episode_0138

A smile hung on Max’s lips.

“Heh.”

Seeing the guy stumble as he tripped on a protruding rock on the street made him laugh involuntarily.

The butcher, who had been skillfully dodging here and there, had finally shown an opening.

No matter how much agile guys struggled, they were bound to make a mistake eventually.

It was just an unavoidable characteristic of humans.

Out of a hundred, more than 50 searchers had run around like that, only to get hit by his fist and die with their heads smashed.

Even though he had retired, he was still a mid-level searcher with extensive practical experience.

‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’

His heart pounded fiercely.

“This is the end.”

He clenched his fist with all his might.

Twisting his body with all his strength, he spun around and brought his fist down.

KWAHHHH!!!

His fist, carrying his heavy weight, split the air as it fell from above.

Overhand hook.

A terrifying force capable of crushing the butcher’s skull and then crushing his body in an instant.

However.

Was it because of the drug?

At that moment, the surrounding scenery began to flow slowly.

Max’s eyes widened as he rolled them to check the butcher’s expression.

‘He’s smiling?’

A smile was playing on the face of the butcher, who was wearing sunglasses.

His heart turned cold.

A punch with no turning back.

He couldn’t take it back because he had put all his strength into it.

Max gritted his teeth.

KWAHHHH!!!

Watching the fist fall as if to split his head, Ryu Si-jin smiled.

“You fell for this?”

He didn’t expect him to fall for it so easily.

‘Has this guy lost all his senses?’

There’s a saying to test even a stone bridge before crossing it.

Yet he was throwing a punch with no turning back.

He might not be in his right mind because he was high on drugs.

But whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.

He spread his palm.

[Sacred Weapon]

Bestow Trait.

What he wanted was.

Gale.

At the same time as he felt a lump of mana drain from his entire body, a brilliant golden single-edged sword was created in his hand.

‘Got it!’

Ryu Si-jin’s smile deepened even further.

It looked a little smaller than he had expected, but it was still a great success.

This is how you gamble.

It was even more thrilling than a 125x leverage on Coin Futures.

He gripped the sword with all his might.

With his right foot as the central axis, he spun around once and bent his knee.

Now.

He crossed the two single-edged swords and pulled them back to the end of his shoulder.

“This is the end.”

PAH-AH-AH-AH-ANG!!!

He shot up like lightning from his bent posture, swinging the two single-edged swords.

SWEE-EH-EH-EH-EH-EK!!!

Thwack.

The two single-edged swords severed Max’s neck in an instant.

Max’s cleanly severed neck flew high into the sky.

Thud.

As soon as Ryu Si-jin, who had been flying in the sky, landed on the ground, a strong stream of blood gushed out of Max’s neck.

CHEE-EE-EE-EE-EE!!!

Only then did Max’s headless body slowly collapse and slump onto the street.

Thump!!!

Ryu Si-jin shook off the red single-edged sword.

Thud-thud-thud.

Perhaps because there was a lot of blood on the single-edged sword, the sound was louder than before.

Ryu Si-jin looked down at the red single-edged sword.

‘Is there this much blood on it? No, wait a minute. This is water?’

He swiped the blade with his finger.

It was transparent and a little sticky.

What is it?

Can water suddenly come out of the single-edged sword?

Is there some kind of automatic cleaning magic on it?

After pondering for a moment, Ryu Si-jin shook it off a few more times and sheathed it.

“…”

The people on the street were blankly staring at Ryu Si-jin.

Several people muttered.

“Such courage at such a young age! It’s hard to believe.”

“C-Crazy, he fights so well?! Who the hell is he?”

“Black hair. Red single-edged sword. Isn’t that guy the butcher?”

“The butcher? But I clearly heard he was a young man? And that he was such a pretty boy…”

Others mumbled.

“Max died this easily?”

“I knew it from when he was staggering around addicted to drugs. His skills have deteriorated.”

Ryu Si-jin didn’t care what people were saying.

He was just looking down at Max’s head.

Max’s eyes were frozen in shock. It was an expression close to witnessing something that could never happen.

‘If we had met somewhere else, would we have become good friends?’

I don’t know.

After admiring Max’s head for a while, he lifted his gaze and looked around at the people.

A much larger number of people than before the fight had gathered to watch.

“Everyone, drugs are bad for your body. Look. His neck got cut off, didn’t it? How scary.”

“…”

“Thank you for your cooperation in creating a healthy society.”

“…”

As absurd words burst from Ryu Si-jin’s mouth, everyone, monsters and humans alike, shut their mouths.

But the thoughts they had inside were all similar.

‘Is he a little crazy?’

Ryu Si-jin slicked back his hair, turned his body, and looked at the ‘Oaktong’ bar.

He had unintentionally caused damage to the store.

It was definitely right to apologize and compensate.

