The truck sped as fast as it could, but in the meantime, Cho Seung Taek rained fire down on the city.
Cho Seung Taek’s deadliest attack is his poison.
Even without his skills, every breath Cho Seung Taek expels carries poison that settles over the city like fog. It’s a terrible, chaotic mess.
“Ack!”
The driver swerved the truck in surprise. At some point, the cloud of poison had spread to the area the truck was driving towards.
Jiho jumped out of the truck without hesitation.
“Please drive the other way and get out of here!”
“What about you!”
“I… have to do something about this.”
Jiho covered his nose and mouth as he ran into the cloud of poison.
The further in he ran, the more of the city he saw. Though looking at its size, it’s more of a county or town than a city.
Jiho isn’t sure yet if that’s a good thing since there’s no people around, or if that’s a bad thing since the chances are low that there’s a guild nearby that can send help.
While he was running, Jiho spotted someone unconscious. Jiho stopped and pulled an item out of his inventory.
Information
| Here! My Passionate ❤Water~ Rocket★ | |
| Rank | B |
| Description | [The water item Ariel and her companions played with in the water on their trip to Byu Byu Island! It has no lethality, but it is dangerous, so good kids do~ not aim it at people♡] is what this water-attribute attack item is based off of. When used, a rocket shoots out, spraying water like a fountain. ATK 1-10 |
| Creator | Lee Nam Yoon |
This is one of the items Jiho received from Lee Nam Yoon after learning the other uses for [Blessing of the Star].
Jiho cast [Blessing of the Star] on the item and shot it above his head.
Like that.
Shwah….
A stream of water unbelievably strong for a B-rank item shot through the city. The stream split into several smaller streams and poured down like heavy rain. As the water fell, the thick cloud of poison started to dissipate slightly.
“It works!”
Jiho used the item because Kim Tae Yong’s attack seemed to have a slight effect on the poison, and it was just as Jiho expected. Jiho tsked when he saw all of the people passed out around him.
“I should’ve asked him to make something with a recovery effect.”
If there was a potion inside the item, it could’ve healed multiple people at once. Thinking that that’s the first thing he’ll request once this is over, Jiho was contemplating how to move all of the injured when….
“Young Jiho! Lift them here!”
The truck driver who was told to leave had returned at some point and was shouting at him from the other side of the road. And on top of that, he had picked up a woman Jiho didn’t see before.
“How… never mind, thank you.”
“Yes, yes, if you have time to think, start moving!”
Jiho nodded as he quietly checked the system window of the woman sitting next to the driver.
Status
| Name | Kim Su Yeon |
| Occupation | N/A |
| Rank | B |
| Title | N/A |
| HP | 231 |
| MP | 306 |
| STR | 74 |
| AGI | 65 |
| Skill | New Skin Grows and Grows (B) Noona Said Don’t Eat Weird Things From the Ground (B) Let’s Stitch It First, Okay? (B) O Light–! (F) |
Just the person he needs appeared in front of him.
Jiho gestured at the woman whose eyes had widened when she saw him.
“Excuse me, Kim Su Yeon-ssi! Please help!”
“Uh, uh, how does Shin Jiho… know my name?”
“…Quickly!”
Realizing his mistake, Jiho used the urgent situation to escape the crisis. As Kim Su Yeon was getting off the truck, Jiho used [Blessing of the Star] on her. Kim Su Yeon staggered back in shock.
“Ah, uh, what is this?”
“I will move the unconscious onto the truck, so please wait at the front and provide emergency aid. If you run out of MP, I will replenish it, so tell me immediately.”
“Uh. Ah, yes. Yes!”
Kim Su Yeon seemed bewildered by the sudden influx of strength and list of commands, but she soon focused and started to heal the injured.
Jiho diligently moved the unconscious while the truck driver moved the lighter women and children. Though there were a couple of people in critical condition, there was thankfully no dead, and Kim Su Yeon was able to use her healing to help them avoid danger.
After loading all of the people he could see, Jiho urged the driver.
“This time, you really must leave.”
“I’m not planning to return a second time either. I have to take these people to the hospital.”
“Yes. Please drive as fast as you can. Do not worry about the car shaking.”
Taking into consideration that the unconscious people they lifted onto the truck like sacks might get hurt bumping into each other, Jiho laid a bunch of barrier items to absorb the impact.
The truck driver left. Since he has to take the injured to the hospital, he probably won’t be able to return.
Jiho looked at Kim Su Yeon, who stayed.
“Is it really alright that you did not leave with them?”
“Yes, after all, guild reinforcements should be on the way now…. I should join them and save at least one more person.”
Although Kim Su Yeon’s voice trembled slightly, she still answered bravely. However, her eyes shook nervously whenever she looked at Cho Seung Taek and Kim Tae Yong fighting in the distance.
“…Do not worry about what is going on over there.”
“That, do you know what is going on?”
“Well, one of them is on our side.”
“That, I do see too.”
Kim Su Yeon lightly replied to this unhelpful answer and walked forward. Figuring it’d be better for him to be in the front, Jiho took the lead. As they walked, Jiho carefully monitored the distant mana he sensed.
‘Guild reinforcements are on the way.’
Like Kim Su Yeon said, guilds from neighboring regions are coming closer. He can sense the flow of mana from afar. They can’t not come–there’s no way they missed those two dragons fighting.
But they aren’t the help Jiho was hoping for. This situation isn’t something that can be solved with an ordinary guild’s support.
Actually, Seoul should’ve been alerted and sent an S-rank hunter here by now….
‘Terminals still don’t work at all.’
