Chapter 633

〈 Chapter 633 〉 Part 2, Chapter 2, Episode 33

No matter how much the heroes and emergency-assembled reserve forces tried to evacuate citizens, there were always those who wouldn’t follow instructions.

“Uoooh! I’m live at the scene of history! A-Rank Monster Zzenda-ah!”

And here is a young man.

Lying flat on the rooftop, he was filming the battle between an A-Rank monster, the Inmyeon Bird, and two heroes with his magical camera.

The battle raged nearby National Route 7, less than 2km away. The young man, without any special abilities, was broadcasting the fight live from a place where even being hit by debris could kill him.

– You crazy bastard, get outta there!

– Trying to broadcast even after you die?

– Because of bastards like you, damn it, heroes are dying!

Public opinion was far from favorable. But the young man ignored the comments as his viewership skyrocketed geometrically.

120,000, 122,000, 125,000. The number of real-time viewers easily surpassed the hundreds mark. Everyone said it was dangerous, yet they watched the young man’s live feed of the battle.

‘They never cared when I normally broadcast!’

The <Gangwon-do Monster Broadcast>, which usually didn’t attract more than five hundred viewers, had skyrocketed beyond all expectations. Beyond “profitable,” beyond “high demand,” it was now wildly popular. Footage capturing the efforts of two A-Rank heroes in real-time drew attention not only domestically but internationally.

– Isn’t that an A+ Rank Monster? Why doesn’t Korea have a main hero?

– Sacrifice two A-Ranks to evolve into an S-Rank!

– Admin, ban those black-haired guys!

“Even just filming feels like I’m about to die…!”

There was no manager to help him. Hiding under camouflage netting, quietly filming, felt like it might kill him.

Kyaah!!

When the Inmyeon Bird spread its wings, cold air spread around. The surrounding pine trees froze instantly, making it look like Princess Snowflake using her special ability.

“Wow!”

And the heroes dodged the attacks gracefully. Banwolgum used the corpse of a C-Rank monster as cover while Baekpyo leapt between trees, quickly escaping the cold’s influence.

– Gangneung A-Rank, huh? lol

– What’s up, why are you guys so good at fighting? wow

– Is one of them going to awaken to S-Rank?!

“No, seriously, what’s wrong with these two today?”

Facing an A+ Rank enemy, the two heroes moved with precision, as if awakened. Though clearly at a disadvantage in terms of power, they were leading the battle against the Inmyeon Bird—no, they were dominating it.

“They don’t usually fight this well. These two always had bad teamwork and took turns working every other day…”

– Aren’t they soulmates?

– Get married already!

– (Fact) Baekpyo was with her boyfriend in Sokcho early this morning… lol, haha, sorry!

The mysterious sound that shook Gangwon-do last night seemed like a prophecy that these two A-Ranks would have a child who’d become an S-Rank. Their coordination was fantastic.

Banwolgum drew the Inmyeon Bird’s attention close-range, while Baekpyo attacked from afar. When the Inmyeon Bird targeted Baekpyo, Banwolgum leapt onto its back. The Inmyeon Bird was completely toyed with by the two heroes.

“But if they keep doing this…”

The young man cut himself off. Fighting valiantly against an A+ Rank monster was impressive, but it wasn’t leading to a resolution. Knowing the two heroes better than anyone else, the young man understood their magic power limits.

‘If this continues, they’ll run out of magic power.’

Would they be able to hold on until central heroes arrived? Just as the young man worried, the Inmyeon Bird spread its wings wide.

“Eh, eh?!?”

Baekpyo, leaping between pine trees, slipped her foot. Although she seemed to dodge the Inmyeon Bird’s attack perfectly, she accidentally stumbled, putting herself directly in the line of fire.

“It’s over-”

Koo-oom!

Banwolgum suddenly changed direction and jumped. With full strength, he grabbed Baekpyo’s waist and hurled her far away, taking the Inmyeon Bird’s attack head-on in mid-air.

Ka-gak!

Banwolgum’s entire body was scratched by the Inmyeon Bird’s sharp wings, tearing through his battlesuit. He fell to the ground, spraying blood.

Kya-aaa-a—!!

Like roaring after swatting an annoying fly, the Inmyeon Bird let out a roar toward the sky. The young man instinctively turned his body to flee.

Heroes from central Seoul still had quite some time before arriving. Banwolgum was severely injured, and Baekpyo panicked seeing his broken bones exposed. Both heroes capable of fighting were now rendered combat ineffective.

Without SS-Rank heroes stepping in, it looked hopeless.

And at that moment,

Sway-

The wind blew.

* * *

“Nya… couldn’t withstand that.”

Penril stood up with a sense of frustration. Her movements were awkward because accumulated fatigue caused an accident. It was obvious she had been rushing somewhere after doing something all night.

“Hmm… although it’s a bit disappointing to end it like this.”

It was time. Penril judged that she had reached the deadline she set for herself. Stepping on the roof railing, she lightly jumped.

Up to the clouds. Concealing herself between floating clouds, Penril aimed the pistol given to her by the commander at the target below.

Wheeeeng.

Penril’s magic power seeped into the gun. Made from the essence of A-Rank monsters, the enchanted bullet infused with Penril’s magic began to tremble.

Ki-iik!!

The Inmyeon Bird flapped its wings trying to escape, sensing Penril’s presence. But it couldn’t break free from the trap Penril had set across the battlefield.

Rustle, rustle.

“Gleipnir.”

Invisible chains of wind bound the Inmyeon Bird. The bird, attempting to soar into the sky, was slammed to the ground, its wings broken.

