Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Taming the Berserker
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As befitting a B-rank variant, the Vampire Wingbat's counterattack was fierce.
It could no longer fly, but its sharp claws and beak remained just as threatening.
It was obvious that even a single hit would deal a fatal wound.
Yet there was no fear in Lee Yu-eul's eyes as she charged at it.
"Now!"
Whoosh!
"We've got! A healer! Too!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Lee Yu-eul shouted a word with each swing of her machete.
"Kieeeek!"
In the end, the Vampire Wingbat let out a long wail as both its front claws and beak were severed.
At that, its companions reacted.
They stopped their leisurely circling and began diving toward Lee Yu-eul to attack.
But Lee Yu-eul wasn't just taking the hits lying down.
She kicked off the dungeon floor at high speed, dodging all three attacks.
Three long claw marks were gouged into the solid rock floor.
The moment the failed attackers turned around and spread their wings wide to charge at Lee Yu-eul again.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
Three arrows fired in rapid succession.
The arrows tore through the wing membranes and the joints connecting them—the most critical spots for stable flight—before vanishing.
"Lee Yu-chan, nice shot!"
"Don't mess around and get hurt—focus on the attack, you idiot!"
Grinning at her little brother's nagging, Lee Yu-eul swung her machete long and hard at the one closest behind her, slicing off its beak.
"Keeek!"
Though she smiled leisurely, the fight was certainly tough even for Lee Yu-eul.
She had activated a B-rank skill through reawakening, but her proficiency was lacking.
Moreover, aside from the one completely incapacitated by her combo with Lee Yu-chan, three Vampire Wingbats still remained.
Whish! Whish!
Her nape prickled at the attacks flying straight for her throat, driven by their instinct to suck blood.
But the throat wasn't a weak point just for Lee Yu-eul.
"Where do you think you're aiming!"
Slash!
The machete's sharp blade sliced through one Vampire Wingbat's throat.
"Kik, kiruk..."
Lee Yu-eul plunged deep into the monster's embrace—which was several times larger than her, even without its wings—and thrust the machete straight up.
"Keruk..."
In the end, one Vampire Wingbat died and began oxidizing black.
That was when it happened.
"Lee Yu-eul! Behind you!"
Turning at Lee Yu-chan's urgent shout, Lee Yu-eul saw a pointed beak aiming right for her face, closing in fast.
She tried to swing the machete she'd jammed into another one, but...
'Too late.'
Realizing her vision had slowed like slow motion, Lee Yu-eul thought.
'I wonder if Nayeo-ju unnie can fix this too?'
The moment she asked herself that, she remembered the fact that even a healer couldn't revive the dead.
'Ah, what about Lee Yu-chan?'
Sensing her death as she thrust the machete out long.
She wanted to at least land a finishing blow so Lee Yu-chan could retreat safely.
That was when it happened.
Thud.
The sharp beak that should have smashed Lee Yu-eul's face stopped dead.
"Su-ho oppa!"
A large hand covered in black blood gripped the nape of the Vampire Wingbat attacking Yu-eul.
"Su-ho... oppa."
But what surprised Lee Yu-eul wasn't Jang Su-ho's speed in already clearing all the goblins, or his monstrous strength in subduing a B-rank monster like a naughty child with one hand.
"His eyes..."
"Kruk, huu."
The usually bright-smiling Jang Su-ho was gone.
All that remained was some thing with bulging, burst veins and eyes bloodshot red.
Not even sparing a glance at the frozen Lee Yu-eul, Jang Su-ho grabbed the Vampire Wingbat's beak and head.
Crunch.
Veins bulged on the thick forearms visible through his torn clothes.
"Kek..."
The Vampire Wingbat's head began slowly twisting backward.
Flap, flap.
It flailed its wings in resistance, but it was a futile gesture.
Crack!
Finally, the fully rotated head tore off its body.
Not cut by a sharp sword.
A massive amount of sticky black blood sprayed from the ragged cross-section, drenching Jang Su-ho.
