Chapter 264: The Terror Live (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: The Terror Live (3)
I am a peaceful person.
Even when the cancers of society coaxed me to join them in operating from the underworld, or when a nightmare customer spat thick phlegm into his food right in front of my eyes...
I tried to resolve it peacefully and sent them on their way.
“…….”
—Or at least, I tried to.
But I simply cannot stomach out-of-line tyranny or genuinely vile humans.
Following the Boss's legacy, I prefer to settle things through dialogue whenever possible, but sharing a language doesn't mean you can reason with someone.
There are those who ignore warnings. Those tied closely to crime are usually like that.
Just a moment ago, too.
They were blocking the hallway leading to the ballroom, so I told them to move. But they made their refusal crystal clear by drawing their weapons.
I considered sparing a few to ask some questions, but gave up. Sparing lives is harder than taking them. I had no time to waste when I didn't know what was happening inside the ballroom.
So I killed them all.
I don't know exactly how many I killed. I stopped counting once the number sliced down passed thirty.
My philtrum twitched. Only when the nauseating stench of blood became unbearable did I slowly look back. Sloshing blood, brain matter, and fat mixed together, making a mess of the floor.
Looking at it, I thought to myself: I feel no emotion whatsoever. That, in itself, was terrifying.
Even if they were enemies, was it right to keep killing like this? Was having a fiery temper and being pressed for time merely an excuse? Wasn't I just rationalizing my actions, wanting to believe I was free from inner darkness and evil impulses?
Lost in these thoughts, I turned my head back. The massive doors of the ballroom filled my view. Intermittent gasps and screams echoed from within.
‘Come to think of it, Sir Karon and Shail came as Abel's escorts.’
I trusted their skills. Even among heroes of their rank, their combat prowess was superior. They would have managed to prevent the worst-case scenario.
“…I hope I don't have to kill any more today.”
I meant it. I had stained my hands with enough blood for one day. Even if my true nature said otherwise, I wanted to believe that.
Creeeak...
I opened the doors. At that moment, the terrorists turned to look at me in unison. Above their masks, I saw faces drained of all color.
Instantly, a pitch-black inner demon clawed at my soul. Sharp and fierce, only the urge to kill whirled through my mind.
My heart pounded. Like a fighting dog with a loosened leash, I felt ready to pounce at any second. Yet the surging filth failed to rise above my throat. It was thanks to the bow tie tightly constricting my neck.
I let out a dry chuckle. Because I hadn't loosened this tie earlier, I could remain human. At least, that was what I believed.
“I'll spare one of you.”
While I was at it, I decided to bestow a bit of mercy.
“Just one.”
Just enough so I wouldn't be taken for a pushover.
* * *
The surviving terrorists were narrowed down to two. Originally, the two had been equal in skill within the organization.
“Stop.”
Kang Geomma stopped the two who were baring their teeth and lunging at each other.
“Keep going, and both of you will die. Drop your weapons.”
Sensing his mood, the terrorists meekly put down their weapons. The next moment, as if in sync, they fell flat on the floor.
“Thank you for sparing us!”
No answer came back. Kang Geomma stood up an overturned chair, dragged it over, and sat down in front of them.
Kang Geomma looked down at them and spoke.
“If your answers don't match, one of you dies. You understand what I'm saying?”
In short, he meant to cross-examine them. The two terrorists swallowed hard.
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
The two snapped their heads around and glared at each other as if to kill. Even their initial responses didn't align.
Kang Geomma let out a bone-weary sigh. Karon, Shail, Abel, and Ryozo gathered behind his chair.
Kang Geomma glanced over his shoulder. Everyone had minor injuries, but they were light. Fortunately, no one had fatal wounds.
“It has been a while. This is our first time meeting since you ascended to the Seven Stars.”
“Indeed. Karon, Shail. I kept meaning to drop by Switzerland, but I kept delaying it.”
“We are simply grateful that you remember us. Please do not pay it any mind.”
Kang Geomma offered a faint smile to Karon and Shail.
“I'm the one who should be grateful. If not for Karon and Shail, the damage would have been severe.”
