The Flames of Vengeance (Part 2)

"Alright, alright, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you so very much for sticking with me right up to this very moment! That comes straight from the heart, so feel free to believe it! This Administrator doesn't tell lies that easily, you know?"

"Now then, shall we take a look at everything that's happened so far? Good heavens! It's already been well over a month since the apocalypse descended upon Earth and zombies and monsters started walking the world!"

"And on top of that... oh my! How astonishing! I was under the impression that ninety percent of humanity had been wiped out, hope had crumbled to dust, and we were one step away from the whole thing becoming a punchline... but somewhere out there, a spark of hope is being kindled, is it not?"

"So! Who among the survivors is the one who lit that spark of hope? That name is none other than... Jeong Hoon. The name is Jeong Hoon. Yes. From the very instant the apocalypse began! He was granted a power, a system, completely different from everyone else's! From me, of course? Anyway, he received it~ and after growing enormously, claiming his own territory, slaughtering countless zombies and monsters, and even clearing a dungeon... now he's challenging an Area Boss, is he?"

"Hmm... ahem ahem! Success or failure aside... doesn't it make you wonder just how much this man's challenge will affect the plan? Doesn't it? Yes, it does! Of course it does!"

"S-so, um... couldn't we just drop my disciplinary hearing around here and reinstate me to my original post so I can fulfill my assigned duties? The way I feel right now is like someone turned off the TV right at the climax! Like the restaurant closed before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the main course came out! Like I was halfway through taking a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠massive dump and— okay, I won't use that analogy. Anyway, getting cut off at the critical part is making me incredibly impatient!"

"Isn't there... anything you can do, Your Honor?"

"..."

"Yeah, no."

"Ah, no! Yes! Please say 'yes'!"

"I said no. ○○○○. Actually, should we convert that into human language for the record too? Fine then... Administrator A? The investigation results show that you grossly abused your authority and, far from advancing the plan, severely obstructed it. Shut up and take your punishment."

"Hiiing... Your Honor is so mean!"

"Your Honor, my ass."

"Administrator B is seriously the worst too. How could you snitch like that— ah, no! How could you file such a severely negatively distorted report! Assigning that one as auditor was a genuine mistake, Your Honor, I'm telling you!"

"★★★★ is... ah, right. Can't you see Administrator B glaring daggers at you from across the conference table right now. Administrator A? Quietly accept your discipline... and do whatever you want after that."

Beyond Earth, at a place called Orbit.

In that location far beyond the easy reach of human hands, a disciplinary committee had been convened to punish a reckless Administrator, and now it had reached its conclusion.

What effect that result would have on the survivors was something not a single human being on Earth had in mind just yet.

May 6th. 8:30 in the morning.

Everything had gone smoothly from the moment we boldly set out from Yeouido by car, all the way through slaughtering countless orcs, goblins, and even trolls.

Until I heard that ear-splitting roar of gunpowder detonating.

Bang, baaang!

"Ugh!"

And until I took a penetrating wound that nearly punched clean through my arm.

"J-Jeong Hoon! Your wound... just wait a moment! I'll heal you right away! Ah, if there's a bullet still inside—"

"...It's a through-and-through, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Kim Seyeon had already rushed to my side and quickly used holy magic to treat my arm, which was streaming blood. Even as I received treatment, I carefully tried to get a look past the wall—

Bang, bang!

"Kyaaah!"

"They're really laying into us! Who the hell is it?!"

"Didn't you hear earlier? She said they're people!"

"But why would people like us...?"

According to Han Sora's testimony they were human, but... I'd have to see them myself to know for sure! With bullets flying, I couldn't even stick a single hair out, and it was too dark to confirm anything. I didn't even know where they were shooting from!

Damn it. Even I would die instantly if I took a bullet to the head. My superhuman abilities are limited to strength and agility — my durability isn't particularly different from a normal person's. Well, considering I can take hits from a minotaur and not die, maybe I could tank it... but looking at how that bullet punched through my arm, my body's actual toughness clearly isn't anything special.

More importantly... no, seriously, where the hell are they shooting from? At least a hundred meters out, which is why I can't see them... but it's so dark I genuinely can't see a thing.

First priority: secure visibility.

...Alright.