Just then, an old gentleman and a cat beastkin were standing at the entrance of the ‘Oaktong’ bar.

Ryu Si-jin approached the old gentleman.

“Owner.”

The old gentleman shook his head and sighed deeply.

“Hoo. Let’s talk inside for now.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Iruril, send someone to clean up the corpses.”

“Yes.”

The cat beastkin bowed politely and walked somewhere.

The old gentleman and Ryu Si-jin sat down with the bar counter in the middle.

“I will compensate you for damaging the room.”

Ryu Si-jin’s tone returned to normal.

The old gentleman adjusted his clothes.

“Mr. Sca.”

Ryu Si-jin’s eyes widened.

“Do you know me?”

“Yes, I know to some extent what’s going on in the Eastern District.”

The old gentleman continued calmly.

“This time it can’t be helped, but it would be good not to provoke the others in the Eastern District too much.”

“…”

“There are many strong people with strong personal characteristics. Basically, they don’t care much about other people’s business, but that’s not really the case when you see them.”

“Especially when it comes to things that are directly related to their interests?”

The old gentleman nodded at Ryu Si-jin’s question.

“Mr. Max was also such a case. After retiring, he started a small business in the Eastern District, but he did things he didn’t want to do because of pressure from several clans.”

“Max worked under someone? Shouldn’t he have just retired and moved to another city in the first place?”

“Can Mr. Sca do that?”

“…”

Ryu Si-jin was silent.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure.

Even if he started a business, he would want to do it in a place he knew well.

He understands.

But he wouldn’t bend over and do bad things just because of pressure from other people.

“I don’t know if you know, but soon Ms. Ingrid will step down and a new labyrinth committee will take over the labyrinth entrance.”

“Lilith.”

“It’s not Ms. Lilith. One of Ms. Lilith’s close aides will come out instead.”

“By the way, owner, what’s your name?”

“Hehe. What would you do with my insignificant name? I don’t need compensation. I just hope you’ll stop by for a drink next time.”

After looking up at the old gentleman for a while, Ryu Si-jin nodded and got up from his seat.

“Let’s do that. Sorry for the trouble.”

“Have a pleasant night.”

The old gentleman smiled and nodded.

He left the store, walked down the street, and arrived at the alleyway.

“Mr. Sca!!!”

Flat Nose approached.

Several of Aldaine’s subordinates had already gathered at the entrance to the Blackwell hideout.

There were about 15 people.

Ryu Si-jin took off his sunglasses and handed them to the mole beastkin.

“I used them well.”

“Ah… yes.”

The mole beastkin received the sunglasses with both hands, looking grateful.

“Flat Nose, are the five white robes left now all pharmacists?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve caught quite a few.”

“Mr. Sca, we will dispose of all the drugs. What should we do with the remaining assets in the hideout?”

Ryu Si-jin raised his head and looked up at the sky for a long time before opening his mouth.

“Give it all to the people who suffered losses. If the victim died, divide it among their families. By the way, how many people are addicted to drugs?”

“There are currently over 300 people known.”

Ryu Si-jin clicked his tongue at Flat Nose’s answer.

“Tsk. I think I killed Max too gently.”

Flat Nose handed over a small book.

“And I found this in Max’s room while searching the hideout.”

“What’s this?”

“It looked like a journal. I couldn’t check it in detail.”

Ryu Si-jin took the journal, put it in his arms, and turned his body.

“Okay. Let’s go back when you’re done cleaning up.”

““Yes!””

Aldaine’s subordinates bowed politely around Ryu Si-jin.

Ryu Si-jin looked around at Aldaine’s subordinates.

“Let’s loosen up your faces a little. Why are you all so stiff?”

Flat Nose scratched his head with an awkward face.

“Actually, there are a few friends who came to see Mr. Sca and Max’s fight. They were worried.”

“Really?”

Aldaine’s subordinates’ eyes sparkled.

“You were really amazing!!!”

“You moved like lightning and *whack*! You blew Max’s head off with two single-edged swords, and I got goosebumps all over my back!”

“I’m in love! Big brother!”

Ryu Si-jin put the journal in his arms and shrugged his shoulders.

“These guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Let’s go. To home.”

* * *

Ryu Si-jin’s group passed through the Eastern District gate and returned to Central Street.

“Flat Nose, have your subordinates take the pharmacists home safely.”

“Yes! Did you hear that? Take them home safely.”

“Yes, sir!”

Just before parting ways.

Five pharmacists bowed deeply to Ryu Si-jin.

“Mr. Sca, thank you. I will never forget this grace!”

“If you come to my store, I will treat you generously!”

Ryu Si-jin nodded.

“Please return comfortably.”

After seeing off all the departing pharmacists, he arrived at the Monster Dismantling Site in the Western District with Flat Nose.

