Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Evil Zone Sweep (5)
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Mei's fists hammered relentlessly into the dead center of Centepi's torso, moving so fast they were a blur to the naked eye.
"Huff... huff..."
She paused her punches for a moment to catch her breath, and her eyes widened in shock. Despite the barrage, Centepi's shell was merely cracked in places—otherwise completely unscathed. Mei's gaze ignited with fury. She jammed her hand between two shell segments and ripped it clean off.
Kieeeak!
As the shell tore away, Centepi thrashed wildly in resistance. Its grotesque legs flailed in all directions, trying to shake off the three people clinging to its body.
"...I hate making eye contact with bug bastards."
Ji-young dropped down from atop Centepi's head. She'd been planning to lock eyes and use her control ability, but the moment she came face-to-face with its visage, she recoiled in disgust. Was it because it looked like an insect? Centepi's face was more nauseatingly horrific than any other monster's.
"It's way too gross-looking!"
Unable to even meet its gaze, let alone control it, Ji-young simply stomped down with her right foot, smashing it straight into Centepi's face.
Thud!
A dull impact echoed, followed by a bizarre wail from Centepi's maw.
Kieeeak—.
Eun-woo, watching the staggering Centepi with sharpened eyes, sprang into action. He plunged his blade deep into the exposed flesh where Mei had torn off the shell.
Splatter—!
As Eun-woo's sword cleanly sliced through Centepi's body, Ji-young cheered.
"Nice! Keep it up just like that!"
No sooner had Ji-young spoken than the Hunters snapped back into attack stances. They launched themselves at Centepi like coiled springs.
The First Branch Hunters, who had struggled just moments before, now awakened as if possessed, unleashing a frenzy of indiscriminate strikes on Centepi.
Poison spewed from the wildly writhing Centepi's mouth, spraying into the air like mist.
Sizzle—.
The Hunters, pressed tight against Centepi's body, took no damage, but the Helpers were another story.
"Watch out!"
Ji-young's urgent shout drew Su-ho's gaze skyward. Centepi's venom was raining down toward him like a storm.
Tae-il huddled with Kwon Oh, covering his face, while Airin, beside them, had vanished in an instant—whisked away by the suddenly appearing Eun-woo.
Su-ho instinctively moved to shield his own face... but what caught his eye were the fallen Buta, the injured Masa, and Mino tending to them nearby.
There was no time to think. Su-ho's body moved on reflex.
"Hah... hah."
Su-ho gasped raggedly, the exposed nape of his neck stinging. Mino's startled pupils fixed on the heaving Su-ho.
Looking out for oneself before others was instinct. Mino had instinctively curled up, and even the injured but mobile Masa had wrapped his arms around himself for protection.
Buta, already drenched in venom and unconscious, couldn't shield himself. It wasn't lethal like acid rain, though.
But now, Su-ho shielded Buta. Buta's bulk made full coverage impossible, but Su-ho had at least protected his face and wounds from the spraying poison.
All eyes turned to Su-ho—Helpers and Hunters alike.
It defied logic for a Helper to prioritize someone else in a crisis. Even the Helper manual stressed securing one's own safety first on-site.
In a kill-or-be-killed field, protecting others was a luxury. Especially for powerless Helpers.
If a non-Hunter Helper saved a Hunter who could fight in their stead, maybe—but throwing oneself to save another Helper?
'Can't... comprehend.'
Seong-hyeok's mutter snapped Su-ho back to awareness, and he pushed himself upright.
"Centepi might spew more poison, so Helpers should fall back further."
Ji-young watched silently as Su-ho dragged the prone Buta toward the perimeter, then smirked.
"What are you all standing around for? Helpers, back up! Hunters, move!"
The Hunters' gazes refocused on Centepi.
Takahiro, who had jammed sparking lightning into a gap in Centepi's shell, stepped up beside Ji-young.
"Enviable Helper."
Ji-young let out a small chuckle at Takahiro's halting Korean.
"He's definitely not like other Helpers."
Grinning brightly, Ji-young clenched her fist and launched herself forward. Her punch pierced straight through Centepi's body.
Chunks of Centepi's flesh exploded outward like fireworks.
Kieeeak—!
As Centepi's legs flailed in agony, Ji-young grimaced in revulsion.
"Next time you handle bug mutants, leave me out."
"You kill them well enough."
Sparks danced from Takahiro's palm as he spoke in his thick accent. The growing bolt hurtled toward Centepi.
Boom—!
Centepi's body convulsed like it was electrocuted, splitting precisely in half mid-air.
"Liu Xian!"
Kai Qing called out as he telekinetically shredded Centepi's remains. Liu Xian raised both hands as if waiting for the cue.
