Ch.93Revenge Plays Are Dangerous (2)

As I fought with Oliver, my once hazy memories became increasingly clear.

Chae Hwain recalled the returning memories, slowly retracing the series of events that occurred 7 years ago in America’s most dangerous dungeon.

[“What the hell are you doing?”]

[“It doesn’t matter. You’re going to die here.”]

[“You’re betraying Korea?”]

[“You’re too dangerous. Your mere existence is disrupting the balance between nations. The higher-ups have determined this cannot be allowed.”]

Those words were incredibly arrogant and utterly despicable.

It was the final battle in the first S-rank large dungeon that appeared after the Day of Change.

The American hunters wanted to split into teams to explore the uncharted areas of the dungeon before entering the boss room, claiming they needed to eliminate variables.

And their true purpose was to take Chae Hwain somewhere out of sight and kill her during that process.

‘…I’ll never forgive them.’

Jacob who cut off her left arm, Austin who broke her legs, Forden who ruptured her eyes and ears, and Michael who repaid her with betrayal despite owing his life to her in the dungeon.

Each moment of despair and pain was so vivid in her memory.

‘Disgusting.’

Chae Hwain had done her best to help a neighboring country in crisis, and they had torn her away from her only family.

Thinking of her sister who must have endured painful times alone, Chae Hwain continued walking without stopping.

‘One person. He’s right ahead.’

For some reason, she could sense it—the energy of those who had tried to kill her that day.

Without hesitation, Chae Hwain entered the banquet hall and moved toward the hateful face visible at the far end.

Thud.

Thunk.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

“Huh? Armor?”

The commotion that arose during this process didn’t register in Chae Hwain’s eyes, consumed as she was by rage.

Slash.

“……”

Austin Miller.

Known to the public as the Demon Hunter, an American S-rank hunter who specialized in close combat using martial arts.

Facing her enemy whose appearance had changed considerably since those days, the now middle-aged man opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

“Who are you? Do you have business with me?”

At those words, a bitter laugh escaped her.

She had fallen into the abyss of death, separated from her family, and experienced despair as if the sky had collapsed, yet the man before her couldn’t even recognize her because she wore a simple mask.

If that was the case, she would simply have to teach him.

About the wrongs they committed, and the price they must pay.

Click.

Shing.

“Sword of Creation.”

With the drawn blade, one side of the banquet hall wall was split in half.

#

Crash—!

BOOM!

At the sudden impact, the hunters in the hall raised their magical power and went on high alert.

“Urgh!”

“What the—?”

Among them were some who lacked the ability to protect themselves, but thanks to those like Russia’s Ivan and Italy’s Beatrice who could use wide-area abilities, there seemed to be no casualties.

“Th-thank you.”

“I thought my heart would stop.”

However, none of that mattered to me right now.

The energy I felt from that attack was all too familiar.

‘…No. Why is she doing this now?’

I looked toward the source of the impact where Chae Hwain stood, genuinely perplexed for once.

“Is this an attack?”

“That’s quite some power.”

“This doesn’t seem like the work of some random troublemaker.”

I agreed that it was a sincere attack. This wasn’t something that could be dismissed as a prank.

Soon the dust settled, revealing S-rank hunter Austin with a slight wound on his shoulder, his eyes wide open.

Murmur.

Murmur, murmur.

People’s attention was drawn to Austin, who was a celebrity in his own right, and to Chae Hwain’s unusual appearance, covered from head to toe in thin armor.

At the same time, Seoha and Lee Jicheol, who knew Chae Hwain was my undead, looked at me as if asking what on earth was going on.

I glanced around cautiously before answering.

“I-I didn’t order this.”

“…I’m not sure, but are you saying she’s gone berserk on her own?”

Strictly speaking, it was different from that. But looking at the result, it wasn’t entirely wrong either.

I remained silent and began observing the two people at the center of the incident.

Austin, the wounded one, spoke first.

“…What is this about?”

