Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 20
>Chapter Title: True Intent (2)
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“This... looks like there's one spot open in your group.”
The boys were dumbfounded by Mok Kyung-un's mocking words.
Who could have predicted that in such a tense situation, someone would hurl a stone and kill one of their teammates?
Mok Kyung-un spoke to them again.
“What do you say?”
“...”
The question left the boys speechless.
They had less than two keuks left until dawn.
If they were lucky and someone showed up, that person could replace the dead boy. But if no one came...
“Damn it.”
“What do we do?”
The boys whispered among themselves.
They were furious that a comrade they'd shared life and death with had died, but they had to think rationally.
That guy had made what he believed was the right call.
“We still have two keuks.”
“Yeah, but what if no one comes?”
“...”
“He's right. Let's just take him.”
“But...”
“Do you think that guy's gonna give up?”
“Even so, we owe some loyalty to the guy we went through this with...”
Just then, they spotted Mok Kyung-un picking up another stone.
Not just one—he was grabbing whatever he could get his hands on.
The boy who had been speaking swallowed dryly.
“...Let's take him. That bastard's got stones.”
“Crazy fucker.”
If they refused, he'd probably start throwing at the other boys too.
In the end, they had no choice but to accept Mok Kyung-un into their group.
As if nothing had happened, Mok Kyung-un flashed a sly smile.
“Thanks, everyone. You're all so kind.”
*That son of a bitch.*
Everyone cursed him inwardly.
If he hadn't shown up, they could have had a satisfactory outcome.
They had united as one and learned what teamwork really meant.
But now, to pass the trial, they had to reluctantly accept this madman.
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un placed his hand on the flagpole.
One boy tried to suppress his emotions as much as possible and said,
“Be careful. Even with two keuks left, the flag has to stay intact.”
“I know.”
“If you know, then don't touch it.”
Despite the boy's words, Mok Kyung-un kept fiddling with the flag.
The boy was furious but held his tongue.
After seeing that monstrous strength in the iron ball skirmish—and just now, when he'd nearly smashed someone's face with a stone—he didn't have the guts to pick a fight.
*...Once these golden chains are off, you're mine.*
According to his intel, the chains would be removed after the early stage of the trial.
Then he'd deal with this guy somehow.
As he thought that, Mok Kyung-un spoke up.
“By any chance, did you find any other flags besides this one?”
“Other flags?”
The boy shook his head at Mok Kyung-un's question.
They'd been lucky.
After finding this flag, two other groups had attacked, but they'd defended it to the end.
“We've held this one without ever losing.”
The boy spoke with pride.
Mok Kyung-un let out a sigh.
“Whew.”
“What's that sigh about? You lost your flag and your teammates.”
One boy finally couldn't hold back and snapped at Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un shook his head slowly, then approached the boy.
The boy flinched for a moment but stood his ground.
“What! What! You gonna do something about it? You pissed off? But it's true. And yeah, we took you in out of necessity, but if we wanna pass, fights are unnecessary at this point...”
-Crack! Crunch!
In that instant, the boy's neck twisted.
He collapsed dead before he could finish speaking.
“!!!!”
The other boys were utterly stunned.
“Is, is this bastard really insane?”
“No matter what, that's too much. Dawn's almost here—how could you kill a teammate? Are you out of your mind...”
-Thud! Crunch!
Mok Kyung-un's fist struck the neck of the shouting boy.
With the sound of muscles and bones snapping, the boy's neck bent at an unnatural angle. He let out a final groan and died on the spot.
Already two dead—the remaining boys couldn't hide their shock.
*He's lost it.*
*What the hell is this?*
Did he have no intention of passing the trial at all?
As they thought that, Mok Kyung-un reached for another one of them.
-Thwack!
“Eek!”
One boy couldn't dodge and got grabbed.
The others' minds went blank.
Forget passing the trial—to survive, they had to run.
They fled without helping their captured comrade.
Mok Kyung-un hurled a stone at one of the fleeing boys with all his might.
-Thud!
“Gah!”
The stone pierced the back of his head.
Naturally, the boy collapsed dead.
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un picked up another stone, but the remaining three had scattered into the brush.
*Can't get them all. Fine then...*
“Take care of two for me.”
With those words, he flung a stone into the bushes at full force.
A stifled scream came from within, followed by the sound of something collapsing.
Looked like a direct hit.
The captured boy trembled in terror.
“Wh-what the hell are you doing? You know what happens if we don't pass. Killing teammates like this...”
“You weren't passing anyway.”
“What?”
“I said you weren't passing.”
“Wh-what nonsense is that? If you hadn't done this...”
“You were so busy defending, you didn't even check the flag properly.”
“What are you even...”
-Snap!
Mok Kyung-un grabbed the uncomprehending boy's head with both hands.
The boy pleaded in horror,
“Pl-please... spare...”
-Crunch!
Mok Kyung-un snapped his neck without a change in expression.
Then he gripped the flagpole beside him and crushed it with one hand, muttering to himself.
-Creeeak!
“A bit tight on time now.”
One keuk left.
He had to find a different kind of flag within that.
