Rich turns genius into mediocrity #3

 

Their true identities are clearly highway robbers.

The borders of a kingdom where the power to maintain order is beyond its reach are infested with such outlaws.

Still, that’s a relief.

‘I guess he’s not a human hunter.’

In “Nine Stars”, there are professional killers who are no match for these petty robbers.

A so-called ‘human hunter’ whose trademark is a bizarre mask that hides his identity.

If I had fallen for them, I would have had no dreams or hopes.

Even though I’m a veteran, I honestly don’t know what would happen if I met human hunters at this point.

But the men taking me somewhere now weren’t wearing masks.

And the way he dresses gives off the strong smell of a worthless mob.

It means it’s worth a try.

“Do you see the cabin over there?”

One of the robbers put a hand on my shoulder and pointed ahead with his finger.

Ugh, chew.

Could you please take your hands off me?

The things I ate are about to come up.

The discomfort sent shivers down my spine. I barely resisted the urge to shake it off.

“I think it would be better to take a short break before going to the village. What do you think?”

I felt his gaze scanning me up and down.

In particular, he blatantly glances at the white bare legs revealed under the cloak.

I feel so pathetic.

“Well, what should I do⋯.”

He deliberately took a deep breath as if he didn’t know.

I’ve been curious about this for a while now.

I wondered why he didn’t reveal his true colors right away when he encountered me in the forest.

I don’t think he was wary of me looking weak and fighting back.

“You must have wanted to bring me here alive. If I resisted and ran wild, it would be a headache.”

This cabin is probably their hideout.

The conclusion that follows is obvious.

‘I don’t intend to kill you right away.’

Just because they are highway robbers doesn’t mean they only commit robbery.

A people whose morality as humans has already fallen to the ground.

There are plenty of other horrible things you can do besides robbery.

This is not good news for me.

I could accept it if it was just one death and it was over, but there was a high possibility that I would have the ‘dirty experience’ that I was secretly worried about.

The robbers and I approached the cabin.

The cabin is also very suspicious.

The windows were boarded up and nailed shut as best they could.

The only entrance, the door, has a thick iron chain wrapped around its handle.

No, I mean you guys.

But shouldn’t we show a little sincerity?

No matter how much you try to act like an ordinary girl, it’s hard not to suspect her.

anyway.

What I have to do is set.

“I’m here.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Thank you so much for your help. By any chance⋯.”

A sinister shadow fell over the robbers’ eyes.

If I were to say something like, ‘I’ll just go back alone,’ these kids would immediately show their true colors.

“What if.”

The look in his eyes as he looks at me quickly becomes fierce.

“Can I bring my younger sibling?”

“Younger sibling? Did you have a younger sibling?”

“It’s my little sister. She was complaining that her legs were sore from walking so long, so I told her to sit down and wait for a moment while I looked for the way by myself… I think she’s probably really worried by now.”

The robbers exchanged glances.

“Then of course you should bring him.”

An unconcealable desire was seeping out from their yellow faces.

These kids. Look at their expressions change when they hear the word “little sister.”

The urge to swear comes up on its own.

“Let’s go quickly. Where are you?”

One of them is so excited that he even snorts and urges me on.

I sighed secretly and took the lead.

***

I’ll have to change the route a bit.

It will be different from the original plan of taking the shortest route to the village.

“Huh? Why are you laughing?”

The robber next to me glanced at me and spoke to me.

I guess my true feelings were revealed on my face without me knowing.

“No. I just thought… I was incredibly lucky.”

“Ah—that’s fortunate. It’s not often you find kind people like us in a forest like this.”

The robber laughed heartily.

I pretend not to know and smile back.

Estelle Frostwind. This girl’s body is frail, but she might easily win the favor of others.

Or maybe it’s something that’s easy to let down your guard.

Anyway, this situation is a little interesting now.

A situation where both sides hide their intentions and try to deceive each other.

Of course, I was the only one who succeeded in deceiving others.

These thieves are just thinking they’ve been tricked.

‘Park Se-hyeon.’

I repeat my original name to myself.

From now on, I am going to do something that an ordinary twenty-six-year-old office worker named Park Se-hyeon would never do.

“It’s something that’s going to happen eventually, no matter when. Are you ready?”

murder.

It is my job to drag three men to the execution ground.

Of course, they won’t run off the cliff on their own two feet like the Golden Horns.

I’ve already considered that.

As beasts have traps for beasts, and people have traps for people.

‘What a relief.’

As you navigate the world of “Nine Stars,” countless enemies will block your path.

Can anyone avoid harm?

you’re welcome.

There is no such thing as an immortal ending in this game.

In the end, if I want to survive and see a happy ending, I have no choice but to move forward while piling up mountains of corpses.

If you hesitate to do what you need to do because of a little sympathy, you will pay a heavy price.

I was lucky in that respect.

No matter how much you understand it, the first murder must have been very repulsive.

I am thankful that the first ones are these human beings.

‘I don’t think I’d feel even the slightest bit of guilt if I killed you.’

I raised my head and looked up at the sky.

The sun was setting and night was coming.

***

—Aww.

—Awww⋯

From somewhere in the forest, the howling of wolves could be heard. Their howling continued, as if they were conversing with each other.

‘That’s why I can’t stop doing this.’

After a long time, I got my hands on a precious game.

She might be the best woman I’ve ever seen.

The man with the long scar across his face thought.

It was a good idea to jump into the forest.

