The sky was a deep, foreboding shade of dark. The moon hung in the heavens, casting an eerie blue light over the world below. The dense forest, with its thick trees and lush undergrowth, absorbed the moonlight, taking on a sinister hue.
The forest at midnight was far darker and more oppressive than the city. Yet, this darkness was something I welcomed. My past experiences in the fairy woods would prove invaluable in our current predicament.
After dealing with the archer, I led my clan members out of Mule. But I remained vigilant. Escaping the city didn’t mean we were safe. In fact, it marked the beginning of a survival challenge in the wilderness. With the warp gate closed, those who managed to escape had no choice but to walk to the next city. We were no exception.
Once we exited through the eastern gate, I directed our group southward. Mule was a city located in the northeast. The nearest cities were Eden to the east and Pamela to the north. So, heading south first, then turning east or west, seemed like the best plan.
Both Eden and Pamela were roughly equidistant, but the real issue was Mule itself. As a frontier city, it was far from stable, with frequent monster appearances. And that wasn’t all. Supplies like food and water were limited. We had packed enough for three days at most.
“We should find a river as we move through the forest,” I decided, and began walking toward the sound of water.
Soon, the edge of the river came into view. Pushing through the tangled vines, the refreshing scent of water mixed with the cool breeze hit me. The river, under the moonlight, shimmered with a silvery glow. I continued southward along the riverbank. Then, suddenly—
Thud!
“Hah… Hah…”
A sound of someone collapsing and struggling to breathe reached my ears. Turning calmly, I saw Ansol on her knees, hands on the ground, gasping for air, her face streaked with tears.
“Child, hold your breath for a moment, then take a deep breath,” the old man advised, gently patting her back. Ansol nodded, trying to steady herself.
Her eyes were wild with fear, and her lips trembled. I understood her turmoil. It was likely her first experience with such large-scale violence and the accompanying horrors. In the city, she might have suppressed her fear, but outside, it all came crashing down.
Except for Go Yeonju, the other clan members were in similar states. Kim Hanbyul looked pale, and even the old man comforting Ansol seemed weary. Though it wasn’t the time to relax, I decided we needed a short break. We had a long journey ahead, and managing our stamina was crucial.
“We’ll rest here for a bit,” I announced.
Ansol hung her head, her shoulders shaking as she silently wept. The others moved to comfort her, but I held up a hand to stop them. Sometimes, it’s best to let someone cry it out.
Once everyone settled down, a heavy silence fell over us, broken only by Ansol’s occasional sobs. I propped my chin on my hand, lost in thought.
‘Why did they come from the north instead of the west? There didn’t seem to be that many of them…’
Just as I was about to delve into my thoughts, I caught Kim Hanbyul’s gaze. She hesitated, then stood up with a determined look and approached me.
She knelt beside me. “Oppa, just a moment.”
Puzzled by her sudden action, I asked, “Why?”
She quietly raised her hand, holding the sleeve of her blue robe. Gently, she began to wipe my face, as if washing a child’s face. In the moonlight, I noticed how beautiful she looked.
The once bright blue sleeve was now darkened. Though she had wiped my face and hair, the scent of blood lingered. Concerned that it might attract monsters, I caught her delicate hand.
“That’s enough. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I’ll go rinse the blood out of my clothes. Wait here.”
Before I could protest, Kim Hanbyul took my robe and headed to the river. Watching her retreating figure, I shrugged. I wasn’t sure why she was doing this, but I didn’t mind. As she crouched by the river, a soft voice reached my ears.
“Taking the initiative, huh? I didn’t expect that from her.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Go Yeonju, who had approached unnoticed, shook her head and sat beside me, looking toward the river.
“Suhyeon, what are your plans? Are you heading back to the city?”
“Yes, either to Eden or Pamela.”
“That’s quite a distance… I’m worried.”
“We have to try. If we can march without interruptions, we might make it in three weeks.”
”…Do you think there won’t be any interruptions?”
Go Yeonju’s voice was tinged with bitterness. I couldn’t be sure either, so I just clicked my tongue. Realistically, it would take closer to four weeks.
The sound of clothes being washed in the river filled the silence. After about ten minutes, the sound of wet footsteps approached. I turned to see Kim Hanbyul holding my robe, its color somewhat restored. Most of the blood was gone, and it was clear she had washed it with care.
I thanked her and put on the robe. It was slightly damp, but the overpowering scent of blood was gone. I tightened the belt and looked at Ansol. She still seemed fragile, but a bit calmer.
“We should get moving.”
At my words, Go Yeonju and the old man stood up immediately. Ansol, though anxious, also rose, eager to put distance between us and the city.
“Even though it’s night, we should walk as far as we can. Let’s move.”
Just as we were about to set off, I sensed movement from the direction we had come.
It was the sound of many people approaching.
”…So, they left the city gates? During the attack?”
“Jung Kyugang and the marksman were killed. Baek Seoyeon confirmed the bodies and sent a messenger. She’s likely out there with her subordinates by now.”
“With her subordinates? How many?”
“Nearly fifty. She promised to return quickly.”
“Argh!”
The man giving the report paused as Hyun casually swung his hand, severing the neck of the captive in front of him. Blood splattered everywhere. The man glanced at the rolling head and spoke quietly.
