“Luckily, you managed to dodge once, but don’t get too arrogant.”
The moment the voice was heard, Nahan instinctively called up the system window.
‘Information Lookup. Balkin Gardner.’
【Name: Balkin Gardner.】
-Alias: Guardian of the Empire
-Rank: SS-Class
-Info: <Gardner> family’s eldest son. Possesses a simple and brutish character. Came into possession of <the Shield> following a series of events, breaking through limits to reach the Swordmaster level. Currently, gripped by <Rage> due to a profound sense of loss.
‘SS-Class.’
It was now confirmed.
The members of the Hero’s Party were only depicted as being near S-Class in the novel, but in reality, they were all extraordinary experts surpassing double-S.
“Understood the situation. Now let’s figure out a way.”
The original plan was for Laktea to find the Heavenly Protective Barrier while Hanlyang and Luna would break free and deal with Gardner and Asha.
During that time, as the sixth Bad Ending, the Hero’s return would conclude, and the act of pretending to lose while releasing Hestia and fleeing to the hideout would commence.
“But that’s become impossible.”
The Gardner assumed to be S-Class was SS-Class, and their force was undeniably more potent than anticipated.
Time,
Strength,
And planning,
All had been disrupted by Balkin’s mere appearance.
To overcome this situation, one could only hope for the intangible existence of luck or talent, or something similar, and at that moment, a particular scene came to mind.
– Do you know, bro?
– What?
Nahan’s only friend ■■ always gazed at him with bright eyes and spoke.
– Brother Nahan’s acting… it’s like, a talent given by heaven!
Upon reflection, those words weren’t entirely off, and Nahan found himself transforming his greatest talent into acting.
So here’s the question:
<If Nahan came to think of his greatest talent as acting>, what talent did he consider his greatest before?
The answer was,
“…How can I survive?”
<Survival Instinct>.
The first time Nahan became aware of this talent was over a decade ago.
– I’m sorry, Hanah. But if I adopt the rest of the children…
– Nothing changes. You should focus on raising the children, and I’ll continue earning money and delivering it just like before.
– But Hanah! Outside there’s danger!
– I’ll be okay. I’ll be careful.
Even amidst the hard work of Nahan’s efforts, the orphanage went bankrupt, leaving him to wander the streets. That’s when he encountered the ‘boss’ of Black Dragon Gang.
One of the villains who bankrupted the orphanage,
Seoul’s top violent organization,
A ruthless loan shark.
“Where have you been running off to?”
“…You run fast.”
“Shut up, you little shit.”
He immediately recognized Nahan and barely managed to grab him, asking.
“Where’s your director hiding?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to die?”
“…No?”
SLAP!
Nahan fled.
“Damn you… Get him!”
He ran tirelessly and managed to escape.
And successfully did.
That day, for the first time, the ‘big boss’ missed his target. Reflecting on that day later, he asked.
“To be honest, was it that you let yourself get caught that day? Worried the director might die?”
“…Yes, boss.”
“Wow, you little bastard. That was the first time we ever missed someone in Seoul. You know that?”
“I didn’t want to die either.”
“Well, who wants to die?”
Nahan shrugged, and as the boss observed him, they exchanged palm blows.
“I see now. Your talent wasn’t about fighting or running, was it?”
“That’s right?”
“Survival instinct. There are some people like that. Seem ordinary most of the time, but when pushed to the brink of death, their minds work like crazy and they grow strong…”
That kind of monster.
And now, once again.
Faced with death, Nahan’s entire thought process revolved around survival.
“What made Balkin angry?”
The death of Hestia.
“I’ll rip you apart, Hestia.”
“I didn’t kill her.”
“…? Don’t interrupt me; listen till the end. I’ll rip all of you apart to honor the memory of Hestia.”
“Hestia is alive.”
A quicker and more precise reply froze Balkin’s thoughts, and realizing the meaning later, he revealed hostility and questioned.
“Are you human?”
Clearly doubting and expressing heavy resentment about Nahan’s mockery after killing Hestia.
Externally, it was true the Black Wolf killed Hestia, so their grudge was understandable.
However, Nahan could see.
The current Balkin wasn’t here as the ‘Hero,’ but as ‘Family’ to Hestia.
Therefore,
“…”
Nahan could see the flicker of the slightest hope in Balkin’s eyes as he waited for Nahan to continue speaking.
Through this, Balkin couldn’t kill Nahan before hearing his next words.
“Control has returned to me.”
Instantly grasping the situation, Nahan pushed the effect of <Black Curtain> to its maximum limit and asked.
“Didn’t you come here to kill?”
“…Shut up.”
“It’s fine if you do.”
Nahan shrugged and turned his body as if to show he didn’t care.
Simultaneously, surveying the surroundings,
The warriors were still looking at the roofs like lost dogs, and behind them, three people stood, having arrived unnoticed.
Lord Gardner,
The Lady of the House,
And Asha.
The three, after exchanging some opinions, turned to Nahan.
