Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 17
>Chapter Title: Flag (1)
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For some inexplicable reason, there was a strange queasiness that made him feel like they just shouldn't team up.
Because of that, the boy from Slaughter Valley—who had given up on cooperating with Mok Kyung-un—whispered to the boy from the Esoteric Scripture Sect standing beside him.
"You're from the Esoteric Scripture Sect, right?"
"That's right."
"Let's cut to the chase. No point wasting energy—let's team up for this trial."
"......"
The boy from the Esoteric Scripture Sect furrowed his brow, seemingly deep in thought at the Slaughter Valley boy's proposal.
It certainly wasn't a bad idea.
Teaming up with the more capable ones was the surest way to pass the trial smoothly.
'Hmm.'
The Esoteric Scripture Sect boy had seen how this Slaughter Valley boy had hidden in the water earlier, ambushing another boy to steal his iron ball.
It was a solid strategy, all things considered.
In that sense, he could be helpful for this trial, which required even more strategic cooperation than the iron ball skirmish.
However,
'...Do I really need to reveal even a glimpse of my sect's secrets to some guy I might clash with in the next trial?'
Spending three shifts together meant exposing quite a lot.
A sect's martial arts secrets only led to losses the more they were shown.
He judged that it would actually be better not to cooperate with the Slaughter Valley and Demonic Flower Hall boys, who had a high chance of surviving alongside him to the end here in Blood River Valley.
With that, the Esoteric Scripture Sect boy spoke.
"I refuse."
"You'll regret it."
"We'll see who regrets it."
The Esoteric Scripture Sect boy sneered at the aggressive retort.
Then, as a last resort, he casually asked the short-haired girl from Demonic Flower Hall.
"Hey, Demonic Flower Hall. What about you...?"
"Get lost."
"......"
Rejected before he could even finish.
The Esoteric Scripture Sect boy clamped his mouth shut, his face full of irritation.
Cooperating with these guys had probably been a lost cause from the start.
* * *
"Hoo... hoo..."
The boys gazed tensely at the mountain beyond the valley stream.
The moment the signal dropped, three shifts—even more grueling on stamina than the iron ball skirmish—would begin.
It was in that split second of focused attention.
"Begin!"
No sooner had the ogre-masked man's shout rang out than the boys charged toward the valley stream in unison.
Just like before, haste would secure the high ground in this trial too.
-Splash! Splash!
The stream, stained red with blood from the floating corpses.
The bloody scent wafting from it foreshadowed yet another ordeal.
One of the watching warriors spoke to the ogre-masked man.
"They'll soon realize that the previous trial was a walk in the park."
"......"
No trial was ever easy.
But this one wasn't just about finding compatible teammates to defend a flag.
'They'd better find the flags quickly.'
The sharp ones would soon grasp the significance of those flags.
* * *
After the start signal, 468 boys entered the mountain.
Once the red-belted warriors vanished from sight, the boys' actions fell into three categories.
The first group charged straight up the mountain without stopping.
'Flag... I have to find the flag!'
These were the types who prioritized securing a flag above all else.
With limited flags available, they saw it as more urgent than recruiting teammates.
Of course, it wasn't a wrong choice.
Teammates were meaningless without a flag.
Nearly half—over 200—fell into this category.
Among them were the Esoteric Scripture Sect boy and the Demonic Flower Hall girl, both top contenders to survive until the end.
The second type.
"Hey, team up with me."
"You mean work together?"
"Yeah. No point grabbing a flag first like those idiots. Better to form a team early and steal one later."
"Oh?"
"That way, it's easier to hold onto it too."
Boys like this stopped to form teams with those who seemed compatible or useful.
Time was short, so it happened quickly.
Even so, no one attacked each other while forming teams.
They all knew implicitly that once teams formed and they delved deeper into the mountain, stamina drain would intensify—best not to fight here.
'Yes, this is more like it.'
The Slaughter Valley boy smirked inwardly.
He had successfully gathered everyone from fifth to fifteenth place as his teammates.
Or rather, they had naturally gravitated to him.
Eleven entrants would have made eight teammates, but a few had rushed ahead for flags, leaving this group.
'Perfect.'
It was the most overwhelming team.
All had passed the top of the iron ball skirmish, boasting skill and strategy.
As long as they snagged a flag, they could focus solely on conserving energy.
"Alright, let's go!"
Thus, the Slaughter Valley boy—the first to form a team—headed into the mountain.
The others quickly followed suit, forming teams and moving out.
Mok Yu-cheon was among them, but,
'...Not that guy.'
He shook his head at Mok Kyung-un in the distance.
Even as half-brothers, he had considered teaming up.
But he just couldn't stomach it.
The journey here—being helplessly acupoint-struck—had soured him completely.
'Die or not, that's his problem... No.'
Survival came first for him.
Fortunately, nearby boys had invited him, so he joined them.
They weren't orthodox sect, which felt off, but for survival, he had no choice.
He had to grasp at straws.
'I'll survive.'
One way or another.
Convincing himself inwardly, Mok Yu-cheon set off with his teammates.
Meanwhile,
-What are you planning, you rascal?
Cheongryeong asked from within Mok Kyung-un's robes.
He whispered back quietly.
