Chapter 222
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Lotus Natives - 4
Of course, Seok-hyun wasn't actually going to do anything to the man.
Right?
Please tell me that's right.
He shook his hips like he didn't care about my desperate pleas.
"Yeah! Feels good!"
Seok-hyun's behavior was a sign that he was in full serious mode.
But the man seemed to interpret it differently.
Tears streaming down his face, he begged.
"I'll talk... I'll tell you everything, so please, not that..."
What must it feel like to have another man's junk flopping right in front of your face?
...Better not think about it.
I calmed Seok-hyun down and asked the man.
"Name."
"B-Bargo... Rafles."
"Affiliation."
"Transcendent Knight Order, Reconnaissance Unit 1..."
"Garrison location."
"...Uh..."
Bargo, who had been spilling everything so far, glanced nervously between me and Seok-hyun.
This won't do.
Before I could say anything, Seok-hyun circled behind him.
I could guess his intent.
"W-What are you doing?"
Smack!
Seok-hyun slapped Bargo's ass.
"Pretty firm."
"S-Stop... Please stop!"
"Garrison location."
I spat the words with emphasis, and he shouted like he'd given up completely.
"A-Allegoris Plains, 30km south!"
"Relative to Luat Kingdom's capital."
"...Are you guys from Luat? If the garrison finds out you treated me like this..."
Doesn't it occur to him we might just kill him outright?
For a recon scout, he's pretty sloppy—not some elite operative.
I drew my mithril blade and plunged it between his legs.
"Hesitate once more or ask another question backward, and I'll make sure you can't use what's between your legs anymore."
Then Seok-hyun whispered in his ear.
"The one in the back won't work either~"
"Gasp."
Bargo froze solid.
His pupils shook violently—looks like all sorts of things go down at his garrison.
"Let's not make it come to that. Garrison location."
"Uh... From Luat's capital... 65km northwest."
That's awfully close.
Considering the horned bird's mobility, they could get here in a couple of hours easy.
"Garrison forces' size and organization? Start from the top ranks and work down."
"You guys... Luat Kingdom soldiers...? Hngh! S-Sorry! My mistake!"
Whatever Seok-hyun flashed him, Bargo freaked out and trembled like a leaf.
No way it's what I think, right?
We exchanged glances, and he grinned.
I looked away and warned sternly.
"Imagine all you want, but don't pull it out. Per our deal, I won't cut it off."
The sound of the blade drawing made him shout quickly.
"Su-Supreme Headquarters! Under it, the Transcendent Knight Order, Royal Guard, Church, and Magic Tower!"
"Total personnel?"
"Including imperials...?"
"Everyone living at the garrison."
"A little over seven thousand..."
That's a ton.
Seok-hyun and I were floored by the survivor count.
Proper organization, massive scale—no joke.
Is this really a post-apocalypse?
I also sensed a forceful vibe from the faction names in the garrison.
Ezekium Garrison seemed like a survivor group thriving on overwhelming military might.
"Good. Next, number of Transcendent Knights."
"I-I don't know that far down... Recon scouts only know so much..."
They don't tell the grunts.
Nothing to be done.
I probed more, but Bargo surprisingly knew little.
Just follows orders.
Didn't even know food and water logistics.
Proof Ezekium tightly controls its subordinates.
Finally, I asked about the talking ogre, and he answered readily.
"Orders were to capture the ogre alive and bring it back... Rumors of a talking one..."
"What for?"
"Not sure, but seems like the Magic Tower wants it for experiments..."
"About why the ogre gained intelligence?"
"Maybe other reasons too, but I really don't know."
Bottom-rung scout—info has limits.
For accuracy, we'd need a Transcendent Knight, but can we even manage that?
Asking about their combat power, I saw Bargo puff up.
"Why do you think they're called Transcendent? Ten normal knights couldn't touch 'em. They transcend humanity."
"That's kinda scary."
I ducked my head dramatically, and he got cocky quick.
"Let me go nice, and I can put in a word with the knights—might let it slide."
"They pack this much?"
Seok-hyun uprooted a massive tree roots and all.
Crunch—the trunk rose up, and Bargo's jaw dropped.
"No way..."
Even Transcendents can't do that, huh.
Factoring in Abomination transformation, we'd have the edge in small skirmishes.
But their numbers make prolonged fights bad for us.
Anyway... what now?
No matter what we do with this scout, the Transcendent Knights will notice the ogre.
Ultimately, the ogre has to vanish.
I hatched a plan and flipped a supply crate over his head.
"I told you everything you wanted!"
"Send you back like this, you'll get punished, right?"
"..."
"Hang from the tree a bit. You'll live."
"W-What if monsters come?"
"Ogre here's keeping most away. Rest... luck of the draw."
"Hey!"
The crate wriggled; Seok-hyun cracked his knuckles and punched it.
Quiet now.
I explained how to chase off the little fist with the bracelet.
"Transform into Bomi and scare it off? Nice."
"What's Bomi?"
"Abomination shortened to Bomi."
"Don't add 'sis' at the end."
Anyway, he took the bracelet and strode into the cave.
Soon a roar echoed, and the ogre bolted out pale as a ghost.
"Monster!"
You're the monster.
.
.
.
The little fist scampered far from the village as planned.
What a coward—freaked out completely at a smaller Abomination.
I lured it to a cave by the lake.
Not too far from our shelter spot.
Up to here, smooth sailing...
But I had to admit it.
The Transcendent Knights' abilities were no joke.
