When winter passes, spring arrives.
A faint horn sound drifted through the air.
“Ah, there’s the signal again. I better get going.”
A man bowed his head in farewell and sprinted forward. About twenty vagrants followed him, running in his wake.
Watching them quickly disappear into the distance, Simon Grimes tilted his head slightly.
“Hmm.”
“What’s wrong, Simon?” Yulina asked.
“Ah, something feels a bit off.”
“What do you mean?”
Simon didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he scanned the surroundings with his bloodshot eyes.
“The signal was clear enough… Do you think they might have lied?”
“I heard it too. I don’t think they lied. But…”
Simon paused again, his eyes flickering with a hint of red. Concerned that he might lose his composure, Yulina gently patted his back.
“Don’t worry too much. Let’s focus on escaping for now. And…”
Yulina glanced to the right, where a few vagrants who hadn’t followed the man were avoiding eye contact.
“Do you think they ran away? They must still be around here somewhere.”
“They might have. All the important people have already left this place. And those guys aren’t exactly known for their loyalty.”
“Simon…”
“Don’t worry. I kind of expected this, so I can’t really blame them.”
Yulina sighed lightly at Simon’s resigned words. Then she leaned in and suggested, “Should I go check it out?”
“You? Yulina?”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. The last important drifter left was… Kang San, right? I’ll bring him back. He’s one of the leaders, so he might know something.”
“Hmm. I doubt it’ll change much, but it’s better to know than to wait. Go ahead, Yulina. Just take a look and come back.”
Yulina smiled softly and turned to leave.
Fifteen minutes later.
“Well, well. I wondered why the signal was sent… Seems there was a reason.”
A man’s boastful voice echoed through the area. As he spoke, about twenty figures emerged, led by a man wielding a massive sword. Their presence was anything but ordinary.
The sight of them made the swordswoman’s face turn ashen.
“To think I’d run into our dear Da-eun again… What an unexpected surprise. Hahaha!”
The booming laughter that followed made the swordswoman bite her lip.
Here’s what happened.
To counter the incoming enemies, the swordswoman chose to fight from a blind spot. With no place to run and fewer enemies than expected, she believed she could handle them.
Initially, her plan seemed to work. She displayed overwhelming skill, taking down most of the foes, and with the support of her allies, including An-hyun, she quickly gained the upper hand.
But there was one thing she hadn’t anticipated: one of the enemies had a horn.
The horn was a communication tool used by vagrants. By setting a signal system based on the number of blows, it allowed them to request help or convey orders in emergencies.
A man stepped forward, surveying the swordswoman and her group, as well as the surroundings.
“Hmm. Are we the first to arrive? Lucky us. We barely made it out.”
“Perfect timing with the signal. So, is the alliance completely broken now?”
“Almost. The commander left earlier, using some excuse about dealing with someone. He’s probably out of the battlefield by now. We should make our own escape.”
“Ah, you mean when that dandy got mad at us? It seemed like Hyun was really going after him.”
“He’s been off ever since Baek Se-yeon got caught.”
The man glanced around, his gaze stopping at a vagrant lying on the ground, eyes wide open, a horn clutched in his mouth.
“How many died… Our dear Da-eun did quite a number on them.”
The man spoke with a hint of disbelief, nudging the vagrant he’d been conversing with.
“Hey, you. Pick up that horn and send the all-clear signal.”
“What? You want me to send the all-clear?”
The vagrant hesitated, but the man nodded with an annoyed expression.
“Yeah. Others might be on their way.”
“But we’re dealing with the swordswoman… Shouldn’t we inform the others?”
“Why worry about that? Let them find their own way out. And if any Western Continent folks are involved, it could get messy.”
“Still…”
The vagrant hesitated, but when the man scowled, he obediently picked up the horn.
The horn sounded three times, signaling the end of the situation. The various presences that had been gathering hesitated, then slowly began to disperse.
“I followed orders, but… if you get killed by the swordswoman, it’s not on me.”
“Don’t worry. You think we can’t handle one exhausted bitch?”
The swordswoman tensed at the vagrants’ dismissive attitude, but the word “bitch” struck a nerve, and her demeanor shifted. The man noticed and smirked.
“Let’s finish this before that dandy catches on.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave now? Things don’t look great on their side either…”
“But we can’t just let a traitor go. And after all the trouble we went through to find her…”
“Who’s the traitor?”
