Chapter 70
**Chapter Title: The Betrayer's Knife**
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PARRAB!
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POOK!
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“Kuhuk!”
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A hunter with a shield charged forward heavily.
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He collapsed after taking a single blow amid the screams, then immediately tried to get back up.
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But in that instant.
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Clack.
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……
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The hunter’s eyes widened sharply as a dagger pressed against the underside of his neck.
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The Red Circle emblem carved on the left side.
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He was a hunter belonging to the Red Circle Guild. Now he looked up at the man who had the dagger aimed at his throat.
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“……Can you handle the consequences of this?”
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Lee Hyejin, the master of the Firebird Guild.
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She gazed down at him with cold eyes.
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Her gaze was already resolute.
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Hyejin replied in a cold voice to his question.
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“We’ll handle it. You just go do whatever it is you came here to do.”
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“……What do you mean?”
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“Crush you miserably.”
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THUD!
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Hyejin brought the pommel of her sword down onto the back of the man’s head.
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With a dull thud, the hunter fell unconscious to the ground.
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Hyejin surveyed the fallen Red Circle hunters around her.
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None were severely injured, and none were dead.
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Then, looking at the guild members who had moved with her, she said,
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“Destroy the delay items and drag every last one of these bastards out of the dungeon.”
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“Yes!”
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Everyone’s movements were precise.
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One group used mana detectors to locate and destroy the delay items, while the others dragged the unconscious Red Circle hunters out of the dungeon.
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We couldn’t leave them to die once the dungeon disappeared.
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And then…
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WOOHWOOONG!
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As the dismantled gate slowly closed, Hyejin said,
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“Next location. Move.”
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“Yes!”
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Now it was time for these bastards to taste defeat.
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Desperation flashed in Hyejin’s eyes.
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* * *
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“Big trouble!”
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An emergency alert sounded at the headquarters of the Red Circle Guild.
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Especially in this moment when the master was absent.
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The guild executives hurriedly gathered in the emergency meeting room for an urgent session.
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“They’re attacking us without even dodging? What kind of nerve!”
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“We’ve already dismantled two dungeons.”
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“They said they won’t stop unless we do. The Firebird Guild has no intention of halting.”
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“Let’s just try it. This is how it goes!”
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Everyone was unable to hide their excitement.
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But then.
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“What’s all this ruckus?”
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“Jang Gwangho hunter, sir!”
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“I’m here.”
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Upon entering the meeting room, everyone present rose and greeted him with respect.
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Gwangho glanced at them and said,
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“This was the plan all along. No need for all this commotion.”
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“……Eh?”
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“What do you mean by that?”
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The plan all along?
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In response to their question, Gwangho replied,
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“You thought the Firebird Guild would just keep getting hit like idiots?”
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Clicking his tongue lightly, he added.
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Gwangho recalled Lee Hyejin, the master of the Firebird Guild.
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The only female guild master among the prominent hunter guilds.
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Gwangho sneered and said,
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“It seems that Hyejin climbed her way here by selling smiles.”
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Although not at the absolute top tier, the Firebird Guild was a solid A-grade guild ranked within the top thirty in Korea.
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Furthermore, in the past… we had crossed paths in dungeons together.
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Gwangho turned to the executives and said,
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“Quickly pick the next target of their attack. I’ll move personally.”
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“The Jang Gwangho hunter himself…?”
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“Ah, understood. I’ll quickly check the anticipated dungeons.”
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It was actually a stroke of luck.
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A proper justification had been secured.
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A faint smile appeared at the corner of Gwangho’s lips.
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“From now on, I need to make it clear what happens when you touch the Red Circle.”
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That strange smile on his lips.
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But the executives watching him felt a sudden chill, and without realizing it, they took a step back.
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The aura Gwangho exuded was far more than mere sharpness…
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Swallow.
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There was something that made a person feel fear.
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Eventually Gwangho glanced at them and gave a light nod.
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“Then let’s move.”
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“Yes, yes!”
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“Understood!”
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The executives, who were being pressured even more than regular employees, rushed out.
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Observing them leave, Gwangho slowly walked toward somewhere distant.