For some reason, they tracked us straight here.
Seok-hyun and I hid in the dimension gate, watching.
Transcendent Knights felt different.
Battle-hardened veterans, maybe.
Light leather armor, one sword, a few axes at the waist—but eyes like killers.
The trio scouted the lakeside and ran into a monster pack.
Goblins led by an orc.
The leader knight scowled.
"Wasting time. Clear 'em quick."
"Yes, sir."
One drew his sword, and the dozen monsters were gone in seconds.
Light footwork plus precise swordsmanship—attacks didn't even graze him.
Even the orc's head flew without proper resistance.
Smashed purely by skill, not raw power.
Honestly, impressive.
Everything I'd swung before was child's play.
Telling Seok-hyun, he stroked his scruffy beard.
"Knights train with swords their whole lives. Gotta be that good."
Then Yu-hyun, fiddling with a paper plane nearby, spoke cautiously.
"Uh... bro. That recon scout by the cave entrance. Looks dead."
"Dead? Not just still?"
"Blood dripping from the crate... knife marks too."
"Damn."
We'd spared him, but they killed him.
What orders make them act so ruthless?
Skill analysis on one, but weird message:
"What's this?"
I'd seen An Geun-seok and Go Ho-kyung's status windows fine. Why not these guys?
As I puzzled, the leader stared right at the dimension gate.
Then hurled an axe from his side at blinding speed.
It clanged off the gate, and they charged.
How's his judgment that sharp?
I slammed the gate shut.
"Total psychos."
"In what way?"
Seok-hyun heard it all and grinned instead.
"That quick? Means they're fightable. Open it again."
"Hold up. Things to think over."
Suspicious they tracked us here so precisely.
Tracks left behind, sure, but they followed like they'd seen us.
And sensed the dimension gate? Shady.
Right after analysis failed...
"Think they sense ether."
"We can't."
We just activate senses to catch movements.
Can't feel ether itself.
A passing dung beetle led me to the workshop.
Where sword-marked logs from looting were being decoded.
One handed me the translation.
Translation ended there.
All I learned: Transcendent Knights have Ether Hearts implanted, product of experiments.
Ether tracking likely from those too.
"So keeping the gate open's risky."
Could even lead to ether-blockers sealing abilities.
Like Joo Seung-chul.
Seok-hyun, now beside me, said.
"This is ether central. Monsters surpassing us? No surprise. Beat one, get intel first."
"Wait. Need more on their abilities."
He sighed.
"Sometimes just clashing fists is easier."
"What're the others doing?"
"Dunno, haven't seen 'em since earlier."
I'm in the Korean shelter dorm now.
Whole big office space, but only Seok-hyun and Yu-hyun here.
Board says they went to the great labyrinth.
Chinese situation's dicey.
—Uh, Chinese heading this way? Huge numbers.
—More bullshit. What's their excuse?
—That Zhao Zweii or whatever messed with water bottles, got wrecked by Sung-ho hyung. Want points back.
—Why give 'em? Lost fair after dumb shit.
—Dunno reason, just soothe 'em. Say they'll die without.
—Tell 'em fuck off. Give points, next they'll want more.
—President calling, anyone free?
—Uncle's talking ogre? We go ourselves.
—Leave To-kong and Yu-hyun, head out~
Last from Da-jeong.
Auction house: Standoff at Gimpo Airport great labyrinth.
Major Korean forces dispatched.
War.
Excuse is points, but they covet our supplies.
Better fight than starve, so they mobilized.
No Koreans yielding quietly—Jang Won-taek leads intercept.
Wish Seok-hyun'd go...
"Seok-hyun."
"Got it. I'll head there? Tell me later how strong those knights are."
He leaped out the window and dashed off.
I yelled after him.
"That's east! West side!"
"Hyung hyung, I'll guide with paper plane."
"Cool?"
I left guidance to Yu-hyun and opened the gate.
Now, those three Transcendents eyeing us intently.
Chilling stares.
"Felt ether again. Spatial type."
"Subspace opener, huh... Luat turning traitor?"
"Those cowards defy us? One squad scares 'em shitless."
"User with this ether would've made rumors."
"Ask the Magic Tower."
Leader crossed arms before the gate.
Warning me, he said.
"To the hiding rat. We know you lured the ogre here. Come clean, and mercy's possible. Time... 10 minutes enough."
His knights chuckled.
"Captain's too generous."
"Don't come out quick, we force the space open. Won't end well."
Shit.
They have a way to expose my gate.
Gate's tough, but not invincible.
Ogre's punch cracked the barrier.
Ether blade? Who knows.
Su-yeon's buffs... still up a bit.
Buffed fully, I steeled myself.
Outside, they yapped about HQ reports.
Whisper Stone contact, probably.
But leader grimaced.
"Our busty Deputy Viscount Pistel'll hear the report."
"That woman... she'll steal the credit."
"Problem. We handle this. Contact Tower for backup."
Going over superior's head to another dept—not great form...
Ezekium's a mess.
Anyway, my job's clear.
Subdue before they use the Whisper Stone.
Calling in the Magic Tower crew blows it up.
I lit a flashbang and hurled it out.
BOOM—blinding light scattered them groaning.
"Urk!"
Through the gate, bracelet on—I was a monster now.
Leader recovered sight in that instant, eyes bulging.
"Ex-Experimental subject!"
Experimental subject what?
I swung full force, sending the leader flying like hit by a car.
< Lotus Natives - 4 > End