A massive blaze engulfed Centepi.
Kiiiiieeak—!
Tension lingered in the Hunters' eyes as they stared at the inferno. Evil Zone boss-grade monsters had been known to resurrect in unimaginable forms after seeming dead.
The black silhouette in the flames gradually shrank. As Centepi's traces scattered as ash on the wind, the Hunters began turning away one by one.
"Boss right out the gate on day one. Exhausting already."
Kai Qing cracked his neck side to side before continuing.
"Guess it's time to scout a campsite?"
All eyes turned to Ji-young. As First Branch leader, they awaited her word.
She scanned the devastated surroundings. The sun was still high, but securing a camp before sweeping further was wiser. Finishing late and rushing a site could mean dying in their sleep to monsters.
"Check the wounded first."
Her gaze fell on the prone Buta.
"Third Center's Buta and Masa, head back to base as is..."
"I'm not going. Not for a scratch like this!"
Masa glared at Ji-young, eyes blazing, but Takahiro restrained him.
"Masa. Be quiet. Obeying the leader is natural."
"Sending me back? You think that makes sense?!"
Masa sneered, pressing on.
"With Takahiro here, a woman as leader? What, did she sleep her way up?"
"Takahiro!"
Ji-young, who had been staring silently, stepped forward. She halted abruptly just before Masa.
"If I'd done what you said, I wouldn't be stuck leading just First Branch."
A chilling killing intent emanated from her smiling face.
"I'd be leading all branches."
"What. Gahk...!"
In an instant, Ji-young seized Masa's throat.
"Since you're hurt anyway, want a few months off?"
"Guhk...!"
Takahiro quietly grasped Ji-young's arm. She sighed shortly at his headshake—meaning enough—and released Masa's neck.
"Classic Ji-young! So badass."
She shoved off Kai Qing, who had sidled up to rub his face on her shoulder.
"Third Center's Buta and Masa, return to base immediately."
Shintaro adjusted his glasses and asked.
"With two Hunters out, can I head back too?"
Shintaro's germaphobia made camping unthinkable. He'd stand vigil sleepless even if ordered.
Ji-young waved him off dismissively.
"Yeah. Shintaro, return to base. Takahiro, escort him to the nearest gate."
Whirling around, she addressed the Hunters and Helpers.
"Now, shall we find a place to crash?"
They had to stay in the Evil Zone for sweeps, making camping essential. Finding a safe spot amid monster hordes was like chasing stars.
"This area's Centepi territory, so no other monsters for a while."
Ji-young nodded agreement to Liu Xian and addressed the group.
"Prep for camp. Then we'll scout the perimeter."
Everyone sprang into action. To finish one more sweep before sundown, they had to hustle.
As Su-ho checked the supplies Gi-uk had sent, someone tapped his shoulder.
"Whoa, first Centepi I've seen, and it's disgustingly gross! Just like in the books!"
Tae-il shuddered dramatically, as if the thought alone creeped him out.
"Man, Su-ho, you shocked us earlier. What was his name? The pig guy."
"Buta?"
"Yeah! Kwon Oh hyung and I were floored seeing you help."
Tae-il scratched the back of his head awkwardly, chuckling.
"You know us—we're not the protecting type. No power for that. Well, Kwon Oh hyung's an exception..."
Kwon Oh was different from Tae-il or Su-ho. His superior physique let him assist Hunters in combat.
But Tae-il and Su-ho were standard Helpers. Combat was out of reach; self-preservation was hard enough. That's why Hunters were vital for Helpers' survival.
"Seeing you block for him gave me chills. Hunters helping Hunters, fine—but one Helper saving another? First time. We were taught we only sacrifice for Hunters."
An act not even encouraged in the Helper manual. No wonder Su-ho faced backlash.
"It's not that big a deal."
Tae-il stared at Su-ho in surprise.
"Huh?"
"Not deadly poison, and clothes could've blocked it anyway."
Nothing grand. Just shielding an injured man from falling venom. Not even close to lethal.
Selflessness had become a luxury. Shintaro's germaphobia made him view writhing Buta with disdain naturally enough.
Su-ho couldn't stomach it.
"Just because we lack power doesn't mean I want to skip what I can do."
If he could help even a little, that was enough. F-grade or now A-grade, Su-ho's resolve hadn't changed.
Tae-il watched him quietly, then grinned sheepishly.
"Fair enough. Sorry, I misspoke. Thinking it over, yeah—monsters scare me! But if you're in danger, I'd save you."
"You'd save me?"
"Don't be petty. Fine, I'd save you—you save me."
Su-ho chuckled. Tae-il slung an arm around his shoulders playfully.
"And don't go getting all emotional on me then."