Chapter 83

The figure revealed itself.

It was emaciated like a skeleton.

Its face was covered in unsightly piercings.

Tattoos with bizarre patterns adorned its arms, legs, and even its neck—every exposed part of its body.

‘That guy is…’

I knew him.

His unique appearance was unforgettable.

Moreover, he wasn’t just a passing villain without a name; he was a named boss.

A member of Red Rain, the most dangerous organization in this world.

A numbered member holding the position of 9.

I had many memories of getting a game over because of him.

He was that strong an enemy.

He was someone I couldn’t possibly handle in my current state.

‘So he was the mastermind.’

The incident that ‘happened’ during this hunting competition.

If he was the mastermind, everything made sense.

He had the capability.

‘Shadow Gulshan.’

Shadow was his nickname.

And there was no better word to describe him.

Shadow was both the source and the essence of his power.

“…Thanks for saving me, senior.”

I cautiously stood up while keeping my eyes on Gulshan.

Though I was tense, Gulshan didn’t immediately attack again.

He was staring at the wound on his shoulder, torn by the arrow, with a look of disbelief.

It was a sizable wound, tearing off chunks of flesh.

Blood ran down his arm, dripping to the ground.

“Heh… hehahaha!”

Gulshan suddenly burst into laughter.

It wasn’t a forced laugh.

He genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself.

“This is fun. Truly fun.”

Gulshan grinned, baring his teeth.

Knowing his personality, I could guess his state of mind.

He loved exciting fights.

Especially if he was one of the participants.

Though he had been caught off guard, it was rare for anyone to land such a blow on him.

He was undoubtedly thrilled by the appearance of a worthy opponent after a long time.

“Oh, I see now. You’re a high elf.”

Gulshan finally noticed Hiresia’s silver eyes and spoke.

Only high elves had silver eyes.

“And you’re still trash.”

Hiresia retorted coldly.

It was a refreshing comeback that made me want to applaud.

“Hahaha, well, I don’t mind women with a bit of spirit. Especially if they’re the ones who’ll taste my blood.”

“It’ll be your blood tasting my arrows.”

Despite Gulshan’s provocation, Hiresia remained completely composed.

And within that composure was a clear emotion.

Killing intent.

It was the first time I felt such definite murderous intent from her before she turned dark.

I could guess the reason.

Because he almost killed me.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel moved.

It meant she considered me that precious.

‘…Sorry for being useless.’

In this fight between true powerhouses, there was nothing I could do.

It would be fortunate if I wasn’t just a burden.

The problem was that I was likely to become that burden.

Fighting while protecting someone inevitably imposed restrictions.

‘No.’

I had one weapon.

Information.

I had died to him many times and also killed him many times.

It meant I knew a lot about him.

From strengths to weaknesses.

However.

There was a problem.

Even if I had that information, I didn’t have the ability to use it effectively.

So, conveying that information to Hiresia for her to use?

‘That would be a terrible idea.’

First, there wasn’t enough time or opportunity to do so.

Besides, there was a fundamental issue.

If Gulshan realized that I knew all that information about him?

It would be permanently etched in his mind.

In a very bad way.

I would end up on his list of targets to eliminate.

A situation I couldn’t possibly handle in my current state.

In the end.

‘I have to do whatever I can.’

I couldn’t just be a burden.

I had to be of some help, even if just a little.

I took out Marcus’s bow instead of my sword.

The chances of cutting him with my sword were zero.

With Marcus’s bow, even a grazing shot could inflict a curse of weakness, giving me a slim chance.

“Heh, then let’s get started properly.”

Gulshan’s focus was entirely on Hiresia.

It meant he didn’t see me as a threat at all.

But not being seen as a threat didn’t mean he wouldn’t attack.

I knew him.

He was someone who would relentlessly exploit any weakness.

Fair play?

That’s something only knights seek.

Gulshan wasn’t a knight.

He was a cold-blooded hunter who would use any means necessary to devour his prey.

So, as her weakness, I could be exploited at any moment.

‘I won’t let that happen.’

I calmed my tense mind and activated my focused vision.

It was the only technique with a slim chance of hitting him.

Soon, countless golden lines appeared before me.

Head, neck, heart…

I saw various lines connecting to places that could end Gulshan’s life.

But.

‘It doesn’t mean anything.’

Gulshan would avoid the arrows before they reached him.

I couldn’t aim where he was.

I had to predict where he would ‘appear’ to have any chance.

And that place was.

‘The shadow.’

I quickly scanned the positions of the shadows around.

The reason he was called Shadow.

The reason he could move in such an unbelievable manner.

It was because he could teleport through shadows.

There were few abilities as cheating as this for stealthy and quick ambushes.

That was why Gulshan was such a troublesome and terrifying enemy.

‘I’ll use that against him.’

He had no idea that I knew this.

That obvious complacency.

I would exploit it.

‘I’ll go with that one.’

I chose a spot.

Not a close one.

A distant shadow.

I planned to target him when he moved away, not when he attacked.

People let their guard down in places they think are safe.

“Ah, yes. Let’s use this.”

Gulshan muttered to himself with a grin.

At that moment.

Swish!

An arrow tore through the air.

Two arrows, in fact.

“Oops.”

Gulshan’s figure disappeared.

His body had moved to a place far away.

“Yes, that’s how it should be. Right?”

Bang!

Before he even finished speaking, something came flying towards us.

A headless corpse.

Gulshan had kicked it with incredible strength.