At that moment, the swordswoman’s sharp voice cut through the air, directed at the man.
Realizing his taunts had finally hit home, he turned to face her.
“Long time no see, our dear Da-eun. Remember me?”
“Shut up! Don’t call me that!”
The swordswoman’s voice trembled with rage, and the man chuckled.
The man was none other than the “traitor” Kang San, who had once taken the academy’s top student, the swordswoman, and turned her into a vagrant.
“Oh, our dear Da-eun. You’ve gotten sharp. Acting all high and mighty for a traitor. I guess you’ve been treated well as the swordswoman?”
“You’re the traitor!”
“Haha. I raised you, clothed you, fed you, got you a secret class, and comforted you every day…”
“Shut up! I’ll kill you!”
As Kang San’s sly words continued, the swordswoman screamed, but he remained unfazed, responding with a relaxed demeanor.
“Who’s killing who? Playing the victim, are we? You deceitful woman.”
“If it weren’t for you…!”
“Just admit it. You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?”
”…!”
“And then you turned on me, pretending to submit, only to escape at the first chance? Traitor!”
Wooong!
Unable to hold back any longer, the swordswoman’s sword, “Seol-ah,” began to hum with a clear, resonant sound.
“You… This is perfect… I’ll kill you for sure…”
Her eyes were filled with a chilling intent to kill, her aura radiating a fierce energy that seemed to devour everything around her.
Satisfied that his provocation had worked, Kang San drew his greatsword with a serious expression. Though he was a formidable fighter, he was no match for the swordswoman. His only advantage was that he had once trained her, she was exhausted, and he had the numbers on his side.
Just before the battle began, Kang San gestured without looking.
“You four on the right, handle the chicks in the back. The rest, subdue the swordswoman. We’re capturing her, so be prepared to risk half your lives. I’ll forgive minor injuries.”
“Ha. You think you can capture me?”
The swordswoman scoffed, but the vagrants followed Kang San’s orders, the four on the right slipping away like ghosts.
“I’ll kill you all!”
With her lifelong enemy before her, the swordswoman, consumed by rage, charged at the sixteen foes like a flash of light.
As ten streaks of sword energy erupted from “Seol-ah,” the battle began in earnest.
“Then let’s take care of this side, shall we?”
The vagrants who had emerged moved toward the remaining group. Three were men, and one was a woman.
“Ha! Look at them shaking. They’re like little chicks.”
“They haven’t even cast a spell yet. I could handle this alone. That pretty redhead over there is mine. Just my type.”
“Then I’ll take the priestess at the back. She’s really cute and pretty. Or is it pure? Whatever. Heh.”
“Idiots. Let’s finish this and get out of here. Just think about killing them.”
Despite the woman’s scolding, the three male vagrants laughed, clearly underestimating their opponents. It wasn’t just provocation; they genuinely believed the others were no match for them.
The numbers were 4 to 6. In terms of headcount, the users had the advantage. However, neither Ahn Hyun nor anyone else dared to act recklessly. From the moment the vagrants appeared, they had maintained a tense silence—not because they didn’t see the point in responding, but because their bodies were taut with tension.
At least to Ahn Hyun’s senses, these vagrants were different from any enemies they had faced before.
‘There’s no running away.’
Ahn Hyun gripped his spear tightly and took his stance.
Clang! Creak!
Following his lead, Lee Yoo-jung and the two users brought by the Sword Queen also raised their weapons, albeit shakily. They knew they couldn’t win, but they refused to go down without a fight.
Meanwhile, the four vagrants turned their heads to watch the fierce battle unfolding nearby.
“Looks like they’re struggling a bit over there.”
“Wow. The top officer and sixteen mid-level officers are struggling against just one person?”
“Not by much, but a little? It’s the Sword Queen, after all. A secret class. Anyway, let’s finish up here and see how things go. If it looks bad, we’ll join them.”
“Ugh. Everyone just do your part. Or should I just handle everything myself?”
Finally, the remaining four vagrants readied their weapons. Spears, axes, swords—thankfully, none were long-range.
Ahn Hyun swallowed hard and glanced at the battle where the Sword Queen was fighting. Holding out until help arrived would be ideal, but it wasn’t an option. The vagrants here seemed more skilled than him, and one with a spear was slowly advancing.