The inscription on this flag matched exactly what he had memorized.
* * *
At the same time, midway up the mountain.
With dawn nearly breaking, two groups were locked in combat, facing off.
“Huff... huff...”
Everyone was exhausted, their ragged breaths echoing around.
This standoff was unusual compared to typical flag defenses.
Both sides had flags.
One group had firmly planted theirs into a sheer cliff wall, forming a semicircle to protect it. The other carried theirs—two guarded it while the remaining six targeted the semicircle.
*This is bad.*
Among the defenders were Mo Ha-rang, the one-shot girl from Mo Hwa Pavilion, and Timber Sword Manor's youngest, Mok Yu-cheon.
Mo Ha-rang had joined Mok Yu-cheon's group while searching for a new flag, and they'd held out until now.
The sky had lightened considerably—dawn was close.
They'd just started to relax when these guys showed up.
“How long do you think you can hold out?”
The boy speaking clutched a stone axe. He'd stripped off his upper garment, revealing unique tattoos across his body. He was Yeom Ga of Slaughter Valley.
*Damn it.*
Mok Yu-cheon glared at him, cursing inwardly.
He couldn't figure out why they were after their flag.
One of the attackers had a broken flagpole tucked into his belt.
That meant...
*They've got both kinds already. Why go for ours?*
It made no sense.
Fighting like this risked losing a teammate and failing the trial.
Was it worth the risk just to thin out rivals?
Seemed like a foolish choice.
Mok Yu-cheon whispered lowly to the boys beside him and Mo Ha-rang.
“Just hold out a little longer.”
Mo Ha-rang and the boys nodded.
Once dawn broke, this nonsense would end.
But Yeom Ga of Slaughter Valley sneered at their strategy.
*You think you can just wait it out?*
Wrong.
They had a surefire plan.
It had already wiped out three groups—proven effective.
Yeom Ga raised his left hand.
Then,
“Waaaaaah!”
“Yaaaaaah!”
The two boys guarding the flag suddenly bellowed at the top of their lungs.
Not just them—the attacking boys joined in, shouting even louder.
*What the?*
*They're crazy! Why all of a sudden?*
The defenders had no idea what was going on.
They were yelling way too loud.
So loud that their cries echoed through the mountainside.
*What trick is this?*
Mo Ha-rang from Mo Hwa Pavilion glared at the sneering Yeom Ga.
The moment that weakling raised his hand, this started.
No way it was random.
*...*
She decided she couldn't just ignore it.
They had to defend the flag—and take out one or two of them.
That would make them back off.
Gripping her sharply honed stone dagger, she said in a low voice,
“You all stay in the semicircle. Don't break formation.”
“What? You can't mean...”
Mok Yu-cheon tried to stop her urgently, but
-Swoosh!
Mo Ha-rang was already dashing toward one of the boys.
Her acupoints were sealed, but everyone knew her exceptional dagger skills.
As she went all-in, the others fell back to create distance.
Mo Ha-rang pursued relentlessly.
That was the moment.
*Gotcha!*
Yeom Ga seized the opening and charged the semicircle defenders.
Mo Ha-rang pivoted instantly.
*Knew it.*
She'd anticipated this.
She was their strongest fighter.
Yeom Ga would lure her away to hit the formation.
-Swoosh!
She hurled her sharpened stone dagger at Yeom Ga's back.
One of Yeom Ga's teammates dove to block it.
-Stab!
“Urk!”
The dagger embedded between the boy's left chest and shoulder.
But that bought Yeom Ga time—he swung his stone axe down at one defender's head.
“No!”
Mok Yu-cheon slid in, targeting Yeom Ga's legs.
Yeom Ga chuckled and leaped sideways, throwing his axe.
*Huh?*
Yeom Ga wasn't aiming at the boy.
*Damn!*
He targeted their flag.
The real goal wasn't the defenders.
The spinning axe flew straight for the flagpole.
-Clang!
By sheer luck?
It glanced off the pole, ricocheting away.
A dent formed, but fortunately, the pole held.
The boys sighed in relief.
“Hah.”
If it had snapped, they'd have to shift from defense to stealing the enemies' flags.
*I'll kill him!*
-Swoosh! Tap-tap-tap!
Mo Ha-rang charged at Yeom Ga.
The others were threats too, but this one needed to die now.
He was the slipperiest, using every dirty trick.
“Mo Hwa Pavilion. Wanna go at it?”
After throwing his axe and rolling to his feet, Yeom Ga assumed a stance facing the charging Mo Ha-rang.
Forget her being a girl—she was one opponent he really wanted to face.
Right then.
-Screech! Screech!
A bizarre cry echoed from somewhere.
The two charging at each other halted.
The other boys from both sides, locked in combat, froze too.
-Thud! Thud!
The ground trembled.
Something massive was approaching.
With daylight strengthening, they spotted a huge shadow emerging from the brush.
Yeom Ga's group moved in unison, as if they'd been waiting.
They rushed toward the two guarding their flag, seeking cover.
-Crash!
Behind them, a colossal beast revealed itself.
“!!!!!!”
Everyone's faces hardened.
