Haruna 2 (Revised): No Assassin Sneaks Up on Me

To me, no assassin could approach undetected... I had the perfect detection ability.

Every lifeform within 10 meters that was fuckable could be sensed. It could even pick up the invisible man from the mid-novel arc. Plus, Life Detection was an insane ability that expanded its range with level-ups.

After Haruna returned, I'd been sensing the three guys lurking outside the house. They weren't just passersby on the street. One was hiding in the shadows of the wall, peeking into the living room window. Another was on the neighbor's roof, eyeing the second-floor window. And the third was stationed at the front gate.

Our house was under ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠systematic surveillance by these bastards.

Who the hell are they?

At first, I wondered if they were church watchers. Or maybe sent by Hadomong? My head throbbed with possibilities.

And right in the middle of this, Haruna said she was heading out. In heat from drinking Saintess's Breast Milk, no less!

An Hyeonmi happily whipped up a café latte when I asked. Colombian Supremo mixed with her breast milk? Out-of-this-world flavor.

Thankfully, Haruna seemed to have her body under control despite the heat. Only possible because she was a virgin with no experience.

I stepped out after her like a guardian, tension humming through me.

Damn...

On the way to the convenience store, those three were tailing me. Couldn't let Haruna get dragged into this.

"Sis, I forgot something at home—gonna grab it real quick."

"Huh? Oh, sure!"

I veered into an alley to deal with the tails. But were they following me... or Haruna?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

No way—they're after Haruna? What do you bastards want...?

Their massive builds screamed Almadia origins. The moment I split from Haruna, I felt a spike of killing intent from them.

She'd turned into the alley! I bolted back toward her.

"Ah! Actually, I don't think I need it. Hehe."

"Heh, lightweight."

"You been stressed lately? You look beat, sis."

"Just..."

That's when it hit—their killing intent boiling over. They stepped out, flashing hand signals to each other.

"Sis, stay put right here behind me. Don't move."

"What's going on?"

Sensing something off, I pushed Haruna back and stepped forward.

"Who sent you? Church? Hadomong?"

"What the hell? Who's this punk-ass kid?"

"Just kill him too. We only need Haruna dead anyway."

Their hushed voices rang crystal clear. Assassins targeting Haruna, not me?

What the fuck? Why was the novel twisting like this?

I racked my brain for any plot point where Haruna got offed. She was just a regular accountant at a mid-sized company. No reason for her to be murdered now. She lived a normal office life. Later, she abruptly became a saintess and was used as bait to blackmail Hadojin. The cancer character 'Cerberus' who backstabbed him—readers loved nicknaming her that after her massive tits, like the three-headed dog, so the author straight-up renamed her Cerberus.

Personally, I hated that gag naming.

Cerberus aka Haruna. The woman blocking Hadojin's growth. A 'kill-before-heroine' trope—nothing more, nothing less.

The spineless author caved to whining readers like me and killed her off before she could become a heroine.

"Kill the kid first?"

"You take Haruna. I'll handle the brat."

They wanted to kill my sister? Right now? These motherfucking shits?

"Oppa~deul!♥ Hold up, hold up!"

I waved my hands like I'd bumped into old pals, throwing off their rhythm. Wait—did I just call them 'oppas'?

Leaving their baffled stares, I turned back to Haruna.

"Dojin... what's happening...?"

"Sis, I gotta handle some business with those guys. Just chill for a sec. It'll be fine."

I tapped her neck, knocking her out cold. The three goons were the shocked ones, murmuring among themselves as I strolled toward them.

"Heh... you bastards. Won't tell me who sent you even if I ask, right?"

Two blondes, one silver-hair. All pushing 2 meters, mana cloaking their bodies.

Aura users.

Who knew training with Harina would pay off like this? Constant mana control drills with Incubus Power had me brimming with confidence.

I glanced at Haruna on the ground, then beckoned them.

"All three of you come at me. The ground's cold—she'll catch a chill lying there too long."

"This pervert kid's begging to die."

One cracked his knuckles into a fighting stance—a martial artist. The other two? Their smug faces said they were underestimating me.