Indeed, humans should live in harmony with nature. The words of the ancient sages are absolutely right.

What would have happened to me now if I hadn’t deserted and remained a low-ranking soldier in the Imperial Army?

‘He must have been dragged off to the battlefield and died a dog’s death.’

I had to give up my name and identity, but I have no regrets.

Who cares about what happens next?

It’ll work out somehow.

Just live as your heart tells you to and as you please.

‘If you keep doing that, treasures like this will start rolling in.’

The man glanced at Estelle’s slender back.

Where does this kid come from?

A young lady suddenly appeared out of nowhere, wearing a cloak and walking around barefoot. It was surprising, almost mysterious.

What about her outstanding beauty that makes you believe she appeared in a fairy tale?

The man had never seen such a white, doll-like girl in his life.

Moreover, her attitude of seeming indifference to her own beauty added to her charm.

“This time, I’ll go first. No matter what.”

The man glanced at his colleagues.

He had to be the first to taste this precious treasure.

The time I’ve been committing robberies with those guys has easily exceeded one or two years…

I have no intention of giving in.

If necessary, I would not hesitate to use my sword.

‘And my younger sister too.’

The man pursed his lips and suppressed a laugh.

If my older sister is this pretty, then there’s no need to say anything about my younger sister.

It was worth enduring the harsh life and hiding in the forest.

If you wait patiently, Mother Nature will be pleased and give you this gift.

“Is it still far?”

“We’re almost there.”

The girl spoke in an indifferent tone and glanced around.

“I think this will do.”

“Around this time?”

The nuance was somewhat bothersome, but the man just tilted his head and didn’t pursue it further.

A terrain where hills surround the surrounding area.

I wonder if my little sister is waiting for me in a place like this. Was she trying to avoid the wind?

The man’s gaze suddenly turned to the area beneath Estelle’s cloak.

“Are you okay? There’s blood running down your leg.”

The girl glanced at my legs.

“That’s right.”

“What the… were you doing? Don’t worry about us, it doesn’t matter to you.”

One of them chuckled and blurted it out as if it were a joke.

That fucking retard.

The man swallowed his curses.

Well, even if the girl sensed something suspicious, there was nothing she could do about it now.

No matter how hard I ran, there was no way I could shake off the pursuit of three strong men.

“It’s a bit tricky. I must have come all this way, bleeding without even realizing it.”

As the girl pointed behind her, the men’s eyes followed her finger.

Drops of blood were sprinkled along the path they had taken, as if following them.

One drop, another drop⋯.

The man recalled a story from a fairy tale he had read as a child.

Was it the story of children who were chased into the forest by their ill-tempered stepmother and who scattered breadcrumbs little by little to indicate their location?

I didn’t know at the time.

Who would have thought that the child who read a storybook with an innocent face would grow up to be such a fearsome robber.

“You know what, guys?”

The girl continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

“You know this forest? They say wolves come out at night.”

“You know that too. But you don’t have to be afraid because we’re together.”

“Is that so?”

Just now, it seemed like there was a faint smile on the girl’s lips.

“Night Wolf.”

“⋯What?”

“It’s the most dangerous monster in this forest. While strong on its own, it moves in packs. Even the daggers you carry wouldn’t be able to penetrate its hide.”

The men were momentarily speechless.

Something felt strange.

It felt as if the invisible mask covering the girl’s face was being gently removed.

“There’s another reason why night wolves are so terrifying. They absolutely love to devour their prey alive. Why do you think that is? Some say it’s because they taste less delicious when dead. Others say they particularly enjoy the screams of their victims as they devour them.”

“…”

“That’s why they’re nicknamed the Forest Torture Technicians. Even if they want to die, they won’t let you kill them for at least two hours until they’ve finished their meal.”

The girl put her hand inside her cloak.

After a while, the palm I took out was soaked with blood.

“What, what is that-”

“Have you heard of the blood of the golden horn?”

“⋯Golden Horn?”

“There’s a fawn named Golden Horn. They say he’s a beast favored by the gods. Honestly, I don’t understand it at all.”

The girl waved her hand lightly.

Chulpook-

Bright red blood splattered across the floor.

“Whoever takes that blood will incur the wrath of the beasts of the forest. If you’re in the forest, they’ll chase you no matter where you are. And⋯.”

The face, which was once like a quiet doll, suddenly changed into a cold one, as if revealing its true colors.

“Night wolves have a particularly good sense of smell.”

—Awwww.

The howling of wolves drew near.

I can hear it. Now, right nearby.

“What are you doing, you little bitch⋯!”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

The next moment, the girl ran towards the man.

Are you trying to take away my weapon?

Reflexively, the man swung his dagger.

Crunch.

I could definitely feel the sensation of flesh being torn at my fingertips.

The girl fell to the ground in vain, clutching her neck.

“What if I kill you? I haven’t even tried it yet!”

“Because you suddenly rushed in-”

The men were swearing at each other, their necks bloodshot.

A robbery that doesn’t go as planned.

A girl’s impulsive behavior that is practically suicide.

The howling of wolves that surrounded them and never stopped for a moment.

The time for calm thinking disappeared, and excitement, anxiety, and fear took its place.

The men began to back away without a word. Their backs touched each other.

We must run. The Night Wolves will be upon us soon.

But where to?

Did this witchy bitch know from the beginning that this would happen and drag her here?

“Ahaha⋯.”

The girl with a pale face chuckled.

“⋯I’ll die first. See you later.”