episode_0117

116.

It was only natural to have already prepared artifacts to protect oneself.

Named the Guardian Barrier, it was a defensive artifact that formed an opaque barrier around the user to provide protection. Moreover, it had the ability to counterattack by dispersing a powerful current proportional to the damage received.

In the game, it often induced a momentary groggy state by giving a status effect of stiffness.

However, against monsters like Yoo Dahee, it wouldn’t have much effect.

After all, Yoo Dahee was undeniably the top chicken character of the Romance Hero Academy.

“Ouch, that’s shocking.”

Crackling, crackling!

A powerful current passed through Yoo Dahee’s body.

“Static electricity is the worst.”

For an ordinary person, the threatening amount of current could have caused an electric shock, but Yoo Dahee only grumbled to himself with a disgruntled expression.

Thanks to his exceptional durability and self-defense skills, he seemed to have suffered no significant injuries.

Although he wasn’t a body enhancement ability user, Yoo Dahee boasted a sturdy physique that rivaled them.

It was even confusing whether he was human or not.

The current was only enough to momentarily stiffen Yoo Dahee’s body.

But that was sufficient.

Because there was an exceptional ally who could take advantage of even the smallest opening, Aisha Ilios, known as Flash, who had defeated numerous villains and monsters.

“That white-haired girl who attacked the Union, right? Goodbye~.”

Aisha’s twin swords elegantly and sharply extended like snakes towards Yoo Dahee’s side and abdomen.

In an instant, they precisely pierced through the void.

It was truly a speed reminiscent of lightning.

The twin swords, like beams of light, reached right in front of Yoo Dahee’s nose.

The sword of the highest rank that even Alex couldn’t properly dodge.

Eventually, Aisha’s fangs ruthlessly tore into Yoo Dahee’s body. The blade plunged deeply into his side and lower abdomen. Yoo Dahee’s body was taunted by the sharp blade. The blade shimmered brightly.

However…

“Oh?”

It was an afterimage.

What Aisha had pierced was just the lingering image left behind after Yoo Dahee had moved.

Aisha’s blade only cut through the air, and when she glanced over, she could see Yoo Dahee standing a little distance away, looking impressed.

Ah, it didn’t work after all.

Well, I didn’t have high expectations to begin with.

It’s not an easy opponent to bring down with such ease.

“Wow, that was a surprise. You’re really fast, huh. Definitely capable of taking down Alex. It was one thing to observe it, but experiencing it firsthand is quite different.”

“…Hey, was that Hyun Hwanwi just now? That was Hyun Hwanwi, right?”

“Probably?”

“Unlucky. Looks quite difficult, but talented, isn’t he?”

Hyun Hwanwi.

It was a top-tier movement technique that instantly shifted one’s position.

It moved so quickly that it left an afterimage, confusing the opponent’s sight. It was a more advanced technique than the Mirage God that Yoo Dahee had used before.

“…I’ve seen the footage of the Union attack incident, so I knew he had some skills, but I didn’t expect him to use Hyun Hwanwi.”

“I’ve grown since then.”

“Really, these talented people are all over the place.”

“You’re not one to talk, are you? I remember you were quite famous in England too.”

He can already use Hyun Hwanwi.

It’s endlessly annoying to see the villain constantly growing.

Can Soyeon catch up with Yudahee’s growth rate?

Soyeon’s talent is similar to or even greater than Yudahee’s, but I’m slightly worried whether the newly blossomed Soyeon can grow at a pace that can threaten Yudahee in a short period of time.

“Oh, hey, you.”

“?”

Yudahee soon turned her gaze towards me.

“Was that an artifact you just used?”

“Well?”

“Ah, it seems like an artifact, don’t just take it out. It looks like a defensive artifact. Aren’t artifacts of that level quite rare? How did you manage to get it?”

It goes without saying that artifacts in reality are very rare.

It’s not something you can easily obtain just because you have a lot of money.

Moreover, among the artifacts with numerous effects, those suitable for combat are even rarer.

The reason I was able to possess artifacts suitable for combat was, of course, due to the knowledge from the original work.

In the original work, powerful, useful, and amazing artifacts were abundant within the protagonist’s reach.

Well, it’s a common story.

If you look at typical RPG games, very rare minerals, amazing items, legendary equipment, and such are hidden near the protagonist.

In Korea, there were still quite a few useful artifacts hidden.

And I had been searching for such things throughout the midterm exams.

Until now, I couldn’t obtain them due to reasons like lack of strength, money, time, etc., but now it’s different.

I have plenty of money, time, connections overflowing.

Even if I have to push myself a bit for today, I have prepared a lot.

“It seems like you have more than just one artifact.”

Correct.

“No matter how much money you have or how good your abilities are, it’s not common for someone to possess multiple useful artifacts….”

Do you know how many artifacts I currently possess?

I can confidently say that I am the person in South Korea who possesses the most artifacts.

No, not only in South Korea, but even compared to the whole world, there are very few individuals who possess as many artifacts as I do, right?

Even large clans or major corporations usually have one artifact at most.

“…I heard that your ability is to absorb magic, isn’t that also an artifact?”

Oh, um.

Your words are correct.

I’m a powerless person.

“In fact, you’ve been searching for artifacts because you have precognitive abilities, right?”

Th-this guy, why is he so sharp.

Well, it doesn’t seem like he’s speaking with absolute certainty.

It seems like he’s joking around a bit.

Yudahee is currently suspecting that I have precognitive abilities, so he seems to be teasing me a bit.

I really don’t think I can have precognitive abilities….

