Ch.127Red Snake 7

“Team Leader!”

While waiting at the corner, the Black Death Squad came rushing in.

Each arrived with weapons in hand, but all they found were the hornets, already dead.

“What the… Shouldn’t you all be protecting the Vice President? Why are you here?”

I asked with a furrowed brow.

Even Siho swallowed hard at my clearly serious tone.

“Well… it was the Vice President’s orders, so we had no choice.”

“That’s right, she said she’d be fine and told us to go help you, Team Leader…”

“She said something must have happened since you were late.”

The team members explained one after another.

Damn… I must have taken too long dealing with those bastards and worried the Vice President.

“I’ve already handled things here. We need to get back quickly!”

We hurried toward the supermarket entrance where the Vice President should be.

As we ran, Siho asked with a concerned expression:

“The Vice President will be okay, right?”

Such worried eyes.

Touched by that concern, I answered confidently:

“Yes, you don’t need to worry.”

“The Vice President…”

“She’s the strongest female hunter I’ve ever met.”

Siho gave me a puzzled look at my confident assertion.

“Then why did she need an escort in the first place?”

“Well, the President is quite the doting father…”

I pondered how to answer for a moment.

Then I suddenly looked toward the approaching store entrance.

Something ominous could be felt there.

As if all the air was being drawn toward the entrance.

Emboldened by that energy, I pulled up the corner of my mouth.

“The President needs time to ‘warm up’ when fighting.”

“—!”

Our hair fluttered as we ran.

Soon Siho would understand why there was no need to worry about the Vice President.

Because…

“—.”

I sent the guards away.

Those creatures were after Siho and me anyway.

Protecting the weaker Siho was the priority.

I could handle things here on my own.

The loyal Black Death team ultimately followed my orders and went deep into the supermarket.

Now only I and the hornet executives remained at the market counter.

And… the customers pressed against the wall as hostages.

Do I have to protect all of them alone?

Il-Shim doesn’t protect all citizens like the Association does.

But this place is at the border of Il-Shim’s territory.

Everyone here is my family.

So I must protect them.

If not for myself, then for the family business.

My left hand feels empty.

Can’t be helped since I left our family sword, given by my father, with Ji-su.

Looking around, I suddenly notice a shovel leaning against the wall.

I grabbed that shovel.

And skillfully twirled it to point at the hornets.

Their leader, a bald man, snickered at the sight of me holding a shovel.

“Ha, I wondered what you were up to when you sent away your guards…”

“Are you seriously going to fight us with just a shovel?”

He asked as if I couldn’t be serious.

Of course I am.

I never let my guard down no matter who I’m fighting.

It’s the iron rule of our Il-Shim family.

“Is this really all the manpower you brought to fight me?”

My blood grows hot.

I focused all my strength toward the shovel handle I was holding.

Gradually, the edge of the shovel began to glow red.

“Don’t worry. We’re no longer the swarm of bees you used to dismiss so easily.”

The leader raised his arm and gave some signal.

Then…

The members lined up in a row all took out pills.

And began swallowing them simultaneously.

“…”

Watching them openly makes me feel disgusted.

Their aura has clearly changed from before.

Just from taking one pill…

It’s as if their previously blocked meridians have been blown wide open.

At this level…

Have they each been enhanced to A+ rank?

It’s utterly repulsive.

To think they could surpass the level that countless hunters achieved through bone-breaking effort just by taking one of those things…

The leader who took the pill is at least Ranker level.

I need to buy time to warm up before he joins the fight.

Let me provoke them with words to send out the underlings first.

“Do you think you can defeat Il-Shim just because you gave your underlings some pills?”

“We’ll find out soon enough.”

“Sure, go ahead and see for yourself.”

I gripped the shovel handle firmly.

Ten hunters between A and S rank.

The shovel handle hasn’t completely heated up yet.

Can I hold out until then?

