No One Dared Speak
But no one could easily open their mouth. Not Yeonwoo, not the watching hunters. Even the Fortress Company hunters who had followed Nade Man into the event couldn't keep up with the flow.
"What? Isn't this it?"
"Yeah right, from this lunatic."
Yeonwoo even muttered under her breath. No matter how much of a punk Nade Man was, this wasn't a bet worth making.
"I won."
"So you won, not me!"
"Weird."
Shin Gaon grinned and sauntered over to Yeonwoo. With a teasing swagger, she slung her arm over Yeonwoo's shoulder.
"Doesn't matter. She's my girl."
She muttered it so casually.
"Gasp."
"...Hng."
Short gasps echoed here and there. The faint sound of teeth grinding could be heard too.
"Th-the Saintess with that kind of woman...!"
"But it's such a violent dynamic."
"...As long as my sister-in-law's happy."
The impact was tremendous. Standing next to Shin Gaon made Yeonwoo look especially small and delicate. And look at Shin Gaon—tall, bold, fearless. Long-limbed with tanned skin. She even wore sunglasses today. Her hand draped over Yeonwoo's shoulder looked ready to slide down any second, claiming strategic territory like a trophy for all to see.
"I'm already dying here, why spout bullshit in front of everyone."
"You know, Yeonwoo, you're kinda weird."
"What is."
"You overreact to normal girl talk."
Shin Gaon zeroed in on Yeonwoo's weak spot. She picked up on the distance born from man-turned-woman and dangled it like a hostage, rubbing Yeonwoo's shoulder teasingly. The bitch was a total hyena.
But Yeonwoo couldn't keep taking it lying down.
"It's 'cause it's you. Anyone else, and I wouldn't."
"Aw, you think I'm special. I'm touched."
Shin Gaon's hand slyly slid down from Yeonwoo's shoulder. Yeonwoo let out a heavy ha of a sigh and stomped on Shin Gaon's foot with all her might.
"Ow. But it hurts less 'cause it's an event."
"Yeah, take it all."
"We're just close friends looking out for each other, don't be like that. Look over there—they're ready to pounce."
Shin Gaon was right. The Fortress hunters glared at Yeonwoo and Shin Gaon from around Nade Man, on high alert. Fortress was a massive company, of course. They'd prepped event intel and deployed hunters alongside Nade Man. Victory was the goal, so they had no choice but to watch Shin Gaon—who'd laid hands on him—like hawks. They looked ready to draw weapons any second.
There were three such vigilant Fortress hunters. Given Nade Man's Tier III status, they were clearly on the same level.
"Wait. Why's the vibe suddenly like this."
"But still. The Saintess didn't do anything— isn't this rude?"
Yeonwoo's crew moved too, naturally. The five Ant Nest hunters drifted to her side, facing off against Fortress. But they'd only hit Tier II leaving the Ant Nest, so they lacked the basic weight class.
"You picking a fight with Fortress outright?"
The Fortress hunters growled back, of course. Nade Man's sleazy bet was secondary. They'd taken the first hit and gone down.
"Did Fortress save us?"
"I'd yield to Eden, maybe."
But the Ant Nest kids didn't back down. In their final moments, facing a world swarming with ants, drowning in terror, despair, and regret—someone had saved their lives and reignited their will to live. With her at their backs, they couldn't retreat. Not for Fortress, not even Babel.
They'd sworn it. Really sworn it.
"We're bound by oath."
"Yeah. We won't let you pass."
"...What? Oath?"
Yeonwoo had to butt in now. When Yeonseo mentioned the Ant Nest kids, she'd dismissed it as some gold-tier boot camp trend. Both embarrassing labels, same vibe. But the more she learned, the clearer it became: it wasn't just a nickname.
"We tried forming a company, but we had gaps on our own."
"So we scattered to grow stronger. Promised to reunite at the Gimpo Airport transfer tunnel on the appointed day."
"...Huh?"
It was bizarre. The more she heard, the less sense it made.
"What the hell are you talking about. And gathering there would just be a nuisance."
"Oops."
"As expected of the Saintess."
"Reporting to the Final Seven right away."
"...Huh?"
More weirdness. No clue how far this Ant Nest old guard faction had gone. And the Final Seven?
That existed...?
Yeonwoo sank into thought. She replayed Ant Nest events. And reached a conclusion.
Different servers?
Hunters, gates—mysterious spaces, so maybe...
"Ah."
Then it hit her. News from lunch with Yeonseo. Interview star: Yoo Da-ram, flaunting the iron dagger Yeonwoo gave her. Come to think of it, Yoo Da-ram shone killing the last queen ant.
"Aah."
Faces flashed: the middle-aged shield guy fighting valiantly, the glasses dude pummeling the queen ant with fists. Looked like they honored those who'd charged the queen ants at the end.
Thinking that way...
Pretty cool.
A warm, proud feeling swelled. Her cheekbones lifted unwittingly.
"Anything else?"
Curiosity peeked too.
"Weapons and Shield Crew."
"Hm. Got it. Cool."
That was enough. No more digging. Suddenly mortified.
Then—
"Ugh, urgh...!"
The root of all this. Nade Man, sprawled on the ground, slowly rose.
"Gasp!"
He clutched his jaw, shot up. Scanned around frantically, then gnashed his teeth and drew Real Combat Compression No.4.
"Invalid! This is totally invalid!"
"You went down in one hit."
"Don't bullshit me, you monster woman!"
Nade Man shrieked. No way she'd hand over Real Combat Compression No.4 over lame excuses like that.
Yeah, figured.
