Ch.559Chapter 21. Blood Pack (19)

In battles between ability users, there’s a certain romance.

Watching fantasy battles unfold on TV screens—the kind you’d only expect to see in comics or movies—sends thrills down your spine.

But what if those battles weren’t just exchanges of abilities, but exchanges of “romantic ideals” like in novels or movies?

“Tch, just a paper-thin difference.”

“You’re strong. Wait for me in the afterlife. I’ll join you soon.”

“Hehe… in hell… I’ll be the winner…”

*Thud.*

Human psychology makes us expect scenes like these.

Even if this battle were to be played at a funeral as “epic battle footage of the recently deceased,” human psychology is truly mysterious—knowing such things shouldn’t happen in reality, yet still wanting to see them.

That romantic ideal.

It would be problematic if an S-Class hero died because of such romanticism, but we can’t control the momentary impulses of human nature.

It’s somewhat like this.

Two top-tier fighters exchange ultimate skills, both knowing they could return home to recover and gain an advantage.

The lane is clear, and they both know returning would allow them to bring more items or potions.

But sometimes, as a man, as someone who stands at the top, you think:

I’m going to take this guy down before I leave.

Even a slight touch could be fatal, but the winner lives and the loser dies.

Once pride is at stake, once you choose battle over swallowing that pride, there’s a type who won’t be satisfied until they win.

“Even an S-Class can’t resist when facing another 17-year-old male opponent.”

A man who’s lived as an S-Class detector despite only having average S-Class abilities.

A man who’s always lived above the S-Class detector despite being at a disadvantage.

For the sake of pride, a 17-year-old male S-Class ability user would never back down at certain moments.

Now is such a time.

Now “was” such a time.

“Hyung!!”

“Stand back! Recover your mana!! If you don’t want to die by my hand!!”

“Kuk…!”

The man forcefully restraining Cheok Jun-gyeong, Battle God Lee Jun-young, stood before Black Taejo in perfect condition.

“Who are you?”

“…….”

Pulling on his black leather gloves embossed with mana gold patterns, Battle God raised his fists like a boxer and unleashed his anger toward Black Taejo.

“What organization are you with? What exactly are you? Hwalbindang or the Syndicate?!”

“…….”

“If you won’t speak, I won’t hesitate to use force!”

Battle God glared at Black Taejo with hostile eyes.

He was clearly showing his determination to incapacitate Black Taejo, even if it meant breaking his legs, should he make the slightest wrong move.

“…Oppa.”

Yoon Hye-ra pointed at Battle God with a dejected expression.

“If we step forward again, wouldn’t that make things look strange?”

[I wonder.]

“Are you still thinking about it?”

[Yeah.]

How should I intervene?

How should I make my entrance?

How can I enter this situation with a plausibility that “Hwan’s will” would accept?

Right now, Taejo is in the villain position.

A villain about to defeat a hero, when another hero arrives to save the day.

Moreover, that hero is completely fresh, having not fought at all.

[Maybe I should have drained some of Battle God’s magic earlier.]

“If you had, you probably would’ve had to fight with full power, right? Couldn’t have made that Goblin Mark 3 joke either.”

Yoon Hye-ra reached behind her head and tied her hair into a ponytail.

“What do you want to do? I’d like to go in now.”

Showing her willingness to jump in if necessary, she gradually began raising her magical power.

“Judging by the fact that only he came, the Zenros-infected people at the dock are probably being handled by Association agents, so we’re still okay. If you’re thinking of crushing them completely, it’s not too late.”

“…No, I think it is too late.”

Hyun Se-rin, who had been quietly keeping her eyes closed, stopped Yoon Hye-ra with an irritated voice.

“The imposters are coming.”

“……Tch.”

With the wind, another ability user landed on the bridge.

“Ta-da, I’ve arrived.”

“…….”

A familiar voice.

That makes it even more tense.

[Did they come to catch someone?]

“The Fake Shaman has arrived!”

With a cheerful voice, spreading her arms wide, fluttering her white sleeves that covered her hands, the S-Class “villain” drew everyone’s attention.

“Kuk, Fake Shaman…!”

Fake Shaman.

“To think that Hwalbindang’s No.2 would appear here! Then indeed…!”

An executive of Hwalbindang, practically their second-in-command.

“Have you come to save your comrade?!”

“My, Battle God is still so naive?”

“W-what?”

Fake Shaman laughed softly, mocking Battle God.

“Look at where I’m standing. What do you think this position means?”

Fake Shaman had landed on the bridge between Battle God and Black Taejo.

“I’m Hwalbindang, not a hero.”

Standing in a neutral position like an isosceles triangle, not leaning toward either side, she spoke playfully.

“…Yes, you’re Hwalbindang, so what?”

“Sigh. This man, really. Why do you think I’m standing here?”

“Because that man isn’t Hwalbindang.”

Cheok Jun-gyeong, staggering forward while holding his shoulder, answered instead.

“You didn’t come to save a comrade, but to emphasize that he’s not your comrade.”

“Correct! This unnie is touched. As expected of our Jun-gyeong.”

“…Don’t act like we’re close.”

