Ch.612Chapter 23. Patriotic General Do Ji-hwan (16)

Cradle Break.

I’m the one who spread this technique throughout the world—a technique that, when successfully used against ability users, proves fatal to anyone.

Even if I’m mistakenly seen as a Goblin knockoff, or even if that’s actually true, would I not have prepared countermeasures?

Foolishly, this woman attacked my cradle.

While pretending to slash with her sword, she actually fired a beam of magical power from it to shatter my cradle.

But what she shattered wasn’t my cradle.

It was merely a golden orb made of managold disguised as a cradle on the outside.

In other words, an external core.

Just because the auxiliary battery attached to the outside was destroyed doesn’t mean I lose my magical power and become Zenros.

Why?

Needless to say, my cradle is inside my body.

Some might point out that heat management would be unhealthy, but thanks to magical power, ability, and the boss’s love, I can safely insert and manage my real cradle without any problems.

And I decided.

If anyone tries to break my cradle.

I would fight with the determination to completely destroy their cradle.

Even if they’re a woman, they’re just someone who tried to break my testicles.

Moreover, if they’re a villain trying to render a World Cup stadium unusable by installing radioactive soil from Pyongyang, there’s nothing more to say.

All that’s left is to break their cradle.

But who says I have to attack the cradle first?

In combat, when facing an enemy guarding their lower body, the basics dictate attacking the upper body.

WHACK!!

The Do Ji-hwan bat I threw spun through the air and struck Tyrant Yoo-hyun directly on the crown of her head.

“Aagh!”

Her head snapped back with a scream.

Despite throwing the bat with magical power enhanced by my will, Tyrant Yoo-hyun’s skull was surprisingly sturdy, showing no sign of giving way.

“Kuh, kugh…!”

[As expected of an S-rank.]

Normally, one blow would cause a concussion, but she merely staggered after taking a direct hit from the thrown club.

[Then I’ll just have to hit harder.]

“!!”

I snatched the rebounding Goblin club from midair and swung it downward with great force.

THWACK!!

A duller sound rang out.

I swung the club down hard aiming for her head, but a blade flashed, blocking my club.

“Unni!”

“You bastard!”

The crescent blade and four-sided spear crossed in an X-shape to block my club.

The gym director had electrical burn marks from her shoulder down, while Jangdeok’s back bore slash marks from pink flames.

[Impressive. To think they’d come to save their leader knowing they’d be injured.]

Yoon Yi-seon and Kim Yoon-ji hadn’t missed anything.

They had broken the standoff, prepared to suffer “near-fatal” wounds to save Tyrant Yoo-hyun.

“Hiyah!”

“Get away!”

The two women swung their weapons simultaneously, sending me flying backward.

I spun in midair using the rebound momentum from their weapons to land properly, pointing my club forward as I touched down in case of follow-up attacks.

“Unni, are you okay?!”

“Get a hold of yourself!”

Fortunately, they prioritized helping their fallen comrade over pressing their attack against me.

“Ugh, uuugh…!”

Tyrant Yoo-hyun kept squinting her eyes as she steadied her staggering posture.

Thanks to her two sisters’ help, she regained her senses sooner than expected.

“I apologize. I didn’t expect him to tear through the net with his body and escape.”

“To turn your back and rush to save your leader….”

[Are you confused that we seem like the villains now?]

The two smiled bitterly and lowered their heads.

If someone asked which side was making more “hero moves,” it would obviously be the Peach Sisters.

[That doesn’t mean they aren’t villains. They didn’t enter the country legally, and their illegal entry is for a World Cup stadium terror attack. No need for long explanations. They’ll be Zenros.]

“Zenros….”

“…Since they targeted the Goblin’s cradle, there’s no reason to hesitate.”

The two began rekindling their fighting spirit.

“But Goblin sir. It’s unlike you to give the enemy this much time….”

[As expected of a Goblin fan. You noticed I was ‘giving time’ to the enemy.]

Yoon Yi-seon’s question and answer to me were accurate.

“I knew it! After landing an attack that would cause a concussion, not following up with continuous attacks even with supporters nearby was definitely strange. You had a plan all along.”

“W-was that it?”

“What else could it be?”

“I thought you were waiting for her to regain consciousness for a fair fight….”

[That too.]

I deliberately gave them time.

To wait until Tyrant Yoo-hyun regained her senses.

