Mine (2)
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Mine (2)
Gurye’s pitch-black shantytown clung to the hillside.
Rudely thrown-together wooden plank houses dotted the ridge.
At the top sat one house that was surprisingly well-built.
It even had a wide yard, unusual for a slum dwelling.
“Where’s the maknae?”
“He’s down below. Says he’ll take responsibility for his own screw-up.”
“Take responsibility how? Didn’t the bastard run off?”
“...He’s watching in case the guy he let go comes back with the vigilantes.”
“Fucking idiot.”
“Come on, boss, don’t blame the kid too much. He was trying his best and just fucked up.”
At Sub Wi-dang’s words, Wang An-pung scowled as fiercely as he could.
If the kidnapping failed, just let the guy go.
But no—he tried to kill the escaping target with monsterization.
And even in monsterized form, he only wounded the guy and let him slip away.
“Pack up and prepare to leave Gurye. Sort out whatever needs sorting.”
“Let’s wait a bit longer, boss. There’s no better place to hide than Gurye.”
“No. When you’re being too cautious, that’s when you need to be even more so. Especially in our position. Tell the maknae to quit screwing around and come back up.”
“Sigh, damn it! It was fun while it lasted, wasn’t it? We three brothers...”
Three brothers.
They weren’t blood-related.
Eldest: Wang An-pung. Second: Sub Wi-dang. Third: Cheon Chorang.
The trio were sworn brothers, Mines of Chinese descent.
They had sworn in the Peach Garden to live and die together.
They’d originally lived in the southwestern Samhan Empire, but even Mines struggled there, so they drifted to Gurye and successfully settled in.
Mines were enemies of the Empire—no, the entire world.
They couldn’t let their identities be exposed.
Even their neighbors didn’t know they were Mines.
They just saw them as fallen villain awakeners.
To grow as Mines, they had to consume the hearts or vital organs of mana compatibles or awakeners.
But greed was the enemy.
One per month.
They didn’t pick just anyone.
People who could vanish without raising alarms—like some slum dwellers, drifters, thugs, criminals, or weak awakeners they occasionally hunted in the wilds.
They’d managed without getting caught so far.
There was no reason to get caught.
How many people died in Gurye’s slums each month? And that didn’t even count the missing.
Once turned Mine, they could smell the mana scent on humans.
This time, they’d sniffed out a guy reeking especially strongly of mana, kidnapped him on the sly, and ate him.
They buried the remains in the front yard, as always.
But the maknae had made an idiotic mistake.
If their identities were exposed, it was game over. They had to leave.
Even in a free city, public authorities could get involved with Mines.
And weren’t imperial monster defense legions stationed nearby?
“Hurry up and call the maknae in.”
“I’ll give him a ring.”
Wang An-pung was honestly regretful too.
Gurye Free City was perfect for Mine activity.
He’d planned to build power here and climb to Mine Master—or at least Expert.
‘Damn it!’
Suddenly!
Foosh...
Bristly fur sprouted across Wang An-pung’s face.
At the same time, sharp fangs protruded with a squelch.
Then, in an instant, his face returned to normal.
※ ※ ※
Like most imperial citizens, Taeju had never encountered a Mine himself.
But he’d heard plenty of stories.
The hatred, contempt, nightmares, and terror intertwined in people’s views of Mines.
Back in Paju.
He recalled what his half-brother Taecheon—barely out of puberty—had tossed out in passing.
‘You wouldn’t have to worry even if you met a Mine. You’re a mana rejector.’
To low-rank awakeners and compatibles, they were horrors like plague or malaria.
The Empire branded them public enemies without exception.
Killing a Mine brought no punishment.
On the contrary, you got rewards.
Mines looked like any other awakeners in daily life.
They had tattoos, and their appearances weren’t much different.
Spotting a Mine in everyday life was no easy task.
But fight one, and you’d know.
Kill one, and you’d know.
Their true nature as beasts who’d shed their humanity.
“This the place?”
The spot where Jang Suncheol had been attacked.
It was where the stairs led up to the shantytown’s peak.
‘But these stairs go on forever?’
Stairs here, stairs there.
Well, it was a shantytown.