A force beyond human capability.

If it hit, it would be a critical blow.

Of course, Hiresia could easily dodge it, but the problem was that I was beside her.

As my heart pounded.

She lightly flicked her left hand.

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind blew the flying corpse aside.

Her second specialty.

Spirit magic.

She had finally revealed it.

“Heh, interesting trick.”

But Gulshan had already reached right in front of us.

Shadow magic?

No.

He had hidden his body in the blind spot created by the corpse and shot forward.

Close range.

The most dangerous distance for an archer.

But.

Ping!

Hiresia, unfazed, shot her bow with lightning speed.

But Gulshan dodged as if he had anticipated it.

“Heh, do you think I’d fall for that again?”

As he said, the close-range shot had wounded him earlier.

His reaction was different the second time.

It was predictable in his mind.

“Now, then.”

Gulshan’s hand, darkened with shadow, he moved.

It was a strike filled with the power of shadows.

Bones and flesh would be powerless against that force.

“Hmph.”

But Hiresia coldly snorted and raised her bow.

Using a long-range weapon like a bow for defense?

An absurd action.

But…

Clang!

That absurd action blocked Gulshan’s attack.

“What?”

Gulshan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He had never imagined that a wooden bow could withstand his power.

But it wasn’t just any wooden bow.

It was a bow made from the branches of the World Tree.

A treasure among treasures, possessing immense elasticity and hardness at the same time.

“Get lost.”

Thud!

A sound like a drum bursting echoed.

Taking advantage of his surprise, she kicked Gulshan mercilessly.

Gulshan’s body flew backward.

Thud.

He landed unsteadily, barely managing to brace himself with his arms.

But his arms were trembling slightly.

Because he had taken the full force of her powerful kick.

“Heh… This is beyond my imagination.”

Gulshan laughed.

But this laugh was different from before.

It was dry and hollow.

It meant that his anger was rising.

What he wanted was a moderately entertaining opponent to toy with, nothing more.

“But you know, it’s one thing to bark, but I really hate dogs that don’t know their place and actually try to bite.”

Gulshan’s words confirmed my guess.

He was now serious.

Serious about tearing her apart.

But that seriousness was directed at Hiresia, not me.

To him, I was still just a worthless insect.

I had to find a way to exploit that obvious arrogance.

“Hmph. You’re trash that can’t even be used as dog food.”

Hiresia brushed off the insult lightly.

It seemed to further provoke Gulshan’s anger.

“I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart!”

Thud!

Gulshan’s figure lunged forward again, kicking off the ground with force.

No shadow magic this time.

He was waiting for the right moment to ambush.

Gulshan closed the distance in an instant.

The distance was rapidly closing.

But Hiresia remained still, her hand on her bow.

She was also waiting for the right moment.

Swish!

Gulshan revealed his fangs first.

Suddenly, a sharp black energy shot out from his right fingertips.

A shadow-infused finger strike.

Ridiculously, it was aimed directly at me.

An attack targeting the opponent’s weakness.

Typical of him.

But I couldn’t complain.

Exploiting the opponent’s weakness was the most effective way to attack.

“I won’t die!”

I shouted with determination.

And I twisted my body to the side before I even finished shouting.

I had been watching his movements closely.

And there was distance between us.

I couldn’t avoid it completely, but I was confident I could prevent a fatal wound.

Swish!

My side stung.

Flesh was torn, and blood splattered.

But the important thing was that I had avoided the attack aimed at my heart.

With this… I had avoided being a burden to her.

As if understanding my resolve, Hiresia was already moving.

Ten arrows were nocked on her bowstring.

A point-blank multiple shot.

It was unavoidable.

But in that split second.

Gulshan smirked.

He…

Swish!

A storm of arrows poured down.

Before the storm could hit, Gulshan’s body disappeared.

No, it sank.

Downwards.

And then…

“Heh, I was waiting for that!”

Gulshan’s body emerged from behind.

From the shadow behind Hiresia.

He had been waiting for her to use her big move.

“Senior!”

I couldn’t help but shout urgently.

I trusted her.

But it still looked dangerous.

“Haha!”

With a triumphant laugh, Gulshan aimed a powerful strike at her back, intending to shatter her bones.

But at that moment.

No… it was clearly before that.

Thud!

I heard the sound of something piercing flesh.

My eyes widened.

It was an arrow.

An arrow held in Hiresia’s left hand had pierced Gulshan’s abdomen.

“Ugh?!”

Gulshan groaned in disbelief.

He couldn’t believe that her strike had been faster than his own attack from behind.

He was so shocked that he couldn’t even complete his intended strike.

Even if he had, it wouldn’t have mattered once she had read his move.

“This works well.”

Hiresia said.

Only then did I realize what technique she had just used.

It was the trick I had barely managed to learn after struggling with White for days.

She had used it in real combat to deceive Gulshan.

The multiple shots had been a natural bait from the start.

It was so natural that even I had been completely fooled.

“Damn it!”

Gulshan spat out in anger.

And his figure disappeared again.

‘Now!’

I instinctively reacted.

I knew that an injured Gulshan would definitely use shadow magic to create distance.

I shot my focused vision arrow towards the shadow I had pre-selected.

Swish!

It was a shot in the dark.

A very low probability.

But I hoped for luck.

And the answer luck gave me was…

Thud!

A satisfying sound I hadn’t even expected excited me.

“You… you worthless insect?!”

Gulshan’s voice, filled with rage, echoed.