"Sora, I'll draw their attention. Light your arrows on fire and..."

"Y-yes? But oppa!"

"Jeong Hoon, that seems a bit..."

Han Sora raised her voice in alarm, and Kim Seyeon looked worried too... but even so—

"Is it not better than sitting here doing nothing?"

"That's true, but it's not just that... it's..."

"Do not worry overmuch."

I know what Seyeon's worried about. She's asking what I'll do if the shooters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠really are human. She's probably thinking about how I personally oversaw Seo Hyejin's end... and fretting that this will weigh on me.

It's fine. I'm really... fine. Either way, I just don't have to kill them, right? Don't kill them. Just neutralize them so they can't use their firearms. Once I close the distance, what are they gonna do? Think they can keep up with Agility 18?

"Sora, I'm counting on you. Just make sure you don't hit any people."

"O-oppa, you too... don't you dare get hit! By a bullet!"

What are you worrying about that for.

Alright, which way should I run... ah, there's a good spot to hide over there. Perfect.

I carefully tensed my legs... and ran.

Thudududak!

What are you waiting for, you bastards. Shoot already! Too fast to hit, is that it?

Bang, bang, bang!

Ah, they shot! And... thank god. I made it without getting hit! As expected of Agility 18... no, the buff is still active, so it's 19.8, right?

Anyway, I was so fast that even with them somehow managing to aim, they couldn't land a hit. Yeah, moving targets are genuinely hard to hit.

"Hoo...!"

I got my body properly hidden. Strutting out confidently only to catch a bullet would have been a real blow to my pride.

"Sora!"

"I-I'll shoot!"

Fwing, fwing!

The very familiar sound of a bowstring being drawn rang out. I caught a faint afterimage of flames as well.

They're so focused on me they can't spare attention for Sora, huh. Good. Now then...

"Ugh, fire!"

"Take cover!"

They're basically advertising their positions for me. Perfect...

Carefully, I slipped my body out past the building wall. As expected, they couldn't detect me. I'd figured as much. But to my eyes, everything was crystal clear.

The people hiding behind cover, made plainly visible by the spreading flames. The distance was about fifty meters ahead, and...

Huh, what's that? There's something alien near those people... wait...!?

Ah...!

The instant I realized what it was, I just ran. Trusting in Stealth S+, I went in bold.

A single sentence had flashed through my mind on pure instinct.

That's the bastard!

"Hm? I sense something approaching—"

That bastard opened his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mouth. As expected of a high-level—

Being a monster, he can at least partially sense Stealth. But...

Shiiing...!

The moment I put the silver longsword in my hand, you're already too late.

"Wha— where did this sword come fr—"

Slash, slash!

As expected of a rare-grade silver longsword. It cuts right through. Almost too easily.

A little disappointing that his HP bar still has that much left. Still, the pain he's feeling must be enormous. His face twisted in agony in an instant as he screamed.

Ah, looking closer, smoke is sizzling up from the severed flesh.

"G-gyaaaaaaaaah!? S-silver! It's silver! A silver weapon! I-I have to tell the oth—"

Yeah, you're not getting that chance. Your wings are already cut off, remember?

Die.

Thrust!

I drove the blade straight into his neck. The silver longsword was far thinner than my previous iron sword, lighter, and far sharper. I didn't hesitate for a second in sending one vampire to hell.

"Ghk... aaah..."

Letting out only a weak groan, the vampire... turned to ash.

I'd heard about it before. That vampires crumble to ash and vanish when they die. Especially when hit by direct sunlight or when something like a stake pierces their heart.

I'd been a little skeptical, but... the monster info window displayed Instant Death, so he was definitely dead. No question.

And then a change came over the people around him.

"Ugh... finally... it's gone...! The control is lifted!"

"Aigoo... my head hurts."

Their expressions had looked a bit vacant, and it seemed they'd been brainwashed or controlled by the vampire who'd just kicked the bucket.

"Are you all alright?"

"Jesus! Who are you?"

"The man who just saved you."

Once I explained the situation, the people first looked dumbfounded, then scrambled over each other to rush up and talk to me all at once.

"Please help us! My little brother is—"

"Byeongcheol, you see, those bastards are draining his blood dry, and if we don't save him right now he's done for!"

