Kkeut (1)
Somewhere in Asia lay one of Kkeut's hideouts. And into this place stepped a man dressed as a clown.
“…”
The first thing that caught the Clown's eye was the “swordsman.” A blade hung properly at his waist, and he wore a uniform blending white and blue.
Oddly enough, a cloth bound his eyes—because he was blind.
Nothing wrong so far. But then came the problem.
Plastered right against the blind swordsman was a cute-faced girl with short hair like a chocolate cluster. No, not a girl—a boy.
The Clown scowled.
“Those footsteps... the Clown, I presume...”
The blind gay swordsman addressed him. Sightless, he'd recognized the intruder by presence alone.
“…”
The Clown ignored him and headed to his seat. He felt it every time he came here: Am I actually the normal one?
“Hehe...” “Ah, Master!”
From across the room came the blind gay swordsman and his lover-cum-disciple's voices. Goosebumps prickled up the Clown's arms.
Fuck, this is bullshit.Fuck, this is bullshit.
It was that bullshit-level awful, so he cursed twice under his breath. The blind gay swordsman was just that loathsome.
Moments later, the door flew open with a bang, and in strode a man—wild-looking, bulging with brute muscle.
Alexander, who'd torn a 1st Grade hero apart with his bare hands before joining Kkeut.
He looked like the type who wouldn't understand a word you said, but surprisingly, he was reasonable. Probably the Clown's closest ally in the group.
“...Still such fine muscles.”
The blind gay swordsman murmured low, rubbing his chin.
Alexander's face twisted in revulsion.
“Shut your mouth.” “And if I shan't...?”
Alexander ached to smash that face in but held back. Loathsome as he was, the man had skills. And infighting among members was forbidden.
“You're here.”
The Clown spoke up, and only then did Alexander's expression ease—like he'd finally found someone sane amid the madness.
“Yeah. So, you raided Orbis Academy?” “Hehe, wasn't easy.” “Figures. The Leader looked pleased. Score some good relic?”
As the Clown and Alexander traded small talk, the blind gay swordsman smirked.
“Fascinating conversation. Might I join?”
He paused his petting of his disciple, crossed his arms, and tilted his head toward the ceiling.
“…” “…”
The room fell deathly silent in an instant.
“Others are late.” “They're all overseas.” “Hasn't been a full gathering like this in ages.” “Folks with dirt on each other always get awkward.” “Haha, can't argue there!”
Then the blind gay swordsman spoke low again.
“They should be here by now, no...?”
“…” “…”
Silence reigned once more. Alexander shot him a pathetic look; the Clown's mask hid his face.
Yi Yeon-woo—the blind gay swordsman's disciple and lover—quickly clocked the toxic vibe.
“Master, I'll take my leave.”
But those hands wouldn't release him.
“...Isolation without aid. Cherish thine own shadow.” “Pardon?”
Right then—
The hideout door swung open, and four figures entered at once.
Starting from the left: a woman with a massive staff and a toothy conical hat, purple hair framing a leisurely smile.
“Long time no see, Melian...”
“...” Melian's face soured hard.
Then the blind swordsman's disciple piped up to her. “Ah, hello!” “Hey, Yeon-woo. How's it going?”
Next, a man wrapped head to toe in bandages, chain sickle at his waist. A suit draped over the wrappings, exuding an eerie chill. Rigarudo.
“Rigarudo, been a while...”
“...”
Then a girl in a gothic dress—half pitch-black, half snow-white. Black nail polish, hair split the same way: deep red eyes on the black side, black eyes on the white. A folded parasol dangled from her left hand.
“Eve...” “Don't speak to me.” “...”
Finally, a weary woman in a crop top under a light black coat. Three silver piercings glinted in her right ear—not ordinary ones. She stubbed out the cigarette in her mouth into a portable ashtray and exhaled smoke.
“Fuu...”
The Worst Hero. Leader of the criminal syndicate Kkeut. None of them were pushovers, but her presence crushed them all the same.
“Leader, long...” “Yeah, long time, Baek Jin.”
The blind gay swordsman Baek Jin greeted her; she replied with weary indifference.
“As expected, only the Leader...” “Everyone's here. Let's begin.”
The agenda was straightforward: the Sword Graveyard in Korea.
A site embedded with thousands of sword-type relics—an untouchable trove, forged by a “law” that scoffed at even 1st Grade heroes.
“This time, we snagged the 1st Grade relic Matte White.”
The Leader raised a pristine white dagger from her pocket.
“A relic bearing a law that erases other laws.”
She plunged it into the table.
Sizzle—
The surface warped like paint bleeding over paint, then vanished entirely.
“Feels like that, huh.”
The Clown remarked, intrigued.
“With this, we shatter the Sword Graveyard's law and make off with the relics.”
Alexander cocked his head. “Not all of us going, right?” “Of course not. Too many groups on our tail—the Relic Management Association's the worst.”
She jabbed a finger at the Clown.
“Clown, you and I handle the 'Hunting Dogs.'” “Ooh, the Hunting Dogs...!” “Two members excluding you hit the Sword Graveyard. The rest deal with the bounty-chasing idiots.”
Eve smirked and prodded the bandaged man beside her.
“Mr. Rigarudo's on bounty hunter and pursuer guild duty again?”
He nodded.
“Sword Graveyard's not my scene anyway. I prefer that over thieving.” “Alexander's got zero talent for theft, that's for sure.”
The Clown snickered at Alexander's words.
“Can't deny it.”
Roles were slotting into place when the Leader spoke.
“That's it for today.”
As members began to rise, one hand shot up vigorously.
“Hold on, Leader. One question...”
Some sighed. Some scowled. Others eyed the disciple glued to the blind gay swordsman, licking their lips.
“Shoot, Baek Jin. What's the question?” “My role's not assigned.” “Hm, fair point...”
The Leader scanned the room. Every last one radiated not with him.
“Melian.”
The purple-haired mage Melian wailed in protest.
“Ah! Why me again!” “No need to hate it that much...” “Shut it, blind gay swordsman.” “...”
Her complaints fell on deaf Leader ears.
“It's decided.” “Huuu...”
Melian's face fell dark.
“Take good care of me, Mel~...” “Shut it.” “...” “Melian, hang in there. We'll leave the rest to you.”
The Clown sauntered out, chuckling.
“Life's full of crises you can't dodge.”
Alexander shrugged it off as inevitable.
“...”
The bandaged man slipped away wordlessly.
“Hang in there, sis~.”
Eve grinned—relieved it wasn't her—and left.
“Fuuuuck...”
Melian eyed Yi Yeon-woo, plastered to Baek Jin's side. An appearance too pretty for any boy.
“...Lady Melian?” “At least you're here...” “Ahaha...”
Melian signed something to Yeon-woo—unseen by the blind gay swordsman Baek Jin. Her lips curled slyly; Yeon-woo flushed beet-red, flustered at the gestures.
“Hm? What's wrong, my disciple...?” “N-nothing at all...!”
That night, Baek Jin spent a lonely vigil on a king-sized bed. The air was far too chill for one soul alone.
And in Melian's room...
“Lady Melian! No more!” “Hehe...”
Further details omitted.