[A berserk pattern would be troublesome.]

“Berserk… pattern?”

[When dealing with such a tight-knit group, you need to take them all down simultaneously to avoid problems.]

“Ah. If one falls, the other two get buffs. Something like that?”

[Exactly.]

Anger becomes magical power, becomes fighting strength, and strong will leads them to what’s called “awakening.”

Just as Liu Bei became enraged enough to launch the Yiling campaign after losing Guan Yu, if they’re connected by such strong bonds, there’s a high chance of a berserk pattern emerging.

Therefore.

I gave them time simply to make them easier to capture, not out of courtesy or to maintain manners.

[Peach Sisters. After fighting this much, you know which side has the advantage, right?]

“Sh-shut up…! We can still fight! Unni, are you okay?!”

“Ugh, uugh…. Y-you coward…! Distracting me with sexual harassment and then attacking my head…!”

[That’s your fault for getting distracted. And one more piece of advice: it was your mistake to assume I was Zenros just because you successfully attacked what you thought was my cradle.]

“!!”

Tyrant Yoo-hyun’s face, now somewhat recovered, twisted greatly.

‘Breaking the mental fortitude of martial artist-type ability users is my specialty.’

The so-called declaration of incompetence.

[With a title like “Tyrant,” I didn’t expect you to allow such an easy hit. Believing my words about breaking your cradle and protecting your lower body.]

Deliberately pointing out the opponent’s mistake.

[This isn’t some fair match between heroes at the World Cup. You attacked my cradle with a thrust during your slash, so I responded accordingly. Seems you’re not equipped to handle such tactics.]

Provoking them by mentioning their lack of skill.

[I’ll let it slide this time. But if you fall for the same trick again, I suggest you honestly relinquish your title, be it “Tyrant” or “S-rank.”]

Attacking their “title”—the pride they’ve built as ability users.

And then.

[Heavenly Demon would have protected her head immediately.]

“!!”

Stimulating the inferiority complex she was trying to ignore.

“Y-you filthy…! They said the words from under that mask were vicious, and they were right, you Goblin bastard…!!”

Tyrant Yoo-hyun’s eyes began burning with rage as she changed her stance.

She positioned her dual swords above and below, taking a stance that protected both upper and lower body simultaneously.

“Goblin sir? The opponent seems to have gotten stronger from anger. Isn’t this a berserk pattern?”

[There’s a qualitative difference between anger from inferiority and rage from losing a comrade. That’s just losing composure.]

“…That’s true, but it’s troublesome. Even with lost composure, if she channels that anger into her weapons, we might allow an attack.”

[At this point, yes.]

I gently patted their backs and placed my hand on my mask.

[Test complete. Peach Sisters, overall rating: S+. Analysis finished.]

“!!”

It’s always the same.

My elaborate trash-talking is always used when I’m in an “advantageous situation.”

[Let’s bring this to an end.]

“Wh-what are you trying to do…! What are you plotting now…!”

[Plotting? No, no.]

I gave the two a light hand signal.

[I’m ending this. I’ve given you enough chances, but you’re still like this. Fighting any longer won’t yield more data.]

Click.

As soon as I finished speaking, the magical power shimmering in their hands began changing form.

Whoosh.

Nine fox tails rose like flames behind Yoon Yi-seon’s back, and Kim Yoon-ji drew a sword made of electricity, running her fingers along the blade to coat it with lightning.

“Wh-what…?”

“No way, that stance is…!”

The Peach Sisters immediately noticed the change and tensed up.

“Impossible…! They’re Alters!! How can they copy the original’s fighting style…!”

“Ah! Clone humans! N-no way…! You were testing a different fighting style against us?! You garbage!”

[Think whatever you want.]

Maybe because I’ve made the situation such a mess, somehow every enemy I meet jumps to their own conclusions.

Whoosh!

Kim Yoon-ji charged forward, while Yoon Yi-seon summoned a fiery fox to run alongside her.

[Sorry, but I don’t have enough loyalty to directly face three close-combat fighters.]

Except for Kim Yoon-ji, who would engage directly with weapons.

[Even if it’s cowardly, winning is all that matters.]

Click.

I hold the Goblin club forward.

Standing sideways, I grip the handle with one hand and point the end at Tyrant Yoo-hyun.

[Playtime is over.]

As I prepare to dash forward—

BANG!

I fired a magic bullet.