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* * *
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THUD, THUD, THUD!
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Hunters were racing through the darkness at high speed.
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At a glance in the moonlight, a pattern was visible.
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They were Firebird Guild hunters.
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An assault team heading to the dungeon managed by Red Circle, led by Lee Hyejin.
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They had already dismantled four of Red Circle’s dungeons.
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“Only two more left.”
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The dungeons they operated were roughly twenty in number.
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Considering that, dismantling six would deliver a significant blow.
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“Before dawn today, we will dismantle two dungeons belonging to the Red Circle Guild.”
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“Understood.”
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“Yes.”
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With four already dismantled, the Firebird Guild hunters were brimming with confidence.
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It should have been like cracking an egg against a rock.
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“We can do it too.”
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“If you want to stop Red Circle… try it.”
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Now that they had actually clashed, it seemed worthwhile.
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Why had they been getting hit all this time?
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It was infuriating.
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Slowly.
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Nearing the destination, Hyejin lowered her stance and clenched her fists.
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Behind her, the hunters who had followed closely held their breath and watched toward the gate.
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Ten hunters were guarding the entrance.
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Hyejin pointed forward with her index and middle fingers.
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And in that moment.
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PARRAB!
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Just as promised, the Firebird Guild hunters charged forward.
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“Ambush!”
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“It’s the Firebird Guild! Stop them!”
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The Red Circle hunters guarding the dungeon entrance hurriedly drew their weapons.
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But…
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BOOM!
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“Kyah!”
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No matter how strong the South Korean guild, Red Circle, could not station A-grade and B-grade hunters in every single dungeon.
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Beyond that, the Firebird Guild had only brought the cream of the crop from within their own ranks.
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The difference in skill levels was obvious from the start.
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“Don’t kill them, just neutralize them!”
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“Yes!”
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SLASH!
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“Kyah!”
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“Aaaah! My leg!”
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The Firebird Guild hunters quickly subdued the Red Circle hunters.
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Most had their limbs wounded or were knocked out with strong impacts that didn’t kill.
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“All cleared.”
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“All cleared here too!”
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Within moments, the Firebird Guild hunters announced as they cleared the entrance.
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Hyejin nodded.
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“Enter.”
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WOOHWOOONG!
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Soon, the Firebird Guild hunters including Hyejin entered the dungeon.
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As always.
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“Destroy the delay items quickly and dismantle. Also check if there are people inside.”
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“Yes!”
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“Once finished, we’ll head straight to Hanam. Hurry!”
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“Understood!”
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“Yes!”
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By the designated roles.
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Group A operated the mana detectors to find the delay items.
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Group B spread their senses widely to check for any other people nearby.
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But…
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“……Why aren’t we preparing inside the dungeon.”
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If they had predicted an attack, it would have been better to wait inside the dungeon.
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At the moment they entered through the gate, if they pinpointed the location, they could set the perfect ambush timing.
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Inside the quiet dungeon.
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No scavenging team for mana crystals…
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Hyejin’s expression stiffened slightly.
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Because something felt unnervingly off.
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And in that instant.
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SWAAASHHHHHHHH!
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“Everyone, dodge!”
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A massive fireball flew toward the Firebird Guild hunters.
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Hyejin instinctively realized it was an enemy attack and shouted.
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KWAHAAAAAANG!
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Simultaneously with the massive explosion at their position, thick smoke billowed up.
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Thanks to Hyejin’s swift reaction, everyone dodged, but
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“Kyahahaaaa!”
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Screams echoed from beyond the rising smoke.
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Hyejin’s expression twisted.
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Because it was an unfamiliar voice.
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“These bastards…!”
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WOOHWOOONG!
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Hyejin hurriedly concentrated her mana and swung her sword toward the source of the sound.
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SWAAASHHHHHHHH!
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A crescent blade slashed through the smoke and extended straight forward.
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Because the enemy’s location had been sensed.
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And it had been accurate?
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CRASH!
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With a sound like tearing steel, the bastard’s figure became visible.
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And…
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“……!”
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Hyejin’s eyes widened sharply as she saw the opponent who had blocked her attack.
