Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Flesh Monster Pursuit
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Carrie's drone feed showed Philip's group being chased by the flesh monsters.
I hadn't told her, figuring she'd just worry.
Having fought those flesh monsters myself, I honestly hadn't given Philip much chance of survival. But there they were, still alive—they must've hidden pretty damn well.
The pursuing flesh monsters came in all sorts of shapes.
From four-legged beasts.
To bug-like things with legs sprouting everywhere.
Those flesh monsters had grotesque, hideous forms straight out of hell.
They were fast, closing the gap with Philip's group in no time.
"Ah, no!"
Carrie cried out in alarm at their peril.
Right then, Edward swept his hand toward the monsters, fanning out flames.
The flesh lumps faltered as the fire hit them.
Philip's group used the opening to pull away again.
But the recovering flesh monsters gave chase once more.
Just as I'd thought—without ripping out the mana stone, plain old fire couldn't fully stop their regeneration.
"Un-ho, that?"
Grace glanced at me for confirmation as flames bloomed from Edward's gesture.
"Edward finally busted out his superpower in a pinch. Looks like a fire-type ability user."
"So Edward was the one who torched the food warehouse!"
Carrie snapped, clearly pissed at him.
But ironically, that might've been keeping Philip alive.
"Uh, what do we do?"
Carrie fidgeted anxiously at the sight of Philip fleeing from the monsters.
Even with Edward's help, they were barely hanging on—not out of the woods yet.
As long as those flesh monsters weren't dealt with.
The second Edward's mana ran dry, they'd be caught. It was only a matter of time.
It already felt razor-thin.
Choices boiled down to two.
Leave them be.
Or save them.
Carrie and Grace weren't the type to abandon them, so that option was off the table.
"Hop on."
"Okay."
Carrie clocked my intent and hopped onto my back like it was routine.
Grace nodded when I looked her way.
Philip's group was four or five blocks off.
Grace and I bolted toward them.
But that alone wouldn't cut it.
To save them, we needed to lure the monsters our way.
"Carrie. Use the drone to guide Philip over here."
"Ah, got it."
Carrie dropped the drone's altitude, buzzing right in Philip's face to snag his attention. He wasn't a total blockhead—his eyes lit up, and he followed it.
Before long, Philip's group came into view.
Heading straight for each other, we collided in seconds.
I set Carrie down.
"Follow slow."
"Got it. Be careful."
I sprinted toward them.
More precisely, the flesh monsters.
Philip froze in shock at the unexpected sight of me.
"Park... Un-ho?"
I vaulted over them and charged the monsters.
"What the—?!"
His group halted dead, staring like idiots as I plunged into the flesh monsters head-on.
I focused, sensing the mana stones buried inside them.
I thrust my spear straight at them.
The instant the tip pierced a monster, I twisted my wrist for spin.
Just a simple rotation.
But the raw power surging from my body bored a massive hole clean through the flesh.
Then came the barrage in a blur.
The spear whipped up afterimages like a dozen weapons, stabbing at the monsters.
-Piercing barrage!
Holes riddled the flesh monsters' bodies.
At the same time, glittering mana stones popped free from their forms.
Incendiary grenades followed, dropping into the gaping wounds.
Flames erupted from the holes, swallowing the monsters whole.
Writhing in agony, the shrinking flesh lumps ended up as charred husks.
Philip's group gawked in horror at how I'd wiped out the thrashing monsters in a flash.
".......T-These monsters... all at once...."
Edward worked his jaw in shock.
"You.....uh, how the hell are you here...."
Philip was baffled by my sudden drop-in.
"Haa... seriously..... Philip.... what kinda brain-dead stunt is this."
Carrie had snuck up and laid into him. Relief washed over her face that he was safe.
Philip whipped around, stunned by the extra surprise voice.
"C-Carrie?! You.... you...."
Then he scowled at me.
"Park Un-ho! Dragging Carrie to a hellhole like this—what the fuck!"
Philip clearly hated me bringing his sister into danger.
Pot calling the kettle—who's the real deadweight here?
