Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Beginning (2)
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Do Ji-hyeok had left how long ago?
"H-He won't come in, right...?"
Jin Seo-won stared up blankly at Yoon In-kyung, who was peeking outside while clutching her tightly in her arms.
She was trembling all over in fear, yet desperately trying not to show it...
"......"
But Jin Seo-won couldn't understand what Yoon In-kyung was so afraid of.
No, she could grasp it intellectually, but not emotionally.
She simply couldn't empathize with the very emotion of 'fear' that Yoon In-kyung harbored.
Jin Seo-won had never feared anything in her life.
Not even when she was young and encountered a feral dog that had slipped its leash and was rampaging through the neighborhood,
nor when her grandmother accidentally left the gas stove on, causing a small fire,
nor when her only remaining family, her grandmother, fell ill,
nor even when she was ultimately left alone in the world.
She had always passed through such moments indifferently, and this time was no different.
"...This won't do."
At that moment, Yoon In-kyung gently released Jin Seo-won, whipped her shaking legs into action, and struggled to stand.
"I'll go check outside!"
"...Huh?"
"Wait here just a bit. Got it?"
Jin Seo-won recalled Do Ji-hyeok's instruction to stay hidden and reached out to grab Yoon In-kyung, but...
"...Hoo...!"
Consumed by the thought that she, as the adult, had to protect Jin Seo-won, Yoon In-kyung didn't even have the leisure to look back.
"...Sis will be right back...!"
Just as Yoon In-kyung was about to step out of the warehouse with a resolute expression,
Clang───!
The glass outside the restaurant shattered, and something entered the building.
Sniff... sniff...
It was a gnoll, a bipedal monster resembling a hyena.
"...!"
Though it was a low-rank monster easy to handle, to an ordinary person like Yoon In-kyung, it was no different from an S-rank beast.
Terrified, Yoon In-kyung clamped her mouth shut to stifle any scream and swiftly pulled Jin Seo-won into her embrace.
Koooook......
Even as she gasped in fear of being devoured alive by the monster, she desperately shielded Jin Seo-won,
and
"......"
Jin Seo-won, cradled in her arms, felt Yoon In-kyung's body heat and emotions fully while waiting for the gnoll to leave.
Sniff... sniff... rustle... rustle...
The gnoll ravenously devoured the leftover food in the restaurant.
The two, separated from it by a thin wall, prayed it would finish eating peacefully and depart, but...
Swish......
The starved gnoll began approaching the warehouse in search of more prey.
"!!!"
Yoon In-kyung, huddled in the corner of the warehouse, inwardly screamed at the sight of the filthy gnoll crossing the threshold and clutched Jin Seo-won even tighter,
'Please...! Please don't come...!'
Whether her prayer truly worked, the gnoll, sniffing around, turned and moved to the opposite side from the two.
'...W-We survived...!'
At that instant.
Sniff...? Sniff...?
The gnoll peering the other way suddenly sensed something, sniffing as it began to turn back.
"...?!"
It had caught the scent of the perfume Yoon In-kyung had sprayed.
Sniff...! Sniff...!
Step by step, it drew closer.
Yoon In-kyung bit her lip hard to suppress a scream,
Ehehehehehehe───!!!
and the gnoll finally let out its eerie cry upon spotting its prey and lunged forward.
"Kyaaaaaaaah────!!!!!!!"
At that moment, Jin Seo-won thought as she watched the charging gnoll.
'Ah. We've been found.'
Even on the verge of being torn apart by the gnoll's sharp teeth, no particular thoughts stirred in Jin Seo-won.
Just as always.
Taaaaat……………
Yet for some reason, as she gazed at the oncoming gnoll, a heavy stone thudded into her chest.
"...!"
The fallen stone rolled about, carving scratches into Jin Seo-won's heart, and as the scratches widened, an unpleasant emotion began seeping from the cracks.
Fear.
It was fear, felt for the first time in her life.
'Seo-won. If anything happens, you have to protect sis.'
Do Ji-hyeok's voice echoed unconsciously in her ears,
and horrific imaginings laced with fear began filling her mind.
'Gather your magic power. Swing with all your might.'
She had trained so diligently,
'I taught you, remember.'
He had taught her so earnestly,
yet if she could do nothing and suffered helplessly...
'You remember, right?'
Do Ji-hyeok would surely be disappointed.
Chill──
Jin Seo-won felt a thrilling sensation crawl up her spine.
The idea of Do Ji-hyeok, who had believed in her and led her, being disappointed...
It resembled an unknown terror she had never experienced.
Gulp─
Jin Seo-won swallowed hard and instinctively circulated her inner energy.
Staring at the gnoll's massive maw that hadn't yet reached her, she swung her fist with all her strength.
Kwaaaaaaaaang────────────!!!!!!
"Kyaaaaaaaah……. …Huh?"
Yoon In-kyung, who had screamed in terror, questioned her own survival and slowly raised her head,
"S-Seo-won...?"
gazing blankly back and forth between Jin Seo-won standing protectively in front of her and the massive hole blasted in the opposite warehouse wall.
It was the birth of the Heavenly Demon.
"...You did it...!"
Confirming the gnoll that had burst through the wall, I clenched my fist, certain that Jin Seo-won had awakened.
