104 – When the Wills of the World Collide #3
Baek Yeo-ul ended up raising a golden spider named Kangkang.
A terrifying demon beast.
Although everyone was concerned, Baek Yeo-ul secretly knew that Kangkang wasn’t that scary.
“Kangkang! You’re a spider! How can you be afraid of grasshoppers?”
-Hiooong….
To train Kangkang, Baek Yeo-ul would catch grasshoppers from the back mountain and release them in the yard, or offer various bugs to Kangkang.
However, despite its size, Kangkang was timid and cowardly.
Especially fearful of mice, it would hide in the corners whenever it saw one darting through the old kitchen.
Even the cute squirrels from the back mountain made it scared.
-Hiooong….
The fearful Kangkang.
Afraid of many things.
Thus, Kangkang resembled Baek Yeo-ul herself—
But it was becoming quite a problem since Kangkang kept hiding inside her bag!
There it was again today, hiding inside when she hadn’t even noticed!
This was pure bad luck!
Baek Yeo-ul worried that Kangkang might be discovered and killed by veteran Awakened Ones during the extermination mission.
Then, when they encountered a strange swarm of rats and an unknown mysterious figure, Kangkang bravely jumped out of the bag and roared in front of the ominous rats.
-Crrrrlung…!
This brave roar made the rats flee.
Watching this, Baek Yeo-ul felt extremely exhilarated, her hair standing on end!
“Kangkang drove the rats away! You can do it when you try! We can do it when we try!”
Luck and misfortune differ by just one character.
They are that similar and interrelated.
# # #
「Name: Wolf Spider Kangkang
Owned: Click to Expand Details ☚
《Wolf Lv.3》 – As ferocious as a wolf in scary stories.
《Roar Lv.3》 – Can roar like the bravest lion. Those who hear it will be terrified.
Status: 《Overcome》 – Trying to fight against the rats by overcoming fear to save a friend.」
-Crrrrlung…!
[To think there would be a “Wolf Spider” that chases away rats. I have no luck. Still, I cannot let it escape just like that. I must at least claim the life of that sword-wielding girl or ‘Seed of Calamity’—.]
The black eyes of the Knight Hameln, who identified himself as such, were clearly aimed at Seugal.
Being popular with men was certainly problematic.
“Alright! Coordinates are set! Grab my hand one by one! Just one at a time! Be careful—we might misalign and end up crushed in concrete if we’re not careful!”
At that moment, Teacher Moon Hyun-a shouted loudly.
She claimed it would take five more minutes to open the door, but she had significantly reduced the estimated time.
Was it a difficult effort? bl**d was flowing from her nose.
“Moon Hyun-a! Take the injured first! We can’t let them take Nam Woo-joo away! This paralysis field!”
Jeon Su-ho handed Prince Juhyun to Moon Hyun-a. Prince Juhyun struggled, shouting, “Not yet! I can still fight!” but his body, touched by Moon Hyun-a’s hand, disappeared like a lingering afterimage.
[Indeed, it is a teleportation-type ability user. However, don’t think you can escape easily.]
The voice of the fairy knight became even colder.
With a light step but twice as fast as someone running, the knight approached us. The sword drawn from his waist swiftly descended towards Seugal.
“Coming for me, huh…? At least you’re picking the pretty one!”
Seugal seemed to be about to confront the enemy with her own “Maple”.
Chhheeeeaang-!
Stopping the massive sword once.
“Let me show you some moves!”
[Impressive, you’ve resisted my slash. However, your stance is broken. It doesn’t look like you’re familiar with handling a sword. This isn’t about wielding a sword; you’re letting the sword control you instead.]
“What are you saying now!”
Unlike the leisurely posture of the knight, Seugal’s stance was significantly shaking. In blocking the sword from above, she had swung her own blade way too low.
Meanwhile, the knight’s sword was already rising above his head, ready to split Seugal in half at any moment.
“Get out of the way!”
My body moved before my plans or calculations could catch up.
I pushed Seugal hard, and as a result, I took a severe slash from my left shoulder to my right ribcage.
Ouch-!