What was odd about endless stairs?
Taeju scanned his surroundings as he walked.
Did he even have a plan coming here?
He had time to kill, and luck might turn up a clue.
He wandered aimlessly for a while.
The night streets were deserted.
Just foul odors hanging thick in the air.
Trash on the ground, piss on the walls, shit, vomit... But something felt off.
A strange scent had been teasing Taeju for a bit.
Not everywhere, but especially in certain spots he passed.
A deeply familiar smell.
Sticky, dank, repulsive just to sniff.
But why didn’t it bother him?
Even shit didn’t faze him.
Something tugged at the edge of his memory.
Taeju followed the foul scent.
It wafted from a specific direction.
He trailed it steadily.
Suddenly!
“Evening. Haven’t seen you around. You live here?”
Up the long stone stairs stretching high.
Midway up stood a mild-mannered young man who greeted Taeju.
“No, I don’t live here.”
“Then what brings you?”
“Just checking something out.”
“Ah, I see! What’s up? I can help.”
Taeju waved him off with a smile.
“Haha, thanks for offering, but it’s personal.”
He’d sensed something off the moment he saw the guy.
A friendly face in the slums?
And that creeping stench.
It poured off this man strongest of all.
Enough to spark hostility.
‘Doesn’t the guy bathe?’
God, it was unbearable.
‘What the hell is that smell...’
Was it because his senses had sharpened at the 5th stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong?
His nose was always keen.
He and the Absolute Poison Demon Dang Gunak both...
‘Wait!’
A flash of memory hit Taeju.
In the murim world, only Dang Gunak could detect it: the unique stench from those who trained certain arts.
‘Demonic qi...’
That was it.
The peculiar aroma of demonic cultists.
‘Why does this guy smell like demonic cult trash?’
It wasn’t exactly the same.
Just a similar vibe.
Vile, disgusting, nauseating...
‘This bastard... a Mine?’
Thinking back, demonic cultists and Mines had one thing in common.
Mines ate humans to level up.
Were demonic cultists any different?
Their core arts were all absorption demonic gongs.
They slurped up others’ hard-earned inner energy.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
What bullshit. It was just the ultimate absorption demonic gong.
Ignorant fools idolized them for their strength, seeing them as power-seekers.
Complete nonsense.
Cunning, vile human scum.
Thieves of others’ achievements, even devouring each other.
The result: turbid, impure energy that reeked like sewer rats.
They were demons.
The “demon” in their name wasn’t for show.
That’s why Absolute Poison Demon Dang Gunak showed them no mercy.
He killed them on sight.
No prisoners, no excuses.
Mines and demonic cultists.
Forced comparison?
No—too many similarities.
The smell, for one.
Strictly speaking, not a scent but the nature of their qi.
Demonic cultists’ qi was muddled from mixed absorption gongs.
Mines’ qi was a mishmash from devouring various mana types.
That’s why this man before him.
Suspicious.
No—almost certainly a Mine.
As Taeju stayed silent, the man spoke again, all smiles.
“You’ve been quiet... Anyway, this place is more dangerous than it looks.”
“I know.”
“There was an incident just recently.”
“Oh?”
“Ah, you didn’t know! Yeah, outsiders are at risk. Come with me. I’ll show you a shortcut.”
Taeju smirked.
“Come with you? Why? Gonna eat me too?”
“...Pardon?”
“No need to act shocked. You’re a Mine.”
Cheon Chorang panicked.
The gray-coated mystery man who appeared out of nowhere.
He’d approached just in case... How did he know?
“Y-You don’t know me, yet you’re awfully rude. That pisses me off.”
“How many have you eaten?”
“You crazy?”
“Guess I’ll report you to the vigilantes. Mines live here.”
Taeju pulled out his smartphone.
“You fucking prick!”
Cheon Chorang surged with power.
Swirling mana flows.
His sclera blackened.
Crack-crack-crunch!
Bones grinding.
Eyes slit horizontally.
Fangs protruded from his mouth, face covered in thorny fur.
Shoulders broadened.
Arms and legs elongated.
Monsterization.
The Mine-exclusive skill that doubled their base power.
