The Hunter Becomes the Prey
Ilyang pretended to be completely oblivious to Pyeong So-byeok’s glistening, predatory gaze.
Looking around with the innocent eyes characteristic of a young child, he spoke.
“It has been terribly difficult navigating this harsh world at such a young age without anyone to look after me. But now that I am trying to start a new life here, I hope I can rely on your generous assistance, Great Hero Pyeong.”
“Of course! Naturally! Just leave it to me, hahahaha!”
Rustle, rustle.
With those words, Pyeong So-byeok led Ilyang off the deserted main road and onto a quiet, narrow path, heading deeper into the rugged mountain terrain.
Ilyang continued to play dumb, keeping close to Pyeong So-byeok’s heels as he spoke.
“The mountain is quite steep. I suppose a place like this would indeed be prone to wild beasts ravaging the herb gardens.”
“Indeed.”
As they climbed the mountain slopes, the sun dipped rapidly below the horizon.
And just like the fading daylight, Pyeong So-byeok’s responses grew increasingly brief.
He kept scanning his surroundings as they ascended,
looking very much like a predator searching for the perfect spot to devour its trapped prey.
Eventually, he stopped.
“This spot will do nicely.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that all of a sudden? I do not see any herb gardens.”
Pyeong So-byeok caressed the scabbard at his waist and smirked.
“Seeing such an innocent fellow like you makes my heart ache. I think it’s time I taught you a lesson about how cruel this world can be. You don’t mind, do you?”
Pyeong So-byeok asked in a tone that made it clear he had absolutely no intention of waiting for consent.
Only then did Ilyang put on a slightly frightened expression and reply.
“What... what do you mean by that all of a sudden, Great Hero Pyeong?”
“Haha! Tell me, have you ever tasted human flesh? Children’s meat, in particular, is incredibly tender and delicious.”
“...”
Looking at Ilyang, who resembled a terrified baby sparrow, Pyeong So-byeok decided that drawing his sword would be overkill.
Instead, he slipped a small dagger from his sleeve.
Shhhring—
The crimson light of the setting sun pooled along the blade of the dagger like droplets of fresh blood.
“Let’s start with an arm, shall we?”
Pyeong So-byeok licked his lips and advanced slowly toward Ilyang, who was taking hesitant steps backward.
Ilyang, who had maintained the look of a startled fawn scanning its surroundings until now,
suddenly let his face go blank. Then, the corners of his mouth curled upward into a quiet smile.
“Human flesh? My, what an exquisite hobby you have, Young Master.”
“Haha! Oh dear, oh dear! You realized it far too late! Way too late! No matter how loud you scream or how hard you struggle, there is no one here to save you!”
“So it seems.”
But the same goes for you.
No one can save you either.
Swallowing the rest of his thoughts,
Ilyang stared intently at Pyeong So-byeok.
For some reason, Pyeong So-byeok found himself deeply unsettled by those eyes, which no longer held even a shred of fear.
Deciding to stop playing with his food, he resolved to get on with the task.
“So shut your mouth and hand over an arm, and then—”
“As you wish, let us start with an arm. I believe your right arm will do nicely.”
“Oh? Quite cooperative, aren’t—”
Splat!
Crack! Tear!
Pyeong So-byeok never got to finish his sentence.
Out of the shadows of the forest,
a figure descended like a swooping eagle, cleanly ripping his right arm from his torso as if plucking a radish from the soil.
“Aaargh! What is this?!”
Spurt!
Blood erupted from his shoulder, spraying high into the air.
Standing in the crimson shower was a man with a face as pale and lifeless as wax.
“A... a jiangshi? Why is a jiangshi here? How...”
Even then, Pyeong So-byeok could not fully comprehend what had just happened to him.
Watching his pathetic, bewildered state,
Ilyang, wearing the mask of a child, let a cold, cruel smile spread across his lips.
The Bright Moon Sword, Song Gwang-sik, suppressed his presence to the absolute limit, watching the scene unfold under the fading sunset with bated breath.
