The Tears of a Vagabond
“Something’s not right.”
Ansol’s inexplicable reaction and the faint sound of an explosion. In that instant, a thought flashed through my mind. I pried her off me, despite her clinging like a baby koala, and dashed out the door.
The sun had completely set, and the shopping district was shrouded in darkness. Yet, the northern part of the city was ablaze with light. The source of this illumination was none other than the flames leaping skyward.
Without hesitation, I propelled myself upward, landing on the flat roof of a jewelry store. The building was low, offering a broader view than from the ground. Fixing my gaze northward, I enhanced my vision with magic.
“A raid.”
Even with only a partial view, the situation was clear. Shadows, countless and dark, surged like waves through the rising flames. Each time a sinister light cut through the fire, a fountain of blood sprayed into the air.
It was a massacre. Users, stumbling out in confusion, were mercilessly slaughtered by beams of light from all directions. A few lucky survivors turned to flee, but the shadows quickly caught up with them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground-shaking roar echoed again, this time more distinctly since I was outside. Turning my head, I saw shadows flooding in from both the east and west gates.
Soon, flames erupted in the east and west, just like in the north. A wave of confusion washed over me.
“A raid on Mule? By whom? And why?”
One thing was certain: Ansol’s premonition was spot on. I had prepared, but my focus had been on Yu Hyun-ah, which was a mistake. As the shouts drew closer, a memory struck me hard.
Vagabonds. The uprising of the Western Continent.
Compared to the first round, this should have happened long ago. And it was supposed to target a city in the west, not Mule.
“Hey, young man! What’s all this commotion? Is something happening?”
A familiar voice called from below, snapping me out of my thoughts. Glancing down, I saw users from the shopping district emerging, looking bewildered.
I managed to calm my racing mind.
“Get a grip, Kim Su-hyun!”
There was no trace of goodwill in the darkness spreading from three directions. Only a sharp, tingling hostility.
The attack had already begun. Understanding the situation could wait. The priority was escaping Mule, especially since I wasn’t alone. I had to get Go Yeon-ju, Kim Han-byeol, Ansol, and the old man out of here.
Some users were still looking up at me, waiting for an answer, but I ignored them and landed on the ground. I pushed open the jewelry store door. Inside, everyone turned to me, their eyes filled with anticipation.
“Su-hyun, what’s going on?”
“We’re under attack.”
“What?”
“I’ll say it again. Mule is under attack. We don’t know exactly who the attackers are, but they seem to be vagabonds. This is not a drill; it’s real.”
Faces turned from confusion to seriousness as my words and the continuous explosions outside sank in. But there was no time for further explanation. I spoke quietly.
“Sir, pack up. We’re leaving immediately.”
“Understood. I’ve already packed the essentials into three magic backpacks. We can leave anytime.”
“Carry one yourself and give the other two to Kim Han-byeol and Ansol. And Go Yeon-ju.”
“Yes.”
I suddenly remembered and removed the blue dragon knight’s cloak from my shoulders. I approached Ansol, who was still trembling, and wrapped it around her.
“Brother…?”
“Quiet. User Go Yeon-ju, we’re heading to the warp gate.”
After securing the cloak around Ansol, I turned to Go Yeon-ju.
“We’ll run straight through the plaza. It took about 15 minutes to get here, so if we hurry, we can make it faster.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Then I’ll rely on you to keep them safe.”
“What…?”
Go Yeon-ju seemed puzzled by my last words. I took a deep breath and spoke more firmly.
“We don’t know what might happen on the way. I’ll lead and clear the path. But Go Yeon-ju, you must protect the three of them perfectly. Enough so that I don’t have to worry about their safety.”
“You mean not to assist you?”
“There’s no time to explain. The keeper is the top priority. Remember that.”
”…The top priority. Got it.”
Though she didn’t seem fully convinced, Go Yeon-ju nodded. After finishing my conversation with her, I looked at the remaining three. They each had a backpack slung over their shoulders.
“If we run nonstop to the warp gate, we should make it in time. I know this sudden situation is overwhelming, but please stay strong and follow me.”
After speaking, I looked at Ansol. Honestly, she was my biggest concern. She clutched the cloak tightly with both hands, her eyes brimming with tears she was trying hard to hold back.
I watched her for a moment, then opened the door to the outside.
The escape for our lives had begun.
After leaving the jewelry store, I sprinted toward the plaza. Occasionally, a user who hadn’t grasped the situation tried to stop me, but I shook them off and kept running.
The attack had started at the north gate, followed by assaults on the east and west gates. The warp gate wasn’t exactly in the center, but it was close to the central plaza. From what I glimpsed earlier, the attackers’ ambush had been successful. But soon, some users would start resisting. Even if it was a one-sided slaughter, killing took time. Considering all this, we should reach the warp gate first.
But that was just my assumption. I had experienced city battles enough in the first round to know better. If the vagabonds’ commander was clever, there would be obstacles ahead. But for now, I had to bet on the option with the highest chance of escape.
As I left the shopping district and turned onto the road to the central plaza, I sighed inwardly. My senses were fully alert. The sounds of clashing weapons, explosions, and screams mixed chaotically in my ears. The attackers from the gates hadn’t reached here yet. This meant there were insiders aiding them.
“The warp gate might already be occupied.”
But I didn’t turn back. The last resort was escaping through the city gates, but that was only if the warp gate was lost. Even if insiders had taken the warp gate, I could clear them out and reclaim it. I had the confidence and ability to do so.
While running, I glanced back. Behind me, Go Yeon-ju and the others were following at a distance. My role was to draw attention and clear the path. I turned my gaze forward again. The central plaza was coming into view.
Boom! Boom!
“Aaah! Aaaah!”
“Please, spare me! Please!”