“I thought they would bring the remaining party members, Marin and Selena, but they didn’t. Perhaps that’s fortunate.”
In the dim silence, Nahan scrapped the original plan.
“Let’s retain Laktea’s mission as it is and reconstruct the plan based on the changed environment.”
First, the imminent threat: Balkin.
“What did you mean?”
“Mean?”
“By saying Hestia is alive.”
He can’t kill me until he hears what I want to say.
“Hmm? You told me to shut up, so I forgot.”
“…Tell me. Before I rip you apart.”
“Wow, I’m trembling here; this is scary.”
Thus, drawing time while keeping him within view.
“Next, the Gardner family members.”
Although they were indeed needed to spread the Black Wolf’s misdeeds, they were a group comparable to a battalion, consisting of people ranked B~A-Class, making them quite threatening.
But considering the horror of the last raid ingrained in them due to the Black Wolf,
“Your gazes are quite burdensome, Tal.”
“Night. It’s time to sleep─.”
“Instead of putting them to sleep, just hum a lullaby.”
“Understood, Leader.”
As soon as the order was given, the bulky Hanlyang leapt down to the ground.
BOOM!!
Dust swirled as he landed, and the system window popped up.
【No.3 – <Tal – Hanlyang (A+)> starts the Ghost Dance!】
【Warning!】
【No.3 – <Tal – Hanlyang (A+)> requests the release of restricted power!】
Black Wolf’s restrictions.
The contract that strengthens <Black Wolf> while suppressing the power of its members.
The dedication and vow of gratitude from those saved by <Black Wolf>.
‘Approval.’
Thus, the power long suppressed was released according to Nahan’s choice.
POOF!
Simultaneously, the giant who had been bowing his head rose up.
“Sleep time─.”
The plain Shaka mask carried white light and bore a distorted beast-like face.
【Approval for the release of restrictions.】
【No.3 – <Tal – Hanlyang (A+)> returns to his original rank.】
【(A+) → (S+).】
KWAH!
The massive figure disappeared shortly after stepping forward and reappeared right in the middle of the warriors.
“Rise─.”
BOOM!!
Clenching both fists, he lifted his left foot and stomped, causing enormous dirt pillars to sprout and lift all the warriors into the air.
“AAAAH!!! Shit, what the hell is this!!”
“Jump down!! Jump down before it gets higher, you bastards!!”
“Started with a stomp!! Any remaining, aim for his foot!!”
A few warriors, who quickly leapt down, charged at Hanlyang but were met by the turned Shaka mask.
“Don’t─step.”
CRACK!
Crack, crack, crack!!
Any ground touched by Hanlyang’s gaze melted like an antlion’s trap.
“Get away!! Grab onto something!!”
“Puff!! Magic users!!”
“Cough… Cough, Cough…!!”
Time taken to incapacitate a battalion-level force of B~A-Class warriors: 30 seconds.
Nahan thought,
Had he known how to release the restrictions during the Emperor battle and done so, Hanlyang would undoubtedly have been the victor that day.
“…Won’t kill. Not─.”
After the battle, Hanlyang pivoted his giant body toward the reinforcements.
“Hold him!!”
“For the Gardner’s name!!”
“For Miss Hestia!!”
Judging by the absence of a family crest, most appeared to be mercenaries stationed here.
“Mercenaries tend to take good care of themselves. We won’t see an escalation of the battle.”
With this, the second threat was eliminated. All that remained was the final third threat.
Nahan, having removed two out of the three threats, directed his gaze toward the last one.
“It’s night. Even if a single bright light exists, it remains a night enveloped in much darkness.”
A light and crisp warning delivered alongside the effect of the <Black Curtain>, heading toward the target.
The third and final threat.
Compared to the previous two, the one with the highest threat level,
“I’ve understood. You must be the epitome of evil.”
Paladin of Light, Asha Mirabel.
Pushing the Gardner Lord and the Lady aside gently, she looked up toward the roof.
And the next moment,
“Hold him, Balkin.”
【<Judgment(SSS+)> is activated.】
A strike so sharp that Asha herself couldn’t activate it more than a few times—a supreme attack, the fastest and strongest.
A bolt, faster and more intense than Balkin’s wrath, aimed toward Nahan.
“Finish him in one strike.”
Giving him any more room could lead to a counterattack on this man.
Asha had figured it out.
The man glaring at her with murderous intent was the leader of <Black Wolf>, <Black Curtain>.
The moment the sharp holy sword was about to pierce through <Black Curtain>‘s neck,
BOOM!!!
An energy she was familiar with repelled her body.
Though hastily initiated, it was a situation where the paladin’s ultimate attack was defended.
There was no need for prolonged pondering.
Asha wiped away the rising dust and asked the one blocking her.
“What do you think you’re doing, Balkin?”
Standing between Asha, the Paladin of Light, and her goal was none other than the Guardian of the Empire.
Balkin, barely holding up the shattered shield, addressed Asha.
“I’ll handle it, go back, Asha.”
The third threat was neutralized.
