Kraken Subjugation (3)
I never imagined I'd witness Michael Bay-level explosions right before my eyes, so I was left speechless for a moment, staring at Eunbyeol plummeting down with her parachute. Boom! The helicopter, which had gloriously roasted one of the Kraken's legs in a spectacular blast, didn't stop there—it embedded metal shards into the beast's body. Just as I was about to ask why she'd destroyed our means of escape from the island, her words explained it first.
"I'm sorry, Master. Part of the helicopter's fuselage was damaged from the impacts, so I disposed of it in the most efficient way possible."
"...No helping it. This happened because I insisted on heading back to the island. I'll cover the costs and talk to Mother about it later."
The chopper must have accumulated too much damage from all those ink cannon blasts. Well, if it was already wrecked, blowing it up alongside a Kraken leg was probably the smartest move. We'd lost our ride, but in exchange, our odds of beating this S-rank monster had shot up, and a former hunter had rejoined the fight swiftly. Not a bad trade at all. Besides, worrying about escape took a backseat to slaying the Kraken right now. You need to be alive to escape or call for backup, after all.
Four legs left. Time to wrap this up, or the first tentacle I severed would regenerate. If that happened, our chances of victory would plummet to near zero. The only path to win was to force my way through those writhing four legs and slam my sword into its eye.
"...I'll handle the rest. You two just cover me."
With my inner energy depleted, it wouldn't be easy, but the situation was far more manageable than before. Crippling one or two more tentacles would be ideal, but I knew better than anyone that was wishful thinking.
"Th-that's reckless, Sungcheol! How do you plan to break through that with your body?!"
"Your energy seems nearly exhausted too. I think it's too dangerous."
I hadn't expected Eunbyeol to object alongside Sihee. I'd figured she'd support any call I made to save her mistress. Something must have shifted in her mindset since she'd jumped from the helicopter—now she was openly against my suicidal charge.
"I don't kid myself into thinking I can dodge four tentacles either. Even with Sihee's help, I'd have to evade at least three on my own. And I don't have enough energy left to even slice them."
"So let's be more cautious..."
"But dragging this out is suicide. In about ten minutes, that first right tentacle I cut will regenerate. You both know it'll make things way messier."
"......"
"......"
Sihee and Eunbyeol wore conflicted expressions, resigned to the truth. ...Wait, come to think of it, Eunbyeol had mentioned her awakening let her manipulate metal blades telekinetically. Maybe she could help with suppression too, not just Sihee.
"Eunbyeol."
"Yes, Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"Could you use your awakening to pin down one of the Kraken's tentacles?"
"...Pulling the steel already embedded in its leg might work, but my power can't pierce that thick hide."
"What are you talking about? You've already got steel lodged in there."
"...Ah."
Eunbyeol let out a soft gasp of realization, glancing where I pointed—at the debris from the helicopter explosion stuck in one leg.
"Can you do it?"
"...Yes, something that size should be manageable."
The Kraken was closing in to tentacle range. No more delays.
"Take the rightmost leg, Eunbyeol. Sihee, just keep the leftmost from reaching me. Ignore the central two if possible."
"Understood."
"Got it, Sungcheol."
"Thanks."
With those final words, I charged across the sand toward the decisive showdown. All that remained was sprinting to its weak point—the eye—and thrusting my mithril greatsword into it. Time to end this.
"............!!!!"
As I closed in, the Kraken thrashed wildly, extending all four legs at me. But only two posed a real threat.
"Leave the left to me!"
Sihee unleashed her last arrows to suppress the approaching left leg, while
"...Nngh!"
Eunbyeol yanked with a gesture, freezing the right leg mid-air. Even an S-rank couldn't fully guard its blind spots with just two legs—especially against a hunter aiming for the body, not severing limbs.
The closer I got, past half the distance, the more frenzied it became, but that wouldn't stop me. I used incoming tentacles as stepping stones—one step on a lunging one, then another on the follow-up. Inch by inch, I climbed its body toward the eye, lightly roasting the slimy surfaces with fire magic from my remaining energy to make decent footholds.
"Sungcheol, hurry!"
"Advance, Mr. Kim Sungcheol!"
As their voices strained, I spotted it: the Kraken's massive eye glaring between the two legs. The moment I locked eyes with the damn squid that ruined my vacation.
"Hey."
Using its leg as a launchpad, I leaped skyward, drew my mithril greatsword from the subspace pocket, and swung it full-force.
"Don't glare at me like that."
Squelch.
My blade plunged deep into its eyeball. The beast convulsed—pain or death throes?—then slowly toppled backward. Its writhing appendages stilled, and I stored my sword, leaping clear as its body fell.
A massive splash erupted offshore. Half-submerged, the giant squid's corpse never moved again.
"...Haaah."
This time, I really thought I was done for.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
The moment we felled the presumed boss monster Kraken, the beach-teeming lesser monsters panicked. With the giant squid as the wave's leader confirmed, C- and B-rank mobs lost cohesion and turned on each other. After watching them cull their own numbers, only a few Kraken spawn and Dust Kelp remained. Eunbyeol and Sihee mopped them up, ending the monster wave.
For all the near-death experiences, it felt anticlimactically easy.
"Sungcheol..."
As I lay on the sand catching my breath, Sihee and Eunbyeol approached.
"...Well, it's over. Finally."
"Waaaaaah!! I really thought we were gonna die!! I thought you were gonna die, Sungcheol!!"
"But we're alive, so that's what matters, right?"
"Don't ever sacrifice yourself for me again!! If you die, I'll die toooo...!!"
Seeing her sob messily in my arms, snot and tears everywhere, I realized I'd made a bad call this time. What if I'd actually died, leaving Sihee and Eunbyeol to survive? Sihee would've drowned in guilt for inviting me to this remote island, crying for days. It would've worried Hyeun and Eunyoung noona the instant I went missing. Yuri's depression might've flared up again, Mina would've lost her heat cycle relief, and I'd have Choi Hwayoung-sunbae's exclusive quest left undone.
Surviving made me see it: my life affected so much more than just me. Knowing that, I should've planned for all three of us to take down the Kraken from the start, not my solo sacrifice.
...Anyway, good outcome. That's what counts.
"Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"Yes, Eunbyeol."
"I sincerely thank you for deciding to sacrifice yourself for my mistress and for risking your life to slay the monster wave's boss."
"...It was my choice."
"And I deeply apologize for failing to think of an escape with you during my first proposal and accepting your sacrifice instead. I'm truly sorry, Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"No. If anything, I forced the choice on you. No need to apologize."
"The grace and atonement from today's events—I vow to repay them with my entire body someday."
"......"
Repay with her entire body? Was that sounding dirty because I'd been tangled up with too many women lately? Of course, I wasn't about to ruin the mood by voicing that thought.
"Hwahhh... Sungcheooool..."
Besides, with Sihee currently buried in my chest whimpering, I wasn't that clueless. Right now, just gratitude for survival.
"Ah."
...Speaking of, I'd overlooked one key issue.
"Um, Eunbyeol."
"Anything, Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"Not about repaying favors or anything—just pure curiosity."
"Yes."
"No helicopter... how do we get off this island?"
Eunbyeol replied calmly, as if she'd planned for this.
"No need to worry about that."
"Huh?"
"Helicopters aren't the only way on or off the island."