Expressing his gratitude, Kang Geomma turned his gaze away from them. Catching up could wait until later. For now, this pair tied by a shared fate came first.
“Take off your masks first. Looking at them makes me feel suffocated.”
“Yes, sir.”
The shared-fate pair immediately untied the knots at the back of their heads. Remarkably ordinary-looking faces were revealed. Terrorists didn't necessarily have vicious features; being plain made infiltration much easier.
“Names.”
“Ah, I'm—”
“On second thought, forget it. Why do I need to know criminals' names? You on the left are Prisoner 1, and on the right, Prisoner 2. Don't confuse your numbers, and answer quickly when called.”
“…….”
“Answer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kang Geomma leaned comfortably against the backrest. Opposite him, Prisoners 1 and 2 felt as if sitting on pins and needles. Their throats felt squeezed.
“Your purpose for infiltrating the Academy.”
“We had orders from above.”
Prisoner 1 quickly piped up.
“They told us to take advantage of the ball starting to seize the venue.”
“Where is 'above'? The Villain Syndicate? They were wiped out by the Auditore family.”
“That's true. But ever since the Syndicate disappeared, contact has been coming directly from the Demon Realm.”
“From whom?”
“We don't really know that much...”
“If you don't know, fine. If you don't even know who gave the orders, small fry like you wouldn't know the true purpose of infiltrating the Academy, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Right then. Makes sense. Terrorists wouldn't blab their plans to low-level minions.”
“We don't know the specific details. B-but the codename for the grand scheme was 'Lion'.”
Prisoner 1 stuttered out as an addition.
“Lion, huh?”
Kang Geomma stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment, before asking again.
“Why were you trying to seize the ballroom?”
“That's...”
“To take hostages.”
Prisoner 1 hesitated. Not wanting to be outdone, Prisoner 2 raised his hand high.
“The higher-ups also judged that we couldn't match the Heavenly Sword in raw combat power. So, their orders were to take cadets hostage. That was the mission of our ballroom infiltration team.”
Prisoner 2 smirked slyly and rubbed his hands together. Kang Geomma scowled.
“And you, Prisoner 2, are sitting there babbling excitedly about taking hostages.”
“I-I'm sorry!”
“What's there to be sorry for? I'm not disappointed. To be disappointed, you have to have expectations in the first place. I've never expected a damn thing from criminals.”
“…….”
“Rehabilitation? Repentance? Don't give me that bullshit. The ones who enter society and reform only make the news because they're exceptions. The reality is that the vast majority of criminals never snap out of it and end up back in prison within three years.”
Prisoner 2's face distorted. Kang Geomma continued with an indifferent expression.
“And then scumbags like you will say things like, 'It was hard to make a living after getting out,' 'Society wouldn't accept me,' or 'I was deprived of a second chance.' No, absolutely not. Those are all excuses. You were just born bastards like that. Even when society shows tolerance, you turn around and bite the hand that fed you.”
“…I have committed a mortal sin.”
“Look at you, even right now. A bastard claiming he committed a mortal sin is spouting bullshit like 'Our goal was to take hostages' just to save his own skin. Aren't you ashamed of leveraging the lives of kids who aren't even twenty yet, you motherfuckers?”
Kang Geomma straightened his posture. He leaned forward and grabbed Prisoner 1 and 2 by their left and right shoulders respectively.
“You've heard about my personality, right?”
“I heard you were strict.”
Prisoner 2 spat out carefully chosen words to gloss over his previous slip-up.
“Strict, my ass. You must've heard rumors that I'm out of my mind.”
It was true. This time, Prisoner 2 couldn't say a thing. He simply listened to the tirade of a boy ten years his junior.
“Friends.”
Prisoners 1 and 2 looked as though they were about to suffocate. Kang Geomma removed his hands from their shoulders, using them to lightly pat the backs of their necks.
“On my way to the ballroom, I killed every single person who got in my way. Even though I could have shown mercy, I didn't spare a single soul. Afterward, I was left alone, comforting myself with the thought that they deserved to die. Do I regret it? No. And that's the real problem—that I don't feel any regret.”