"I'm thinking of recruiting some teammates."
-...Why bother with something so pointless? Just grab a flag, and they'll come running.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged.
She was right, of course.
It was still early, and with flag locations unknown, securing one first would draw teammates without effort.
-Trying to pace your stamina or something?
Forming teams early reduced risks through combined strength and conserved energy.
It was preparation for the next trial.
But,
"Nah, not that."
-What?
If not that, why form a team now?
Cheongryeong couldn't help but wonder.
She knew he wasn't the type to collaborate anyway.
And so, Mok Kyung-un ran into an unexpected snag.
"This is awkward."
-Pfft.
Cheongryeong snickered.
As he approached boys to recruit, they scattered like he was poison—wary and guarded.
He had finished first, but some had witnessed his brutal methods.
No one wanted to team with him.
Their murmurs reached his ears.
"Better to drop him now."
"Saw him rip out that guy's throat to extract the iron ball?"
"Total psycho."
That reputation made them wary.
Most found teaming with someone so vicious burdensome and preferred isolating him to force his elimination.
Perhaps because of that judgment, they fled whenever he drew near.
-You've really made yourself hated, rascal.
"Looks like it."
-Wasted effort, then.
"Hmm."
If this kept up, as Cheongryeong said, recruiting would be tough.
He had wanted an easy start—maybe change tactics?
That was when a short-haired boy approached Mok Kyung-un hesitantly.
"...Need a teammate by chance?"
"Yes, actually."
"We've got seven. Want to join?"
The surrounding boys murmured at the offer.
Who the hell would pull in that guy?
Anyone with a brain would exclude him early to avoid future rivalry.
And there she was—
-Swish!
A girl extending her hand toward Mok Kyung-un, waving it.
Strikingly beautiful, she was surrounded by five boys like personal guards.
A team formed around the sole girl.
One boy whispered.
"Little Flower, you sure? That guy's sketchy."
"Yeah, the others are rejecting him to weed him out early too."
Another boy agreed.
The girl called Little Flower smiled faintly.
"Trust me."
"We do. But..."
"The idiots think excluding him is smart. Having him around benefits us."
Little Flower had pondered it but saw gain in accepting Mok Kyung-un.
His brutality aside, the guy had torn out a throat with one hand despite a sealed dantian—immense strength.
With him, no other team would dare attack rashly.
And,
"Use him till dawn, then kill him. Think he can take all seven alone, no matter how strong?"
She even planned to discard him after.
Naturally, this left one spot empty at the end.
For that, one teammate would hang back deliberately.
Once he died, fill the vacancy.
'Idiots. Useful cards like this are for using up and tossing. Let him fight for us, save our stamina—one stone, two birds.'
She sneered at her teammates and the others alike.
Brains were meant to be used.
* * *
Within one quarter-hour, most had formed teams and entered the mountain.
Little Flower's group was no exception, her at the lead.
Now, they rushed to find and claim a flag first.
Fail that, and they'd have to steal from another team.
As they moved, Little Flower sidled up to Mok Kyung-un slyly.
"You were impressive back there."
"Were you?"
"I'm Little Flower. What's your name?"
"Mok Kyung-un."
"Mok Kyung-un?"
She tilted her head.
First time hearing it.
His savagery and skill made her curious about his origins, but the name drew a blank.
'Only one Mok clan among martial families—orthodox Timber Sword Manor in Anhui Province.'
But no way an orthodox Mok would be here.
Nothing for it but to ask directly.
"Where are you from?"
"Does it matter?"
'Not telling, huh? Fair enough.'
Even allies now, they'd compete later.
Best to hide one's background.
'This guy... pretty handsome, actually.'
Handsome didn't even cover it—Mok Kyung-un was strikingly good-looking.
Even more so up close.
Against plan, she felt a spark of interest.
'Tempt him?'
Men were simple—weak to a woman's allure.
Feign interest, and they fell.
If she could make him hers, no need to kill; milk him longer.
-Swish!
Little Flower loosened her collar slightly, revealing cleavage, and pressed close to Mok Kyung-un.
Boys this age brimmed with lust.
A glimpse of her ample bosom, bodies touching—the effect was guaranteed.
Pressing against him, she whispered.
"You know, I like guys like you."
Mok Kyung-un glanced at her sidelong.
Then smiled faintly.
"Me too."
'Heh. As expected.'
Looks didn't matter.
When she set her mind to seduce, any man fell like this.
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un draped an arm over her shoulder.
'Ha, look at him.'
Her seduction had him showing confidence openly.
This might hook him faster than thought.
Reel him in, use as shield, survive to end—then...
"I've been picking one out since earlier."
"Huh?"
What was that?
-Grip!
His arm around her shoulder snaked to her neck.
Then,
-Crack!
In an instant, he twisted her neck.
So sudden, she died on the spot without a scream.
'!!!!!'
No one hid their shock.
They had watched, expecting her to seduce him.
Who could've foreseen this?
One boy yelled.
"Y-You crazy bastard, what the hell?!"
Mok Kyung-un smirked, lip curling.
"Call it happy meal time."
All these before him—ripe prey brimming with deathly aura to feed on.
The mountain was vast.
Best to start easy.
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