“Who was that? The clan lord of Paradise?”
“No, just a regular clan member. Foolishly hiding here.”
“Then the clan lord…”
“I’ve knocked him out for now. I have questions for him after the raid. I expected more from a so-called leading clan, but it was disappointing.”
Hyun’s voice was cold as he turned away. The man felt a chill run down his spine. Though Hyun appeared calm, the man knew he was furious.
Hyun had led 1,200 men to attack the north gate. His target wasn’t the plaza or the warp gate. As soon as he breached the north gate, he led his elite unit straight to the Paradise clan house, destroying the command center before the users could react. And now, success was within reach.
In that moment, grim news arrived. The situation at the eastern gate was dragging on, and to make matters worse, the commander had abandoned his post. But that wasn’t all. Despite their already limited numbers, he had taken fifty of their elite renegades with him. Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, an unexpected wrench had been thrown into the works.
“This is why I shouldn’t have entrusted him with command… It’s largely my fault. Tsk.”
“I’m actually worried. From what I’ve heard, he seems to be quite a skilled user… What if Baek Seoyeon is also…”
“Well, it’s hard to imagine Baek Seoyeon losing. When she goes into her ‘crazy mode,’ even I find her a bit terrifying. And taking fifty men with him… Anyway, I understand the situation. If he’s already left, there’s nothing we can do. But when he returns, he’ll be held accountable. For now, focus all remaining forces on the Mule’s assault.”
“Yes. So, what will you do? The eastern gate is slow, and more users are gathering at the southern gate than we anticipated.”
At the man’s words, Hyun tilted his head from side to side, as if deep in thought. A rhythmic cracking sound came from his neck. He glanced at the man’s clenched hands before speaking in a cold voice.
”…We have no choice. We’ll have to adjust the plan. I’ll head to the eastern gate. Let’s trigger the southern gate a bit earlier than planned.”
“Understood.”
“You take charge of the northern gate. I’ll handle the eastern gate and then rush to the southern gate. I’ll manage the timing, so be ready to act as soon as you get the signal.”
“Be careful. They say Simon’s rise to the top of the western continent was largely due to that trap. I saw it once, and its explosive power is truly formidable.”
Hyun nodded slowly at the man’s concerned tone. He gave a light kick to a corpse on the ground and turned towards the door.
“Alright. I’ll leave this place to you.”
“I’ll come with you.”
The man turned to follow Hyun, and the ‘something’ he was holding let out a faint whimper, accompanied by the sound of something being dragged across the floor.
Just before stepping out, Hyun let out a dry laugh and asked, “What’s that?”
“Oh, sorry. I thought it was the clan lord, but it turns out it’s the former lord of the Mule’s clan. Just in case…”
”…”
“Sorry. It seemed a waste to kill her just like that. She’s got a nice figure and an air of elegance, just my type.”
The man scratched his head awkwardly, and Hyun let out a low snort.
“I’m not going to say anything. But choose your moments wisely. Knock her out and stash her somewhere. Once the raid is over, you can have your fill.”
“Thank you!”
The man bowed his head and lifted the nape of the neck he was holding. In his grip was a female user, trembling with a vacant expression.
“Just take a nap. I’ll shower you with affection once this is over.”
“N-no… Please, spare me…”
Thud!
“Agh!”
The woman, who had barely managed to speak, let out a sharp cry as the man struck her abdomen hard.
Thud! Thud!
Without giving her a chance, he landed two more blows in quick succession. Her body shuddered as if she couldn’t breathe, and her head drooped. Watching her auburn hair fall over her ample chest, the man smirked.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
For this invasion, I chose to depict violence and assault as a means to reveal the nature of the renegades. I thought it fitting given their pent-up circumstances and characteristics. Remember, Yoo Hyun-ah is just a character in the novel. Let’s not get overly heated like last time. (__)
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congrats on being first! Haha. Thanks for the anticipation. Among webtoons, I find “Born Idiots” the most entertaining. :)
Crammy: Thanks for the coupon. I’ll always do my best. (__)
M.K: Well, it’s possible to act out. But given Baek Seoyeon’s position, something big is bound to happen. Hehe. :)
Seedel: Baek Seoyeon had a bad history with the protagonist. Not as much as Belphegor, but a bad history is a bad history. It would be a bit disappointing to just kill her off simply. There’s still some use to be had.
Hwiya: Oh dear. I got confused. I’ve corrected it. Thank you. (__)
MongooHunter: I’m planning about two episodes for the chase and battle. Given the bad blood between Kim Soo-hyun and Baek Seoyeon, they won’t be joining forces. :)
DevilShrine: No, I enjoy that kind of humor. Hahaha!
Spika: Haha, no. Secret or rare classes generally can’t be duplicated. But there are exceptions, like Soo-hyun’s perks or examples like Vivian and Shin Sang-yong. :) Sorry for the confusion with the Marksman. My apologies!
SmokedSnail: Right. They don’t think about how they killed the users, only about their comrades being killed. Selfish characters. :D
sHaremMania: There are many, and they’re diverse. The reasons are varied too. Of course, there’s one ‘origin,’ but it has become distorted over time. As such, the types can be further subdivided. There are those who straddle both sides, not just simple users and renegades. :)
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.