Kang Geomma murmured self-deprecatingly to the two terrorists.
“Until now, I've tried hard to deny that I'm crazy. But not anymore. I've decided to accept it—that I've gone off the deep end, considering I hesitate zero percent to take a life, even if they are criminals. Not that I'm saying I'll change. But now that I recognize the issue, I can be careful. That's why I declared I'd spare one of you. I still don't know if this choice is right. Maybe I'm releasing poison into society. Even so, I wanted to indulge a whim, even if it's a messed-up choice. What do you two think?”
“If you spare me, I will never commit such atrocious acts again! I will never... never live in a way that embarrasses you, Heavenly Sword!”
Prisoner 2 said, contorting his face into the picture of grief while shedding thick tears.
Kang Geomma looked at him with stoic eyes before turning his gaze to Prisoner 1. Then he asked:
“Prisoner 2 says this. What about Prisoner 1?”
“…….”
A moment's pause.
“…Honestly, I lack the confidence.”
Prisoner 1's answer was different from 2's.
“I started with thievery and ended up all the way here. So I don't know how or where to even begin again. I almost think it would be better for me to just die right here.”
At Prisoner 1's conscientious confession, Prisoner 2 rejoiced inwardly. Kicking away a chance to live with his own feet. What a foolish bastard.
“You two hear the same words, yet take away completely different things.”
Kang Geomma gave a brief smile and withdrew his hand. Only from Prisoner 1, however. He was still holding Prisoner 2 by the nape of his neck.
“Heavenly Sword...?”
Kang Geomma ignored the bewildered look of Prisoner 2 and stared at Prisoner 1.
“Prisoner 1, what's your name?”
“It's Lee Jae-yeon.”
At that instant, Prisoner 2 writhed in agony. The killing intent radiating from Kang Geomma through the nape of his neck stopped his heart instantly. Instant death.
“Jae-yeon.”
Kang Geomma brushed himself off as he called Prisoner 1's name.
“Yes, Heavenly Sword.”
“Just because I spared you doesn't mean society has forgiven you. Carry the sins you've committed like a branded stigma for the rest of your life. Even if the organization you belonged to tracks you down and kills you, consider it your karma. Living the life of a sinner, you'll eventually realize where your life went wrong. That is the homework I—no, this Academy—is giving you.”
Prisoner 1 parted his lips hesitatingly, then slammed his forehead onto the floor. A loud thud echoed.
“Please take me in, Heavenly Sword!”
“No way, kid. It's hard for criminals to get employed anyway. Besides, why on earth would I take in a gloomy-looking guy? Forget it.”
“…Would it be fine if I were a woman?”
“Not even if you were a woman, you bastard. Are you hard of hearing, or doing this on purpose? Enough, get lost already. The more I talk to you, the more I feel like I'll regret letting you live.”
“Yes, sir.”
Prisoner 1 hurried toward the exit of the ballroom. Right before leaving, he bowed deeply from the waist.
“I sincerely apologize for inflicting injuries upon your companions, Heavenly Sword.”
That was Lee Jae-yeon's farewell. Only after he vanished did Kang Geomma turn back to look at the crowd.
Faces were staring at him in utter bafflement. Kang Geomma awkwardly scratched his eyebrow.
“Did I spare him for nothing?”
Karon was the one to break the silence. He eventually burst into a hearty laugh.
“Hardly. If anything, this old man is deeply impressed by you, Heavenly Sword.”
“Impressed is a bit much... Anyway, does everyone have enough stamina to move?”
“If it's for you, Heavenly Sword, we shall squeeze out stamina we don't even have.”
Shail nodded.
“Not that we actually lack it, of course. Listening to your speech makes strength surge within us.”
To her energetic reply, Kang Geomma gave a light shrug of his shoulders. He then inhaled deeply, then exhaled a breath mixed with the scent of blood. It felt as though his lungs were being cleansed. His mind felt clear.
Internal growth begins with admitting one's own faults. If one is busy hiding their flaws, there can be no progress. It is because humans feel shame that they created laws and institutions, building civilization.
A moment later, Kang Geomma spoke.
“We need to find Leon.”