"Don't sweat Carrie. She'll be fine even if you bite it. And none of this happens if you hadn't dragged your ass here. Was gonna leave you to rot if not for her. You owe your life to that, but no thanks? Tsk tsk."
"Ugh!"
Speechless, Philip seethed and glared daggers.
Whatever. I scooped up the mana stones I'd carved out of the flesh monsters.
"So why're you picking those up?"
Carrie eyed me curiously as I grabbed the stones.
"Valuable stuff."
"Those are valuable?"
"Energy crystals."
Edward nosed into our chat like he owned the place.
This guy knows about mana stones too?
I shot him a puzzled look.
"Thank you. Mr. Un-ho."
He bowed all buddy-buddy outta nowhere.
The hell's his deal?
Acting chummy was off-putting.
Wait a sec...
"Edward......you...."
"Yes?"
"What happened to your face."
Anyone could see he'd taken a beating.
"T-That's...."
Edward flicked a guilty glance at Philip.
"Hah.... Philip, you said you used to be a sheriff..... beating your boyfriend's face like that—ain't that domestic abuse? Fallen this low? Disappointing...."
"Park Un-ho! Told you a million times—not my boyfriend! And that punk had it coming."
Philip ground his teeth.
".......Ah! Finally clued in, huh? Tsk tsk. What'd I say? Edward's the perp. Love's got you blind...."
Philip clenched his jaw, shaking with fury.
He finally vented by glaring at Edward.
Edward flinched and ducked his head.
Philip, raging over his "lover's" betrayal.
We got the rough story on Edward from Philip's crew.
The two women's stares at Edward weren't friendly.
"Even after seeing those monsters, you still think heading there is smart?"
"Yeah, Philip. Can't even take down one—how're you gonna make it?"
Grace and Carrie ripped into them for still chasing his sister after that ass-whooping from Edward.
Philip and Richard looked sheepish under the grilling.
They'd felt it too.
This place was way deadlier than they'd figured.
With the women pushing back, the vibe shifted toward bailing.
"Mr. Un-ho!! Please! Save my sister!!"
Suddenly Edward latched onto my pant leg, begging.
Quicker on the uptake than I figured.
He'd seen me mulch the monsters—knew hitching to me was his best shot at saving her.
"What.... gross. Not into dudes."
A guy grabbing my leg? Shivers.
-Thwack!
"Ugh!"
I shook him off; Edward tumbled backward.
"Please! Mr. Un-ho! Save my sister. I'll beg on my knees."
He popped up like a weasel and flat-out prostrated.
Where'd an American pick up dogeza?
"......"
"Un-ho? What now?"
"Hm..... gonna chat with him solo first."
Had some questions for Edward.
"........Chat?"
Grace cocked her head.
"Follow."
"Yes? Y-Yes!!"
Edward trailed me like he'd snagged a lifeline, beaming.
I dragged him to a quiet back alley out of sight.
Never figured I'd be one-on-one with this dude...
But it was necessary.
Edward eyed me tensely.
I scanned around and spoke up.
"Pretty?"
"Huh?"
Guy's dense—didn't catch on quick.
"Your sister. Is she pretty?"
Edward's eyes darted for a beat.
"Yes! Super pretty!"
Wonder if I can buy that.
"My sister's fielded modeling gigs, and she's a doctor too!"
Reading my skepticism, he pitched her perks like a desperate rookie.
Hot doctor, huh...
Talented gal too good to croak here.
"Ahem... you vouch for that?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"If... it's bullshit...."
I fixed him with a cold stare; he gulped hard.
"You'll answer for it."
"N-No regrets, promise."
Edward's eyes brimmed with conviction.
Face all busted from Philip, but base features were solid—handsome even.
Makes sense... genes don't lie.
Okay, buying it a bit.
I nodded and headed back to the group.
"Ahem. Had a heart-to-heart—this guy's got a real sob story. Decided to lend a hand."
Everyone's faces soured.
Philip's especially.
Like I'd fed 'em bad clams.