Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Jaws of Hell
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The troupe leader rests her chin on her hand and twitches her right finger.
The puppet jumps at me, swinging a fist, and I dodge the bullet-like punch flying my way.
In response, regardless of my will, my fist shoots out like a bullet.
-Boom!
With a loud crash, the head of the puppet lunging at me shatters.
Of course, the opponent isn't human.
I sweep my leg at the puppet rising with a creak while dodging a punch coming from another direction with minimal movement, smashing its torso.
At the same time, power surges into my leg like thrusters, obliterating the puppet's body.
"You're doing great, Arin!"
"I know!"
The method Song Arin and I had adopted was simple.
Teamwork.
Song Arin uses threads to block the horde with minimal movements, while I fight autonomously. When I need more power or can't dodge, she attaches threads to my body and pulls me out.
We can't win a war of attrition.
Even if I have a sense of self, I'm still fundamentally human.
It's only natural that my win rate drops sharply in a one-against-many fight.
"Hng...!"
Song Arin inhales sharply, pulling my body with one hand while weaving a net of threads with the other to block the other puppets.
-Thud!
I barely dodge a swinging arm, kick it away to create distance, and assess the situation.
Puppets taken down so far: ten.
Puppets Song Arin is holding back: too many to count.
"My arms!"
"Still manageable for now!"
My right arm is completely shattered, and my left is creaking.
No matter how much I complain, it's just a puppet.
I duck low to evade the next charging puppet.
I position myself believing my limp left arm, lacking strength, will swing as expected.
-Thud!
As if rewarding my faith, my left arm moves and smashes the puppet's torso again.
Eleven.
Not bad for an improvised plan.
A human body would've collapsed from exhaustion by now, but luckily, this is a wooden puppet body.
The thought of being tired doesn't even cross my mind.
"Haa... haa..."
"Arin, you okay?"
"Worry about yourself."
Of course, Song Arin didn't look fine.
She wipes the sweat from her brow and turns her gaze forward.
"I'm still good."
"If you say so."
"Amazing."
Unlike the panting Song Arin, the troupe leader tilts her head, staring at her.
"You're doing better than I expected."
"..."
In contrast, the troupe leader shows no sign of strain.
Still propping her chin with her left hand, she watches us.
She's just observing.
"If you were alone, you couldn't have held out like this."
"You're crazy. How could I handle all this by myself?"
Song Arin shoots back at the troupe leader's mutter with a look of disbelief.
"I'm only managing because this guy's moving the body. Otherwise, I'd be dead already."
"..."
The troupe leader stares straight at me.
"Want to buy some time?"
"..."
-Whoosh!
I swat away an incoming puppet and look at the troupe leader.
"...Speak."
After a moment's hesitation, I decide to hear her out.
To be honest.
The fact that we're holding out at all right now is the weird part.
It's not because we're good.
She's going easy on us.
I don't know why, but she harbors goodwill toward me. Or curiosity.
If only I knew the reason.
From her perspective, if I were her deceased lover, I could've played the part and survived, but she says it's our first meeting, so that's out.
"What are you?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
Song Arin frowns at the troupe leader.
"It's fascinating."
The troupe leader mutters quietly.
"You couldn't have crawled up here alone."
She looks at Song Arin.
Song Arin says nothing.
She just stares blankly at the troupe leader.
"You must've had help."
Her gaze shifts to me.
"From you."
"..."
"That's why I wanted to see."
"...So you came here just to check that out?"
"Overinflated ego."
The troupe leader shakes her head at my question.
"No matter how impressive you are, I didn't come here for you."
So she didn't come here of her own volition?
"Answer me. It'll buy us more time."
"..."
Song Arin falls silent for a moment,
"Ha, heh. Ridiculous."
She glares at the troupe leader.
"Why look to others for your own shortcomings?"
She mutters quietly.
"Don't seek your flaws in someone else."
Song Arin raises an eyebrow, crosses her arms, and stares down the troupe leader.
She had sympathized with her before.
Meaning she knows the troupe leader well too.
"You don't seem any better than me."
Instead of an answer, Song Arin launches a personal attack laced with emotion.
The troupe leader sighs deeply at Song Arin's words.
"Yeah. I've always been like this."
"And you've always been like this too, haven't you?"
"..."
"..."
Their gazes clash,
"I'm done bothering. I'll just take you."
The troupe leader flicks her hand.
At that instant, the threads Song Arin was holding snap easily.
Countless puppets swarm me.
"Ah, why'd you go and piss her off, making this mess!"
"We won't die!"
Song Arin shouts, extending both hands.
"And I believe!"
"In what!"
"That those two annoying humans will come-"
-Boom!
Before Song Arin finishes, someone drops from the sky.
"...Ow ow... My spine's broken..."
A familiar voice rings in my ears.
"Daon?"
"Ah, Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon rubs her back and stands.
