Chapter 57
Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Baek Seol-hwa
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jang Seo-won was a captain.
Originally, he had been the battalion commander of a military unit in Sejong City. When the zombie outbreak hit, he mobilized his troops to protect the civilians in the area.
Contact from above had been cut off.
And then Jang Seo-won became an ability user.
Whether due to talent or luck, he became the strongest ability user in the camp.
If not for that, even as battalion commander, he couldn't have remained the leader of this survivor camp until now.
The camp's executives were gathered in the meeting room.
Of course, they were all ability users.
You couldn't become an executive without abilities.
"Those guys in hanbok crossed the river from the other side?"
"Yes."
The hunting team executive answered Jang Seo-won's question.
"That area's crawling with those cat monsters..."
"You're saying they took care of those cat bastards?"
"How the hell did they manage to deal with those monsters?"
The gathered executives buzzed with surprise.
Of course, there was also the possibility that the monster cats had left on their own.
"They're ability users, but their swordsmanship was unreal."
But if they'd really taken out those cat monsters, they were dangerous people.
"Those mutated zombie corpses we've been spotting occasionally—are those their doing too?"
The occasional reports of massive zombie bodies with blue stones missing.
"Probably... wouldn't you think so?"
"Tell the hunting and supply teams to avoid clashing with them as much as possible."
"Ah, got it."
The responsible executive replied to Jang Seo-won.
The city was vast, and there were still plenty of game to hunt.
They didn't seem eager to clash either.
He figured there was no need to pick a fight with a formidable group.
The one silver lining was that, according to the guys who'd made contact, their temperament wasn't all that bad.
In that case, there was no reason to unnecessarily sharpen blades and create conflict.
He picked up one of the blue stones on the desk.
"Hm..."
They said this blue stone was a lump of energy.
This little thing...
He recalled the university professor who had ranted passionately about it being the key to rebuilding civilization.
That guy was probably still researching it diligently.
It was one reason they sent out ability users to hunt.
They'd achieved some results too.
That survivor group with the swords seemed to know something about it as well.
Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the blue stones to vanish from those mutated zombie corpses.
Jang Seo-won rolled the blue stone habitually in his hand and sank into quiet thought.
As usual, he was heading out leisurely to hunt corrupted beings.
Someone was following him from behind.
They weren't even trying to hide their presence.
He stopped and turned around. A familiar face came into view.
'Baek Seol-hwa, was it?'
She was the granddaughter of that old Cheonbu Clan man.
Her pigtails swaying, hanbok skirt fluttering.
She approached lightly, stepping atop the buildings.
"What is it?"
Judging by Baek Seol-hwa's expression...
It didn't look like she was about to hand him a love letter.
She positioned herself at a distance, ready to fight.
Anyone could see she was poised for battle.
"Here for an assassination?"
At his words, Baek Seol-hwa's refined brow twitched.
"The Cheonbu Clan does not assassinate. I came for a reason."
"A reason?"
He'd learned her name while spying on them.
They'd never actually met face-to-face before.
"Release the women and children."
"........."
It took him a moment to process what she meant.
'She's talking about the kids I'm with?'
She apparently thought he was holding them captive.
What a busybody.
But he had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding.
No matter what excuse he gave...
She had the face of someone who wouldn't believe him anyway.
"Why should I?"
"I won't just ask you to let them go. Fight me. If I win, release the children."
"Why should I go along with that?"
There was no gain in fighting her—just hassle.
".......If you win....anything...within my power, I'll grant any demand."
"If I win? You know what I'll ask for."
He scrutinized the face of the woman making this absurd proposal.
With her pigtails, she had a refined beauty.
'Nice chest, and that ass especially looks plump.'
Now that he looked closely, she wasn't bad—no, she was pretty damn good.
Perhaps sensing his gaze roaming her body...
Baek Seol-hwa's face flushed red, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Tch. Perverted bastard............ Fine. Even if it's my body.......I won't refuse."
He'd only acted on instinct.
But it seemed the misunderstanding had deepened.
He had no intention of demanding her body.
But with her saying that...
He wasn't gentleman enough to turn it down.
Thinking about it, nothing else about her really stirred him except that attractive body.
'So in the end, her thinking isn't all that off, is it?'
Whether she'd honor the deal was another matter.
She might talk big now but renege after losing.
"Hm.... Fine. Come at me."
Still, a nice prize was on the line.
No harm in playing along.
"Hoo.... Here I go."
Baek Seol-hwa took a light deep breath and assumed her stance.
Then she drew her sword.
-Shring.
He didn't draw a weapon.
Instead, mana enveloped his fist, dyeing it pitch black.
Seeing that, Baek Seol-hwa's eyes grew cautious.
This was a chance to gauge what this martial art of hers was about.
So he couldn't end it too quickly.
Intending to slowly exchange blows and see her skill, he thrust his fist out.
-Whoosh. Whoosh.
Her body was nimbler than expected. She deftly dodged his casual punches.
