What is a “reverse tourism”? ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The vagrants screamed and scattered in all directions. It seemed they had abandoned their plan for a concentrated attack, as the remaining five turned tail and fled. I watched them for a moment, then let out a long sigh and surveyed the area around me.
The battlefield was littered with more than ten bodies. The ground, which had been relatively clean just moments ago, was now stained with the blood of the vagrants, transforming it into a scene like any other. I had to exert considerable effort to suppress the bloodlust rising within me. My instincts screamed to chase them down and slaughter them all, but with the high ground ahead, there was no time to pursue each one.
“Su-hyeon, you did well.”
Go Yeon-ju’s languid voice echoed nearby, snapping me out of my bloodthirsty trance.
Despite my earlier insistence on a swift retreat after the battle, I found myself hesitating. I couldn’t help but chuckle at my own foolishness.
I quickly turned to check on the positions of my clan members. There, peeking out from their hiding spots, were Go Yeon-ju and the others. Among them, I locked eyes with the Shadow Queen. Her contribution to breaking through the outer zone had been significant. Without her shadow cover, we might have been caught in the crossfire.
“Your support was impeccable. Truly worthy of the Shadow Queen.”
“Oh, stop it. You’re making me blush,” Go Yeon-ju replied, glancing at the scattered bodies.
I turned my gaze forward again. We had pushed through the residential area by veering left as much as possible. Now, to finally escape this wretched outer zone, I continued moving diagonally to the left, just as we had been doing. I could hear the footsteps of my clan members following behind.
After about five minutes of running, the chaotic scenery obscured by broken buildings suddenly cleared, revealing a wide-open view. The metallic scent of blood faded, replaced by the acrid smell of smoke. Ahead, beneath a towering wall, a massive open space about fifteen feet high came into view. We had finally exited the outer zone.
As expected, the gate was deserted. Though there were two mutilated guards’ bodies and distant screams echoed once more, the east gate was indeed empty.
Once we reached the gate, our chances of survival would increase dramatically. Even if they pursued us, it would be easier to evade them outside the confines of the city. The priority now was to get outside. We could decide which direction to take once we were free of the city.
With that plan in mind, I finally set foot on the street. That’s when it happened.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound sliced through the air. I turned toward the source, sensing something long and dark cutting through the smoke and flames. It was already upon me.
Instinctively, I spun around, reactivating the senses I had deliberately dulled to calm my bloodlust.
A cold wind grazed my neck, sharper than expected. As I puzzled over the strange attack, a clear female voice reached my heightened ears.
“Fine Shot… Demon Bullet, Flush!”
A massive explosion erupted behind me, accompanied by a searing heat.
『Magic attack detected. The Glory of the Heavens and the Glory of the Sun are interacting to respond.』
『Magic attack detected. Potential ability, Blessing of the Battlefield (Rank: EX), is responding.』
『The Glory of the Heavens and the Glory of the Sun have perfectly defended! Complete defense confirmed!』
I felt countless fragments battering against the shield, but that was all. I took no damage. The attack had revealed the enemy’s position and distance. I looked up at a still-standing three-story building and spotted a shadowy figure aiming at me. Without hesitation, I launched myself toward it.
Utilizing the abilities of the Bowstring Shadow and the Oroslos Boots, I closed the distance in an instant, the rooftop now beneath me. I heard the archer let out a small gasp, but she quickly regained her composure and drew her bowstring as I leaped toward her.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With a single draw, six arrows were loosed. The dark arrows twisted and turned, occupying six directions in an instant, as if they were alive.
The pitch-black arrows rained down from all sides simultaneously.
Calmly, I gripped the hilt of my sword. As soon as the arrows entered my range, I swung the blade in a wide arc. Infused with magic, the sword left a blue trail in the air, forming a semicircle. When the arrows collided with the arc, a heavy impact reverberated up my wrist.
Crack!
The arrows—or rather, the magic bullets—were effortlessly sliced apart, scattering in a fan shape. As I charged through the falling debris, the archer’s face grew larger in my view. Though her face was partially obscured by a black hood, her long hair and slender frame suggested she was a woman. Her eyes widened as she watched me approach.
Using the momentum of my descent, I swung my sword down hard.
Slash!
‘Interesting.’
The sword cleaved through the spot where the woman had been aiming at me. But she wasn’t easy prey. Most of the blade cut through empty air. Still, I felt a slight resistance at the tip. Curious, I looked ahead and saw the archer retreating, her shirt split down the middle. Her exposed skin showed a thin line of blood, a testament to her narrow escape.
