Chapter 161

Chapter 161. Perception (4)

‘Oh, so that’s what’s going on.’

With the word “British!”, Kang Hyunwoo finally understood Jang Ryun’s actions.

‘Recently, Ethan has been on a bounty hunt in Viceta.’

The people who were dead were all famous PK players. Because of this, the community had a positive response, expressing satisfaction rather than negativity.

‘He thinks I’m Ethan.’

So he must have hesitated, worried about causing trouble with the British government if he interfered with me. It’s well-known that Ethan is affiliated with British intelligence.

“Right, it makes sense. You’re that guy, aren’t you? The one who’s been messing with our guys recently.”

Unlike how I arrived at the correct conclusion, Jang Ryun’s misunderstanding only deepened.

“Geez, this just got annoying…”

He scratched his head, looking at me up and down.

“Can’t kill you, but can’t let you go, either.”

Then, with an exasperated sigh, he abruptly scolded me in a tone as if I was at fault.

“Why do you have to get involved in unnecessary matters and make things troublesome?”

He spoke as if I was doing something wrong.

Scenes through which I passed on my way here flashed before my eyes: the pit where corpses were piled, people trembling in fear inside the prison.

By my standards, after seeing that, there was no choice but to be here. But that might not be the case for Jang Ryun.

So, in his eyes, how would that scene have appeared?

“I have something to ask.”

Unable to suppress an inquiry that rose up, I spoke because I was genuinely curious.

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The people locked up there, and those who were killed by you guys.”

Really, you feel nothing looking at their bodies and blood?

When I added pure curiosity and asked the question, an unexpected and straightforward answer came back.

“Do you feel guilty when you eat meat?”

“……”

“No, right? You just eat without thinking! It’s no different for the butcher. It’s just meat, meat.”

It wasn’t particularly shocking. It was more like, ‘That’s how it is, huh?’

So, without any disturbance, I calmly asked the next question,

“Then what about genetic issues? Aren’t there risks like organ rejection in transplants…? Have you checked they’re okay before using them?”

Considering that they might be entirely different beings on another evolutionary path or speed, could there be a disparity?

Indeed, in the pit lay bodies that weren’t just of humans but demi-humans as well.

Pointing out that issue and delving into it made Jang Ryun exhale exasperatedly as if he couldn’t believe I was asking.

“What a strange guy you are. I’m just a supplier. I just provide the meat to those who need it.”

The hospital needs it anyway, he said.

Do you think all transplant patients can be handled with organs donated through legal procedures?

“The ones accepting illegally obtained organs are the hospitals, right? So, if anyone dies, the hospital should handle it.”

As each word reached me, I felt lighter.

‘So, even without confirming compatibility or side effects, he simply sold them because of demand.’

If the rate of evolution of the Biharin differs from that of Earthlings, what then becomes of the bodies abandoned in those pits?

“Geez, why live so complicatedly? Just live simply. Don’t get tangled in unnecessary things with a sense of justice, live moderately, right?”

“…….”

“If you quietly leave today, I’ll see you’re well compensated. How about it?”

As the conversation reached there, it became more evident to me why dealing with people like him reduced my guilt or antipathy.

To them, what I consider humanity does not exist.

Hence, I do not perceive them as humans.

‘Conversing and persuading animals is impossible.’

When the conversation itself is impossible, persuading is absurd.

Similarly, considering him human just because he looks human is foolish.

Simply sharing the same skin doesn’t mean being the same existence.

“Think carefully; such opportunities don’t come easily.”

Upon reaching that firm conclusion, I no longer felt the need to bother with Jang Ryun.

‘This is a waste of time.’

No support seemed to be coming, and chatting with Jang Ryun was an absolute waste of time.

“Thanks for your honesty. Let me be honest with you as well.”

“What?”

I decided to give a shove to the still-hesitant Jang Ryun.

“I’m not British.”

As if surprised, Jang Ryun’s eyes widened before his expression brightened, gleaming with a longing look.

“Even if you kill me, the issues you’re worried about won’t occur.”

With that, my lips curled.

“So, enough with the talk. Let’s get down to business.”

Whoosh.

‘Flame Storm.’

The flames that blossomed before my eyes quickly spread everywhere. In various locations, barriers sprang up simultaneously.

However, most were conjured through magical stones bought at the store. Given the hierarchy and rank of mana, a Level 2 barrier was useless against Level 3 magic.

‘This is the end for the bronze ranks.’

Taking down silver ranks in one go would be challenging. Among them, there would certainly be those with innate resistance due to Level 3 attribute mana.

Hence, I should use magic to contain the silver ranks while hunting down the gold ranks as swiftly as possible.

“Arghhhh!”

I pulled my gaze away from the burning silver rank players.

That’s when Jang Ryun, who had been hesitating and licking his lips, lunged at me.

‘Kim Yul mentioned that he might have Level 3 mana.’

Indeed, the scent from him was of Level 3. There were a couple of types mixed in, an earthy scent and a watery stench.

‘I should be wary of trap or defensive magic.’

I roughly sketched out the direction of the battle. Meanwhile, I gauged his landing point and took a half-step back, swinging my spear horizontally.

Bang!

The cool, sharp sound of clashing blades resonated as Jang Ryun’s sword and my spear met. Immediately, the ground beneath me crumbled.

Before I could even assess the situation, I quickly spread a barrier beneath my feet.

Thanks to that, I didn’t lose my balance and could thrust the spear in contact with Jang Ryun’s sword.

“What the!”

When the spear, gliding along the blade, approached the handle, Jang Ryun swiftly withdrew, striking my spear upwards.