It hurt like being burned.
“Hanamjin!”
“I’ll take care of this guy! Everyone, evacuate!”
I didn’t even have time to scream.
I drew the dagger from my waist and lunged at the knight.
Chhhheaannng-!
An attack aimed at his neck, but he easily deflected it.
He seemed experienced in swordplay.
[Receiving my slash and not screaming—quite commendable for a thief of peace.]
“A man shouldn’t scream; it’s unbecoming.”
Though the pain almost made tears prick my eyes!
But as I’d thought before, I needed to conserve even the effort to scream.
“Hanamjin Jump!”
Puh-! Puh-!
I moved around the knight, taking full advantage of the mobility in my legs to circle around him, trying to draw his focus.
As if realizing my strategy, the knight kept trying to direct his gaze towards Moon Hyun-a or Seugal.
“Where are you looking! Play with me!”
Chheaaannng-! Chheeeeaannngg-!
[Your fast legs are troublesome.]
I couldn’t just let him be.
While everyone escaped, I had to buy time.
Because I had promised Seo Do-cheol to ensure Seugal returned home safely.
I had sworn it in front of the captain.
A man who breaks a promise looks unseemly.
Thankfully, the veterans were making progress in the escape operation rather quickly. Only Seugal, Baek Yeo-ul, me, and Jeon Su-ho remained.
“Hanamjin! Hurry up! Hurry!”
The anxious Baek Yeo-ul shouted with her hair standing on end and even ran over to me.
“Hey! What are you doing!”
“I said I’ll protect you! Hanamjun! Let’s go home together! Together!”
Would you dare face off with that dreadful fairy knight using a frying pan?
Her courage was truly remarkable. But it wasn’t just blind courage.
“Here, take this!”
Bangdae pulled out something from his pocket and threw it with all his might at the fairy knight.
Glang-! The knight broke it with his sword.
At the same time, something with an intense stench burst and spread thick smoke.
[Dirty tricks…]
“How’s this! It’s a failed love potion I made due to my bad luck! It won’t go away for days!”
Love potion?
Why did he attempt to make something like that?
And who was he planning to feed it to?
Regardless, the stink from Bangdae’s misfortune temporarily clouded the knight’s vision.
A brief moment of reprieve appeared.
Drrrrrr-
“Teacher!”
At that time, Seugal’s shout reached my ears.
Teacher Moon Hyun-a was bleeding profusely from her nose. Was something wrong with her brain, causing this bl**d to gush out of her nose?
It seemed like the adverse reaction was setting in from hastily opening the “Gate” and evacuating so many people in a short time.
How many more could Teacher Moon Hyun-a transfer?
It was likely not many.
With a firm resolution, I kicked Bangdae on his behind with all my might, using every ounce of energy.
“Yaaaaaaaaaaak!”
Bangdae flew like a soccer ball straight to Teacher Moon Hyun-a.
My fantastic pass was precise.
“Hanamjin! What are you doing!”
“Bangdae, you survive. I’ve saved you for once.”
“Ha….”
Bangdae’s call was abruptly cut off as Teacher Moon Hyun-a touched Baek Yeo-ul’s shoulder, teleporting him away.
Now, only Seugal, me, Bangdae, and Teacher Moon Hyun-a remained.
“…Huff, huff, going forward…”
Teacher Moon Hyun-a panted heavily but shouted clearly. My “Emotion” could accurately discern the meaning of her moving lips despite her raspy voice.
Rustle-
I took off my ring and handed it to Seugal.
“Take this and save Yu Yeo-reum.”
“What?! You–!”
“Only one of us can escape. Teacher is already at her limit.”
“You–!”
Seugal seemed genuinely bewildered.
It wasn’t the expression one should show to a man who had only kidnapped her and done strange things.
“The Labyrinth has many entrances. There’s surely an exit we can find. And I promised.”
“Because of my father’s promise…!?”
“Yes. And to myself. And to you.”
Peeeeeeak-!
I fiercely punched Seugal’s stomach.
The beautiful face contorted violently.
“…You…”
“Teacher Moon Hyun-a, take her.”
