Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Awakening of the Black Hand
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A short while before the news reached Kang Seol, the incident began with Han Yeomyeong.
Han Yeomyeong had suffered a major setback when Kang Seol turned down his request earlier. But he hadn't given up on saving his little sister.
Besides, how could he give up after receiving a secret message from her?
Han Saebyeok's death had instilled in him a burning sense of duty to protect his younger sister, Han Noeul, no matter what.
She had sent him a note saying she was in danger.
That note was the spark.
Without another word, Han Yeomyeong kicked open the door and bolted out.
His right hand still wouldn't move, and he wasn't the strongest guy around—he was scared, too. Even so, his legs carried him straight toward his sister.
"Huff... huff..."
He'd had the dream again last night.
- Save me... Yeomyeong, please... Save me...
Bleeding Han Saebyeok had appeared in his dream, clutching his right hand and begging.
The horrific sight jolted him awake in terror.
It felt like he'd never escape this nightmare. He'd live the rest of his life as a one-armed man, crushed by guilt—clearly his sister's curse upon him.
'I don't care... I don't care!'
Whether his sister had cursed him or left him crippled, that wasn't what mattered to Han Yeomyeong.
"Please be safe, Noeul. Please."
As long as Han Noeul could survive this chaotic world, he'd do anything, give up anything.
Their parents had passed early, and Han Saebyeok had raised the siblings.
Han Yeomyeong and Han Noeul had followed without complaint, pitching in where they could. The three had been tightly bound.
But Han Saebyeok's death had twisted everything. Maybe this was his last chance to be with Noeul—his feet didn't stop.
"Huff... huff..."
A shoddily built temporary structure.
It was fairly close to Kongori's central district, but guild members patrolled the area.
He'd heard this shack was built by embezzling excessive fees from guild members.
Kyaaahhh—! Let go!
The moment a sharp scream pierced from inside, Han Yeomyeong charged in without a second thought.
It happened so fast the guards couldn't stop him.
"Wh-what the hell are you?!"
"Noeul! Where's Noeul?!"
"Oppa!"
Han Yeomyeong scanned the interior.
A familiar face caught his eye first.
"Noeul!"
"Oppa!"
The second Han Noeul spotted him, she burst into tears.
Maybe the isolation had built up so much longing and attachment.
She rushed straight to him.
It felt like they could all be happy if they just escaped this place, but things weren't that simple.
"Miss Han Noeul, this is blowing things way out of proportion."
"I'm leaving! I can't stay here anymore..."
"The world doesn't work that simply."
"I'm walking out on my own two feet—what's your problem?!"
Jeong Woncheol, founder of Justice Guild, replied calmly to Han Noeul.
She glared at him with utter disgust, as if sick to death of his act.
"Letting someone who knows our internal affairs walk out without repercussions? Isn't that looking down on us?"
"What do you want?"
"Can you promise not to breathe a word of what you know?"
"...Fine."
"And about 5,000 gold coins should cover it."
"Wh-where am I supposed to get that kind of money? Don't be ridiculous!"
Wrinkles creased Jeong Woncheol's face.
Cracks began forming in the facade of the kindly man he'd portrayed.
"I thought I was being civil, but if we can't agree, no choice. What makes you think you can pull this?"
"What did I do wrong to deserve you demanding that much?!"
"Justice Guild is a profit-driven group. Every bit of time, money, and effort we invested in you is a cost. And we can recoup it from you."
Clap!
Jeong Woncheol clapped lightly, and a few guild members stepped forward.
Han Noeul shrieked in horror.
"H-he's a liar! There's no such thing as anonymity here, and helping the weak is a lie too! They're just planning to sell us all off or use us as cannon fodder! You're all being fooled!"
Silence fell.
Han Noeul was perceptive.
This quiet wasn't mere shock from the revelation.
"Lies... You all knew? And pretended not to?"
"To survive, what can't you do? Miss Han Noeul, the world's changed."
"Justice! You said no more innocent sacrifices!"
"Justice isn't truth. When the world changes, so does justice."
At Jeong Woncheol's signal, guild members closed in on Han Noeul. She panicked and hid behind Han Yeomyeong.
"I-I'm scared, oppa. I don't want to stay here..."
"Don't worry, Noeul. We'll get out."
It wasn't certain.
Even as he spoke, Han Yeomyeong trembled.
Could he hurt someone? He never had before.
Could he swing a sword? Another first.
'I can do it. I have to...'
Before his thought finished, a kick flew at him.
Whoosh—
Thud!
"Guh..."
"O-oppa!"
"What the hell's this idiot."
One guild member's kick sent Han Yeomyeong sprawling.
Fsssh...
His body shuddered as he rose again.