Without delay, as the spear rebounded, I changed the grip. My left and right hands switched positions, transforming twice with precise flicks.

Thus, within two grasps, the grip position, which was close to the shaft’s end, moved near the spearhead.

In that interval, the spear pivoted 180 degrees, with the blunted end targeting Jang Ryun’s chin.

Were he a silver rank, he wouldn’t have evaded and would have taken the hit. It wasn’t a straightforward exchange but a half-beat faster strike countering the opponent’s move.

Yet, Jang Ryun mirrored my gold rank, with reflexes considerably quicker than any silver rank.

“Ugh!”

As expected, he dodged my attack by twisting his left shoulder.

Of course, I didn’t let him off the hook so easily.

By the time Jang Ryun started twisting his shoulder, I had already loosened the grip on my spear slightly.

The spear naturally extended further, stretching a hand’s breadth deeper. Consequently, the blunt end breached close to Jang Ryun’s temple area.

Before his redirected sword targeted me.

Thunk!

My spear’s shaft struck Jang Ryun’s side face.

“Argh!”

Judging by the feel of the strike, it was undoubtedly a solid hit.

Indeed, Jang Ryun, for a moment, was completely limp afterward.

Instantaneously, a concussion might have set in.

Still, progressing from a solid hit to a decisive blow felt slightly inadequate. After all, Jang Ryun was gold rank.

In the brief seconds I held my spear firmly, he rolled away, recovering from the impact. My downward thrust found nothing as Jang Ryun evacuated the point of impact.

There was no letting go of him yet.

‘Acceleration.’

The explosion of rapid movement pursued Jang Ryun, relentless and never giving respite.

“Gah!”

My pursuit, one beat faster than anticipated, exploited a gap and dealt him a severe wound.

Blood was smeared on the spear blade, a testament to having dealt a significant gash to his side.

Concurrently, I sensed two presences behind me. Silver ranks aiming for the opening while I battled Jang Ryun. Reflexively, I shielded but soon heard a crunch as it shattered.

In the clash between Level 2 and Level 3 magic, the latter prevailed. I watched as ice encroached past the broken barrier.

‘It’s too late to dodge.’

Wrapping myself in attribute mana as quickly as possible, I felt ice envelop me. By then, I had already activated Telekinesis.

“Arrgghh!”

My left arm was encased in ice, while the silver ranks aiming for me lost their eyes.

Retreating a bit, Jang Ryun was applying a potion to his side.

‘Why isn’t he using more magic?’

The ground crumbling earlier was undoubtedly Jang Ryun’s magic.

But he didn’t use additional magic afterward. It was strange that he didn’t channel mana while swinging his weapon either.

Watching his movements, I simultaneously beheaded the two blinded silver ranks. With a single step, I lunged at Jang Ryun from behind.

Even with acceleration in play, I couldn’t land an effective hit. Maybe he sensed the danger vividly because Jang Ryun dodged desperately, almost frantically.

Keeping up with him wasn’t out of the question… Yet, pausing momentarily, I assessed my left arm.

Encased entirely in ice, continuing the fight in this state wasn’t ideal.

‘Despite having a mana advantage, it’s different from defensive magic.’

I didn’t suffer major injuries due to a hasty shield of attribute mana. Nevertheless, my arm froze solid, despite being clad in Level 5 mana.

‘Given time, breaking it isn’t hard.’

However, restricting my physical freedom mid-battle was problematic.

‘I need to enhance my magic resistance.’

Chewing my lip silently, I channeled more attribute mana into my arm.

Crackle, crackle.

The sparks, now familiar as an extension of my own body, began to disrupt the ice formation.

Soon, the ice encasing my arm fractured, breaking apart. Meanwhile, Jang Ryun had staunched his bleeding with a potion.

Yet, I didn’t feel impatience or regret.

‘In terms of weapon-handling skill, he’s not impressive.’

Jang Ryun’s response speed slightly surpassed the knights of the Bennett family. Nonetheless, he didn’t match the meticulous expertise of the knights, turning comparison into an apology.

There’s a lack of sharpness in his attacks.

‘Honestly, it’s not just him.’

This issue wasn’t exclusive to Jang Ryun; it was widespread among players.

Compared to the Biharin, who’ve wielded weapons for decades, players’ proficiency is severely lacking.

Most combat revolves around overpowering with superior physical strength, which explains their nature.

Against ordinary monsters, this isn’t an issue. Even as a silver rank, one could toy with 1st and 2nd-grade evolved species.

However, transition to the upper tiers?

‘General ranks possess high intelligence.’

Ambushes, setting traps, and aiming for weaknesses are calculated battles.

If players cling to such battle strategies, they’ll face grim outcomes.

Occasionally, members of the Palao play are somewhat experienced in personal combat.

‘But they don’t practice regularly like I do.’

While the main scenario unfolded, I consistently sparred with knights in the barracks.

Though some were reluctant due to me being an outsider, around half viewed it as an opportunity and accepted.

Other players, however, weren’t as proactive in accumulating experience.

‘If this persists, mortality rates will skyrocket in battles against general ranks…’

Having identified another issue out of the blue, I sighed, twirling my spear.

“Aren’t you coming?”

It was clearly a provocation. Given Jang Ryun’s nature of viewing me as a prey, charging should be instinctive.

Yet, he swallowed hard instead.

I glanced down, noticing his feet aiming in a different direction from me.

‘He intends to run away.’

A moment ago, he was salivating while looking at me, yet now he swiftly alters his stance upon realizing the skill disparity.

‘The mana wasn’t accumulated through his effort, after all.’

Damned System