What an idiot. He went and poked a sleeping tiger.
This fellow, Pyeong So-byeok.
Song Gwang-sik knew a thing or two about him.
He had heard rumors that the Pyeong Clan had spoiled their heir rotten, turning him into a lawless scoundrel.
But he had never imagined the bastard was a cannibal.
Well, he finally met his match today.
“P-please spare me, Young Hero!”
“Hmm. Now that our relationship has developed to this point, is there any reason to spare you? If I let you go, I feel like I would constantly have to look over my shoulder.”
“Never! I swear it! I will never speak a word of today’s events to anyone as long as I live! Please, have mercy!”
Thud, thud, thud!
Even as blood gushed from his severed right arm,
Pyeong So-byeok repeatedly slammed his forehead against the dirt, begging for his life.
“Hmm. Number Seven, go wash up first. The stench of blood is far too strong.”
“...”
The expressionless jiangshi bowed its head and vanished into the shadows like a wisp of smoke.
Though he was now left alone with the child,
Pyeong So-byeok did not dare make a reckless move.
That was a Blood Jiangshi just now. Which means this brat is a necromancer from the Mansi Sect. There must be other jiangshis nearby. I’m sure of it.
No wonder he had felt a lingering sense of unease from the very beginning.
He hadn’t sensed a single shred of inner energy from the boy.
Yet, the kid had subdued a third-class vagabond with his bare hands.
He should have realized something was wrong and backed off right then.
But it had been so long since he had laid eyes on such high-quality meat.
His gluttony had blinded him.
It was, of course, a completely useless regret now.
“Please, spare my life, Great Hero!”
Pyeong So-byeok kept his head pressed firmly against the ground,
weeping as he begged for sympathy.
If I can just get out of here...
If I can just survive this crisis!
He was absolutely certain he could exact his revenge later.
He could endure any amount of humiliation for now.
Ilyang could read Pyeong So-byeok’s thoughts as clearly as an open book, and a faint smile played on his lips.
“You were simply unlucky. Just think of it that way.”
“...!”
Pyeong So-byeok’s heart instantly plummeted.
Were those not the exact words he always whispered to his young victims before devouring them?
“Of all places, you had to lead me right here. Talk about terrible luck.”
This was the automated hunting ground where Ilyang had released his incomplete ghouls.
Furthermore, unfortunately for Pyeong So-byeok,
Ilyang was not the type to leave any loose ends.
“G-Great Hero! Please, just once! Give me one more chance! I can give you as much money as you want!”
Pyeong So-byeok crawled forward, reaching out to grab the hem of Ilyang’s robes,
but Ilyang took a step back and shook his head.
“Now, that would not be fair. Did you ever give a second chance to the people you devoured?”
“T-that...”
The child’s eyes were cold and merciless.
In the brief instant their gazes locked,
Pyeong So-byeok’s terror reached its absolute peak.
And then—
Snap.
Ilyang snapped his fingers.
The other Blood Jiangshis, who had been blending into the darkness, surged forward and violently pinned Pyeong So-byeok’s head to the ground.
“Gurgle! Urgh!”
As Pyeong So-byeok thrashed with his remaining arm, letting out a pathetic, muffled shriek,
Ilyang commanded one of the Blood Jiangshis to clamp its hand over the man’s mouth, completely pinning him down.
Then, he stepped closer and whispered,
“I have many questions for you. Do not exhaust yourself too early. Understood?”
“...Mmph! Mmmph!”
Gasping against the brutal grip sealing his mouth, Pyeong So-byeok nodded frantically.
In truth, the hand gripping the back of his neck was as hard and cold as ice, threatening to drive him mad with terror.
He had never been this terrified in his entire life.
He had even wet himself without realizing it.
Ten Blood Jiangshis! He must be an elder-level master of the Mansi Sect at the very least!
He was a truly monstrous necromancer.
But what was even more terrifying was the boy’s sinister, calculating mind.
To lure me all the way out here with such an innocent face!
Indeed.