I had been ready to rush in if the two were in danger, but fortunately, Jin Seo-won handled it perfectly.
'Never doing something like this again.'
Though unavoidable this time, gambling by using someone like this didn't suit my temperament at all.
"Hoo...."
Having averted the birth of the Heavenly Demon, I headed straight to the city center to deal with the gate.
Ehehehehehe────!!
Ehehehehehe────!!!
"Ngh! Don't fall back! We have to charge together!"
"H-Help! Kaaaaah!"
"O-Oppa!!!"
"Don't go!"
In the chaotic downtown, countless hunters were battling gnolls,
and seeing the monsters on the streets, I confirmed it matched the second gate from the original novel.
'Could it be the influence of the first gate...!'
The only change from the original was the timing of the gate's appearance.
From the circumstances, it seemed the demon king's army, having gained little from the first incursion, had altered their plans.
"Tch...!"
Cursing inwardly at the unexpected variable I'd half-anticipated, I accelerated toward the city center where the gate had spawned.
Ehehehehehehe───!
Ehehehehehehe───!!
The closer I got to the gate, the more gnolls there were...
Sniff... sniff... sniff... sniff...
Ultimately, I was blocked by a massive pack of gnolls.
"Damn...!"
I urgently pulled a weapon from my subspace pouch.
A-rank [Assassin Sword].
It was the weapon Seol Ju-hee had gifted me, carefully stored in the warehouse.
Ehehehehehe───!
Ehehehehe───!
Drawing the sword from its sheath, I faced the gnolls closing in with their eerie cries.
'...I can do this...! No, I have to...!'
My heart pounded loudly in my ears.
Combat trauma had resurfaced.
"......Hooo......"
Cold sweat poured from my body, my hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped the sword, but...
Knowing that any mistake now would lead not to injury but death, I gritted my teeth with resolve and gripped the sword tightly.
Ehehehehehe───!!!
Ehehehehehehehehe─────!!!!
The gnolls circled me playfully, toying with me like prey.
Gnolls, being pack hunters, had a tendency to play with smaller groups like toys,
and since these weren't weapon-wielding gnolls, they probably wouldn't all rush at once—enough to handle.
Gulp─
Thus, sweating profusely as I struggled to gather magic power,
Taaaaat───!
one gnoll blatantly charged at me.
'It's coming!'
I gritted my teeth, lowered my stance, and channeled magic into the sword tip to slash the oncoming gnoll.
Shaaaack────!
But.
Keng...!
The magic hadn't properly loaded into the blade, failing to fell it cleanly.
"Tch...!"
My poor condition had prevented proper focus.
Ehehehehehe────!!
Ehehehehe────!!!
Realizing their advantage, the gnolls shrieked louder, circling even more frenziedly,
'Get it together...!'
As I wiped my sweaty brow and slapped my cheeks to snap out of it,
"Pathetic worm."
A chilling voice pierced my ear.
'This voice...!'
Startled by the familiar voice, I whipped my head around just as
Kwagagagagagagak─────!!!!!!!
frigid cold erupted, flash-freezing the surrounding gnolls.
It was Seol Ju-hee's signature, Ice Jade Divine Art.
Thud─
Landing atop the frozen gnolls in civilian clothes rather than combat gear, her jet-black hair whipping about, she glared down at me with contempt,
and I, having received unexpected aid, furrowed my brow at her unforeseen appearance.
'Why is she here?'
Seol Ju-hee was supposed to be in Seoul.
She had to handle the largest gate there and resolve the second incident.
But...
"You..."
There she was, right before my eyes.
"...Hmph."
After eyeing me with disdain for a moment, Seol Ju-hee turned and headed toward the gate.
"...W-Wait! Seol Ju-hee!"
I hurriedly leaped over the ice and chased after her...
"Ju-hee! Hold on a sec..."
"Get lost before I kill you."
She shot me a murderous glare and unleashed curses without restraint.
Somehow, her hostility felt even deeper than before.
"Seol Ju-hee!"
The moment I called her name again.
Thud─
She landed on the road, halted, and warned lowly with eyes full of enmity.
"Scram."
She meant it.
Blue inner energy swirled around her hands, as if she'd attack any second.
Yet...
For some reason, I didn't think she'd actually attack me.
She could simply accelerate to shake me off, but instead, she waited obediently—that was proof.
'...The gate comes first right now.'
Swallowing the words I wanted to say, I pointed at the gate engulfing buildings and spoke.
"I'll guide the way, so follow me."
Then.
"...What?"
Seol Ju-hee's face twisted demonically for an instant, icy energy flaring as she bared her hostility.
"Who the hell are you to guide me? You still think I'm falling for trash like you?"
Though her 'trash' remark stung with injustice, knowing no words would get through in her current state better than anyone, I took a short deep breath and calmly explained.
"This gate spawns gnolls. Deeper in, Gray Wolves appear, and the Red Wolf is the boss. As you know, it's easier with two than solo."
Gray Wolves and Red Wolves were among the few monsters that used pack tactics.
Seol Ju-hee could solo it with her power, but with my support, it'd end much faster.
"I don't know how pissed you are, but we have to close the gate first! We can't let personal grudges harm people!"
She scanned me up and down with displeased eyes, then...
"If you get in my way, I'll kill you myself."
Judging gate closure priority, she finally agreed to team up.