"...Uh, Jaeheon?"
Does she not recognize me?
"Ah, it's me, Daon. Kim Jaeheon-"
"Yeah, I know. I can smell you..."
Yoo Daon blinks at me, then looks at Song Arin.
"...Take better care of Jaeheon. He looks exhausted."
"..."
Yoo Daon mutters reproachfully at Song Arin, who averts her eyes.
Soon, Jang Chaeyeon lands lightly above.
"Put me down!"
"No time."
Jang Chaeyeon coolly responds to Yoo Daon's whine.
And then.
-Boom!
Someone drops straight down at a right angle, then stands, brushing off their knees.
"Uh, Branch Chief."
The branch chief stares at me, then sighs deeply.
"I lose."
"Huh?"
"From now on, if you ask for backup... I'll do it all. If we're short-staffed, I'll go myself. So please, just stop getting dragged into incidents?"
"..."
If I could avoid them, I would've by now.
The branch chief shakes her head and turns to look at the troupe leader and Song Arin.
"Wow, she really changed."
She mutters in surprise, clenching her fist.
"Hang on a sec. I'll take her down in one go-"
Before the branch chief finishes, countless puppets swarm her.
Literally, so many that she's buried under them.
"Eek! I'm weak to swarms!"
The branch chief yelps and swings her fists like swatting flies, shattering puppets effortlessly.
Yet the puppets don't dwindle.
"I'll buy time!"
It looks like they're just stalling her, but she shouts it anyway and swings vigorously.
Jang Chaeyeon silently stands beside me.
Puppets charging us freeze as she extends her hand, then slam into the ground with a crash.
"...Jang Chaeyeon."
The troupe leader frowns at her, and Jang Chaeyeon meets her gaze with emotionless eyes.
"Do I know you?"
"..."
She stares at the troupe leader like a complete stranger—not like with Song Arin—then ignores her and turns to me.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
She looks at me worriedly, then forward.
"I'll help."
"First, we need to find my body."
"...I'll handle that."
"...Fair enough."
She's the only one here who can carry an adult male body.
Jang Chaeyeon nods.
"Where?"
"Well..."
How do I explain this.
"Watch closely."
While I hesitate, Song Arin mutters and places her hand on Jang Chaeyeon's forehead.
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon stays still a moment, then nods.
"Got it. I'll go."
"What about me?"
"Daon, you..."
"You stay here and take hits with this guy."
Song Arin snaps thorny words, and Yoo Daon nods.
"With Jaeheon? Okay!"
"...Really?"
Yoo Daon nods, and Song Arin looks at her dubiously.
"You're not wooden, so it'll hurt."
"But if I don't, Jaeheon takes them alone, right?"
"..."
Song Arin falls speechless at Yoo Daon's blinking question and closes her mouth.
"Anyway, the plan is this."
I look at Yoo Daon and Song Arin.
"Break through in a straight line and take down the troupe leader."
"Got it!"
"That possible?"
Yoo Daon nods eagerly, Song Arin looks worried.
"If not, make it so. Whatever."
"..."
Song Arin sighs, Yoo Daon stretches.
It'll hurt her for sure.
"Daon."
"Yeah?"
"...Tell me if it hurts."
"Pain's nothing with Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon smiles, Song Arin glances around then raises both hands.
Soon, my body moves, and Yoo Daon's follows the threads.
I look ahead.
Thanks to the branch chief, we're closer to the troupe leader than expected.
"You're not human, so I won't hold back."
"Watch Jaeheon first! It's fine if you don't spare me."
Yoo Daon replies nonchalantly to Song Arin's words and charges into the puppets.
-Crack!
She smacks a puppet, her hand swells red, but quickly returns to normal.
"Daon, careful with your hands!"
"Yeah!"
Yoo Daon shouts back.
I hurry after her.
Same as before.
I move what I can, leave the rest to Song Arin.
She takes hits I can't, advancing step by step.
Forward, and forward again.
Sounds from behind suggest the branch chief shook them off.
How far did we go?
My eyes meet the troupe leader's impassive stare.
Much closer than before, I face her.
"..."
"Doesn't she look just like Arin?"
Yoo Daon mutters, staring at the troupe leader.
"The eyes, the vibe."
"...Not really?"
What part looks the same?
"I think so."
Yoo Daon smiles faintly at Song Arin.
"Meaning her weaknesses are the same too."
"Wait, Daon-"
"Bad Arin!"
The troupe leader turns to Yoo Daon at her words.
"I understand Arin completely!"
Yoo Daon shouts with a smile.
"I get the recklessness of wanting others while unable to care for herself, and how unbearable it is without that!"
"..."
The troupe leader's expression hardens.
But she probably isn't the only one.
"Still, she needs to know herself better!"
"..."
"Never forget!"
Yoo Daon beams.
"Admit your shortcomings!"
A horrific silence falls.