There should be awakened ones with telepathy skill, but judging by this silence, it’s clear that some method was used to completely cut off all forms of communication.
Plus, there’s no guarantee that an ordinary S-rank hunter would be able to stop that monster.
‘Maybe if it was Joo Yiwon.’
If Joo Yiwon really is an EX-rank like Kim Tae Yong predicted, he might be able to stop that, but… they can’t depend on him all the time.
Yiwon pushes himself only to get injured like this time. Jiho can’t let Joo Yiwon be the only one to work so hard.
And what if something like this happens when Joo Yiwon’s inside a dungeon and can’t be reached? They can’t just sit around and wait until Joo Yiwon gets out of the dungeon.
Jiho looked around before getting on top of a parked motorcycle.
‘Sorry, I’m just borrowing it for a bit.’
Jiho apologized to the owner of this motorcycle, who was probably lifted onto the truck, as he sat down. He looked at Kim Su Yeon, who sat behind him nervously.
“Hold on tight to me.”
“Ah, okay.”
Jiho started the motorcycle slowly so that Kim Su Yeon, who was stiffly holding his waist, wouldn’t fall off. Feeling her grip tighten perhaps from the speed, Jiho gradually accelerated.
Instead of riding towards the center of the fight, Jiho rode in the direction other people were heading.
While it’s difficult for Kim Tae Yong alone, since a number of guildmembers were sent as reinforcements, if Jiho uses [Blessing of the Star] on everyone, they might stand a slight chance.
Although this is mostly hopeful thinking.
The closer they got to the center, the thicker the cloud of poison became. Even when Kim Su Yeon used her recovery skill on him, the effect was extremely brief. Kim Su Yeon buried her face behind Jiho’s shoulders and painfully mumbled.
“I don’t think I can go any further….”
Jiho could still bear it somewhat, but Kim Su Yeon seemed to be at her limit, maybe because her lower rank meant she has a weaker body.
Jiho checked what was happening in the distance.
They’re pretty close to Cho Seung Taek’s enormous body now. It shouldn’t take too long for him to run from here.
He wouldn’t have brought Kim Su Yeon if he knew how poison would be this thick here. But if she focuses the skill she’s been using on Jiho on solely herself, she’ll have a bit more space to breathe.
Jiho stopped the motorcycle.
“Do you know how to drive this?”
“N-no.”
“Then could you wait here for a bit? If I take too long to return, find a bicycle or something and get out of here.”
“Wh-what is Shin Jiho-ssi going to do?”
“I will return after I check how the situation looks inside.”
Seeing where Jiho was pointing, Kim Su Yeon’s eyes wavered. A desperate fight between Kim Tae Yong and Cho Seung Taek was happening there.
“You will die….”
“I will be fine. After all, I survived an S-rank dungeon.”
Of course, the disaster in front of them is much more dangerous than an S-rank dungeon, but… Jiho looked down at his skin that was turning a light purple before holding his breath and stepping forward.
‘Just a little further….’
He has to support Kim Tae Yong as best as he can. Even if he has to squeeze out the last of his MP and pour his all into each attack like it’s his last. If he pours everything out like that, there might not be no odds against that monster. So….
“…”
Suddenly, Cho Seung Taek froze mid-air.
His red eyes pierced through the dark clouds of poison.
Though several kilometers away, he and Cho Seung Taek accurately met eyes. As soon as Jiho saw those bloody red eyes, chills raced through his entire body.
Cho Seung Taek’s eyes cleared like he had woken up.
He was discovered.
Cho Seung Taek soon flew towards him. Flustered, Kim Tae Yong tried to block him, but because they were so different in size, his efforts were futile.
That movement to kill Shin Jiho.
| Run! |
| This way! |
A system window blinked urgently in front of Jiho. Jiho was going to follow the system window, which was shaking in a particular direction, but….
‘That’s where Kim Su Yeon is.’
Far away, Kim Su Yeon’s eyes had widened in shock. She looks too shocked to even run away… if something goes wrong, Kim Su Yeon might get swept up too.
Even though he knows he doesn’t stand a chance, Jiho grabbed his dagger.
| I said you have to run away! |
Seeing the system window whose font had grown larger in frustration, Jiho chuckled.
“If you’re going to say that… give me a combat skill.”
| I told you, you don’t have murderous intent! |
“What do you mean I don’t have murderous intent!?”
He wants to split that dragon’s head in half right now.
But despite Jiho’s desperation, the system didn’t answer.
“Useless.”
| So mean. |
Jiho ignored the system window that was talking back to him and ran in the direction he felt the least human presence. Jiho clenched his teeth as he purposefully ran through twisting alleys.
“Hooo, ha….”
Jiho calmed his ragged breathing as he stopped. The only sound around him is his own breathing now. Jiho suppressed his rough breaths and carefully lifted his head.
A dark shadow had enveloped him at some point.
In the darkness, Cho Seung Taek’s eyes dangerously glared. His shining pupils revealed the satisfaction of his prey being within his grasp.
Instead of being afraid, Jiho looked around himself. An empty alleyway; everyone must’ve run away already as there’s no sign of human presence.
Is he far enough?
It’s not that he has no regrets, but Jiho’s satisfied as long as he doesn’t drag anyone else down with him.
Just….
‘I wish I saw Joo Yiwon’s face one last time.’
The fact that their last memory together–their fight and Yiwon’s injury–wasn’t a good one weighed on Jiho’s mind.
That’s his only regret.
Flames spread above Jiho’s head. But he didn’t feel any pain. Instead, all he feels is warmth enveloping his left hand.
LaZ Bird Corner
Yiwon?
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