Chapter 193
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Execution Holy Society (8)
Thwack!
"Kuhk…!"
I watched as the guy, having blocked the spear but failing to guard against Seo Yu-ju's kick, took a hit to the gut and went flying.
He rolled across the ground a few times before springing back up right away, so it didn't look fatal, but blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.
'Come on, you bastard, put some effort into it. What the hell are you doing? You're an executive of the Execution Holy Society, aren't you?'
Seo Yu-ju was winning, but my heart was growing anxious in the opposite way.
'If this keeps up, the growth plan is totally screwed.'
After pouring in so much money and time, it felt like the investment had gone down the drain.
Of course... raising Wi Ho-yeon was profit enough on its own, but the real key was Seo Yu-ju's growth.
'Damn it, what the hell is that hidden ally of hers doing?'
From what she'd said earlier, there was definitely someone hiding nearby.
'Then why the hell isn't he jumping in?'
It was starting to feel reasonable to suspect that maybe he'd seen his comrade getting beaten and run off.
'Even he's getting suspicious.'
Even in the eyes of that guy—Han Tae-geol or whatever his name was—doubt was beginning to creep in.
The moment Seo Yu-ju swung her spear low at the burly giant...
Swoosh—
In the blink of an eye, a shadowy figure had slipped up beside her.
But Seo Yu-ju's reaction was faster than the speed at which the newcomer swung his massive scythe.
Clang!
"...?!"
Seo Yu-ju unleashed a burst of mana from her body in an instant, and before the scythe could even graze her, it bounced away.
While the guy was flustered, Seo Yu-ju spun her body and lashed out with her leg.
Crunch!
"Gah…!"
The scythe wielder tumbled across the ground from the kick, while the burly giant gaped in shock at Seo Yu-ju's movements.
Even I couldn't find the words to express my astonishment.
'...Ha, she used her spear as a pivot to maneuver her body in a flash, even without swinging it.'
Watching Seo Yu-ju, her stats were secondary; her movements alone defied common sense.
'A regressor is a regressor...'
Wi Ho-yeon had been impressive fighting the spear user, but Seo Yu-ju felt fully formed already.
'The experience gap is just too wide.'
Comparing experience with a regressor like Seo Yu-ju was nonsense to begin with.
'Damn it... still, with two of them, they should at least push her a bit.'
No matter how much stronger Seo Yu-ju had gotten lately, these were two top-tier players—not quite rankers, but elite.
I could only pray they'd give her at least some semblance of a challenge.
'I believe in you guys. Damn it, big bro believes in you.'
The scythe wielder and the giant gritted their teeth and charged at Seo Yu-ju.
Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, Seo Yu-ju showed no sign of panic.
If anything, they were the ones looking rattled as she effortlessly parried their attacks.
"Damn it! Hey, mute! Dodge to the side!"
Right after the giant shouted, the scythe guy twisted his body sideways as instructed.
Just as he did, Seo Yu-ju's spear whistled past, missing him by a paper-thin margin.
Had he not dodged on cue, the scythe wielder would've been sliced open.
The giant immediately followed up, swinging his fist at Seo Yu-ju with all his might. But she blocked it with her spear shaft and then...
'What the hell is that?'
She used the force of his punch against him, propelling herself at blinding speed toward the scythe wielder.
"...!"
Boom!
"Urk…!"
She'd turned the enemy's momentum into a flying kick.
Her technique and fluidity were so absurd it nearly drew a hollow laugh from me.
'...Unbelievable.'
I'd clearly underestimated Seo Yu-ju's capabilities.
To be honest, I'd thought two Execution Holy Society executives would give her a real fight.
That's why I'd even kept Ruska on standby just in case.
'Or maybe my eyes are just blinded because it's her?'
After being pushed back by the kick, the scythe wielder's eyes suddenly turned blood-red.
It looked like he was powering up, so I couldn't help but hold out hope.
'Yeah, do something—anything, please.'
Whatever ability he'd activated seemed real enough; his overall speed picked up noticeably.
Proof was in how Seo Yu-ju dodged less and blocked more.
'What the hell are those?'
Even weirder, pale, ghostly figures began materializing around him.
They didn't attack Seo Yu-ju directly but kept muttering something incessantly.
Seo Yu-ju grimaced for a split second before coldly spitting out,
"Hah, you think that'll work on me? Fool me once, shame on you—twice? No chance."
She channeled golden energy into her spear and thrust it out.
I had no idea what those ghost things did, but they shrieked and vanished under her spear thrusts.
'...She knows exactly how to counter them?'
She clearly knew these two and their abilities inside out.
If so, it made sense why they couldn't bring their full strength to bear.
Boom!
The giant closed in instantly and threw a punch that ripped through the air, sending Seo Yu-ju flying.
"You bitch…"
The giant looked far from satisfied.
And for good reason—I could see it clearly.