On par with a B-rank, maybe.
Her martial arts were impressive, no doubt.
Mana control and footwork.
Far superior to ordinary awakeners from his old world.
She slipped past his massive fists with bizarre, skillful maneuvers.
'This is martial arts?'
Quite a sight.
If he'd awakened normally, he'd covet such skills.
But for some reason, she only dodged, not attacking.
'Scouting me? Not enough?'
He was thinking of picking up the pace when...
"Hah! Pathetic."
".........?"
"Where are you aiming? That's my afterimage."
.........Why was she so excited?
"I've already figured out all your simple attacks."
'What............ Shall I let her enjoy it more?'
-Boom. Boom.
Her antics seemed a bit cute, so he played the fool, swinging punches to her rhythm.
-Swish.
"Such clumsy moves with that physique. What a waste."
-Swipe.
"Your footwork is a mess."
-Pop.
"Your stance isn't bad, though."
For some reason, Baek Seol-hwa started critiquing as she dodged his clumsy attacks.
She seemed convinced she had the upper hand.
Of course, he couldn't mimic her fancy martial arts.
Not that they compared to Suni's mana manipulation anyway.
No point bothering when there was an easier way.
Definitely an ability that could overwhelm peers and even handle a rank higher.
-Whirl~ smack.
Baek Seol-hwa flipped spectacularly through the air, widening the distance before landing.
Her posture brimmed with confidence and arrogance.
"Hoo.... Last chance."
Unlike before, her tone looked down on him completely.
"If you leave quietly now, I'll let you go unharmed."
Baek Seol-hwa's face was full of certainty in victory.
"But if you refuse.....at least prepare to lose a limb."
The sword in her hand glowed bright blue.
Mana blade.
Sword aura, they called it here?
Time to end the play.
"You gonna keep yapping?"
Baek Seol-hwa's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Hoo.... No intention of backing down. I won't hold back anymore."
-Pop!
She charged swiftly, swinging her sword.
Twice as fast as before.
It seemed aimed at his gut, then curved oddly for his neck.
Didn't expect the neck for "one spot".
If his Body Strengthening skill wasn't maxed, dodging might've been tough.
'Underestimated her a bit.'
But...
The outcome was decided from the start.
He casually grabbed the incoming sword with his hand.
Evidently not expecting him to block it barehanded...
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Had your fun yet?"
"What?"
-Thud!
His massive fist sank into her slender abdomen.
As expected of talent—even then, she circulated mana for defense.
"Guh!"
But she couldn't fully dissipate the impact. Clutching her stomach, she staggered as if about to collapse.
Being a woman, there weren't many good spots to hit.
Slapping the face might ruin her pretty features.
Breaking a bone somewhere felt too harsh for him.
The stomach was the safest bet.
"Kuh! Wh-what is this..."
Her eyes looked confused.
Did she really think she was overwhelming him?
No matter how much martial arts a normal person trained, they couldn't smash a charging truck with fists.
Or move faster than bullets.
That was the gap between him and her.
No technique could bridge it.
Like when he was a herbalist hunter, struggling against D-rank monsters no matter what.
Monsters didn't have combat skills.
Just overwhelming physicals to crush.
Even if Baek Seol-hwa was fast, she looked yawn-inducingly slow to him.
So her obvious feints were just pointless moves.
That said, her martial prowess exceeded his expectations.
"You...tricked me?"
Tricked how...
Embarrassed, maybe?
"Admit defeat?"
At his words, her eyes flashed, pupils turning golden.
What was that...?
Another martial art?
"Haat! Not yet!!"
-Flash!
Baek Seol-hwa slashed at his neck with all her might.
Faster than before, squeezing out her last strength.
A faint golden sword aura clung to the blade.
But it was obvious.
He tilted his head back easily to dodge.
-Thud!
And punched her stomach again.
"Urk!"
-Clang.
Unable to endure, the sword slipped from Baek Seol-hwa's hand.
-Stagger.
Her legs gave out, and she knelt before him.
"Admit defeat?"
"N...not yet..."
She looked drained, but would she only admit it after a bone break?
If it were a guy, he'd snap something without mercy.
But he overflowed with mercy for a woman he liked.
"Hm.... Disappointing. Acting all noble, offering your body and such.... I get it, though."
She just hadn't thought about losing.
When the moment came, she wasn't prepared to follow through.
"Wha...t? I-I...didn't..."
Humans were like that—different going into the bathroom and coming out.
He'd half-expected this outcome.
She was just a normal person.
He could understand denying reality to some extent.
He'd regret missing out on her body, but oh well.
He could force her, sure.
But with no shortage of women...
His own were beautiful, and he could have them anytime. No need.
"Tch. Whatever. Go."
"Wha...?"
He turned and walked away.
"W-wait!"
".......?"
Looking back, she had her head bowed.
"................I...will......"
She was mumbling something inaudible even to him.
"What?"
"Tch! Fine, I'll keep the promise!"