The archer had narrowly escaped death. Her quick retreat after seeing me deflect her arrows had saved her. Her user information and quick decision-making were impressive. It was a shame she was a vagrant.
I immediately assumed a stance and charged at the archer. The battle was as good as over. The archer was skilled, but only at a distance. With the gap closed, she stood no chance.
The archer backpedaled rapidly, trying to widen the distance. But with my agility stat at 98 points and the Oroslos Boots on, even the most skilled archer couldn’t hope to outrun me.
The gap closed in just two seconds, bringing her within the range of my sword. I saw despair flicker in her eyes above the black hood. Planting my left foot firmly, I thrust my sword forward.
Thud!
“Ack…!”
The invisible blade pierced through the tear in her shirt, embedding itself in her chest. I felt the soft flesh give way. Satisfied with the depth, I unleashed a burst of magic.
Boom! Bang!
An enormous explosion erupted from within, as if a bomb had detonated inside her. Unable to withstand the pressure, her body was torn apart, limbs scattering into the air. Her remains flew in all directions, and the warm blood from the explosion splattered over me.
“Phew.”
‘Looks like I’m getting a full blood shower today.’
The relief of eliminating a skilled opponent was short-lived. I spat out the blood that had entered my mouth and turned my gaze back. The gate was still empty. No, it wasn’t. Go Yeon-ju waved at me nonchalantly. The clan members hadn’t left; they were waiting for me.
I turned toward them and leaped toward the gate.
At last, the long-awaited escape was within reach.
“What the hell is going on here?!”
Baek Seo-yeon screamed, her voice echoing around her. Her murderous shout made those nearby flinch. Even Dong-su, who was always chattering, and Hae-yeon, who constantly complained, and the vacant-eyed Ga-in, all clamped their mouths shut. They knew well that while Baek Seo-yeon was endlessly generous to her cherished subordinates, her true ruthless nature would emerge without mercy once she snapped.
In truth, Baek Seo-yeon was on the verge of losing her mind. When she first heard that contact had been lost, she had hoped it wasn’t true. But when she arrived at the plaza and warp gate, her worst fears were confirmed. And when she heard about the situation in the area her subordinates were supposed to be guarding, she finally exploded.
She had vented her fury by brutally killing any users she encountered, but it wasn’t enough to quell her rage.
Baek Seo-yeon was known for her extreme black-and-white thinking, even among the “true vagrants.” Her mindset was so rigid that even Hyun was reluctant to entrust her with command, despite her skills.
Baek Seoyeon stared intently at the blood-dripping dagger in her hand, her voice low and steady.
“Tell me again… How many casualties are we talking about?”
”…”
Her question was directed at Park Dongsoo, who, intimidated by her fierce demeanor, swallowed nervously, glancing around for support. But as soon as her sharp gaze landed on him, he hurriedly spoke up.
“Sixty-five in the plaza, seventy-seven at the warp gate. A total of 142, all wiped out.”
“Goddamn it…”
“And in the main residential area… so far, we’ve confirmed 129 casualties, but… they’re still searching.”
“So, 271 dead? And that’s just what we know so far?”
Seoyeon asked incredulously, her expression one of disbelief. Dongsoo nodded reluctantly, and she let out a furious scream.
“Goddamn it all!”
Crash!
She flung her trusted dagger to the ground and clutched her head in frustration.
The number of vagrants invading Mule this time was around 2,800. Though fewer than the users in Mule, these weren’t just any vagrants. Except for a few top leaders and their units, they were elite forces, survivors of the vagrant extermination plan, who had crossed continents and untamed lands. They were the cream of the crop, the best of the best.
Among these 2,800, Seoyeon commanded 800. She personally led 300, while the remaining 500 were split into groups of 300 and 200 to flank the sides. The 200 were assigned to the main residential area, where 70% of the population were residents, making it seem like an easy target.
Even with their high skill level, some casualties were expected in a city raid. But losing 10% of their forces at the onset, with nearly half of the dead being Seoyeon’s subordinates, was a shock. The greatest losses came from the outskirts, where they expected the least resistance. This was why Seoyeon was on the verge of losing it.
Just then, someone came running from the direction of the outskirts.
“There’s a big problem!”