Aldaine was sitting in the Monster Dismantling Site’s yard, lighting a bonfire.

Ryu Si-jin sat next to Aldaine.

“It’s over. I destroyed the Blackwell Clan and killed Max.”

Aldaine turned his gaze from the bonfire and looked at Ryu Si-jin.

“Really? Good work.”

Ryu Si-jin released the red single-edged sword from his waist and handed it over.

“Here, I’ll return the single-edged sword to you.”

“Okay.”

“But can I ask you one thing?”

“Speak.”

“There was sticky water coming out of the sword. Is there any special cleaning magic on it?”

“…”

Aldaine took the sword, paused for a moment, and handed it back to Ryu Si-jin.

“···Keep it for the time being. I don’t remember if there is a ‘cleaning’ magic or not. There are so many different features…”

“Suddenly?”

“You can get a little crazy in the head after living for a long time. And isn’t the world dangerous? Just keep it until you go into the labyrinth.”

Ryu Si-jin pondered for a moment and nodded.

It wasn’t a bad offer.

No matter how strong he became through leveling up and training, the longsword he used to use was a bit heavy.

“I’ll do that.”

He received the single-edged sword and wore it on his waist.

“I got Max’s journal from the Blackwell hideout, would you like to see it?”

“It’s okay. It will be more helpful to you than to me.”

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Stop by once before entering the labyrinth.”

“Yes.”

* * *

As Ryu Si-jin left the yard, only Aldaine and Flat Nose remained in their seats.

Aldaine looked at the burning bonfire and raised his head.

“How did he fight?”

“Are you talking about Mr. Sca and Max? Hoo. It was really amazing.”

“Tell me quickly.”

“Ahem. The beginning was…”

Flat Nose cleared his throat and opened his mouth to explain the fight.

About 10 minutes passed.

“···Suddenly there was a flash of light and Max’s head flew into the sky. As soon as Mr. Sca, who was floating in the air, landed on the ground, blood spurted out of Max’s neck! Phoo! Kya!!!”

Flat Nose, who was gesturing enthusiastically, finished his explanation with a flushed face.

Aldaine’s mouth dropped open.

“He cut his throat with one crazy sword swing? Is that even possible with that body?”

“He did it, didn’t he?”

“···I’m speechless. Isn’t he getting stronger too fast?”

Flat Nose’s eyes sparkled.

“That’s possible. Ah! Have you ever heard the story of Mr. Sca subduing a troll in the last labyrinth? The story of him lighting his arm on fire and swinging his fist!”

“I’ve heard it, but is it true? I don’t really believe it.”

“It’s true.”

“Are you a Sca fan? Sometimes I get confused. I don’t know if you’re my subordinate or Sca’s subordinate.”

“…”

Looking at the silent Flat Nose, Aldaine made a dumbfounded expression.

“Why are you silent? Is it true?”

“The subordinates who secretly watched Mr. Sca’s fight this time must have all fallen in love with him.”

“Gee whiz!”

Aldaine smiled and looked down at the bonfire.

“Sca is taking everything.”

“Are you anxious?”

Aldaine’s smile deepened at Flat Nose’s question.

“I like it even more.”

* * *

He crossed the Western District and returned to the Southern Inn.

Squeak.

As he opened the door, Karin rushed at him.

“Sca!”

“Oof!”

Karin’s heavy chest rubbed against his face.

Karin’s scent, emanating from her warm, heavy breasts, calmed his mind.

A smell that made him feel like he would fall asleep right away.

He unconsciously sniffed a few more times, then snapped out of it and stepped out of Karin’s arms.

Karin made a worried expression.

“Sca, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Not at all. Was there a problem at the inn?”

“No.”

“Is everyone asleep?”

“Yeah. Luna and Edel are all asleep too. In your room.”

“Really? You have a look on your face like you have a lot of questions, but let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m too tired.”

“Okay.”

He parted ways with Karin, found an empty room on the second floor, wiped his body with a wet towel, changed his clothes, and then threw himself on the bed.

“Hmm.”

As soon as he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, he couldn’t fall asleep.

His heart kept pounding after a life-or-death fight.

‘Should I have just slept with Karin?’

As he was thinking about this and that, he picked up the red single-edged sword that he had placed by his head.

Swoosh.

He drew the sword while lying on the bed.

‘Why did water come out earlier?’

Faint moisture lingered on the blade that received the moonlight.

“Hmm?”

He clearly wiped it gently with a dry towel when he changed clothes earlier?

Ryu Si-jin tilted his head, then stuck out his tongue and licked the blade.

Lick.

Ryu Si-jin frowned and stuck his tongue out again.

“Blech. It’s a little salty.”

At that moment.

The red single-edged sword began to tremble.

Ryu Si-jin’s eyes widened.

“Huh? What’s this?”