“Bingo! A Mine.”
“Grrr, I’ll tear you to shreds.”
“Stinkbomb. Shut your trap.”
Taeju thrust his smartphone forward.
“Here, say cheese... kimchi!”
Click!
Squirt!
The enraged Mine Cheon Chorang leaped down the stairs in a blur.
His sharp claws raked at Taeju’s face.
Slash!
But.
“Huh?”
Taeju was gone.
No one there.
“Where’d he go?”
Suddenly, Cheon Chorang’s nape prickled.
Whirl! He spun, claws slashing.
Thwack!
“Guhk!”
A red palm already filled his vision.
Smack! Thud-thud-thud! Bam-bam-bam!
Head, chest, gut, flanks—attacks in the blink of an eye.
Cheon Chorang’s monsterized body shuddered.
No room to breathe.
And unbearable pain.
Each hit felt like chunks of mana vanishing.
Who the hell was this guy?
Only now did Cheon Chorang regret.
He should’ve gone home when Second Brother called.
But shame over his screw-up kept him dawdling.
Escape.
Create distance.
He thrashed desperately.
The attacks loosened.
Cheon Chorang dug claws into the stairs, coiled his hind legs, and shot upward like a bullet.
Boing, boing, boing.
After untold hardship, he escaped the attack range.
“Y-You...?”
What happened in those few seconds?
He was a Mine.
Beginner awakener rank, but monsterization gave him power to cleave Expert physiques.
Beaten by a non-awakener?
The gray coat was still at the base of the stairs.
“Grrrk, grrrk.”
Panting heavily, Cheon Chorang glared.
‘Can’t take him solo.’
Not when he didn’t even know how the attacks landed.
Cheon Chorang’s strength: quick decisions.
He turned and bolted up the stairs.
But?
Wobble!
His legs buckled suddenly.
The sky spun.
‘Why?’
Unbearable dizziness.
His crumbling body lost balance.
Breath heaving.
‘Poison?’
The gray coat started climbing from behind.
Instinctual fear bloomed in Cheon Chorang’s mind.
‘R-Run...’
If he reached the bosses, he’d live.
Forcing strength into his stumbling body, he staggered upward.
But it wouldn’t obey.
Suddenly—trip! His foot caught the stair edge, and he tumbled.
Thud.
“F-Fuck! Cough, cough...”
No strength to rise.
Bloody coughs erupted.
Cheon Chorang collapsed prone.
Just a bit farther. Just a bit.
He lifted his hips and crawled on all fours.
Suddenly!
Splat!
Pfook!
“Gaaaaah!”
Something sharp pierced his soft ass.
“Hurk, y-you fucker!!!”
Blood trickled from his rear.
Taeju followed slowly, speaking to the crawling Mine.
“Keep going if you wanna live.”
“...Y-You bastard, I-I’ll never let you off. I’ll chew your bones...”
Splat!
Pfook!
Another right beside the first.
“Kiiiiiaaaah!!!”
The blade sank near his anus.
Screams echoed, but no one emerged.
This was that kind of place.
“Crawl! Like a dog.”
Cheon Chorang’s bloodshot eyes.
Humiliation he’d never known.
But he couldn’t stand.
Lower body numb.
Only his upper half worked.
He alternated arms to climb the stairs.
Taeju’s cold expression unchanged.
Think he’d die easy?
He’d thrown lightly to avoid instant kill.
Mercy, really.
How many had this bastard killed to reach this level?
Mines and demonic cultists.
Same breed.
Spare one, and others die.
Splat!
Pfook!
One more.
Three blades now hit the ass bullseye.
“Uwaaaah! Ow, it hurts! H-Hurts!!!”
His lower half soaked in blood.
Yet Cheon Chorang gritted on, crawling fiercely.
Taeju just followed.
Mines came in packs.
Spot one, expect more.
That’s why he’d laced the flying leaf needles with narcotics.
Even if ass flesh tore or guts spilled, the bastard wouldn’t stop.
‘Got the photo anyway... Time to send a report?’
Mine hotline: 113.
Civic duty.
And claim the bounty.
Mine (2) End
ⓒ Kkucchi Kkucchi