Darkness? I'd look like her minion too.
Time to clear the misunderstanding.
I opened my mouth.
Or tried to.
"Hey, vanguard. Gini still like fish?"
If not for him clearly saying Gini.
And her favorite food: fish.
My face hardened as I stared him down.
He smirked at my reaction and shed his robe.
"...!"
Half his face twisted by burns.
Couldn't tell his original look.
But the remaining half? A handsome blond.
He shouted into the void.
"Hey, Gini! Come out. Your master's back."
His voice echoed hollowly through the dark woods.
The moment the waves spread wide.
The deathly still darkness rippled violently.
Obvious enough for me—and him—to notice.
He dropped his head with a thud.
Said nothing more.
Just stood in silence, waiting.
One second, two.
A minute that felt like an hour.
Then, from the sky, red hair fluttering, someone dropped limply.
She trembled like an aspen, knees hitting dirt, head bowed low.
"L-Lord Revil... I greet you..."
Gini, head flat to the ground.
Revil smirked at her.
"Surprised, Gini? Thought I died from your poison."
"...!"
"Can't blame you. You're the slave witch who poisoned our family—hell, the whole merchant house—and fled."
Each word from Revil intensified her shaking.
He grinned viciously at her.
"So, Gini. How was that freedom you bought with poison? Sweet?"
"......"
"Slaves answer their masters. Now, Gini."
She slowly raised her head.
Her pale face smeared with fear and tears.
Gasping raggedly, on the verge of collapse.
Forcing out the answer her master wanted, she opened her mouth.
And I.
"That's enough."
Stepped between them, glaring at Revil with sunken eyes.
I don't know Gin's past.
What life she lived, what kind of kid she was.
But.
The Gini I knew wasn't the type to poison anyone.
Couldn't watch her crumble.
Especially since.
"You."
Thought it was my imagination at first.
But watching confirmed it.
"......Vanguard. Mind not interrupting this touching master-slave reunion?"
"Shut it. You got explaining to do."
Kkuduk.
Scales rising on my knuckles.
Activating Black Dragon, I clenched my fist hard, staring down Revil.
"Like why Ma Gi is leaking from you right now."
"......"
From Revil before me.
Faint Ma Gi had been seeping since earlier.