Yeonwoo had expected as much. Honestly, if he gave it up easy, he'd be the weirdo. She wasn't heartless enough to force it after such a mess.
Plus, no plans to back out of the event. Time was the issue.
Early or late, it'll be mine anyway.
She eyed Real Combat Compression No.4 in Nade Man's grip. Cool weapon. And explosions? Woman or not, it stirred her male heart.
...Might as well get it quick, right?
She wasn't heartless. But beside her was a heartless lunatic.
Tap tap.
Yeonwoo patted Shin Gaon's back.
"Won't give it up. What now?"
She whispered just for Shin Gaon.
"Haha."
Shin Gaon grinned. Patted Yeonwoo's back hard, then strode forward boldly.
"Beat him till he does?"
"..."
Zero common sense, as expected. But since she'd actually do it, no one dared stop her.
"Think that scares anyone!"
Nade Man, the man himself, wasn't fazed. He pointed his sword dramatically and yelled.
"Same here."
"There's a limit to bullshit."
Fortress hunters stepped forward too. No way they'd lose a weapon over nonsense.
"Hmm. I took a quick look."
Yeonwoo chimed in slyly. She pressed a hand to her forehead, sweeping her gaze wide. So damn cute, it drew eyes instantly.
"Just counting cars in the parking lot, there should be way more people than this."
No one got what she meant yet. But—
"Means tons dropped out in phase one 'cause they couldn't beat the wolves. Too many hits, and you're out—so go easy."
Her next words made it clear. She even stepped back a pace.
"Aha."
Shin Gaon stuck out her tongue slightly and nodded. Her slit eyes curved into crescents.
"You think you can handle starting shit like this?"
Nade Man stood firm. No matter how wild the opponent, he was Fortress. This was an event—fair competition. Wrecking it meant more than pissing off Fortress; it'd brand him a public enemy in hunter society.
"Dunno, punk."
But the opponent was Shin Gaon. Someone with no future anyway. No future at all.
"...Kuh."
Nade Man's sword wavered. He clenched his teeth and sheathed it.
"Nade Man?"
"Forget it."
He waved off the Fortress hunter savagely. Pointless talking to someone unreasonable. And fighting? Too many foes. Maybe the whole Ant Nest crew. One wrong move, and they'd get booted now, ruining the event. Lose this chance...
"But on one condition."
He had to join the event. So Nade Man spun Real Combat Compression No.4 half-turn and offered it to Shin Gaon.
"You beat me, so you keep it. But if I win the event, I take it back. Got it?"
His compromise.
"Hmph."
Shin Gaon took Real Combat Compression No.4.
"Hah. Lame."
Not the reaction she wanted. The thrill-seeker craved a brawl before phase two.
Yes!
Whatever. Yeonwoo clenched her fists in glee. She wanted to blow soap bubbles. Shin Gaon or Nade Man—who cared about their drama? Even if Shin Gaon held it, it'd end up hers. Borrow during event if needed.
Even better.
Event dropouts got ejected immediately. If Nade Man flunked mid-event with the weapon, she'd have to track him later. Meeting him again? Pure loss.
"But remember. I've been training blood, sweat, and tears..."
Before his cocky declaration finished—
Whoosh.
The scenery shifted in a blink. Phase two kicked off mercilessly.
"Huh?"
Space teleported instantly. And not alone this time.
"Ooh. Dusk."
Shin Gaon, ported beside her, looked up at the sky.
Yeonwoo surveyed too. Cozy landscape under orange sunset. Smack in a reed field, tall as her height.
Beyond the vast reeds: dense trees forming a wall.
"Reed field?"
"Eh..."
"This the event?"
Murmurs rose from afar. Phase two shared a common space, apparently.
"Hold up."
Yeonwoo gripped Shin Gaon's shoulder and hopped on lightly. Feet planted there, she scanned. Shin Gaon's height gave a clear view.
"What kinda landscape is this."
Reeds everywhere. Massive circle of them. Lines radiated from center, dividing zones. Zone sizes varied by line angle.
Theirs—Yeonwoo and Shin Gaon's—was widest. Tied to phase one ranking, probably.
"See anything?"
"Two per zone."
"Yeah?"
Shin Gaon half-assed it. Scenery bored her; head high, lost in her own view.
"What're we supposed to do."
As Yeonwoo tilted her head—
Tick.
A ranking existed here too. Soft chime, someone climbed the top ranks.
"Huh..."
What changed ranks? Yeonwoo quickly eyed nearby hunters.
"Wanna try pulling this?"
"Huh?"
Yeonwoo dropped down, pointing at reeds for Shin Gaon. Shin Gaon, mid-bliss, scowled but yanked a bunch anyway.
"Nngh. Tough bastard!"
Crunch.
No ordinary reeds. Only after full force did they rip free with dirt.
Tick.
Yeonwoo & Shin Gaon enter the rankings.
"Ah."
What ranked them was obvious. Honestly, kinda absurd.
"Events always this dumb?"
"How should I know? I'm Tier II."
"Fucking tough. Why call this Battle on the Eve of the Wild Sanctuary Gate!"
Shin Gaon chucked the reed and yelled. She'd been hyped slaying wolves and decking Nade Man. This farming bullshit killed the vibe.
"Who comes to events for this crap?"
Not just her. Hunters griped at the reeds.
"Dunno."
But Yeonwoo thought differently. She drew the first weapon that came to mind.
"Maybe I was born for this moment."
Yeonwoo wielded the Harvest Sickle. Another Ant Nest loot. Undeniably a sickle through and through.