"Calm yourselves first."

I settled them down, then led them as best I could back toward where my party was waiting.

My tense companions must have heard the sound of a crowd approaching, because they poked their heads out.

Naturally, everyone was startled. People following me while carrying firearms (though not currently holding them in hand) were certainly enough to put anyone on edge, but...

"Oh, Seonhye!"

"Jung Yun unnie!"

"Jeong Hoon, you're alive!"

"Wait, Kim Taeshin! You too?"

Ah, right. The people who'd been taken — the ones who'd been in the same boat as that traitor bastard Han Daegeon. Everyone except our group and Seo Hyejin's guild.

Good. I'll halt the advance for now and get some information out of these people. Better to know something before pushing forward.

...They look pretty emaciated, so I'll share some food first.

"Just what happened? Those creatures could brainwash or control humans?"

"Mmph mmph... so basically what happened was... it's a bit complicated... mmph mmph!"

Among them, a relatively lively-looking man explained while chewing on the emergency rations I'd handed over.

But. Was it just my imagination that I could see a red thread around the level of this man's shoulder? That thing is seriously freaking me out...

There was once a place called Seoul Station in YS District. At its very center, the Vampire Lord was listening to a report from a subordinate with a rather grim expression.

"...Dead? That easily?"

"I-it's certain, my lord! I-I saw it clearly just now through the eyes of the thrall I had connected! Th-that, um, the strong human we've been watching swung his sword and Dragus died in three strikes! C-completely instant death! H-his weapon... appears to be silver!"

Silver! Silver!

In an instant, a stir ran through the vampires. Silver. A weapon that was practically a natural enemy to vampires. Not merely dealing damage, but infiltrating holy energy into those called No Life Kings — a mineral that demonstrated exceptional effectiveness against powerful undead.

To wield a weapon forged from such a mineral. From a vampire's perspective, this was a villain of the most heinous order. Of course, from a human's perspective, he would simply be praised as a symbol of hope.

"...Has the Blood Thread been severed?"

"F-fortunately, it has not yet been cut! Th-the supply is still being maintained!"

"...Good. Alexandru!"

After pressing his forehead and thinking for a moment, the Vampire Lord called that name, and from his right side a vampire tightly wrapped in a robe stepped forward. He had a rather elongated build and a blunt, pale face (though every vampire was pale, so that hardly meant anything).

"Yes, my Lord."

"Go. I grant you permission to concentrate the Blood Threads of the blood bags upon yourself. Go... and show those wretches the terror of an undying vampire! Deliver a nightmare to those blood bags who dare swagger about simply because they hold a silver weapon!"

The vampire named Alexandru bowed his head deeply, assuming a posture of accepting the command.

"I shall obey. My Lord. I will bring you victory."

"Good. And... especially that insolent man — bring him back alive if at all possible. I will not ask about the method."

"I will not disappoint you. My Lord."

"I trust you. Alexandru!"

Receiving the additional orders with a blank expression, Alexandru transformed into a bat and soared into the sky.

Watching him go, the Vampire Lord felt reassured.

If it was Alexandru stepping forward and no one else, that insolent blood bag would surely be thrown into considerable disarray. Especially once he witnessed the way they utilized the Blood Threads...

Imagining that scene, a smile naturally formed on the Vampire Lord's face. Ease settled back into his heart. Honestly, when he'd heard that the orcs, goblins, ogres, and trolls guarding the perimeter had been annihilated in an instant, his brow had furrowed of its own accord.

And when the additional news arrived that a vampire had been sent to the next world in mere seconds without putting up any kind of fight, his mind had gone blank for a moment. Just slightly — enough for the specter of a death crisis to flash through his thoughts.

But... Alexandru, his cherished and outstanding warrior, was different. No — he would be different. He was a man who knew better than anyone in the clan how to torment humans, and how to do it efficiently.

Save for one person: the Vampire Lord himself.

"I can already picture Alexandru dragging that insolent wretch back like a pig."

"Heheh... same here, my Lord!"

Listening to his subordinates' flattery, the Vampire Lord waited for news.

Of course, the only news that returned in less than an hour was the grim report that Alexandru had been mercilessly cut down and cast into hell.