Rewriting the Fairy Tale (2)

"Thunder...?"

The Z-Team had already pulled back a considerable distance from the ramparts. They knew all too well what would happen once they entered the city—a horde of zombies would come surging out. To be exact, the semi-zombies that were better left alive if at all possible. They were the chief reason this dungeon had earned its reputation as nearly impregnable.

That was why Team Leader Jung had assumed Jang Lee-hyun and Kim Min-jung would fall back without even making it through the gates. Then we abandon them and slip out of the dungeon alone... That had been the plan. Yet now an unfamiliar sound rolled across the battlefield.

When they turned toward the ramparts, they saw flashes of light bursting like lightning. What on earth was happening over there?

"Anyone have a telescope?"

"Right here, sir."

Team Leader Jung peered through the telescope and his jaw dropped. "The ramparts collapsed...? What the hell are they trying to pull?"

The explosive booms that had evoked thunder had fallen silent, so he couldn't identify the exact item. Still, it was clearly some kind of explosive. A pile of zombies lay pinned and thrashing beneath fallen masonry. The ones that had escaped were searching for the source of the attack, but the constant bursts of lightning left them disoriented and stumbling in every direction.

Meanwhile, Jang Lee-hyun and Kim Min-jung were slipping through the chaos with ease.

"Team Leader!"

"Hold on. It's not time yet. We still have a big enough window."

Team Leader Jung lowered the telescope and spoke in a calm, measured tone, restraining his subordinates. "Whatever item they dug up, they clearly didn't come empty-handed. Looks like we can't just sit on our asses after all."

He turned his gaze. "Deputy Seo Ae-ri."

Off to one side, separated from the rest of the team, stood a man and a woman. They leaned lazily against rocks and trees, yawning as if the entire raid bored them to tears. The woman whose name had been called simply stared at Team Leader Jung with a sullen, uninterested expression. What do you want?

Irritation flared inside him, but he forced a smile. "Can you identify that item for me?"

Seo Ae-ri was the team's analyst. She specialized in spotting sudden variables or hidden sub-quests during raids and offering solutions. But her reply was pure ice.

"Why don't you just radio them and ask?"

"...For a more precise strategic—"

"I only tagged along because it had been a while since our last proper raid. If we're just going to sit here wasting time, I'll see myself out. Handle your little political games without me. Bye."

"Deputy Seo? Deputy Seo!"

Regardless of what Team Leader Jung said, Seo Ae-ri activated a skill and vanished toward the dungeon exit.

"What the—!"

Team Leader Jung stood frozen in disbelief until the man who had been beside her shook his head with a sigh.

"Ugh, that crazy woman. Zero social skills, as usual. No wonder she's stuck in a place like this. Team Leader, don't worry. You've still got me, right?"

The man was covered head to toe in swords of every shape and size. The massive greatsword on his back was nearly two meters long, and countless blades of varying sizes hung from his belt, making his combat style impossible to guess. His eyes were razor-sharp; people instinctively kept their distance.

"Deputy Lee Ki-seon."

Team Leader Jung eyed him with open suspicion. If anything, this man was even more of a loose cannon than Seo Ae-ri.

"I'll head over and check it out myself. I'm not as good as Deputy Seo, but I'm pretty knowledgeable about items. To be honest, I'm curious too."

Team Leader Jung found the sudden cooperation suspicious—Lee Ki-seon usually clashed with everyone—but the man's skills were reliable, so he nodded.

"Fine. I'm counting on you. Report back the moment you learn anything."

Lee Ki-seon tilted his head. "Huh? I don't remember promising to tell you anything."

"...Excuse me?"

The man smirked. "I only said I'd look into it. Never said I'd help you, Team Leader. Figure it out yourself. Later."

"......!!"

With a sly wave, Lee Ki-seon vanished as well.

Only then did Team Leader Jung realize he'd been played. His face flushed crimson.

"Those insane bastards... daring to toy with me...! AAAAAARGH!"

He kicked rocks, drew his sword, and began slashing wildly at the air.

The rest of the team quickly looked away, not daring to speak.

Those lunatics are actually...!

I knew Z-Team ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a magnet for weirdos, but still...

I need to transfer out of this team as fast as humanly possible.

Now we get to deal with his tantrum all day...

Everyone let out heavy sighs, convinced their luck had completely run out for the day.

At that same moment—

Shweeeee—

Jang Lee-hyun and Kim Min-jung vaulted over the collapsed section of wall and stepped into the city streets. A few zombies behind them were still stumbling among the debris Lee-hyun had left scattered across the ramparts, unable to find their bearings.

"Senior, the lightning was one thing, but what on earth was that movement technique?"

"Dueogsini's Breath. I improved it."

"It was something you could improve!?"

Kim Min-jung knew Lee-hyun's signature skill well. The more intense his emotions, the greater the lightning it unleashed, until the user became wreathed in densely compressed thunder. It had always reminded her of a lightning-spitting goblin swinging a club. Yet Dueogsini's Breath was an ultimate technique built for raw destruction or instant kills, not high-speed movement.

The casual way he answered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠left her speechless.