He had fallen into a meticulously designed trap from the very beginning.
Pyeong So-byeok had long since forgotten the fact that he had walked into this trap entirely of his own volition.
How... how could I have been so naive? This is so unfair!
Completely ignoring the horrific atrocities he had committed in the past,
Pyeong So-byeok only felt a deep, self-pitying resentment for the pain he was about to endure.
He was so overwhelmed by self-pity that tears streamed down his face.
Am I going to be turned into a jiangshi too? Dragged around like a slave, trapped between life and death? Oh, heavens...
A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind like a passing panorama.
Ah... Father. I should have listened to you! Your unfilial son is going to die like this!
His father had told him he could easily buy children through official channels.
Why had he insisted on hunting for his own amusement, only to end up in this disastrous state?
It was deeply, bitterly regrettable.
Pyeong So-byeok’s mind was a chaotic, boiling cauldron of panic.
Just then—
“Just wait a moment. I need to organize the questions in my head.”
“...!”
In truth, Ilyang did not care in the slightest what Pyeong So-byeok was thinking.
He simply had too many questions about this world, and deciding the order in which to ask them was far more important.
First, I should start with the Mansi Sect, that group of necromancers...
He also needed to ask about the Cheonhyeol Sect that had raided them.
There was simply too much basic information about this world that he lacked.
Gathering all this information piece by piece would cost too much time and money.
He had needed a suitable target to interrogate without raising suspicion.
Conveniently, Pyeong So-byeok had approached him with malicious intent, so Ilyang had simply played along and followed him.
“I am going to ask you questions one by one. If you make a scene, you die. Understood?”
Pyeong So-byeok nodded like a madman.
Ilyang smiled with satisfaction and signaled the Blood Jiangshi to release its grip on the man’s mouth.
“Do you know of the Mansi Sect?”
The night was long.
And since this request was renewed in ten-day increments anyway,
he had plenty of time.
Thus, Ilyang slowly began to absorb the knowledge of this world, one piece at a time.
Ten days later, when Ilyang walked back into the branch office as if nothing had happened, a faint look of admiration crossed the face of Mak Chung, the receptionist.
“I have completed the request.”
Looking at the boy, whose expression was virtually identical to how it had been ten days ago,
Mak Chung could not hide his internal astonishment.
Did he actually get the completion stamp from the young master of the Pyeong Clan?
Once a request was accepted,
one could not complain about any unfortunate incidents that occurred during its execution.
And Pyeong So-byeok was notorious for exploiting that rule to secretly dispose of people, satisfying his bloodlust and cannibalistic urges.
In truth, he was a well-known serial killer in the area.
Pyeong So-byeok was a first-class master at the very least. Yet this kid was strong enough to handle someone like him?
Whether it was the boy’s own strength,
or a powerful backing behind him,
it didn’t matter.
Either way, this kid clearly possessed a formidable trump card.
After all, he had successfully returned with the completion stamp.
Of course, for some reason, Pyeong So-byeok, who had left with him, was nowhere to be seen.
But that was none of Mak Chung’s business.
It’s not like we’re the local authorities.
As far as the Nangin Association was concerned, all that mattered was that a request left abandoned for the past month had finally been resolved.
“Very well. I will disburse the reward, minus our commission.”
Mak Chung handed over half of the deposit Pyeong So-byeok had put down.
Ilyang accepted the twenty-five silver coins, then immediately pushed them back across the counter.
“I would like to post a request.”
A vagabond could accept requests, but they could also commission them.
Mak Chung looked at the returned money and replied with a polite smile.
“What kind of request would you like to post?”
“I wish to hire a tutor.”
“A tutor...”
“I was told this amount would be sufficient to hire a decent tutor. They only need to be capable of teaching basic vocabulary and sentence structure.”
Honestly, he had considered learning from Pyeong So-byeok,
but the man had been too paralyzed by fear. Besides, his teaching skills were utterly pathetic.
Thus, Ilyang decided it would be better to hire a professional.
He needed to learn the written language of this world as quickly as possible.