"Haa."
And Jang Su-ho drank it in with his whole body, like sweet rain in a drought.
For a moment, Lee Yu-eul and Lee Yu-chan exchanged silent glances.
'First, let's take out all the Wingbats.'
The horde of dozens of goblins had long since oxidized and vanished.
Only three combat-ready Vampire Wingbats remained.
They had to keep feeding targets to the berserk-transformed Jang Su-ho.
As she stabbed her machete into the throat of the one first crippled by losing both claws and beak, Lee Yu-eul counted.
'Two left.'
In the meantime, Yu-chan put a hole in the wings of one trying to fly away.
As it hesitated, Yu-eul hurled her machete like a spear.
Splash!
The flying jungle blade sliced through its shoulder blade.
Thud!
The Vampire Wingbat that finally crashed to the ground was Jang Su-ho's share.
"Kraaah!"
The third Wingbat was shredded limb from limb like black construction paper and oxidized.
The last one fared the same.
The only difference was that it lost one wing to Han Ji-seong's Ice Spear attack—after the twins signaled him—and fell to the ground.
Shhh.
The sound of the final monster oxidizing echoed through the now-silent dungeon.
The battle was over, but no one moved carelessly.
"Kruu, krur."
Because Jang Su-ho had fully entered berserker mode.
"Kruuuu."
Letting out a guttural growl like claws scraping his chest, Jang Su-ho slowly turned toward one spot.
The direction where Nayeo-ju stood.
Step.
Kang Han immediately stepped in front of her.
Jang Su-ho had said something before.
"When I turn berserk, I become someone else. But Nayeo-ju's presence felt like it could erase that me—it was a fear that made my hair stand on end."
Which meant the current Jang Su-ho was likely perceiving Nayeo-ju as the greatest threat.
Crackle.
Kang Han summoned currents of electricity in both hands, ready to blast Jang Su-ho at any moment.
But then.
"It's okay."
A calm hand rested on Kang Han's shoulder.
Nayeo-ju's.
"Can you step aside for a sec?"
"Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"I said it's fine."
Kang Han hesitated briefly before stepping one pace to the side.
But the electric sparks flying from his hands grew even fiercer.
"Krrrar..."
Jang Su-ho, who had been staring at Nayeo-ju from afar, began to move.
The tension among the entire Justice Guild thickened.
The twins quietly followed behind, ready to charge at Jang Su-ho at any time.
Step, step.
Black, sticky footprints marked every step Jang Su-ho took.
"Kruk."
Hunched over, moving low like he could spring into attack at any moment, Jang Su-ho no longer looked like a rational human.
But Nayeo-ju spoke in a voice like soothing a wounded beast.
"Yeah. Come to me, Jang Su-ho."
Step, step, step.
Finally, Jang Su-ho stood before Nayeo-ju.
She looked so small and fragile in front of his long shadow.
"Krrrarrr..."
The growl deepened.
As everyone's nerves stood on edge at the change.
Nayeo-ju slowly extended her right hand and opened her mouth.
"Hand."
Jang Su-ho just stared down at it.
Would he bite it as is?
Or twist and rip it off like he did the monsters?
As all sorts of thoughts flashed through the guild members' minds, Nayeo-ju remained unshaken.
"Hand. I said."
It was small but firm.
Jang Su-ho, whose growling had now stopped, reacted only to that, slowly extending his hand.
And snatched the small white hand, yanking it toward him.
"Nayeo-ju!"
"Yu-eul unnie!"
The surprised guild members rushed forward.
But Nayeo-ju raised her remaining hand to stop them.
No red blood sprayed.
Jang Su-ho merely leaned his head wearily on Nayeo-ju's shoulder.
Then, rubbing his forehead against her nape, he murmured in a voice as faint as if it would flicker out.
"Nayeo-ju-ya."
Jang Su-ho—the Jang Su-ho who had fully entered berserker state.
Had returned.