Target was Haruna. To me, this was life-or-death for her. No room for complacency.

I gulped down the Golden Goblin's Advanced Elixir Marlin brewed.

At the same time, I swapped stamina for mana with Mana Stamina.

Ooooooh!! Fuck... fuck. Fuck. FUCK!!

Like slamming a straight shot of Bacardi—electric buzz scorching down my throat, esophagus burning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from the booze. I could practically see my veins laid bare, powerful mana surging through every one. Overflowing mana hit like pure ecstasy.

Perfect. Time to end this with my strongest attack.

I clenched my fist. One sharp-eyed bastard clocked it.

"That fucker... aura user. Shit?"

Pssshhh—

He couldn't finish. I'd caved his skull in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with my hand.

This was the frustrating shit in novels. You have power but hold back, let allies get hurt. Always starting with weak moves before the finisher. Fucking infuriating.

Why? Author's padding and cheap dopamine hits, probably.

Fuck that. I don't play those games. Dopamine hits can suck my dick. This wasn't a novel—this was reality. My survival. My family's.

Full power, mana-infused martial straight with spiraling force—smashed right into the next guy's face.

Concave!

Blood exploded; his face vanished.

I'm no good Samaritan... I've beaten men to death before, you fucking bastard.

Dropped two in seconds. Then pulverized their corpses with my fists.

Why? No idea.

"Hup!!"

The last one, shocked by my savagery, collapsed, legs giving out.

Blood dripping from my hands, I approached.

"How's it feel, hunter turned prey?"

"P-please... spare me..."

I grabbed his head, shook it lightly. Seeing me yank off skulls, his shoulders hunched in terror, piss streaming down his legs.

"Movies always ask who sent you, right? But... I won't. It's obvious anyway."

"...H-huh? What?"

"Left arm first? Or right?"

"Huh?? What?"

I gripped his right arm, pulled slowly. Terror bleached his hair.

"Left! Left!!"

Dropped the right, grabbed the left. Pulled slowly.

"Gaaaaah!! Right! Right!!"

Slapped his cheek, watched his teeth fly.

"Kid. Pick fast. Left or right arm? Or left leg? Right leg first? Gonna rip 'em all anyway. Hurry up."

"Hnggh... hng... waaah... I'm sorry. I got a wife... a daughter... please."

He fumbled out his wallet, showed pics of his wife and daughter. Round eyes, sharp double eyelids, rosy cheeks.

"Aww~ cute kid~♥"

Shit. Egenam voice slipped out. In the middle of a murder scene.

But my reaction terrified him more.

"Please... not my daughter... spare her at least..."

Thought I was gonna kill her too, huh?

"I didn't say shit."

"It was Blue Cat Corporation CEO Kim Kitae's commission. We're Blood Raven Mercenaries. Mission: kill Haruna, shut her mouth..."

"Shh."

Blood Raven Mercenaries? Intriguing match for my Blood Raven Ring.

The ring still chirping [Bloo... Bloo... Bloo... Bloo...]. Annoying little shit.

"Eek!!"

He recoiled as the ring slurped blood like osmosis. Even I was shocked.

"What the hell, ring?"

It absorbed blood without permission. I shot it annoyed thoughts; it stopped dead.

Hmm... ego items acting up would suck...

It saved me from syphilis once, though. Use 'em right, yeah?

The guy hyperventilating below. Slapped his cheeks; tears welled up.

Rip his head off too?

Killing family threats? Fair. But did I need to decapitate, skull-fuck, and pulverize corpses...?

I mulled it over. Balls-draining full power from Mana Stamina.

Was that overkill?

Not rational. Reminded me of my past life, smashing robbers' heads—judge ruled beyond self-defense.

"Hoo..."

"Huh? What the...?"

The sudden status warning chilled me. I knew I was in the novel, but...

Wait—this thing's serializing in real-time?

Constellation bait? Nah, this wasn't that genre... something had changed.

Losing power to reader drop-off? Bullshit. No story pleases everyone. I'd nut to porn then crash out, phone off.

"Fucking insane."

Difficulty just skyrocketed.