'Right hand, move... Move, damn it...'
Without his cursed right hand working, he couldn't even fight properly.
'Damn you, noona... Why...'
He resented Han Saebyeok.
Not content with burdening him with guilt, she'd now robbed him of the power to protect his sister.
"Let go! Let me go!"
"Stay still. Before I get mad."
"Let go! Let go!"
Slap!
Han Noeul's head snapped to the side.
Her cheek burned red.
"Fuck... Enough already..."
"Sob... sniff... It hurts..."
In that instant, Han Yeomyeong felt his reason snap.
Shing—
"Huh?"
Splurt!
His sword was out, stabbing the man's shoulder.
"Noeul, come here."
"Arghhh, you bastard!"
"Kill him! Kill the fucker!"
It was an uncanny sensation.
His opponent's movements were fast, yet Han Yeomyeong's hand was faster.
Crunch!
Veins bulged grotesquely on his black hand.
[Physique: The Ghost's Hand awakens.]
[Ghost's Hand: Blooms the Black Hand.]
[The Black Hand assists with movement.]
[Moves at tremendous speed for a short time.]
[Time required to learn movements greatly reduced.]
Slash—
Snikt!
"Arghhh!"
"Wh-what the hell are you doing! Fucking... You! Tell Predator!"
"Y-yes!"
Even surrounded, Han Yeomyeong counterattacked brilliantly. Injuries piled up among his foes.
"Too fast!"
"Surround him! Just keep him pinned! Buy time!"
With the door locked, the fight dragged on.
Clang!
Kang!
Screeech!
"Huff... huff... Touch Han Noeul... and you all... die. You demonic bastards..."
"Crazy fuck... You almost died there."
Han Yeomyeong realized his misconception.
His dead sister, Han Saebyeok, appearing nightly begging for salvation—it wasn't for her.
- Save Noeul... Yeomyeong...
The words guilt had buried resurfaced fully.
The black hand wasn't her curse.
It was her plea to her brother.
"Huff... huff..."
Maybe he could find a way out now.
But that was just his hope.
Creeeak—
Jeong Woncheol chuckled at the door opening.
"Ha! You're late. What a mess over one little bug."
"Tch... Yeah. Told you to watch our guys. These folks are all pushovers."
"Guess we really have to now. Anyway, thanks."
"Got it."
Baeksangari stepped before Han Yeomyeong.
Gasping, Han Yeomyeong met his eyes.
'Different. This guy's different!'
Not eyes fearing the sword—eyes annoyed by a nuisance.
"You... no, right?"
"What?"
"Anonymity."
"What're you..."
"If not, whatever."
Whoosh—
Baeksangari's foot vanished from view briefly.
'Danger!'
Before thought reacted, the black hand moved first.
Clang!
The black hand barely blocked.
"Oh? What's that. A prosthetic?"
"Nngh... Let us go."
"Jeong Woncheol says no."
Whoosh—
Bam!
"Agh!"
The black hand was iron-hard.
Yet Baeksangari's struck unscathed.
"Fun, but skills are meh. Came this far, so I'll play more."
[Baeksangari uses Iron Fist.]
[Baeksangari uses Combo: Monkey's Movement.]
[Baeksangari uses Weak Point Barrage.]
Pow. Pow!
Each swing shook the air violently.
Tremendous skill. Han Yeomyeong despaired.
"Why live like this?! You're so strong, why..."
"Oppa... sob..."
"Annoying..."
Thump!
Han Yeomyeong crashed into the wall.
Baeksangari approached slowly, grabbed his hair, and said,
"Makes me sound like the villain, asshole."
"You... are the villain. Dogshit bastard..."
"Haha! Yeah, I am. But is being a villain bad? Listen up, for you dumb siblings. Good and evil don't matter now. It's strong or weak."
"Grrraaah... arghhh!"
Han Yeomyeong raged in tears, but Baeksangari pinned him helpless.
"Strong is right, weak is wrong. Violence rules all now."
Han Yeomyeong's mind faded.
Blood loss, or just the toll.
He'd given his all, but couldn't save his sister. Like losing his sister before his eyes, now his little sister too.
'No, can't let that happen!'
Screech!
"Hyungnim!"
"That guy's dangerous..."
Han Yeomyeong's black hand lashed lightning-fast at Baeksangari's throat.
Grab.
"..."
"I see it, all of it. Asshole."
Crack.
Clang...
His sword caught between thumb and index, snapped clean.
Low-grade sword was part, but the skill gap was vast.
'End...'
Han Yeomyeong's head drooped.
No dramatic turnaround.
He'd fought well, but lacked power to reverse fate.
Futile struggle of the weak?
Knock knock...