Just what has he been through to make something like this possible...?

In some ways it seemed even faster than her own movement skill.

Not only is the mana consumption far lower than before. At this point he really does seem like an actual goblin.

Kim Min-jung had a feeling today would be full of surprises thanks to Lee-hyun.

Meanwhile, Lee-hyun himself was savoring the effects of the Samjae Divine Wind.

Just as I thought. Mixing the responding thunder with the Samjae Divine Wind alone has already put it on a completely different level.

Every step sent wind exploding outward. The best part was that the wind consumed almost no mana. He was simply riding the aftershock created when the responding thunder surged.

If needed, I can deliberately raise dust clouds to block vision or combine it with Shadowy Steps.

His skill tree was finally beginning to take solid shape.

"This is the bell tower, Senior."

Their destination finally came into view—the lone bell tower standing tall at the city's exact center.

"There it is. Let's move. Time to silence that flute."

For the past three days, Lee-hyun had focused on one single question: How do I suppress the flute's sound first?

The curse had no effect on him, but Kim Min-jung was with him, and the zombified citizens would interfere. A countermeasure was essential.

That was why he had chosen the bell tower—the tallest structure standing at the city's heart.

Tap!

Lee-hyun and Kim Min-jung kicked off the outer wall twice and shot straight to the top platform where the bell hung. The fairy-tale city spread out beneath them in a single breathtaking panorama.

"We need to hurry! The zombies are already swarming this way!"

Kim Min-jung kept a sharp eye on the streets while pulling a cello case from her inventory. Not every zombie had been gathered at the gates. Far more had been roaming the city, and they were now converging after sensing the pair's presence.

Click!

Inside the case lay the Mk12 sniper rifle she had often used back in Cheongroe, along with an arsenal of other firearms. If axes were Lee-hyun's specialty, magic guns were hers.

Clack. Clack.

She attached a suppressor and scope, shouldered the rifle, and aimed downward.

"Starting now."

"Go for it."

Kim Min-jung pulled the trigger at the male zombie centered in her scope.

Bang!

The male zombie spun to the ground as the magic bullet struck his left shoulder. He tried to rise on instinct, but the curse spreading through his veins triggered violent convulsions.

"Kaaagh! Kaagh!"

The legend Kim Min-jung possessed was powerful. The magic bullets carrying the sisters' grudge were devastating on impact, but the misfortune they inflicted afterward was even worse.

Bang! Bang! Baaang!

With every shot, zombies nearing the bell tower collapsed. In that opening, Lee-hyun activated the Guardian Talisman of Self-Protection he had yet to return to Lim Won-young.

Lightning crackled from the ring on his left index finger. Hideous spear demons materialized, their expressions grotesque.

「The one the Guardian told us to assist...」

「Your command...」

"Ring that bell with everything you've got until I say stop."

The city bell tower existed to announce the hour. Its sound could reach every corner of the city—more than enough to drown out the flute's gentle melody.

「We obey...!」

「Please tell the Guardian we fulfilled the order well...!」

Empowered by lightning, the spear demons struck the bell with all their strength.

Daaang! Daaaaaaaang!

The peal was many times louder than usual, rolling across the city and beyond the walls.

The zombies froze mid-motion. Just like that.

At the same time, the black curse that had bound them erupted outward.

"Huh...? What...?"

"Why am I... why am I here like this...?"

"■■! ■! Why are all of you out here too?"

"I came out to look for my son who vanished because of the flute..."

Citizens whose minds were clearing began to wander in confusion.

"It actually worked..."

Kim Min-jung holstered her gun and let out a stunned laugh. The curse no one had solved in ten long years—Lee-hyun had dismantled it so cleanly.

His instincts are still perfect. Jet is back. The real Jet has finally returned!

Without realizing it, Kim Min-jung clenched her fist tight.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart, which had only just begun to race, was now pounding furiously. This was the same heart that had always raced when she followed behind Jet. When she chased after her leader.

Crackle—!!

Lee-hyun, likewise wrapped in blue-white lightning, scanned the area exactly as he had in his Jet days. He wasn't ready to celebrate yet. This was only a temporary fix.

I still need to find the flute's new owner—the hidden boss.

With eyes bathed in golden light, he tracked the curse that had fled the zombies, watching where the dark energy flowed.

The black haze visible only through the Fiery Golden Eyes flowed sideways like rainwater disappearing down a drain.

That was the origin of the curse. The true epicenter of the sound. A manhole swirled with escaping haze.

The underground waterway!

Lee-hyun launched himself forward without hesitation.

"Senior!?"

Kim Min-jung watched him soar into the air.

It looked as if a second sun had risen in the sky. The lightning goblin was manifesting.

Kwaaaaaaaaang!

Lee-hyun became a colossal bolt of lightning and slammed into the earth. The ground shattered. The surface flipped over as he drove straight down, carving a path into the depths.

A black, stench-filled underground waterway overflowing with curses appeared—somewhere no one had ever thought to look.

Boom!

When Lee-hyun raised his head, a man wearing a deep black robe stood before him, visibly shaken.

In the man's hand was a black flute.