As he turned back, he saw the vagrant playfully aiming his spear at them, waving it teasingly. But Ahn Hyun wasn’t fooled.
‘I’ll have to counter.’
He resolved to strike the moment the vagrant attacked, even if it meant getting hurt. He was determined to take at least one down.
‘When countering an attack, watch their feet.’
Following Kim Soo-hyun’s teachings, Ahn Hyun focused on the leading man’s steps.
Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot…!
When the steps stopped, Ahn Hyun heard the sound of the wind being sliced. He dodged with all his might, thrusting his spear forward. At the same time, a faint light enveloped his body.
Swish!
Their spears narrowly crossed paths, almost simultaneously.
However, the vagrant’s spear was faster, aiming for Ahn Hyun’s head…
Crack!
It barely grazed him.
The faint light surrounding him shattered, but his head was unharmed. Ahn Hyun’s latent ability, a protective aura, had slightly altered the spear’s trajectory. In that instant, Ahn Hyun aimed his spear at the vagrant’s chest.
In that fleeting moment, a chill ran through the vagrant’s chest. He had underestimated them as mere chicks, but the unexpected strike made sweat bead on his forehead.
Then it happened.
Thud!
Just as Ahn Hyun’s spear was about to pierce the chest, his vision flashed, and he was violently flung to the left. The spear that had grazed him swung back, striking his head.
Facing a seasoned opponent with his still-developing skills was a mistake. Despite being a rare class, Ahn Hyun was still in his first year, with undeveloped abilities.
And his opponent was a vagrant, a seasoned mid-level officer. Though momentarily caught off guard, he quickly regained his composure. The moment the spear connected, the vagrant’s victory was assured.
“Ugh…”
Reeling from the impact, Ahn Hyun opened his mouth. The blow to his head was severe, and he collapsed, losing his balance. His head spun, and a faint ringing filled his ears. Yet, he clung to his spear, pointing it in one direction.
“Spear… Shot…!”
Clang, clang, clang!
The vagrant, who had been about to sigh in relief at Ahn Hyun’s fall, quickly swallowed his breath again.
Thud, thud!
“Gah!”
Four spears suddenly shot out, striking the vagrant’s chest directly. But that wasn’t all.
“Hah!”
Before he could recover, Lee Yoo-jung, who had been behind Ahn Hyun, charged in.
The man tried to twist away, but Lee Yoo-jung deftly maneuvered, swinging her daggers with determination to finish at least one opponent.
“Wh-what?”
The daggers crossed in an X, aiming for his chest.
“You idiot.”
Thud! Bang!
With a cold voice, the female vagrant intervened, stabbing and kicking Lee Yoo-jung in the side. Blood spurted like a fountain as she screamed and rolled on the ground.
“Huff.”
Finally, the spearman exhaled the breath he’d been holding. His chest bore the marks of crumpled armor and long, deep scars.
“You owe me one.”
“Haha, damn.”
“Wow. Almost got taken out by chicks, huh?”
“Man, you’ve really fallen. Acting all high and mighty, saying you’d handle everything, and then almost getting killed by a chick.”
The vagrants’ mocking voices echoed, having watched the entire scene.
The one called Jeong-han turned red with anger but kept silent. The others held the heads of the users who had accompanied the Sword Queen and Ahn Sol. His face flushed with embarrassment.
“Damn it!”
Jeong-han cursed and stood over the fallen Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoo-jung. He pressed down on her abdomen, causing her to cough up blood. He raised his spear.
“You bastards…”
“Hey, don’t kill them yet.”
“What?”
He snapped back, his face still furious, at the woman’s interruption.
“That one used some strange skill at the end. Something about a shot? And their gear looks good… Who knows? We might get some class info.”
“You want to do that now?”
“If not now, when? Besides, look over there. Doesn’t seem like we’ll need to join in.”
“Ugh. Weren’t you the one saying we should hurry and join?”
“Survival, survival.”
The man fell silent and turned his head.
The Sword Queen was locked in a fierce battle against the top officer and sixteen mid-level officers. Initially, she seemed to have the upper hand, but the vagrants avoided direct confrontation, employing a strategy of attrition.
As a result, the situation had turned against her. The fact that none of the vagrants had fallen yet was proof of that.
“Move your foot.”
At the woman’s command, the vagrant reluctantly lifted his left foot off Lee Yoo-jung. He watched the woman bend down, then shifted his gaze to the defiant eyes of Lee Yoo-jung below him.