-Drool...
Saliva dripped as it appeared.
Its head was covered in blue fur, ears sharply pointed, claws hooked and razor-sharp.
It resembled a wolf, but its size...
“What, what is that?”
“What the hell?”
Nearly three times a normal wolf.
A monster with crushing presence, like it could devour a bull in one bite.
Mok Yu-cheon broke into cold sweats.
*It's... bigger.*
He'd encountered it while struggling through the mountains.
He'd survived by luck, but it was much larger than before.
What the hell happened in the meantime?
“Th-that monster wolf.”
Another boy from Mok Yu-cheon's group spoke in a voice thick with fear.
Two teammates had fallen to it—they knew its danger better than anyone.
-Tap-tap-tap!
Yeom Ga sprinted back to their flag.
The defenders eyed him suspiciously.
His group was closer to the monster.
They should be fleeing, yet they clung to their flag like they had to defend it.
*What's their game?*
Before they could ponder,
-Swish!
The monster wolf, expected to hit Yeom Ga's group first, veered past them.
It charged straight for Mok Yu-cheon and the semicircle at the cliff.
*What?*
*Why us?*
They couldn't fathom why.
Why skip them and target this side?
Did it have a grudge or something?
*The flags?*
One person guessed it: Mo Ha-rang.
She'd found it odd that Yeom Ga's group stuck to their flag despite the monster.
On a hunch, she shouted,
“Stick to the flag!”
The hesitant defenders backed toward the flag.
They weren't fools—they noted Yeom Ga's group after hearing her.
So they clustered close for now.
But,
-Crash-crash-crash!
The monster wolf exploded forward at terrifying speed, defying its bulk—straight at those retreating to the flag.
“Argh!”
“Eek!”
“D-dodge!”
Regardless of the flag, it barreled in.
Everyone scattered in panic.
But one boy got trampled.
-Thud!
“Argh!”
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
The beast's weight was brutal, but its hooked claws had raked his back, shredding organs.
“Damn it!”
Mok Yu-cheon, mid-flight, spun back.
Instinct screamed to run, but this boy had accepted him into the group—they'd shared life and death.
He couldn't abandon him.
-Thwack!
He scooped a stone and hurled it at the beast's face.
-Thud!
The monster wolf whipped its head around.
-Screeeeech! Screeeeech!
Its pig-like howl sent chills racing over their skin.
It locked eyes on Mok Yu-cheon.
*Shit.*
Had he screwed up?
Should he have just run?
That instant—
-Thud!
Someone leaped high, landing on the wolf's back, clambering to its neck, and stabbing a sharpened stone dagger at its eye.
It was Mo Ha-rang.
But,
-Slash!
“Hup!”
Before the dagger hit, the wolf swung its opposite foreclaw wildly overhead.
She leaped off to dodge, but it grazed her back.
Hooked claws tore flesh; her back instantly soaked red.
Then,
-Crash!
She tumbled head over heels several times.
“Ha-rang!”
After rolling, Mo Ha-rang staggered to rise.
But with sealed meridians and this injury, standing was no easy feat.
-Thud!
One knee buckled to the ground.
Yeom Ga's clustered teammates jeered gleefully at the sight.
Call it opportunistic murder?
They'd fed three groups to this wolf this way.
*Don't feel too hard done by, Mo Hwa bitch.*
Yeom Ga smirked wickedly.
No fairness here.
The one who survived to the end, eliminating rivals, was the true winner.
-Screech-screech!
The monster wolf bared its teeth, stalking toward her slowly.
Not a mere beast.
It advanced one deliberate step at a time, as if savoring her terror.
“Hah... hah...”
*Dawn's so close.*
Mo Ha-rang glanced skyward, biting her lower lip.
Just one keuk left—would she die here, failing the trial?
Blood loss from her back blurred her vision.
-Thud!
-Thud!
-Thud!
The wolf closed in, right before her.
She saw Mok Yu-cheon and one boy circling, shouting distractions—but too late.
She was next.
*Do I... look... tasty?*
-Grit!
Mo Ha-rang clenched her teeth, forcing herself up.
Even in death, she'd stab a chunk out of this thing—no regrets then.
That moment.
The wolf lunged as if waiting.
-Swoosh!
*Come on!*
Then—
-Thud!
The leaping wolf froze mid-air.
“!?”
Not stopping itself—its forepaws lifted, bound as if by something.
What the hell?
“What, what is it?”
“Why's it doing that?”
As everyone puzzled, Mo Ha-rang's fading vision caught something eerie.
Countless iron chains had erupted from the ground, binding the wolf's body.
-Clang! Clang!
-Screeeeech!
The wolf roared, thrashing to break free, but the chains tightened, immobilizing it.
*What?*
What were these chains?
Then a voice came from somewhere.
“Ahhh. Lucky. Everything I need is here.”
She turned toward it.
A figure approached, smirking.
*That guy's...*
Mok Kyung-un.
But right beside him—what was that translucent, hazy thing?
-Flinch!
A girl with half-white hair, chains coiled around her body. Meeting her eyes sent shivers through Mo Ha-rang's entire frame.