All eyes turned to the approaching vagrant. Everyone except Seoyeon closed their eyes and bit their lips, anticipating the bad news.
“We found more dead in the rear outskirts!”
“How many?”
“Seventeen! And among them are Jeong Gyugang and Lee Ji-hyun!”
“Seventeen… What did you say?”
The report sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Jeong Gyugang was not only skilled but also a veteran among the vagrants, with a reputation to match. Lee Ji-hyun, with the secret class ‘Freischütz,’ was a valuable asset. More importantly, they were two of the people Seoyeon trusted the most.
Seoyeon’s expression remained unchanged. She calmly approached the vagrant, grabbed him by the collar, and stared him down.
“I’m not lying! I saw the bodies myself!”
”…Are you sure? You didn’t make a mistake?”
“Yes, yes! Someone barely escaped and testified! Especially Jeong Gyugang was taken down almost single-handedly…! And Lee Ji-hyun, well, it’s not certain yet…”
”…Not certain?”
“Her body was torn apart and scattered… but judging by the face and clothes…”
Thud.
Seoyeon let go of the vagrant. Dongsoo covered his face with his hands. Everyone knew it. From the moment she grabbed her subordinate by the collar, the thread holding Seoyeon’s sanity had snapped.
Seoyeon picked up the dagger she had dropped earlier and spoke in a low voice.
“Lee Haeyeon.”
“Yes!”
“Bring the one who escaped to me immediately. Or have him wait by the bodies. Tell him if he wants to live, he better remember every detail about the attacker.”
“Understood!”
Lee Haeyeon dashed off. Seoyeon then turned her gaze to Dongsoo.
“Park Dongsoo.”
“Y-yes.”
“Prepare to track them down immediately. Gather at least fifty of our fastest runners.”
“Sister, we’re in the middle of a raid, and you want to track… Ugh!”
A red glow flared in Seoyeon’s eyes, making Dongsoo shiver, but he forced himself to speak.
“Now more than ever, you need to stay calm… Ugh!”
“They might still be around, and even if they’ve left, we can catch up.”
“Damn it… But we need to report… Sister!”
”…”
“Damn it, I know! I know how close you were to Ji-hyun and Gyugang. I understand, but at least report before you go. The plaza and warp gate are in chaos, and users are gathering at the south gate faster than expected. The south gate. You know what that means, right? Sister? Even if you go, do what needs to be done first! You can make a mess, but someone has to clean it up!”
Seoyeon looked at Dongsoo intently. Gradually, the red glow in her eyes faded. As Dongsoo swallowed hard, Seoyeon finally spoke.
“Gather them first. Report once they’re ready. Got it?”
“Damn it. Planning to leave before reporting… Fine. I’ll gather them. I’m on it.”
Dongsoo sighed deeply and nodded, then hurried off in one direction.
Seoyeon watched him go for a moment before sprinting forward. Her eyes burned with an undeniable thirst for revenge.
But at that moment, Seoyeon had no idea what her choices would lead to, what consequences they would have for her and the continent. Blinded by vengeance, she couldn’t foresee any of it.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Ah, I’m a bit worried. I mentioned in a previous note that I wouldn’t be adding warning labels anymore, but just in case there are others like me out there, I apologize in advance. If you sense something strange coming up in the Return arc, feel free to scroll past it! :D
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congratulations on being first. :) It seems like you’re in a fierce competition with Kanesada for the first comment! Haha.
Smoked Snail: I’m worried people might feel sorry for the vagrants in this part. ㅜ.ㅠ
Lati Doll: It’s divided by modern countries! :)
Thunder Dragon: Corrections made. Thank you. (__)
hohokoya1: Haha. Y-yes, continuous updates. That’s right! hohokoya1, the weather is really nice today! (Thud thud!) @[email protected]
nji90okm + Armandica: Thank you for your support. I’ll keep thinking and working hard! :)
J.F: Oh, I see. I’ll have a nice surprise for you soon, J.F. Look forward to it! Haha.
Cat Bell: W-work! Come to think of it, working people don’t have vacations, right? ;ㅅ;
Yang Jun-kyu: Sorry! I posted the early parts as drafts, so there are quite a few typos. I’m fixing them from the first chapter. ;ㅅ;
Seedel: Yoo Hyun-ah? Ah, she might appear once or twice in the Return arc. Of course, from a different perspective. :)
Thank you for reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great encouragement.
I hope you always read with a relaxed mind.
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