16. Villain Extermination

* * *

“If I defile the Divine Sword’s sister here…maybe I can become a wielder too?”
“G-get away! Don’t touch me!”

A sudden flash of unfamiliar memory made me nauseous. Coming to my senses, I saw Seung-jun’s shattered first phase form – a grotesque aberration that would disgust even Si-woo.

“Ugh, disgusting. His body’s broken apart.”
“Looks even worse now.”
“What kind of abomination is this? Bbeopmi-jjang is scared~!”

As the girls stared in horror, the monster slowly rose.

“KEEEEEEK! Kukuku. Behold the Black God Cult’s power! This isn’t over! I’ll evolve further! Witness as I emerge from this cocoon to kill you all!”

Black threads wrapped around him, forming a cocoon. His second phase would be stronger. The girls struggled enough already – who knows what that perverted goblin would do to them?

“Shouldn’t we call the instructor?”
“Hawawa~ Bbeopmi-jjang might die~!”
“By the time we return, he’ll have evolved!”
“Eun-ha! Don’t go! It’s dangerous!”

[Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting. Hate this. Hate this.]

The text felt familiar now. One thing was clear – I wouldn’t be satisfied until this thing died. Evolution? Who gave him time to transform? Don’t they know transformation sequences are free damage windows?

I stabbed my magic-nullifying sword into his mana cocoon.

*STAB*

“Gah! What sword- Coward! Attacking during evolution!”

Like trash deserves mercy. As the impaled frog flailed, I gathered spilled oil using a goblin helmet and doused the abomination.

“W-wait! Cheater! At least let me- Gah!”

Wordlessly, I shoved the sword deeper. Pulling out a lighter, I flicked it open. Finally sensing danger, he panicked.

“Y-Yoo Eun-ha! Sorry! My mistake! Spare me! Never again! No! Don’t throw that!”

“If you came to kill, you should’ve been prepared to die.”

I tossed the lighter. The oil-soaked monster ignited instantly.

*WHOOSH*

“GYAAAAAAAAH! You bitch! If I’m dying, you’re coming with me!”

As the burning monster lunged, a spear impaled him against the wall.

“Guhk!”
“Let me have the final blow~”

Suji smirked as the pinned creature burned to ashes. With his death, the vile nightmare poisoning my mind cleared. Exhaustion hit me – my vision darkened as I reached for a cigarette.

“Ah…the lighter.”

Realizing my mistake too late, I passed out.

* * *

Korea Hunter Association

Original protagonist Jin-seok busily worked through paperwork. Though he’d saved the world by sealing Pyongyang’s Gate, monsters still existed. Wealthy enough to retire, the first Divine Sword wielder continued hunting out of justice.

“Hey Jin-seok, heard about your sister?”
“What about her?”
“That Seung-jun kid at Hanseong Academy was a Black Cult monster. Your sister took care of it.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Like brother, like sister. You should praise her.”

Jin-seok frowned at the report. He’d exterminated the Black Cult years ago – had they regrouped? And since when could his shut-in otaku sister fight monsters?

‘What happened to Eun-ha?’

She’d been hospitalized after the battle. Video footage showed her brutally executing Seung-jun with the now-viral line: [“If you came to kill, you should’ve been prepared to die.”]

Hunter forums praised her, though some questioned killing a former classmate. But Black Cult members had shoot-on-sight orders for their terrorist acts.

Meanwhile, Hanseong’s anonymous board buzzed:
[Title: Eun-ha is definitely a lesbian]
[She protected Reina and Suji]
[Why only those two? This academy’s full of lesbians]
[Maybe cuz she’s Jin-seok’s sister?]

As Eun-ha’s reputation grew, upperclassmen grew wary. Not that first-years dared oppose her now.

“Whatever. Let them talk.”

*knock knock*

I pulled the covers over my head, but another unwelcome voice came.

“Yoo Eun-ha.”

That golden-haired nuisance Si-woo entered without permission.

“Ugh. Getting visited by Sword Heroes today?”
“Wait, was Jin-seok sunbae here?!”
“Yeah. Now scram.”

His eyes sparkled at Jin-seok’s name. This brat skipped class yet shows up now?

“Sorry I wasn’t there. Had something to do.”
“Something more important?”
“I brought strawberry smoothie! And cream puffs!”

Smoothie? “…One chance.”

He explained the Black Cult’s resurgence and rumors of an Academy attack. Apparently his new Black Dragon Guild contacts provided intel.

“They say stronger cultists will come after Seung-jun failed.”
“Wait, how’d they know that?”

Even Black Dragon shouldn’t have that information yet.

“I’ll protect you this time. Promise.”

Oh please. Trying to romance me now? My heart still loves women. Besides, if the Cult’s attacking, he should focus on that, not me.

Though…I did kill Seung-jun. How does that affect his story?