Flying Waterfall Flash
In the depths of the Jirisan Dark Forest, Baek Changhoon followed behind Kim Taeju alongside six mana-compatible comrades.
Baek Changhoon was a 25-year-old User-rank awakener.
His traits were Iron Wall and Swordsman.
The reason his surname was Baek was thanks to Baek Hongpyo.
Among the orphans, some knew their own family names, while others didn't.
Those who didn't almost always took Baek Hongpyo's surname.
Blood might not bind them, but to those kids, Baek Hongpyo was their father.
And that father had earnestly implored him.
Protect Kim Taeju hyung, and if things went south, drag him out and run no matter what.
"H-Hyung, let me take the lead. I'm an awakener, after all. My situational awareness is better than yours..."
"Shh! I said just follow. Why do you keep talking?"
"Ah, no."
"Hah! You gonna charge ahead?"
"...Please don't."
The mission: encounter a spore poison camel goral, test the antidote, and return.
The original raid formation had him at the front, with the six combat support members encircling and protecting Kim Taeju.
But Kim Taeju strode ahead alone, pushing forward relentlessly.
Isn't he way too fearless?
If he'd been a porter...
A mana adapter—a regular person.
Even mana compatibles found this dense forest dangerous.
He was geared up, at least.
A fantasy fox leather coat worth at least 3 billion.
His back looks so cool.
But that was it.
Sure, it offered defense, but it was still just for show.
How was he supposed to fight in a coat like that?
It'd get in the way, cramp his movements, and he'd never outrun anything.
This feels off.
They'd gone too deep.
Way past the blade-tooth marten zone.
Spore poison camel gorals appeared across the entire Jirisan Dark Forest.
In other words, they could be found even in the blade-tooth marten zone, where relatively easier prey gathered.
By now, they should've spotted at least one—but nothing.
Blade-tooth martens were manageable, but if they ran into storm weasels or red-furred wolves?
No good.
Better turn back.
Today wasn't the only day.
They could come again later.
The problem was that hyung was insanely stubborn.
He wouldn't listen to a damn thing.
He ignored offers to take point—would he listen to a call to head back?
One more try to convince him.
If not, he'd have to drag him out by force.
Better than dying.
Just then, Baek Changhoon sidled up to Taeju, who had come to a halt.
"H-Hyung."
"Quiet."
"Pardon?"
"It's here."
What was here?
A spore poison camel goral?
But there was nothing ahead.
Was this guy seeing things?
He got it.
The forest was dim, sunlight barely piercing the canopy.
Weak-minded folks sometimes hallucinated here.
"Don't do this—let's come back tomorrow..."
That was when it happened.
Thud.
Something pitch-black dropped from the tree.
"Kerruk!"
A storm weasel, razor wing-fins gleaming.
It twisted its long body, scouting them out.
"This is bad!"
Baek Changhoon groaned.
The worst had come to pass.
At least it was just one.
We can handle this...
But that wasn't all.
Plop, plop-plop-plop!
Dark shapes rained down from the trees nonstop.
Handle what?
"Kikiki!"
"Kikik?"
"Kerrrr."
"Kuruk!"
.
.
.
Storm weasels were smaller and weaker than martens, but blindingly fast.
Why "storm"?
They came in packs of at least twenty.
Swarming in circles like whirlwinds or storms—hence the name.
Roughly twenty-plus storm weasels formed a wedge formation, tails raised in threat.
They were screwed.
Dead meat.
Even Taeju hyung looked grim, brows furrowed deeply.
Baek Changhoon barked at his comrades in a tense voice.
"You guys, when I signal, grab hyung and get out."
"Ch-Changhoon hyung, you come too..."
"Snap out of it! We have to save Taeju hyung! It's the only way our kids back home live happy."
"...Yeah, got it."
Baek Changhoon drew his sword, bracing to charge the weasel pack.
His Swordsman trait granted sword mastery.
He could buy time, at least.
His life didn't matter.
Can't let a single one slip! Aggro them all at once...
But Taeju stood rigid, hands in his coat pockets, unmoving.
"Hyung, when I signal, run with them. I'll make sure. Don't worry about me..."
Suddenly!
Out!
Taeju's hands whipped from his coat.
He thrust both forward at blinding speed, flinging hard.
Fwoosh! Fwoom! Fwip-fwip-fwip!
Crack! Crack-crack-crack! Crakrakrakrakrakrak!
Deafening blasts erupted.
"Wha..."
The twenty-odd weasels vanished like they'd been erased.
Chunks of flesh exploded like fireworks, spraying everywhere.
Baek Changhoon's jaw dropped.
Sh-shotgun? What the hell?
The wide Flying Waterfall Flash—Bi-pok.
Shorter range than single Il-seom, but perfect for close ambush.
Right hand: a fistful of rain-flower nail projectiles, tiny spikes.
Left: a handful of jagged iron balls.
At least a hundred each—two hundred total minimum.
Infused with 4th-stage Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong power, they fanned out like a shotgun blast, shredding the weasel pack instantly.
Silence fell.
Gulp.
Only dry swallows broke it.
No one could speak amid the unbelievable sight.
Twenty weasels in one shot?
Did Taeju hyung awaken? No, no tattoo.
Even for a compatible, that's too strong.
Actual shotgun hidden in the coat?
Even shotgun pellets couldn't pierce weasel hide.
One thing was clear: Taeju hyung was a powerhouse who could handle twenty weasels at once. He'd proven it.
I'm such an idiot.
Baek Changhoon's face burned red.