"Pardon the intrusion."
Yet this futile struggle changed the flow.
Blood soaked the shack.
Someone knocked at the door.
'Who?'
Low voice, not loud, but clear to Han Yeomyeong.
"What? Outside?"
"Must be the commotion drawing someone."
"Chase 'em off. Fucking ruining the mood..."
Then.
Bang bang bang bang!
Knocks thundered.
"Open the door. I know everything."
Conspirators inside eyed only Baeksangari and Jeong Woncheol.
Jeong Woncheol sighed.
"Miss Han Noeul made such a mess. Handle him too."
Baeksangari nodded.
"Block him the second he enters. No escape."
"Yes."
Click—
"Mr. Han Yeomyeong, you alright?"
"Who..."
Eyes swollen like bee stings, Han Yeomyeong stared at the newcomer.
"Don't you remember me?"
"Didn't you... refuse my request?"
"I'm not here solely because of your request. I came to tie up loose ends before leaving. Still, curious why you're in this state."
The lone visitor was Kang Seol, who'd rejected the plea. Han Yeomyeong recalled his words.
- I got strong not to save those hiding behind the strong waiting for rescue. Save yourself, Mr. Han Yeomyeong.
Now he understood their meaning.
He was ashamed of naively expecting a stranger to risk life for him.
And grief welled up.
"Sob... I tried... Gave my all... But it... didn't work."
"I see."
Kang Seol planned to confront Predator Guild Master Baeksangari before heading to Nobi. Even eliminate if future threat.
Han Yeomyeong's news prompted earlier action.
'Guess it was bound to happen.'
Kang Seol disliked solving others' problems, but couldn't let Han Yeomyeong die before him. He'd intervene.
"I get the gist. I'll handle this."
"...Pardon?"
Baeksangari, Jeong Woncheol, and Justice Guild members hesitated, confused, then scoffed at the lone man.
"This guy's nuts, right?"
"Who's in charge?"
No need to answer—eyes turned to Jeong Woncheol.
Kang Seol's words carried inexplicable weight.
"Me."
"I'll take them. Let them go."
"This psycho... No."
"Won't accept."
Jeong Woncheol's affable smile and politeness vanished. Kang Seol seemed arrogant.
"Ha! Lunatic... Who the hell are you? Can't you see who's here?!"
Jeong Woncheol pointed at Baeksangari, yelling.
Then a Predator guild member beside Kang Seol spoke to Baeksangari.
"Hyungnim, that's him."
"Who?"
"Snowman or whatever."
"Aha... So he was doomed anyway. Hey, pal."
Kang Seol supported Han Yeomyeong, approaching Han Noeul.
Feeling ignored, Baeksangari bared gold teeth.
"Won't let you leave easy. Snowman. Know Baeksanggyu and Seo Jincheol?"
"Yes."
"Killed 'em?"
"No."
"...The hell."
"Anyway, so?"
Kang Seol's golden eyes fixed on Baeksangari. Sensing the shift in aura, Baeksangari forced a laugh.
Room full of Baeksangari's crew.
At least twenty.
Even begging now, Kang Seol wouldn't escape.
"You gotta die."
"As expected."
"What're you yapping... Hey!"
"If you're done, I'll ask everyone here. I know the full story. Anyone regret their wrongs?"
"Wrongs?"
"None. Got it."
Jeong Woncheol to Baeksangari:
"Th-that bastard, get rid of him now."
"Thinking of my boys he killed, wanna rip this ballsy fuck apart."
Baeksangari stomped.
Boom!
[Baeksangari uses Ground Stamp.]
[Baeksangari gains speed with movement.]
Baeksangari fumed, but thrilled to unleash soon. Savoring despair was a nasty hobby.
"My rank's hidden. Know what that means?"
Baeksangari meant he was Kongori's ranker, survivor of worse hells.
Only one in Kongori could beat him.
He wanted Kang Seol intimidated, then smash that face for relief.
But Kang Seol's response differed.
Hummmm...
Black energy gathered in Kang Seol's hands.
Whirr...
Crackle!
Left hand's black energy formed an armored knight instantly; right birthed a massive troll.
Karuna's steadfast form and Jamad's savage bulk froze everyone.
"Th-that size... What?!"
"That troll couldn't be..."
Baeksangari's eyes widened in panic.
Knight was new, but troll's identity obvious.
Hellish raid where leaders barely downed one boss to escape.
Friendly 5 Brothers' final boss: Mountain Sorcerer Jamad.
The being that first instilled fear in this inexplicable world.
And now, its summoner stood before them.
"...Wh-what the fuck are you?"
Kang Seol replied,
"Hidden. Know what that means?"
They pondered his words, then gasped in realization.