“Huh, what nonsense! Precognition, what’s that!”

“Uh?”

Soyeon?

“What, that’s nonsense, really.”

“Why are you acting so… suspicious?”

“S-suspicious!”

Yudahee’s expression gradually changed as he reacted like a thief caught red-handed to Soyeon’s response.

I knew that Soyeon is not good at lying, but I didn’t expect him to react like this.

As I glanced at Soyeon, he was hesitating with a slightly flustered expression.

He seems to be well aware that he made a slip of the tongue.

“Hmm~. With that kind of reaction, it makes me wonder if it’s true…. Hmm. Come to think of it, you helped capture Sungyura, became friends with Roksan… had some interaction with Baek Yurin… and now you’ve even attacked Alex and his group….”

Muttering to himself and wearing a suspicious expression, Yudahee finally raised his head and looked straight at me.

“It feels a bit uncomfortable for no reason, uncomfortable. Well, okay. Since it’s come to this, there’s no choice but to do it. Shall we tidy up neatly?”

With complex thoughts momentarily set aside, Yoo Dahee chuckled.

“Mr. Ryan~ Are you ready?”

She called out to Ryan.

“Since it feels uncomfortable, should we just kill that guy and run away?”

Ryan Jones, who was notorious as the Crusher.

Ryan, who possessed physical abilities beyond Yoo Dahee, was nothing short of a living nightmare. Every time he threw a punch, people’s flesh would be torn to shreds. An unstoppable force. Truly living up to the name of the Crusher.

“…Alright.”

He, who had been standing still and observing us, got up with a sluggish movement. He was huge. His size was reminiscent of a bear.

“Alex, John. Are you guys ready too? I’ll try to draw aggro, so try to escape somehow.”

“Me, me?!”

“Huh? Oh, So Yoo Young, are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?”

“Huh?”

“But you’re being held by that guy so openly? Even if I say so myself, it seems like it would be difficult to escape… Well, if you end up in prison, I’ll write you a letter or something.”

“Isn’t that a bit too much?!”

While Yoo Dahee and So Yoo Young engaged in foolish banter.

“Is that guy really the Crusher?”

“Hah, we should’ve known since he was paid so much.”

“How is this happening? Why are they…?”

Several allies who had been quietly guarding Ryan tensed up.

Yoo Dahee may have had a certain amount of notoriety due to the Union incident, but compared to Ryan, who had a record of killing numerous people, she felt lacking.

How many people had sacrificed themselves in the past to capture Ryan.

For the professional heroes who knew this fact, Ryan was a more vivid source of fear than Yoo Dahee.

Of course… there were no fools who would easily fall victim to Ryan.

They were a team prepared with considerable force in case of emergencies.

Even if Yoo Dahee and some Rebellion members barged in, they would be able to respond.

“Teams 1 and 2 from Gaon Nuri, please take care of Ryan’s side. You don’t need to push yourselves too hard. Just buy us some time. The heroes from Busan will arrive soon anyway.”

“Got it.”

“Ha Yoonji, Kim Seolim, Lee Daesoo, please take care of Alex and John. Don’t let them escape, understand?”

“We got it.”

“And…”

I took out a sedative syringe from my pocket and quickly injected it into So Yoo Young’s neck.

So Yoo Young let out a feeble groan of ‘Eek?!’ and staggered before slumping over, unconscious.

For now, So Yoo Young was out of the picture.

“Seoyeon, Han Seowoo, Aisha.”

“Yeah!”

“Here.”

“Yes.”

They all looked at me with their weapons at the ready.

These three individuals were considered capable of handling Yoo Dahee and the others, excluding the necessary force to deal with Ryan, Alex, and John.

Seoyeon, although slightly anxious, would explosively grow from her experience of fighting Yoo Dahee directly.

After all, Seoyeon and Yoo Dahee were archenemies.

“I think I need to deal with that guy a bit, so please.”

Honestly, I feel a bit uneasy with just these three.

But this situation can be considered a golden opportunity.

A chance to bring down Yoo Dahee.

Of course, the possibility is extremely low, and frankly, I have many concerns about whether they can hold out until the other heroes arrive, but still, I can’t help but be ambitious.

If by some chance.

Right now.

If we can bring down Yoo Dahee?

If I can just take down that guy, the other Rebellion members won’t be a big problem.

No, if I can just capture that woman, most of the issues will be resolved. There’s no need to waste time dealing with villains and riffraff anymore.

Back during the midterms, there was a significant power gap that couldn’t be overcome even if we met… but now, it’s not to that extent.

Sure, Yoo Da-hee might be stronger, but it’s not impossible to take her down completely.

It’s possible for Yoo Da-hee to get injured or be defeated by us.

“Yoo Da-hee is at the level of a High Ranker… while we are at the level of a top ranker and two upper rankers… Generally speaking, there is a bit of a power gap, but it’s my role to make up for that.”

The situation itself isn’t too unfavorable. We have a lot more people, and time is on our side.

If we can just buy some time, the heroes or powerful individuals from Busan, like Hong Da-ye, will come.

In that case, our power will surpass theirs.

Of course, we need to be cautious of Yoo Da-hee potentially taking civilians hostage, but even if we can’t defeat her, the possibility of us being killed is quite low.

…Well, if Yoo Da-hee comes at me openly trying to kill me, it might be scary, but I have various survival items like the Protection Barrier and resurrection artifacts from Alex’s dimensional pocket that I’ve secretly equipped.

Thanks to that, I can survive like this.

At least once, it will save my life.