Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Department Store, Mage, and Vigilante Corps Member (4)
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A hand that had been resting on my shoulder stretched out fully. Oroji's fingers gripped my chin, forcing my head to turn.
"So this is what you look like?"
Her dark eyes meticulously scanned my face. A faint glint of greed flickered in her gaze as she took in the features that had been hidden by sunglasses and a mask back at the bank.
"Hmm~ Not bad at all. Shall we get going?"
As if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her arm wrapped around my shoulders. My body lurched toward her from the one-sided embrace.
I instinctively glanced toward where my companions were seated. Chae Seoah and Moon Hayeon were visible in the distance, small figures—but unfortunately, they weren't looking this way.
Suddenly, something cold pressed against my side.
"You know what happens if you scream, right?"
The tip of the dagger hidden in her palm poked into my side.
Tension choked the words in my throat. My jaw trembled uncontrollably from sheer terror.
"Go ahead, try it. Everyone will get a good look at your face this time."
Her hand on my shoulder clenched and unclenched in my field of vision. The message was clear: she'd squeeze me dry again right here.
She was still smiling brightly. That expression confirmed it for me.
This woman was looking down on me.
"W-where are you taking me...?"
"Hmm~ Still deciding. Maybe stash you away on some uninhabited island? No big deal for me—I can come and go as I please."
Oroji even had the leisure to answer my question. Of course she did. With all her stats boosted by two ranks, her confidence was overflowing.
This woman planned to lock me up somewhere and 'use' me. The term 'semen tank' I'd forgotten about for a while crept back into my mind.
She didn't rush me to walk faster. If she'd known I was with companions, she wouldn't have been this relaxed.
"O-okay. I'll come quietly..."
"Really? What a relief. I was expecting it to be a hassle."
She was a veteran hunter. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't beat her—especially with Seeding's effects amplifying her power.
Even now, her sharp eyes scanned the food court vigilantly. This was my one chance, while she hadn't spotted Chae Seoah still in her Vigilante Corps uniform.
If I screamed, she'd cover my mouth. If I shook her off, she'd threaten the people around us again.
I forced my sluggish brain to turn. Oroji's feet began to move slowly. She was stepping toward the food court exit.
No brilliant ideas came to mind. But there was one thing. Foolish, maybe. But a method nonetheless.
I twisted my body sideways, pretending to trip. With all my strength, I collapsed toward the dagger pressing into my side.
"Ow!"
"...You idiot. Scared shitless?"
The dagger that had been against my clothes pulled back in that brief moment, but not fully.
A sharp pain shot up from my side. Shallower than the goblin dagger cut, but the agony still drew involuntary groans from me.
"S-sorry, my legs gave out..."
"Ugh... Whatever. Hey, walk faster. It's not even a deep cut—stop being dramatic."
Oroji, with a hint of irritation, gave my back a light shove. My body pitched forward. Pretending to steady myself, I hurriedly grabbed the arm holding the dagger.
"Ah, s-sorry. Um."
My stammering wasn't an act. It hurt, and I was scared. Oroji looked at me, sighed deeply, and waved her hand as if telling me to let go.
"I'm really sorry, it's just... with Oroji right here, I..."
"...What?"
Her annoyed expression hardened. The arm poised to drag me along froze.
"How do you know my name?"
I was screwed. My brain throbbed as I scrambled for an excuse. As I rolled my eyes searching for words, Oroji roughly shook off my hand.
She raised the dagger hand high. It was over for me in one piece. Ah, tears welled up.
Ping!!
Suddenly, something tore through the air, whizzing past my nose. With a clear thunk, a chopstick collided with the dagger, knocking its trajectory off course.
"I didn't expect you so soon... My mistake."
Clack. Clack. The heavy echo of heels from Vigilante Corps uniform shoes rang out. The people in the food court began to murmur.
"J-just now... y-you swung a k-knife at J-Jungwoo... r-right...?"
No footsteps. Only the soft rustle of clothing followed. A gloomy, halting mutter. People sensed the chill in that voice and began edging away from their seats.
Even I, numb to magic power, could feel the thick density crushing the entire space.
Oroji alternated glances between the approaching women and me. Her face twisted in disbelief as she muttered.
"...Seeding. How many targets does it even apply to? This skill is total bullshit—"
Another chopstick flew in suddenly. And with it, the fight began.
The 2-on-1 fight was more evenly matched than expected.
If either Moon Hayeon or Chae Seoah had a proper weapon, the situation would have been different.
