episode_0003

Jisoo rushed towards the Ranker who had lost consciousness.

With each step she took, wounds all over her body began to glow red.

Soon, flames sprouted as if expressing her hatred from her sister’s injuries.

It was true that when a Flame Swordsman reached an extreme awakening state, their blood turned into flames.

Under the intense sunlight, a deep shadow cast over the Ranker.

Her sister’s sword soared towards the sky.

I thought everything would be resolved when she struck the murderer with her sword.

No matter how strong the Ranker was, could they withstand her sword that tore through a wyvern?

Of course, if the blade could touch her body.

Just before Jisoo’s sword struck the Ranker’s forehead, it stopped abruptly.

Strange hands clung to the blade, intertwining with it.

Those hands emerged from the Ranker’s shadow, binding not only the sword but also her sister.

I still can’t forget that alien phenomenon.

It was a technique I had never seen before, like a gravity bullet fired by the red-eyed woman.

Gradually, the owner of the skill, a young boy, revealed himself from the Ranker’s shadow.

“So the one who kills first is the boss. You look like you’re next in line.”

He looked disdainfully at his comrade, whose eyes were the only thing left white, while dragging his tongue.

Underneath the black shirted boy’s eyes was a tattoo that read ’08’ clearly.

Between the ruins of the collapsed building, heavy footsteps echoed.

The source of the sound was a man wearing a Nazi uniform.

A series number ’06’ was written on the tightly muscled man’s shoulder.

That’s when I realized.

They were all Rankers from the top guild in Asia, ‘Counters.’

Instead of names, they were known by numbers and acted as the guild’s cleaners, taking care of dirty work.

Their main task was to ambush independent hunters during raids.

“Hey, 09, get up!”

The muscular man lightly slapped 09’s cheek.

But she didn’t flinch.

In response, the man tilted his head to the side and raised his arm.

Eventually, flesh pierced through the skin of his raised arm, covered with grotesque spiral muscles.

As he swung his massive arm, 06, 09’s neck twisted 180 degrees, and she fell to the ground.

It was as grand a sound as when Wyvern fell.

“Ah…”

I naturally thought the woman would die instantly from that ruthless blow.

However, 09 seemed to be lost in contemplation and suddenly regained focus.

She sat on the ground and twisted her neck.

Although her cheek swelled slightly from the blow, there was no major injury.

“How foolish. How could you let an F-rank bug like that get to you?”

When the man mentioned me, 09 stared blankly at me.

As her red, lifeless eyes met mine, sweat trickled down my back.

“I just remembered something dirty.”

09 stood up leisurely, seeming interested in me as she approached.

As she drew closer, my body instinctively began to tremble.

“Where are you going?”

As I hesitated, she followed me with a smile, resembling a predator chasing its prey.

Distracted by her eerie laughter, I turned my head and ran away.

I ran and ran.

Abandoning my sister who had always protected me and believed in me, I fled as if possessed.

“Are you running away and leaving your comrade behind?”

The voice of the Ranker Killer grazed my throat.

I flinched at her words but didn’t slow down.

“…!”

As if condemning me, a dagger pierced into my side.

Collapsed on the ground, I was buried in a lingering sense of guilt.

“Do that thing again.”

09 looked down at me.

“Do it again. Try it again. Here, this is your hand. Just place it here, right?”

She lifted my arm and rested it on her shoulder.

With no response, she soon frowned and began to shake me.

“Why? Are you trembling?”

Looking at the F-rank Hunter with a knife in her side, she wore a worried expression.

Calling out to the other Counters with annoyance, 09 said, “Don’t kill her yet. I need to make sure of something.”

They lazily nodded and watched over us next to the restrained sister.

“Got it? You spared your teammate. Now show me.”

“I really don’t know…”

“What? Speak up, I can’t hear you, your voice is too low.”

Blood clotting in my throat made speaking difficult.

What does this woman want from me?

“I don’t know…”

“What are you saying? You wrote it. It’s the technique you used on me. The moment it connects, it triggers memories from the past, making me recall unpleasant experiences.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about.