She'd burst mana from her body at the last second to minimize the damage.
'...Insane reaction speed.'
It's not just about infusing weapons with mana; explosively emitting it from your body is incredibly hard and mana-intensive, making it inefficient.
Especially timing it perfectly in a crisis to reduce damage—most people wouldn't even dream of trying.
If the timing's off even slightly or it misfires, you eat the full hit.
Attempting that kind of defense is basically gambling with your life.
'To pull it off without hesitation means...'
Seo Yu-ju had mastered the technique.
"Freakish bitch…"
Those fighting her up close would know better than anyone—they could feel it in their bones.
They flinched under her murderous glare.
"...Hah, you really a first-year noob?"
They couldn't believe her power even after seeing it firsthand.
'Well, everyone reacts the same way.'
Anyone thinking that level of strength belonged to a first-year would be the abnormal one.
Seo Yu-ju ignored their question and fired back instead.
"...Where's Yun-seong? And Woo Seo-heun—that bitch, where is she?"
"What?"
The giant's retort twisted Seo Yu-ju's face.
'Shit...'
She'd been desperate to pinpoint my location. The problem was these idiots kept reacting dumbly to her questions.
No way that wouldn't piss her off.
"Why aren't you answering? You think... my words are a joke?"
A explosive surge of mana erupted from her. Bathed in golden light that exuded pressure, she looked almost heroic—but the vibe she gave off was anything but.
'Seo Yu-ju looks like the villain here...'
Unlike the radiant golden mana, the killing intent she radiated was sticky and pitch-black.
"C-Crazy…"
Both of them sensed it, of course.
The giant and scythe wielder charged her together.
"Raaahhh!"
Instinctive yells to shake off their fear.
But this wasn't kids' play—screaming wouldn't solve anything.
Seo Yu-ju parried the incoming fist with her spear.
Funny thing was, she was the one defending, yet they looked deadly serious—while she stayed calm.
"Son of a…"
The giant spat curses at how she deflected their attacks without a hint of agitation.
'Two attackers, and she blocks like that? How?'
She wielded the spear like an extension of her own body, leaving my jaw on the floor.
Realizing they were in trouble, the giant's body flushed red like it was overheating, his bulk swelling even larger.
Kaboom!
"Hup…!"
Even blocking the punch sent Seo Yu-ju skidding back.
The scythe wielder seized the opening, swinging from behind.
Seo Yu-ju twisted desperately, but the blade grazed her arm.
'Finally…!'
Seo Yu-ju had taken a wound to the arm.
It felt weird to be thrilled about her getting hurt, but from my perspective, it was a moment of pure elation.
She glared down at her injured arm with a crumpled expression.
Seeing that, the giant and scythe wielder smirked.
'Don't get cocky over landing one hit, you bastards.'
The giant sneered mockingly, thinking they had the upper hand.
"Haha, finally getting the hang of it? That's what happens when you don't know your place."
'You're the ones who don't know your place, you lunatics.'
The sight of them celebrating that single hit was pathetic.
"We'll bury you right next to that Lee Yun-seong bastard you were looking for. Nice and cozy."
"What…?"
Seo Yu-ju reacted to his words.
'What the fuck is this psycho saying?'
I couldn't fathom why he'd provoke her like that out of nowhere.
Naturally, her face hardened at the taunt.
Oblivious to digging his own grave, the giant kept going.
"You think that guy's still alive?"
"......"
'Shut the hell up.'
"No one's ever survived after the boss dragged 'em away. He's probably dead already. Didn't... go easy... on him. Tortured... screaming... all sorts of... horrors…"
The giant's voice trembled involuntarily as he spoke. And there was a reason he couldn't help it...
'...He's scared shitless.'
His body was reacting automatically to Seo Yu-ju's overwhelming aura and killing intent.
'Ha...'
Even I, watching through the chimera's eyes, flinched for a second.
Because her gaze wasn't normal.
Boom!
"Grk…!"
The giant blocked her spear with his arm, eyes bulging from the impact. The ground beneath him cratered from the force.
The scythe wielder rushed in to help his ally, but...
Clang!
Seo Yu-ju whipped her spear with eerie precision, sending both flying.
"Gah…!"
They slammed into the wall, vomiting blood in agony—likely severe internal injuries.
'So why'd you have to provoke her?'
You only trash-talk when victory's assured.
Running your mouth after one lucky hit? This was the result.
'What the hell's he gonna do now?'
The scythe guy had taken too much shock; his weapon lay discarded as he struggled to even stand.
'Get up, you bastard.'
Thud.
He'd just about risen, shaking, when his body gave out, knees buckling.
Blood streamed from his mouth as his trembling hand clawed at the ground.
'Grab your damn weapon.'
Seeing that, I couldn't ignore the sinking feeling.
...The plan to build Seo Yu-ju's strength had failed halfway. Instinct told me as much.