Telling that guy it was dangerous, to come back later, that they'd survive if they just trusted him and ran.
Taeju said nothing.
...Fuck!
Of all things, storm weasels.
Too many to pick off one by one with Il-seom.
He'd agonized after spotting the pack.
Leaf-edge daggers one at a time?
Twenty of them—if even one slipped?
Grateful if they came at him, but if one hit the team?
Couldn't face Baek Hongpyo director.
No choice—Bi-pok it was.
Aaah! Such a waste of projectiles.
...Recovery's impossible.
When would he gather all those?
Pity, but leave 'em.
Couldn't find them anyway.
Dang Gunak was lavish, richest in the jianghu—why was Earth-him so stingy? Making bank, yet...
Work harder.
At 7th-stage Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, he could retrieve with a flick.
Taeju addressed the still-dazed Baek Changhoon.
"See that?"
"...Y-Yes, I saw."
"So now I can lead, right?"
"Yes, sir! Mouths shut, we'll follow!"
The group pressed deeper.
Finally—they found it.
A spore poison camel goral.
This one didn't flee humans either.
Learning effect again, it seemed—figured they'd pass by.
Taeju distributed the new antidote to the team.
Topical and oral versions.
"Take this one, apply that. You guys catch it. I'll hang back."
"Got it, hyung!"
Did Baek Changhoon not know spore poison's danger?
But fear was gone.
This guy made mosquito poison antidote—and that insane display just now.
The goral just stared blankly.
Baek Changhoon lunged, stabbing its throat with his sword!
"Gaaaaah!"
Foul goral screech.
Pop! Pop!
Humps on its back burst.
Deadly spore poison billowed out.
Taeju immediately drew it in with Blood Seal Poison Palm.
Too much exposure might be risky—little by little.
So the team got minimal exposure.
Unlike the mosquito antidote test.
Spore poison killed humans.
Confident it'd work perfectly, procedures done—but still.
"How's it?"
"Fine. Doesn't hurt at all."
"Good."
Perfect.
Catch a few more, ramp up exposure gradually.
"Hey! You guys know how to butcher?"
"I can."
"Good! Help while you learn."
Camel goral meat was a must.
Once spore antidote hit markets, gorals might go extinct.
※ ※ ※
At 30 years old, Baek Seoyeonn worked at Miri Group headquarters in New Seoul, capital of the Samhan Empire.
She was an alumna of Baek's Orphanage in Gurye Free City.
Parents died when she was ten.
Baek Hongpyo, her dad's friend, took her in.
His support got her through school, into New Seoul University business admin, and finally corporate HQ.
Baek Seoyeonn had been smart since childhood.
Paired with bulldog grit and hard work.
People called her a genius.
Even after joining, her brilliance shone.
Assigned to Future Strategy Division, she aced projects, rising to youngest section chief.
But corporate life wasn't just skill.
Bonds with colleagues, schmoozing bosses, office politics.
It overwhelmed her.
Orphaned, no relatives, no comfort in New Seoul.
She ached to return to Gurye—but held on.
Father had begged her earnestly.
Once you leave Gurye, never look back. Don't return till you've truly succeeded.
It stung, but she understood.
Why wouldn't she know her father's heart?
Then.
"Hey, Section Chief Baek?"
"Yes, Vice Director."
"See me a sec."
Jeon Juhak, her boss in Strategy Division.
Some business.
Baek Seoyeonn entered his office.
"No long talk. You're from Gurye orphanage, right? Run by Baek Hongpyo of Baek's Drugstore."
Huh? Father's name here?
"Yes. But why..."
"Seen the news? Taehong Bio's military contract."
"Ah, the spore poison camel goral antidote? Of course."
"And that Baek Hongpyo's drugstore is a Taehong Bio subsidiary?"
"What?"
Baek Seoyeonn jolted.
She knew Gurye was developing spore antidote.
Free city—tons of new drugs made and sold there.
But father's store under Taehong Bio?
"Didn't know? Go to Gurye now. Drop your projects."
"Why?"
"Watch Baek Hongpyo. Antidote progress? Efficacy? Who’s this developer Kim Taeju?"
Her eyebrow twitched up—her displeased face.
"Once confirmed real, you know: production deal, royalty, steal it—secure the formula."
Spying now?
Steal formula from the man who raised her?
"You know who I serve? Nail this, I'll push you as my replacement. Refuse... you get it."
Unbelievable.
Even for goral antidote.
"We'll copy it fast anyway. You know our labs. Just saving time."
"..."
"Decide quick. Do it or not? Vice director shot. I'll be director."
Unlike tropical three-striped mosquitoes, camel gorals infested the whole Samhan Empire.
Huge numbers.
They topped wave deaths for a reason.
Antidote monopoly? Pharma jackpot.
"I won't..."
Suddenly!
Bzzz!
Smartphone buzzed in her pocket.
Baek Seoyeonn pulled it, thumbed reject—then paused.
Father?
Call from Gurye.
Thrilling, but worrying too.
"Mind if I take this?"
"Hmph, keep it short. Gotta report."
She answered.
Call dragged longer than expected.
Jeon Juhak scowled.
Finally, she hung up.
"Decided?"
"Yes. Heading to Gurye."
"Good choice! Let's discuss details..."
"But!"
Baek Seoyeonn smiled brightly, locking eyes with Jeon Juhak.
"I'll submit my resignation. Quitting."
"...W-what?"
"Thanks for everything. Bye."
"Hey! Baek Seoyeonn! Section Chief! You nuts?"
Nuts?
Shed waited ages for this.
No regrets for this dump.