Do You Know Why Rabbits Are Strong?
“Hmm… Protect our flag and the flagpole, while planting our flag in another station.”
“Something like that, I think. Did I understand correctly?”
“That’s how I took it as well. The station we need to plant our flag in is Changsin Station.”
“Seems so. You’re all quite sharp.”
The party soon fell into discussion about the scenario.
Due to scenario activation, the safety barrier of ‘Chungmuro Station’ has been lifted.
Free movement between stations is now possible.
“Gong Pildu, you can speak now.”
“I know you’ve got a grudge against me. But you need to adapt too.”
“Your days as a landlord are over.”
Gong Pildu’s mouth had opened at Dokja’s command, yet no words came out. And so Dokja assigned him the role of defending Chungmuro.
“Think it over carefully. Spare a thought for the family you’re separated from.”
“You—how did you…!”
Vroooom—!
Bikes roared closer, horns blaring and exhausts screaming like mad.
“Ah, finally cracked Chungmuro open.”
“Man, took them long enough just to clear a scenario like that.”
“My Lord, shall we deal with them?”
“No. Let’s approach first.”
Tch. Those types look ready to betray us at the first chance.
And they will, soon enough.
“Hold it right there.”
“Put down your weapons and approach slowly.”
“Wait a moment. Let’s all calm down.”
“Sheesh, this is so scary I can barely get a word out.”
At Dokja’s wary stance, the newcomers set down their weapons.
“No need to be so on guard. We didn’t come here to fight.”
“Then…?”
“Allow me to introduce myself first. I’m Kang Ilhoon, vice-leader of the ‘Dongdaemun Group.’”
Better watch how this plays out.
I could slit their throats right now if I wanted, but then we’d never recover Dongdaemun’s flag.
“My Lord, I’ll wait in the shadows.”
“Call for me whenever you have need.”
“Got it. If any of them look suspicious, take them down immediately.”
“Aye.”
Fwoosh—
With legs transformed through Black Water Transformation, I vanished from the spot in an instant. I already knew every word that followed would be empty talk. More than that, I was simply bored of listening any longer.
Some time passed.
“We’ve decided to meet your leader first and then make a decision.”
After what seemed like several rounds of discussion, Dokja informed Kang Ilhoon of their conclusion. When Yoo Sangah asked why they had come to Chungmuro, Kang Ilhoon answered awkwardly.
That bastard’s starting to show his true colors.
“Then we’ll be on our way.”
The bikes revved up again and tore off down the tracks. I followed after them as well. The performance of Black Water Transformation was better than expected; keeping pace posed no real trouble. The bike engines were so loud, though, that I couldn’t catch whatever Dokja was saying to the man.
And then—
“Yoo Sangah!”
Dokja rose into the air on Yoo Sangah’s skill and flipped the bikes over.
“W-what the hell is this?!”
“What is this? That’s what I’d like to know.”
“If you’re going to ambush someone, you should’ve raised your Stealth level a little higher.”
The moment Dokja finished speaking, the hidden ones burst out of cover.
“My Lord.”
“Gah! Ah… it’s you, Hayeon. What is it?”
“Leave this place to me and return to the station. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“What? But…”
“Attack!”
At Kang Ilhoon’s shout, the men charged. No time left for explanations.
“Trust me, My Lord.”
“…Haa. Fine. But if it gets too much, run. Understood?”
“Aye.”
And so Dokja’s group headed back toward Chungmuro.
All right… time to show them why rabbits are strong.
“Die!”
One of them swung a wooden stick that barely qualified as a weapon.
“Your stance, your weight distribution—everything about you is a mess.”
Shhk—!
The wooden stick came around, and with it his head parted from his shoulders and toppled to the ground.
“W-what the hell is that…?”
“Ilhoon! Nobody said there was a monster like this…!”
“There is no mercy to spare for those who know nothing of humanity.”
Crrrack—
A grotesque sound accompanied the transformation of my legs. Those who had consumed the Black Water Pill could reshape parts of their bodies into bestial forms. And the Myo Identity I had equipped specialized in explosive speed through rabbit legs.
It Cannot Be Defied — You shall not block this.
“What the hell is that bastard doing now…!”
Fwoosh—
Shhk—!
Heads flew through the air once more in an instant.
“This is insane! Everyone run…!”
“You invaded a beast’s territory. Don’t think you get to walk away unscathed.”
I carved through them with the Gakju Slaughter Sword and the Heavenly Sphere Blade. A few tried to flee, but Myo’s speed would not allow them to escape. How many had I cut down by then? The ground was a slurry of blood and flesh, and before my eyes Kang Ilhoon sat trembling on the floor.
“P-please spare me. I’ll give you information…”
“I will not kill you. But My Lord may feel differently.”
“W-what? Wait! Just one chance, give me one chance!”
“That is not for me to decide.”
I seized him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him along. Using Black Water Transformation to run would likely have been more than his body could take.
When we arrived at Chungmuro, the tracks were littered with corpses, and Dokja’s flag had already turned red.
“My Lord, I’ve brought him.”
“Ah, Hayeon. What about the others?”
“All dealt with. This one needs to spill information, after all.”
“Well done. Sangah, if you would.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Sangah bound Kang Ilhoon.
“…What are you going to do with me now?”
“That depends on how useful the information you spit out turns out to be.”
“The Constellations have already labeled him an ‘Evil Person.’ Should we try a little torture?”
“Why bother with something as troublesome as torture? If he won’t talk, we just kill him.”
“I know a few ways to make death painful. Shall I?”
“No. There’s another method.”
Saying so, Dokja scraped his blade along the ground as he approached the man.
“I’m going to count to three. If you don’t open your mouth before I finish, you die.”
“One. Two. Thre—”
“Dongmyo!”
With the blade right under his nose, the man finally forced the words out.
“D-Dongmyo Station! There are people who fed us information about Chungmuro…!”
“They call themselves …”
“Ghk…!”
“Sangah! Seal his mouth with your threads!”
Yoo Sangah barely managed to gag the man who had been about to die from the suggestion.
Now things are starting to get interesting.