“I told you I’d be back.”

“That’s impossible. You should have died there.”

Somehow, the two seemed to know each other.

Judging by how visibly shaken he was, this Austin person clearly knew the circumstances.

He probably understood why Chae Hwain was acting this way.

“…No, I must be getting old. It can’t possibly be her. Someone must be playing tricks. Former Association Chairman Hudson? Or perhaps that bastard Michael?”

“……”

At Austin’s bitter laugh, Chae Hwain quietly raised her left arm and removed the mask from her head.

Then, her mysteriously beautiful and distinctive face was revealed.

“Hmm?”

“That person, I’ve definitely seen them somewhere…”

The title of the first S-rank hunter was by no means insignificant.

As such, people who recognized Chae Hwain began to emerge from all around in that brief moment.

“Why is she here?”

“I heard she died in a dungeon 7 years ago.”

And naturally, her identity was quickly exposed.

“…She’s an undead. I can sense a powerful death aura. Someone has resurrected her through necromancy.”

“What? There are only a handful of necromancers of that caliber in the entire world.”

Normally, they would have subdued the opponent and resolved the situation immediately, but faced with this development, the hunters were too confused to act right away.

However, that didn’t last long. Soon, high-ranking hunters from various countries began to surround Chae Hwain one by one.

“…I don’t know what’s going on, but this is the wrong place.”

“To think someone would attack in this venue. Truly arrogant.”

“Let’s subdue her first and let the authorities investigate.”

There were at least four S-rank hunters present. As they and the A-rank hunters closed in, Chae Hwain slightly turned her head and radiated killing intent.

“…Don’t interfere. I have no intention of harming uninvolved people.”

“What is this…”

At that simple warning, the approaching hunters all stopped in their tracks.

Such was the intensity of Chae Hwain’s gaze, and the magnitude of power emanating from her was extraordinary.

Through the hesitating hunters, a brown-haired beauty known as the Saint of France issued a warning.

“Everyone be careful. The enemy is strong.”

“…Indeed. Think of this as facing a boss in a high-tier dungeon. That’s what an S-rank undead is.”

Their assessment was accurate in its own way. No matter how powerful Chae Hwain was, if the forces gathered here remained vigilant and cooperated, they could certainly subdue her.

But I wore a sour expression watching the scene.

‘This doesn’t look easy.’

At first I thought it was just my imagination, but something was definitely off.

If my guess was correct, the current Chae Hwain was…

“Don’t run away.”

CRACK!

SNAP!

“AAAAARGH!”

Austin’s leg bent in a grotesque direction as he tried to escape the situation.

Most of the hunters present didn’t seem to register her movement at all.

Gordon, watching from inside my necklace, spoke up.

[…That woman has grown even stronger than before. What happened?]

“Ugh. She probably regained her memories.”

I had always assumed that Chae Hwain, despite being an undead, could use the skills she possessed in life.

I had predicted that her unexpected strength, despite being turned into an undead when my power wasn’t complete, was the result of combining the power of a Death Knight with an awakener’s skills.

‘……’

But I was wrong. Now I could see it clearly.

Chae Hwain hadn’t been properly using her skills in all the battles until now.

And only now was she using them all.

‘…I thought she must have been strong when alive, but to this extent?’

Austin, with his broken leg, grimaced in pain before unleashing all manner of skills in rage, throwing a punch at Chae Hwain.

“Divine Iron Fist!”

BOOM!

CRASH!

But Chae Hwain didn’t even properly look at it, blocking it with the flat of her sword while indifferently breaking his other leg.

CRACK!

SNAP!

“URRRGH!”

Despite being launched in such a desperate situation, Austin’s strike blew away part of the banquet hall with just its aftershock. It was a moment that fully demonstrated his skill as an S-rank hunter.

But that was as far as it went. Chae Hwain’s power far surpassed Austin’s.

Realizing this, the eyes of the hunters watching the battle filled with dismay.