I just thought of protecting her shoulders as ‘I must protect my sister.’

“I don’t know, you crazy woman…!”

Tears and mucus streamed down.

My spit stained 09’s face.

But her lifeless pupils just stared at me silently.

“Is that so?”

She gripped my arm.

“Well, then, it can’t be helped.”

“…!”

Like a toy, 09 tore off my arm.

Blood flowed from the torn limb.

Caught off guard by sudden pain, I couldn’t even scream.

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t even know how to use your abilities properly, so I’m trying to research for you. You should be thanking me instead.”

Seemingly unable to understand me, she chuckled.

Twisting my torn arm around, 09 turned back to the group.

“Are we done now? Finish them all and let’s grab the items. I’m tired.”

The boy, 08, muttered, “Oh right. The knife!”

09 returned, pulling out the knife lodged in my side.

As the blade came out, foam bubbled from the wound.

“So, where should we start cutting him from?”

Approaching the sister, the deranged killer 09 spoke.

For some reason, she placed my arm on her shoulder and hummed a tune.

“Should we start by cutting off his fingers so he can never use a knife again?”

Shaking my fingers like a toy, 09 asked.

“No, nowadays prosthetics are advanced, and they make good ones.”

06 held the sister’s hand, indicating that one hand alone wasn’t enough.

“Oh, then should we cut off his legs? He’ll need prosthetics, so he won’t be able to use his arms either.”

Wiping the blood off the knife, 09 slipped and stumbled in the blood.

“What are you guys talking about? We need to kill them for sure. The Guild Leader said to eliminate anyone who seems promising.”

The boy, 08, retrieved a leather case from the shadows.

Inside were several vicious-looking daggers neatly arranged.

“If you stab this one wrong, it explodes. Killing won’t be easy.”

Holding a dagger, 06 carefully examined where to plunge it into the sister’s body.

“Oh, a Flame Blade, right? Of course, the annoying one got stuck with it.”

Annoyed, 09 grabbed the sword.

“Yeah, if 09 had stupidly fired the maximum Tan Density, this whole area would’ve been blown away.”

The boy touches the flames rising from his sister’s shoulder with his finger.

Then, as if it was too hot, he puts the burnt finger into his mouth.

“I almost didn’t even leave dust behind, let alone loot.”

When he shakes his head, 09 grumbles.

“Ah— that’s why I controlled the intensity. It was really hard to spare lives.”

Like choosing pretty accessories from a case, the woman takes out several knives.

The top three rankers in Korea gather to kill a Hunter who had just been promoted to Grade B.

Carefully, like disarming a bomb, they stab knives into various parts of the sister’s body.

Just like pirate toys.

“Hey, that’s not right. I have a bad feeling. It feels like it’s going to explode!”

Stop it…

You are already strong enough.

Why are you doing this to us?

You have money, honor, and can easily catch Wyverns with your own hands.

“Why are you doing this to us… to me… Why, you psychos!”

I shout until my throat is hoarse.

But all that escapes my shocked throat is a metallic sound.

I have to protect my sister…

My pupils flicker.

Usually, in situations like this, the protagonist awakens and becomes insanely strong.

They would wipe out those trash in front of them in one go.

Why can’t I do that…

Through the crowd, I see Jisoo’s face.

Jisoo, already stabbed with a knife, hides her face with disheveled hair.

I’d rather she hide it.

Because I can’t bring myself to see my stabbed sister’s face.

I hope these tears in my eyes will forever cover both of them.

“——-.”

Cold raindrops fall above my head.

I’m grateful for the pouring rain.

The loud rain covers the sound of knives piercing my sister’s body.

The color of blood flowing from my side gradually fades.

Eventually, the city fell silent.

A lot of time has passed, but like an F-grade bug, I still haven’t died.

Is my wretched body clinging to life as a healer?

I close my eyes.

I no longer need such a dreadful life.

If God pities me, I only wish He would end this snuff film soon.