episode_0014

Episode 14. Ambush.

The hunt was going smoothly. It was thanks to the fact that I had been slaughtering skeletons and raising my stats quite a bit.

Of course, that was it, only a rise of 3. It wasn’t easy to gather karma.

Thwack!

I kicked the skeleton’s skull with a refreshing soccer kick. With this, there were no more skeletons in the vicinity.

I immediately dismantled my big toe and recalled my stats.

The memory was so vivid, it was as if the status window appeared before my eyes.

‘All stats except magic power are 14. If I get 8 more karma, I can make magic power 14 as well.’

Unfortunately, the level of Magic Missile was still 1. Since physical ability was the most efficient right now, I was holding off on investing in magic power and skills.

‘I’ll make magic power 14 and then raise the skill level once.’

Karma, karma is too scarce. Unlike gold, the supply of karma is too limited.

Is there anything I can do? Suddenly, I thought of the senior adventurer I met at the guild house.

‘It would be nice if I could kill someone safely. Without getting caught by anyone.’

However, the city’s public order was relatively good. Maybe later, but with my current skills, a perfect crime was impossible.

‘I need to get stronger.’

In the end, the answer came down to one thing. Getting stronger. Whether it was in the modern world or in the tower. It was an immutable truth. At that time, a voice broke my reverie.

“Mr. Yohan.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s continue hunting.”

“Ah, yes.”

Was I too engrossed? I got up from my seat with an awkward smile.

We had just entered Marim and fought our third battle. We haven’t met today’s target amount yet. We need to move quickly.

At that moment.

“Mr. Yohan! Duck!”

“······!”

I didn’t ask any questions at her cry and immediately rolled to the floor.

She rarely raises her voice. That means it’s an urgent situation where every second counts.

Swish─

Something brushed over the back of my head as I lay face down. Some of my hair fluttered in the air. My spine tingled as a spinal reflex.

‘Ambush! Is it those guys from before!’

I thought something felt strange. They’re finally doing something. It’s not like I wasn’t being cautious.

But how could I have noticed an attack from behind? It’s not like I have eyes in the back of my head.

Immediately after, I heard the sound of wind cutting through the air with my heightened hearing.

Whoosh─

I can’t see it, but it’s too late to react if I see it. I curled up as much as possible and raised my shield. At least I’ll avoid instant death.

Thud!

“Ugh······!”

Soon, I felt a heavy impact. I rolled away as is, creating distance. It was an opportunity. An opportunity to get away from the attackers.

While rolling, I managed to turn my gaze and see the faces of the attackers.

It was them. They had been following us from the castle walls. The guys were smiling savagely and charging at me.

“Kahaha! The reaction is good! It’s going to be fun to hunt!”

‘9 people. If we fight, we’ll definitely lose.’

I made a decision in a short amount of time. Anyone could see that the difference in strength was clear. Even if she and I had recently experienced a steep increase in power, 9 people was too much.

A desperate situation. But I smiled coldly, as if I didn’t know fear.

‘Dare to mess with a regressor? You’re all dead.’

Even if we lose today, this ‘present’ will disappear. Because our party has her.

I quickly said to Kim Sara. I know it’s not the end even if we die, but I needed to show a normal reaction here. I grabbed her hand tightly.

“Ms. Sara! Let’s run away! We can’t win this!”

“Wait a minute······.”

“Hurry! There’s no time!”

Thud!

I ignored her when she tried to say something. I know, woman. I know you’re immortal. But I don’t know that setting yet. I grabbed her hand tightly and ran with all my might.

Behind us, a frivolous voice stabbed at our backs like thorns.

“Come here! You bastards! You think you can escape!”

She, who had been passive at first, eventually started running to match my pace.

The strength stat was the same for both her and me. We left the battlefield at almost the same speed.

But there was something I hadn’t anticipated. That was······

“Ah!”

Her height is about 160cm in the latter half. In comparison, my height was 183cm.