“Just keep her alive. You can cut off all her limbs if needed…”

The leader’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Thanks to his bald head, I could see his nerves standing on end, disgustingly visible.

That wasn’t all.

Multicolored smoke rose from behind the bee-shaped masks of his subordinates.

“…!”

The leader’s eyes flashed.

And in that moment, his subordinates vanished instantly.

Right shoulder.

Left knee.

They’re fast.

But…

This speed doesn’t even compare to the Black Death’s.

I twisted the shovel handle.

The large shovel head pinned down his dagger.

No matter how much their stats increased from the pills,

They can’t overcome the difference in equipment.

He tried to resist with his newly strengthened wrist strength.

But ultimately his wrist twisted, unable to withstand my weight-backed attack.

As I pinned him down, my body slid.

Thanks to that, I was able to avoid the strike from the second attacker aiming for my side.

By now, the shovel had turned a deep crimson.

“What are you doing?! Against a woman with no guards!”

The leader shouted angrily.

Pushed by that sound, his subordinates charged at me with bloodshot eyes.

The third one was definitely different.

Perhaps because they had seen what happened to their comrades.

Four hunters aimed to strike simultaneously, giving me no opening.

This will be difficult to block all at once…

I had no choice but to step back.

As I bumped into the counter, sharp swords thrust in from both sides.

Cereal boxes tumbled down between the embedded swords.

The one who pulled his sword out first swung at my neck without hesitation.

I immediately blocked that attack with the red-hot shovel.

And barely managed to push them back by overwhelming them with strength.

The leader watched in disbelief.

How could men with enhanced stats fail to handle just one woman…

“Why so surprised… In our Il-Shim, we believe in gender equality, so our strength is equal too…”

I muttered while catching my breath.

Four at once is too much after all.

Finally, the leader stepped forward.

He pulled out a small MacGyver knife about the size of a fist.

And approached me while skillfully twirling it.

“That’s right… the leader should step up instead of sending his subordinates to their doom…”

The shovel glowed red-hot like it had been dipped in lava.

The moment I’d been waiting for had finally arrived.

Conveniently, the hornets were nicely clustered together, perfect for killing in one go.

Red heat rose from the shovel.

The air in the supermarket grew hot because of it.

I raised the heated shovel high toward the sky.

Then swung it with all my might, like hitting a golf ball.

“There was a reason father trained me so hard!”

The shovel tore through the air toward the hornets.

Following the arc of my swing…

A mountain-like massive sword energy was released.

The hornets were sucked into the sword energy that poured down like flames.

Like moths to a flame.

“What the…!”

The leader covered his face with both hands against the pouring flames.

But his enhanced arms soon turned black and charred until finally…

They turned to dust and disintegrated.

“—!”

I returned to the supermarket entrance with Siho.

And what greeted us was…

Bright sunlight.

The supermarket entrance and ceiling had been completely blown away.

The clear sky and parking lot were fully visible.

And the hornet members, reduced to ashes.

It was devastating, as if they’d been hit by a massive cannon.

And standing above them was the Vice President with her hood pulled back.

“Oh, my daughter-in-law!”

She smiled calmly as if nothing had happened.

And fanned herself as if feeling hot.

“I see the Black Death protected you well-.”

Nahyun walked gracefully toward us.

But her arms and legs… had several cuts.

My eyes widened at the sight.

It’s my fault…

Because of me, the Vice President’s precious body was wounded…

I hurriedly ran to her and knelt down.

“I’m sorry, Vice President… because of our security team’s failure…”

“No, it was fun- I got to stretch my body after so long-.”

“But still…”

I looked up at her with a dejected expression.

The Vice President gazed at me intently with a more mature look than usual.

“My purpose in bringing you was to protect Siho.”

Soon her gentle hand patted my head.

With that pat, the Vice President said:

“And you fulfilled that mission admirably.”

She passed by me and approached Siho.

After carefully examining her daughter-in-law for injuries, she laughed heartily with satisfaction.

