Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Satgat Swordsman
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A few days later, I watched as the train from Warsaw finally pulled into Hamburg.
"Now that's a sight."
A kilometer-long train had somehow chugged its way along the dilapidated rails of this ruined world and made it here at last.
"Not much farther now."
The distance from Germany to the Netherlands wasn't all that far compared to what we'd already covered.
"If they're going to pull any tricks, they'd better do it soon."
There wouldn't be another chance to go after the shield generator if we passed Germany and the Netherlands.
I figured Dan-gun's descendants would start making their move again any time now.
"Good work."
I caught the candy flying my way and greeted Lee Se-eun.
"It's been a while."
"What do you mean, a while? Just a few days. Oh, there's something you should know, so I'll tell you now."
Lee Se-eun gave a quick rundown of the incident that had gone down in Warsaw.
"So, Han Sang-ah pruned those bastards' necks. And any potential backlash from that got shut down clean with her family's influence."
"That's the gist of it."
That ruthless execution had produced clear results, even if short-term, allowing them to wrap up relief distribution much faster and smoother than planned.
That woman was something else when she put her mind to it. With Lee Se-eun and the train arriving safely, I spotted Daniel approaching from afar and snuffed out the Paradox Flame burning on his shoulder.
Daniel checked his shoulder and finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Hunter Lee Se-eun. Welcome."
"Daniel."
The two met. They probably had a lot to catch up on. I slipped away and left the station.
"What the hell was that?"
There was a spire near Hamburg station. No one had maintained it properly, so it was crumbling, but it still looked somewhat intact from a distance.
My eyes were fixed on the top of that spire. Someone had definitely been standing there before vanishing. No way it was a trick of the light.
"Yoo Chan-seok."
Han Sang-ah had spotted me just then. I said immediately,
"Follow me."
With that, I sprinted, took a few running leaps, and bounded up to the top of the spire.
"..."
No traces left behind.
"What was that all of a sudden?"
Han Sang-ah arrived nearby and asked.
"Someone was here."
"Hard to think you'd mistake it."
She was right—I wouldn't screw up like that. I'd put in too much effort to avoid it. Someone had been here, watching the station. That much was certain.
Just when I'd been expecting Dan-gun's descendants to try something, this nerve-wracking thing happens.
"Can you track them?"
"Report to Hunter Lee Se-eun."
I could track them. They'd cloaked with magic right after I spotted them and fled. The trace was faint, but followable.
I told Han Sang-ah to report and gave chase along the trail. Cloaking with magic wasn't teleportation. They had to keep using mana until fully out of my sight.
And all I had to do was follow that trail.
"You bastard."
The trail I'd been following split into several branches, each veering off in different directions. A smokescreen to shake me off.
"You think I'm some dog chasing scents?"
The split mana trails had slightly different concentrations. And I knew exactly how much mana the one I'd been pursuing carried.
Cheap tricks like this wouldn't work.
About five minutes into the chase, the space ahead rippled, and a blade thrust out at my throat.
"What kind of stunt is this, you damn fool?"
"Since you're so persistent, I must subdue you."
A figure in a satgat hat and coat revealed himself.
"Cane sword, huh."
A sword sheathed inside a staff. One hand gripped the staff—doubling as a scabbard and club—the other held a thin, long blade designed to fit inside.
"This is an iris sword. We Koreans must use Korean terms. What good is borrowing barbarian words?"
I laughed in disbelief.
"You lunatic. King Sejong created Hangul, not the Korean language?"
Why were there so many idiots who couldn't tell script from language?
Plus, "iris sword" was just Hanja read in Korean anyway. I gripped my spear, ignited Paradox Flame, and said,
"Looks like you're with Dan-gun's descendants."
These nationalist addicts were easy to spot by their outfits now.
"Actually, Hunminjeongeum wasn't created by King Sejong. Know of Gari mto script? Made in 2181 BC. Sejong merely imitated it to spread it anew."
"Talking to you people always gives me a headache."