The central plaza was a battlefield. No, it was a living hell of one-sided slaughter. Light flashed everywhere, and each time, the ground erupted. With every explosion, screams and fountains of blood filled the air.
The vagabonds, numbering only in the dozens, were attacking with abandon. Yet, the hundreds of users were being slaughtered without putting up a fight. The users had the advantage in numbers, but the vagabonds had the skill and coordination to overcome that.
“They must be near-elite level.”
With lives on the line, I had no intention of holding back. I drew the Ilwol Shingeom from my waist. The sleek blade gleamed blue in the moonlight, and in that moment, I caught a glimpse of movement.
Whoosh!
“Forty-five degrees to the left. On the building.”
The sharp sound of an arrow. I immediately raised my left hand, channeling magic toward the source of the arrow.
Thwack!
The arrow carried a significant force, but I caught it without much trouble. But just catching it wasn’t enough. Using the principle of “Four ounces can move a thousand pounds,” I reversed the arrow’s direction and hurled it back at the building.
Thud!
“Ack!”
With a thud, a sharp cry echoed through the air. Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a female sniper. Glancing up at the building, I saw someone plummet down with an arrow lodged in their forehead.
Whistle!
As I entered the edge of the central square, a thin whistle rang in my ears. Two vagrants, who had been busy hacking away at something, turned their heads and started charging at me, gripping a sword and a spear. But that wasn’t all. My magic detection spread out in a circle, alerting me to stealthy presences closing in from both sides.
‘First, the two in front.’
I dashed forward. The power of the Orosros boots was incredible. Without even using my full speed, the distance between us closed in an instant. They seemed taken aback, not expecting me to close the gap so quickly.
When I was about three steps away, I planted my right foot firmly on the ground. My sword, imbued with magic and glowing with a blue light, slashed horizontally.
The attackers were certainly of a semi-elite level.
Just before my sword collided with them, the one on the left quickly raised his spear vertically to block. The one on the right was a bit slower, but judging by the way he angled his wrist and brought his sword forward, he intended to thrust it at me.
However, the Sun and Moon Sword…
Swish.
…sliced through the raised spear effortlessly.
The Sun and Moon Sword, or rather the ‘Power of the Sword Master,’ made cutting through the spear seem trivial. The sword continued, slicing through armor and meeting soft flesh.
Crack, crack!
The Sun and Moon Sword cut through the vagrant’s insides as if slicing through tofu. The chilling sensation of tearing through his body was transmitted unfiltered through the hilt gripped tightly in my hand.
By the time the spearman’s body was cleaved in two, the vagrant on the right had just finished preparing to stab me. He hesitated, a look of panic on his face, trying to retreat as he saw my sword coming for him. But my blade mercilessly severed his neck and body.
Splurt! Thud!
Blood gushed from the chest wound, and a fountain of red spurted intermittently from the severed neck. But it wasn’t over yet.
“Die!”
“End~!”
The ones closing in from the sides were now upon me, baring sharp teeth. Judging by their agility, they were both assassins. From the voices, the one on the right was airborne, ready to plunge down with daggers in both hands, while the one on the left crouched low, aiming for my ankles.
A staggered attack. Had I been unaware, I might have been caught off guard, but I had anticipated their assault.
I twisted my right hand, positioning my sword where the airborne attacker would land, and with my left foot, I kicked with all my might at the one coming in low, trusting in my 96-point strength stat. Of course, I added a touch of the ‘Harmony of Nature’ principle to the kick.
Thud! Whack!
A heavy sensation traveled up my sword-wielding arm. Glancing over, I saw the “Die!” attacker dangling from my sword, impaled through the neck. To my left, the “End~” attacker lay on the ground, face caved in.
With that, I had taken down five as I entered the square. Dozens more remained.
But that wasn’t the main concern.
My entrance had drawn the attention of the users being slaughtered nearby, the vagrants committing the massacre, and some of the mages casting spells in a wide semicircle from afar.
‘I need to deal with them first.’
I flicked my sword, letting the impaled vagrant fall to the ground. Then, I pointed the blood-dripping Sun and Moon Sword at the mages who had started to focus on me.
Locking eyes with them, I pushed off the ground with all my strength.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Dear readers! I’ve been thinking that Suhyeon has been living too kindly lately. While he’s quite generous to his allies, he’s ruthless to his enemies, especially the vagrants. So, I’m planning to reveal his true nature soon. Honestly, I was a bit worried that the content I’m planning might be unpleasant, but I’ve decided not to worry about it anymore. I trust that no matter what I write, you’ll take it in stride. Hehe. :D
『 Reader Comments 』
LosingSight: Ta-da~. Congratulations on being first. Haha. I think this is the first time I’ve seen you in the first comment spot. :)
Atom: Wow! You logged in while drinking? That’s impressive. I can’t handle alcohol at all. (I’ve gotten drunk from just one beer before. Whisper whisper.)
Nodens: That’s right. I’ve given up on being first a long time ago. Haha. It’s really freeing to let go of that.
Dewdrop: Thank you! The weather’s really hot these days, so take care of your health too!
s25jin: That won’t happen. Hahaha. I’ve set him up as quite a decent old man. :)
Ramude: True☆Nature☆Revealed! Please look forward to it!
FallenWing: I think so too. Why isn’t Yujeong more popular? Sob sob. ㅜ.ㅠ I really like Yujeong’s style.
OrderJu: Slicing through is just a bonus. I’m curious how the content I’m planning will be received by you all. Haha. But as I mentioned in the note, I’m going to proceed with it.
Don’tWantToJoin: I think many will feel sorry for Yuhyeon. ㅜ.ㅠ
FairyCookie: Thank you for the coupon! (__) I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.
I hope you always read with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.