“That’s a shame. Jun-gyeong, you’re my type.”

Fake Shaman winked at Cheok Jun-gyeong, but he openly showed his disgust, shaking his head.

“Wait. Jun-gyeong, what did you say? She didn’t come to save a comrade? Then, that dog seller isn’t Hwalbindang?”

“Correct! He’s not Hwalbindang. He’s not our member, and moreover, I came to say this incident has nothing to do with us.”

Fake Shaman pointed at Black Taejo with her drooping sleeve.

“This incident has nothing to do with our Hwalbindang. They say on the internet that Hwalbindang leaked information to the Syndicate and joined hands with them.”

“That’s….”

“Fabrication. We never joined hands with the Syndicate. If information was passed to the Syndicate, then it must have leaked out.”

This is somewhat awkward.

Both Black Taejo maintaining his silence and me watching the situation from afar make this quite awkward.

“This is just my guess, but the Syndicate dragged Hwalbindang into this on their own to go after Haeguneul. Do you understand the situation now?”

“…Is that true?”

“Oh, really. Battle God, never take a high position. How can you make proper decisions in important positions when you can’t grasp the situation like this?”

I agree with that statement.

Battle God is the S-Class Rank 3 with a strong sense of justice, but conversely, that makes him the third biggest sucker after Lord of Radiant Wings and Snow White.

“Do you know who shouldn’t rise to the top of an organization? Someone who’s only kind. Ugh, so frustrating. That’s why I came out to clarify the situation. To reveal the truth, not propaganda and fabrication.”

Flutter.

“You there, using the same ability as Armored Taejo. You’re actually Armored Taejo, aren’t you?”

Fake Shaman let her sleeves fall.

Magic power flowed from the sleeves that had fallen to the floor, and Fake Shaman twisted the corner of her mouth.

“Everything you’ve done as Armored Taejo was either an act, or you were brainwashed by the Syndicate. Or perhaps, like cases in other countries, you’re a hero who joined hands with the Syndicate. How about answering with your own mouth?”

“Fake Shaman.”

Black Taejo opened his mouth politely while fiddling with his sleeve.

“True to your name, are you trying to frame an innocent person?”

“Using formal speech to create a different image from Armored Taejo?”

“Don’t answer a question with a question.”

“You have nothing to say because you’ve been hit with facts, right?”

“Fake Shaman, we can’t communicate.”

“It’s not that we can’t communicate, but you’re deliberately avoiding conversation with me because you’re afraid more truth will be revealed. Am I wrong?”

“Haah.”

Black Taejo sighed deeply.

A sigh of frustration, but that frustration likely came from not seeing a clear way to resolve the situation.

“…Oppa.”

Yoon Hye-ra, who had been quiet, narrowed her eyes while placing a hand on her chest.

“I can’t stand watching her act so smug anymore.”

“Me neither. …Isn’t it about time? Hasn’t this ripened enough?”

Hyun Se-rin also raised her magical power.

“I never liked that unnie from before. This is the perfect opportunity. Let’s catch Fake Shaman.”

“The bridge is about to collapse, but the battlefield will change as we fight anyway. There are many watching eyes, but if we move far enough away during the battle, who knows? So.”

[No. Don’t intervene.]

Not now.

[Intervening at the perfect moment, crushing a hero’s expectations—that’s the perfect villainy for a villain.]

I grabbed both their shoulders to calm them down and raised my own magical power.

[I’ve already sent a signal to Taejo.]

Crunch.

Taejo, who had been fiddling with his Taegeuk watch, seemed to have made up his mind and pointed his cane upward.

[Taowu.]

“…Hmm?”

[Get ready.]

I held Hyun Se-rin’s hand.

[It’s about to get interesting.]

* * *

“Fake Shaman’s sudden appearance is unexpected, but it doesn’t really matter.”

As the dog seller’s cane flashed, three golden jindo dogs sprang out from his side.

“I’ll take on all three of you.”

“Hmph, such bravado. You must have used a lot of mana fighting Jun-gyeong, right?”

“…….”

“Think you can hold out? Either your body will break, or your mind will. One of the two, don’t you think?”

“UWAAAAAH!!”

Suddenly, Battle God let out a roar.

PAAAANG!!

A sonic boom erupted from the bridge, shaking the air, and blue magical power began leaking from Battle God’s entire body.

“Thinking comes later! First, as per the Association Chairman’s orders, I’ll subdue this unidentified villain!”

“…….”

Despite the intense magical power bursting from Battle God, the dog seller remained still.

“UOOOOOOO!!”

Battle God kicked off the ground and lunged at the dog seller, aiming his fist.

“This is the end!”

As his blue-glowing fist headed toward the dog seller’s head—

[I wonder about that.]

“!!”

With a low voice, something black blocked Battle God’s path.

KWAAAANG!!

Another mana explosion.

“You, you are…!”

The black figure who appeared and grabbed Battle God’s fist with one hand.

“Goblin!!”

Blocking Battle God’s attack with his body, he stood in front of the dog seller.

Indeed.

Taking the enemy jungler’s attack to save a low-HP ally is the perfect counter-gank.