“That cute face is still intact! I should give you a raise!”

“Vice President…”

My clenched fists trembled.

I had almost failed in my protection duty again.

Although the Vice President praised me…

That was just her consideration for me.

I need to work harder…

So this never happens again…

“—.”

The situation was resolved faster than expected.

Since the supermarket was covered by Il-Shim’s industrial accident insurance, all damages were handled by headquarters.

Fortunately, Siho personally treated the Vice President’s wounds.

Thanks to that, she regained her energy and started acting childlike again.

“Well, shall we go now? I’m hungry after using so much energy-.”

“Yes. When we get home, I’ll make you a delicious dinner.”

Siho smiled brightly while holding bags of groceries.

The Vice President glanced at the bags and asked:

“Can I… eat those kimchi-flavored snacks?”

“What?”

“I used some energy today. I think I can eat both snacks and my daughter-in-law’s food-.”

“No way-.”

Siho firmly refused, mimicking the Vice President’s tone.

She pouted with disappointment.

They looked like family.

I smiled contentedly at the heartwarming sight.

“Um, Miss Siho.”

The small gumiho raised her head at my question.

Her fox-like delicate eyes made me feel shy without realizing it.

But I gathered courage and dared to ask:

“Could you… give me those groceries? They must be heavy…”

Siho stared at my reddened face.

Soon she tilted her head with half-closed eyes.

“Then, if you don’t mind-.”

Siho stretched as if her shoulders were stiff.

And politely held out the bags with both hands.

And so we returned home as if nothing had happened.

“—.”

The sound of the door lock echoed in the apartment hallway.

I silently watched as the Vice President and Siho entered their home.

Just before the door closed,

Suddenly Siho’s small hand shot out to hold the closing door.

“Um, Black Death…”

“Yes, what is it?”

I answered in a proper security guard voice.

Siho held the doorknob and asked shyly:

“Would you like to… stay for dinner?”

“No, you don’t need to worry about me…”

“I made too much food since I tend to cook in large portions.”

“…”

Honestly, I do want to try her cooking.

It might also be a chance to dine with Senior Jeoksa…

But I can’t.

I’m just a security guard.

I must maintain my position.

“The other team members should come in too. I made a delicious hot pot.”

Siho, true to her gumiho nature, began tempting the other members as well.

The savory hot pot smell wafting through the door crack.

Even the highly trained members sniffled at that smell.

These guys…

While I was contemplating my answer,

I heard the elevator opening.

When I turned my head toward the sound…

Senior Jeoksa, whom I admired so much, appeared.

Returning from headquarters after work.

Her slightly tired, decadent eyes looked beautiful.

From her black, elegant long hair to her ruby-like beautiful eyes.

She made eye contact with me waiting in the hallway.

“Oh, you’re still here?”

“Yes. My mission is complete, so I was about to leave.”

“I see, nothing unusual happened today, right?”

Her question left me speechless.

If she finds out about today’s incident, she’ll probably be upset with me…

“Actually…”

“Nothing happened at all!”

Siho intercepted my answer.

She grabbed Jeoksa’s hand, trying to usher her into the house.

“They provided such excellent security, I felt completely safe!”

“Really? Good job, everyone.”

The two looked at each other with honey-dripping eyes like newlyweds.

It was certainly a pleasant sight.

But… I felt an inexplicable bitterness.

I tried to leave the penthouse to erase that bitterness.

There was no place for me here.

I could only watch over their happy time together.

“Oh, Heuksa?”

“Yes.”

As I was about to leave, she called me back.

Does she have something more to say…?

“Since you’re here, stay for dinner.”

“M-me…?”

“Yes, Siho made too much food.”

The gumiho blinked between her and the door.

I could easily refuse Siho’s request.

But when my beloved senior made the offer, my resolved heart softened.

It felt like being acknowledged as part of her family.

“Yes…!”

I exclaimed loudly without realizing it.