Careless assumption that they wouldn't arrive so quickly. Recklessness in leaving weapons in the car. That was making an easy fight difficult.
All three couldn't go all-out either. If the food court collapsed, Park Jungwoo would be buried too.
A near-civilian like him had no chance of surviving a collapse, and each had her own reasons for not wanting that.
"Over here! This way!!"
The food court was spacious, but the exits narrow. Ordinary people enjoying a peaceful weekday afternoon panicked en masse at the sudden hunter brawl.
Park Jungwoo darted frantically through the crowd. Carrying dazed sitters to the doors, helping up the fallen.
More urgent than the fighters, he ran and ran again.
A child sprawled on the floor. An elderly person lost in panic. He carried them, one after another.
Shieeek!!
A magic orb deflected by the dagger pulverized a table into sawdust. Amid the flying splinters, Park Jungwoo spotted Chae Seoah.
"Chae Seoah!!"
Park Jungwoo bellowed, squeezing out every ounce of strength.
In the heat of battle, Chae Seoah's gaze flicked toward him.
His state was a sight to behold. His once-clean clothes were filthy with sawdust and grime, the fabric at his side—where he clutched his wound—stained red.
Standing shakily on legs that barely held him, he looked at Chae Seoah for the first time with eyes tinged with faint anger.
Park Jungwoo bit his lip hard. Hesitation clouded his eyes.
The moment Chae Seoah glanced away, a dagger flew unerringly. She smacked Oroji's forearm with her knuckles—only for a crackling electric palm to rush at her stomach.
Kicking the wrist halted it, but a sinister blue current raced across the floor, cracking it.
Pajijijik!!!
Relentless exchanges ravaged the food court. A stray hit on a pillar would spell a massive collapse—obvious as day.
Even enduring this long was thanks to their restraint; otherwise, it would've crumbled ten times over.
But accumulating damage gnawed at the structure. Sturdy steel beams and concrete buckled and shattered, screaming their limits.
Park Jungwoo clenched his jaw, hesitation broken. His eyes still on the crowd jammed at the exits.
No calm among the fleeing masses. One trip there, and they'd be trampled before the debris fell.
With grim resolve, Park Jungwoo shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Use Declaration of Intent!! I'm fine!!"
Declaration of Intent. Chae Seoah's unique skill that empowered her strongest conviction at the moment spoken.
Her vow during a criminal hunter riot in Seoul—to protect everyone here. Stats surged, making it reality. Her image splashed across news front pages flashed in my mind.
I had no grand reason for telling her to use it. Just a hunch from her not deploying skills so far.
She was after my skill. If she used Declaration of Intent now. If she spoke of my skill. Her upright nature might inadvertently reveal her greed for my precious ability.
Everyone in the know already knew my unique skill was S-Rank. Add my weak combat power, and anyone could guess it was a desirable buff skill.
Once Seeding was exposed. Oroji's case would be laughable compared to the ensuing chaos.
If Seeding's full details leaked? Hopeless. This industry I'd glimpsed these past days was like that.
I'd guessed it myself. Chae Seoah surely knew too. That must've weighed on her.
Her movements slowed. Her distant pink eyes trembled with agitation.
Still. I looked at the people again. The wrecked food court. Powder of unknown material sifting from the cracked ceiling.
Compared to lives at stake, my secret was nothing.
I steeled my gut once more.
"Really!! I'm okay!! Use it now!!!"
Maybe her hesitation wasn't just that.
Admitting she'd approached someone intentionally for selfish gain—and committed shameless acts—wouldn't be easy for someone who'd lived uprightly.
But I trusted Chae Seoah. And she was exactly as righteous as I'd hoped.
She leaped back sharply. As Oroji lunged sensing something off, Moon Hayeon's scowling magic blocked her path.
Chae Seoah took a deep breath. Gray dust swirling before her nose testified to her ragged breaths and shaken heart.
"I..."
Her gaze turned to me. The small voice grew louder. Facing her weakness and pettiness, she stood tall regardless, back straight, eyes forward.
"I!"
Her powerful voice echoed through the food court. Mingling with the entrance chaos, it rang undimmed.
"This man's!"
Chae Seoah's arm extended straight toward me. One more word. Just one, and my secret would spill.
...Hopeless, sure. But it'd work out somehow. I resigned myself. Yet I didn't look away. I watched her squarely.
Wishing someday I'd emulate that figure—shedding frailty for something magnificent.
"I like small dicks!!"
What?