I threw the unconscious Seugal to her.
She caught Seugal and said,
“Finally… Huff… You’re calling me by my name.”
“Go. And when I come back, give me a proper kiss.”
Teacher Moon Hyun-a didn’t reply.
She probably didn’t have the strength.
Still, she was an incredible adult.
She had persisted despite her brain vessels being torn to shreds, reaching her limit.
Whoosh-
By the time all their figures disappeared, the foggy atmosphere was parted by the knight’s sword. I could only feel grateful.
“Thank you for waiting kindly.”
Even if he had wanted, he could have interfered with our retreat.
Then, the knight spoke.
[I do not dislike men who sacrifice themselves to save others. Seeing you reminds me of someone. Therefore, I will let you go painlessly. You won’t feel a thing.]
“You don’t know the whole story. I wasn’t just running around.”
While dodging to distract the knight’s sight, I grabbed the concept stone of “Conquest” I had retrieved. The knight’s pitch-black eyes, revealed under his hat, gleamed.
[Away with you. That is no burden for outsiders like you. Even those of our lineage chosen by fate could only contain it through isolation.]
“Then tell me. What exactly is this?”
Three calamities of destruction.
If this being knew the true nature of those horrifying monsters.
The fairy kingdom, which was lauded even by Dr. Wi Seon-a, had fallen. It might not be different from the world I once knew that suddenly turned into an apocalypse.
[What they call the Witch’s Curse. Like shadows growing darker with increasing light, prosperity pursued to excess will inevitably lead to the four endings.]
A baffling riddle of sorts.
Only the mention of “four endings” caught my attention.
Three calamities and four endings.
Are they related?
The numbers differ, but…
[Did you not notice? The ending seeds were already among you. There aren’t many beings who can tame monster beasts. That girl will end up breaking your world.]
Is he talking about Bangdae?
Sling-
The knight raising his sword.
[Had you not interfered, I would have cleaved that ‘Seed of Calamity’ in two.]
It seems he intended to k*ll Bangdae.
Fortunately, it didn’t happen.
“That guy is my goddess of fortune.”
After meeting Bangdae, I’ve had good luck.
If I hadn’t injured my leg saving Bangdae that day, I wouldn’t have met Seugal in the shack.
I wouldn’t be having this second chance.
Though being injured while saving him was terribly unfortunate,
Honestly speaking, it was like a seed of great fortune for me.
[Mysterious boy, if you swallow that seed, you will surely d*e. Do not fall for the power and become a monster. Becoming a monster is a sad thing.]
The knight warned me again about the concept stone of “Conquest” in my possession.
“I decline!”
As I put the concept stone in my mouth and started to chew it like candy, his mouth closed.
Though silent, he seemed to be in pure shock.
After about ten seconds,
Sling-
The knight sheathed his long sword.
[If I push you further, you’ll really swallow it. That’s not the outcome I desire, so there’s nothing more to be done.]
Sssss-
The darkness receded.
[Then, for today, I shall retreat. But be cautious, for night will soon fall over the forest. The corrupted beasts here will not be as kind as me. Especially that lightning-spewing monster—]
Srrrr-
Knight Hameln disappeared into the shadows.
It was because he was scared I might swallow the concept stone.
Scared? How unmanly!
“Survived!”
No matter what, I decided to purely rejoice.
So, what now?
I’m alone in the forest.
Looking up, the dazzling sun was being obscured like a solar eclipse.
The forest became night in an instant.
I felt an eerie chill.
It felt like some terrifying monster might appear.
Crackle-!
Then, a sound like electricity crackling came from somewhere.
Could the “lightning-spewing monster” the knight warned about be showing up?
Swishhh-!
Soon, the bushes parted, and something covered my face—
Yeeeenng!
It was Cloud Yining, covered in electricity!
“Yining, you d*mn thing! What are you doing here!”
-Gwi-yeeeng.
Hang on-. If Yining, who should be with Yu Yeo-reum, is here, that means somewhere around here there is a “grocery warehouse” that leads to where Yining is heading, right?