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“Jang Gwangho…?”
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Why was this guy here?
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But unlike Hyejin’s startled expression, Gwangho had a faint smile on his lips.
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Gwangho looked at Hyejin and said,
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“Long time no see. That Moon Crescent Slash of yours looks about the same as five years ago.”
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Was it praise, or not?
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Well, even if it was praise, it didn’t feel good.
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Because his very existence… was the worst-case scenario.
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Hyejin asked,
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“Why are you here?”
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“I’m here to guard a dungeon belonging to Red Circle as a hunter of Red Circle. Is there a problem?”
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“……”
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Of course there was.
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I never imagined that bastard would move.
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Slowly.
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Hyejin turned her gaze to the guild member held in the man’s hand.
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His side and leg wounds were severe, and bleeding was significant.
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“In such a short time…
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SURRRP.
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Cold sweat trickled down Hyejin’s spine.
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I never thought he would block even the fifth attack so easily…
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“I’ll just go back. Release the mana crystal.”
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“Choi Wonseok, a fairly competent hunter from the Firebird Guild.”
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Gwangho tapped the man’s shoulder with the sword in his right hand and said.
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Since it was the flat of the blade, not the edge, Wonseok’s expression twisted.
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Even Wonseok tried to do something, watching for an opportunity, but
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CRACK!
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“Useless.”
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Gwangho, gripping the man’s hair, looked at Wonseok with cold eyes.
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“Once you’re caught by me, using mana or skills is impossible. So don’t struggle.”
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“……Jang Gwangho.”
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Hyejin growled lowly.
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His unique skill, Neutralization.
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It suppressed the mana of opponents with lower levels than himself.
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Since he was held by him, Wonseok could do nothing.
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“Release him. There’s no need for blood.”
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The Firebird Guild had never killed a Red Circle guild member.
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If casualties occurred, the problem would spiral out of control.
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But…
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Slowly.
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The blade that had been tapping Wonseok’s shoulder turned sideways.
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Eventually Gwangho pressed the blade against the side of Wonseok’s neck.
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“Jang Gwangho! Stop! We’ll just withdraw…!”
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SLASH!
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Blood gushed out and soaked the floor.
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And…
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THUD.
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Wonseok’s body collapsed to the ground.
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“CHOE WONSEOK!”
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“WONSEOK!”
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In the gruesome scene unfolding before their eyes, Hyejin flinched and stared at him.
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Gwangho’s eyes were now cold and settled.
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He spoke to Hyejin.
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“Why are you surprised? You didn’t think you’d be challenging Red Circle without any resolve, did you?”
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At his words, the Firebird Guild hunters who had been screaming Wonseok’s name glared at Gwangho.
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“You bastard!”
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“We’ll kill you all!”
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The situation escalated uncontrollably.
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Hyejin too,
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“You… you… you bastard…!”
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Her body trembled with rage.
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Her tightly clenched fists shook.
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The anger rising to her head felt like her reason was about to fly away.
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Watching Hyejin,
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“Kill? Who, you?”
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Gwangho curled his lip long.
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“No, you’re the ones who die here.”
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Then Gwangho nodded with his chin.
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“Attack.”
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With that command, the hunters surrounding them charged toward the Firebird Guild hunters.
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* * *
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WOOHWOOONG!
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The moment the flickering Red Gate was cleared.
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“WOOOOO!”
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“The, the Red Gate has been cleared!”
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“We’re saved! We’re saved!”
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The people’s cheers erupted.
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And soon, a man walked out from the gate.
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His appearance, vibrating with the stench of blood, caused the people to flinch.
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If there was a grim reaper in myths, it would feel like this.
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Next, the man asked the Myanmar hunter association president standing in front of him,
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“What day is today?”
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“June 26th.”
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Ha Dojin.
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He nodded.
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“June 26th…
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“I’ve been away from Korea for over two months.
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Thailand and Myanmar.
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I’ve cleared the Red Gates of these two countries.
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“I’ve reached level 150…
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“Now.”
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“I should go back.”
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Then, behind Dojin who turned his body, the people’s cheers filled the air.
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