Dragging in Gojoseon with the BC nonsense. I didn't care about their stories, didn't want to know. History was for experts to analyze—not for sword-dancers like us.
"Imperial Japan's colonial historiography still rooted so deep in our people's minds. Even telling you history, you won't understand. Heartbreaking."
"Heart attack, maybe? Hope so."
Conversation ended there.
"I won't draw blood."
"Lucky for you. I plan to take you alive anyway."
Capture you here, make you spill what Dan-gun's descendants were planning.
"Then come at me."
The slender blade whistled through the air as it swung.
Sharp energy from the sword scarred the road dozens of times, slicing lampposts and walls.
I blocked, dodged, and counterattacked with my spear.
The guy's body rippled and turned transparent as he evaded. Stealth specialist, huh. Pointless.
I'd tracked him here on the lingering mana trail alone. Using stealth right in front of me just lit up his mana.
"You can't touch my body."
As my spear tip pierced him, his form blurred, scattering three or four afterimages.
"?!"
His follow-up caught me off guard; I barely twisted away. Still, the blade grazed my cheek.
"This."
He'd nullified my attack, then his counter sped up massively. I wiped the blood trickling from my cheek and glared.
"My, you can't kill with looks alone."
"I know, asshole."
Live long enough, you hear advice from street urchins like this. Our blade and spear clashed four times in a flash, sparks flying, shockwaves demolishing surroundings.
Nearby buildings' old windows shattered; crumbling structures shook, spewing dust.
"Something's off."
When he attacked, his form blurred with three or four overlapping clones. Then his speed spiked instantly.
"You can't do a thing to me."
"..."
I feinted an attack and stopped; his form blurred then snapped back normal. No afterimages overlay this time.
His next strike lacked acceleration. I stepped back, spun my spear, and grinned.
"Hey. Try dealing with this."
My spear extended toward him. Afterimages dodged, accelerated lunge incoming.
Metal clanged as I blocked his barrage. Then I thrust again, spearing his blurring form. Tracking the afterimage and acceleration, my spear plunged into his chest.
"Th...!"
He recoiled desperately. My spear extended further, chasing to its limit.
When his evasion window ended, my tip was buried 5cm deep in his shoulder.
"Hurts?"
He clutched his shoulder; blood seeped through his fingers.
"How...?"
"Years of experience and dodging death. That's my edge."
Same as how I'd handled fairies back there. Fairies blur when attacked, sending their body to fairyland.
Varies by individual, but about 3 seconds of immunity to this world's attacks.
Counter's simple: keep your weapon shoved in the blurred body and wait.
They have to return; impaled upon arrival.
"But evading and accelerating the counter—how?"
His ability, probably. Overrelying on it gets your throat slit unnoticed. Unique power breeds confidence, sure...
"Basics matter."
He'd gotten comfy dodging easy then accelerating to finish foes.
Whatever the principle, just momentary acceleration post-nullification.
"Plenty accelerate their body briefly."
And I'd survived them all. Can't track with eyes? Use experience. At this range, pose, position—predictable options.
Knowledge etched in flesh.
"No idea how many you've dropped like that."
Thinking it'd work on me? Mistake. Then, an explosion boomed behind.
"Looks like my luck hasn't run dry yet."
The satgat guy sounded relieved.
"Had to trigger early, huh? Your boss really cherishes his men. Risking this to save a screw-up."
He started to retort but shut up. Face hidden, but no happy expression.
"And you're glad your subordinate lived? Usual terrorist trope's idiot boss with ace underlings. Yours is reversed."
His blade trembled with shame and rage.
Like that changes anything. I'd love to end him here, but my smartphone was buzzing like mad.
—Stop the chase and come now. Situation's bad! Sarin gas bomb dropped in northern Hamburg suburbs!
Gas gas GAS?! Where the hell did those bastards get that?
Lee Se-eun's text. By the time I looked back, the satgat was fleeing.
"Damn bastard. Count yourself lucky."
Next time, I'll leave you unable to stand.