“…Turning human-shaped SS-Rank makes me able to use techniques like this. Amazing.”

Penril chuckled, shaking her head. Talking during a mission was forbidden, but the commander’s special ability was indeed fascinating. Without transforming into a monster, she could wield monstrous-level power in human form.

If she keeps getting promoted within a few more times, maybe she could surpass even P-class existence.

“……Let’s think about that later.”

Swift action. Penril glanced southwest from atop the clouds. The <Nightmare> had rushed over the mountain range heading straight for the Inmyeon Bird.

“Turning it into a monster would make a pretty strong one, but…”

Bang.

Penril slightly squinted and pulled the trigger.

“Sara, this isn’t satisfying enough.”

A thunderous roar shook all of Gangwon-do as lightning struck the Inmyeon Bird’s torso.

* * *

“That was quite a show.”

I stepped away from Yuha, marveling at the death of the Inmyeon Bird. Instead of simply pulling the trigger, Penril used her magic and skills.

“Expected from Kim Penril with a mission.”

As the ultimate mission-optimized heroine, there’s no assassin who can match Penril. Even though someone might question calling it assassination since it happened in broad daylight, if no one knows who did it, then it qualifies as assassination.

“The Dark Legion will have some trouble too.”

What reaction will the officers of the Dark Legion have to the death of an A+ Rank monster in Gangneung? They won’t suspect Penril killed the monster. Even reading the magic pattern, the nature of the wind attribute magic detected will differ from Officer Penril’s.

“Absolute Wind Element 95. Kim Penril 96. Perfect disguise.”

Even if the numbers are primary, the difference is absolute. And the officers will likely pay closer attention.

“A mysterious S-Rank or higher hero appearing in Korea…pfft.”

Kim Penril probably didn’t intend it, but if an ‘unusual ability’ killed the A+ monster just as it was about to kill a hero, how would people react? I deliberately left the live streamer near the battlefield to monitor public reactions.

– ????

– What is this? What’s happening?

– S-Rank…?

“Welcome to becoming a dark hero, Kim Penril.”

Regardless of intention, the world will judge Kim Penril as a dark hero. I waved towards the disappearing cloud.

“Still the best assassin.”

(Mission) Optimized Assassin Heroine. No one can match Penril’s ability to kill silently and vanish without a trace.

“Reward…let’s see.”

I called via magical gear.

“Yes, boss. It’s fine. Once the situation here clears up, I’ll come down tonight. By the way, can I pre-order a box of mint chocolate macaron cake? Yes, with the ingredients from last time.”

The reason Penril is an assassin?

Because she can be bought with just a mint chocolate cake, offering overwhelming value for money.

***

A+ Rank Inmyeon Bird, eliminated.

No one knows who killed it, but no one claiming responsibility has shown proof. While various people claim they killed the Inmyeon Bird, none have demonstrated the ‘one-hit kill’.

Invisible transparent chains.

Thunderclap.

Neatly severed heart.

None of those claiming responsibility could replicate the ‘one-hit technique’. Initially, the attack came from the sky, with no forewarning of massive magic power.

Whoever killed it remains unknown, but it is dead.

Thanks to the efforts of the two heroes, Baekpyo and Banwolgum, the Inmyeon Bird officially became a monster defeated by the Gangneung branch.

“What do you think about watching A-Rank heroes fight?”

I showed the video of the two A-Ranks fighting to the three. Yuna, Raon, and Nuri calmly sat down and reviewed the footage after evacuating civilians.

“Was this your instruction, boss?”

“Yeah, correct.”

Following the command console installed via Korean Guild President Seol Ji-young, I issued orders to the two A-Ranks. To the extent of manipulation, I utilized the power of the two A-Ranks to tackle the Inmyeon Bird.

“Can you replicate it?”

“It’s impossible.”

Ex-A-Rank Raon bluntly stated.

“The amount of magic power released momentarily, combat experience, situational judgment. All of that is lacking in us. Even if we received the same instructions on the spot…”

“Our bodies can’t keep up.”

Nuri nodded firmly with a serious expression. Having witnessed it firsthand, they acknowledged their inferiority without feeling any sense of inferiority.

Clearly, the three still have much to improve.

“Surely, you must have thought this. Even against the Inmyeon Bird, why can’t we fight on the front lines?”

“Having experienced it firsthand, I understand now. This…is beyond our capability.”

Even with the potential to surpass S-Rank and reach SS-Rank later, current specs are insufficient. Having personally seen and felt the power disparity, the three experienced their own limitations.

“So, final question. Are you going to give up right here?”

“No.”

“Not at all.”

“Why quit?”

Confidence began to rise in the previously rigid faces of the three. I felt reassured by that alone.

“Good. I’ll train you further, so don’t worry. There’s still plenty of time, right? Once things settle down and we return to New Seoul, take a day off. And then keep getting stronger and stronger…”

Through magical gear, I sent the trio highly classified materials. Extremely restricted even within the guild, leaking this information outside would cause a major scandal.

“March 1st. You’ll participate in the Seoul Recovery Operation.”

* * *

<At that moment, atop Odaesan Mountain.>

“…Just in case I came, but fortunately, it seems unnecessary for us to intervene.”

“Yes. Miss, but what was that attack just now?”

“……Hmm. Since many reclusive SS-Ranks exist due to Father’s policies… Let’s say a passing SS-Rank killed it.”

“…You’re truly calm.”

“Hehe. Still, they don’t seem like a bad person, right? Leaving the Inmyeon Bird core behind. They must be a kind person. …Soyeon-nim, did you eat any mint chocolate?”

“No. Didn’t Miss have it?”

“……???”

“?????”