Even if the strength stats are the same, the absolute length of the legs doesn’t change. In the end, she lost her footing and staggered.

The hunters didn’t miss that opportunity. A man immediately took a stance and shot an arrow.

Whoosh─

Too late. The speed of the arrow is much faster than her getting ready to block it. I gritted my teeth and threw myself.

Thud!

It wasn’t a well-aimed strike. There was no power at the end of the arrow. After easily defending, I immediately got up.

“······!”

Immediately after, a barbaric hand ax was in front of my eyes. They took advantage of the gap where I blocked the arrow and threw the ax.

All the senses in my body sent out fierce warnings. But I definitely can’t avoid this.

Unfortunately, this turn ends here······

Clang!

······it wasn’t. I saw a light flashing and the ax flew far away. I lowered my trembling eyes without even realizing it.

“······.”

I saw Kim Sara quietly extending her sword from inside my arms. Her emotionless eyes were staring straight at me. For some reason, I got goosebumps.

She slowly moved out of my arms and took a stance.

Her body was so flexible, it was like watching a snake instead of a human. A snake with sleek, black curves.

Kim Sara looked around once. We had stopped to block the arrow and ax, so we were surrounded by the guys.

“Looks like it’s not going to work out to escape, right?”

Gasp!

I felt a chill down my spine. Could it be that she intentionally led this situation? Not a mistake?

I think that’s right. Because the her I’ve figured out so far is that kind of woman. I swallowed hard without realizing it.

As expected, making her my comrade was······

“Yes. Let’s give it a try.”

The best choice. No regrets.

***

“I told you, how good would it have been if you came with us earlier? How about it. Would you like to join us now?”

“······.”

It was the man who offered to party with us at the castle gate on the 2nd day. His tone was similar to back then, but his expression was different. Much more sinister, and more blatantly looking at Kim Sara.

At least when we first met, he hid his feelings a little, but now he’s a dog in heat.

“Join······ you mean? If we join, will you spare us?”

The guy smirked. The way he smiled with his eyes was extremely disgusting.

“Oh, of course, even now, all······.”

‘Now.’

I quickly activated [Magic Missile] at the timing when he was about to inhale. Those guys don’t know that I’m still a mage. Now is the perfect timing!

Weeeing─

It worked. It hit······

Thud!

“······!”

“You surprised me. You scared me. ‘Magician’ nim.”

“······.”

The man used his shield to block the Magic Missile, as if he had already expected it. The man opened his mouth with a greasy smile.

“Lying among people from the same hometown is too much. Right? I’m hurt.”

“······.”

I quickly retraced my memories. It’s one of two things. He saw me hunting skeletons, or else······

“Someone leaked my information at the guild house. Tsk. I shouldn’t have used magic back then.”

It’s probably this. I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

“Guild house? What are you talking about?”

The man made a face as if he didn’t know what was going on. I was dumbfounded. I almost fell for it.

“You’re a good actor. But it doesn’t seem like the person next to you is.”

Then a giant with white fur on his chest laughed heartily.

“Kahaha! I’m sorry about this! I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“Is it you?”

The giant told me coolly as if I was already a dead man.

“I’ll have to buy that friend a drink when I get back. Thanks to him, I got a health food. Keuheuhe······.”

“······.”

Further conversation is meaningless. Now that it’s come to this, I decided to think of it as gaining practical experience. I quietly poked Kim Sara’s side with my fingernail.

“······.”

“······.”

Thud!

Kim Sara immediately charged towards the back. I just followed her and kicked off the ground.

Since she said to kill the people in the back first, I’ll just follow. In reality, the people in the back seemed weaker.

“Huh? These bastards······!”

A man immediately drew his sword and counterattacked us. In addition, 3 other men extended their weapons towards us.

‘Swordsman, shield warrior, boxer, native.’

I had already set the priority as soon as she started charging. I immediately stabbed my long sword at the target.

Clang!