“What are you looking at, you bitch? You think I’m a joke too?”
“Ugh!”
Displeased by her glare, Jeong-han pressed his left foot hard against her chest. The sensation of her soft chest beneath his foot made him twist it, growling.
“Look at those eyes. Like you want to kill someone.”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
He dragged his spear from her abdomen upward, tearing her clothes and leaving a shallow wound. The sharp tip stopped at her neck.
“Looks tough… Not my type.”
“Hey! Don’t! I called dibs!”
A vagrant approaching from the side shouted, but Jeong-han was about to press the spear into her neck when—
“Gust of Wind!”
Whoosh!
A fierce gust enveloped the vagrants.
Whoosh!
The hastily cast spell erupted from Shin Sang-yong’s fingertips. The wind swept over the vagrants, toppling the one standing over Lee Yoo-jung.
But that was all it did. The delay in casting due to the magic bullet had been significant, and the spell’s power was greatly diminished, merely knocking them over.
In short, it only served to provoke the vagrants further.
The shock was brief. The fallen vagrant, face flushed with anger from the jeers, quickly got back on his feet and charged forward, blood dripping from his chest.
Shin Sang-yong felt a wave of despair. He had known this was coming from the start, but facing it head-on was a different story. It was as if the world had gone dark.
In the midst of this chaos, he managed to shout at the trembling An Sol.
“An Sol! Run! Get out of here!”
“Where to?”
Thud!
A heavy blow landed on his face, sending Shin Sang-yong rolling on the ground with a groan.
“If you’re going to be useless, at least stay out of the way. Or run. What are you doing now, just standing there?”
Before he could even gather himself, Jeong Han’s kicks followed.
Thud, thud, thud!
Jeong Han, seemingly trying to vent his anger, mercilessly stomped on Shin Sang-yong. He curled up as best as he could to protect himself, but when a kick landed on his injured thigh, he couldn’t help but let out a cry of pain.
The kicking stopped for a moment. But the vagrant, still unsatisfied, picked up a spear and spoke in a chilling voice.
“Have you seen the movie Saving Private Ryan? Do you know Upham?”
“Ugh, ugh…”
“I hate guys like you the most. Useless, pathetic. Just die already. I should at least kill you.”
“No!”
Clang!
At that moment, An Sol leapt forward, and sparks flew. She had rushed in to shield Shin Sang-yong, and a white orb floated around her—a ‘Modified Shield of Protection.’
Jeong Han paused, lowering his spear.
“Wow, really? Fine, let’s see how this goes.”
He let out a disbelieving laugh and began to pound on the shield with renewed vigor.
Clang! Clang, clang!
Boom! Boom!
“Ahhh! Ahhh!”
Amidst the flying sparks, An Sol cried out loudly, unable to do anything but shed tears.
Shin Sang-yong, dazed, snapped back to reality as the pain subsided slightly and lifted his head.
Clang! Clang, clang! Clang, clang, clang!
Through the nearly shattering shield, various scenes unfolded before his eyes.
‘Hey, brother. Can you help me out here?’
An Hyun, being stripped of his gear one by one.
‘I’m not usually like this, but just this once, I’ll be generous. Here, Sang-yong oppa. Say ah~.’
Lee Yoo-jung, glaring daggers at the vagrant poking him.
‘Gulp? What are you doing giving me the elixir! Waaah!’
An Sol, clinging to him and wailing.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The vibrations of the shield grew more intense. In this dire situation, Shin Sang-yong felt nothing but guilt.
He was sorry. Sorry for being unable to do anything, for being the one protected. He loathed himself for only thinking of survival.
Clang, crack! Clang, crack!
“Brother! Su-hyun brother!”
An Sol’s cries grew louder, her grip on him tightening. The more she held on, the more confused Shin Sang-yong became.
What was he supposed to do here? What could he possibly do?
Or… was he just meant to die here?
It was then.
A jumble of memories flashed through his mind.
‘At least try to run.’
‘You’re useless, just die.’
Recalling those words, something stirred within Shin Sang-yong for the first time amidst the darkness of despair. He parted his bloodied lips.
”─, ──. ─, ──. ─, ──.”
It was a spell, uttered reflexively.
Though he had never succeeded before and the situation was dire, it was the only option left for him.
‘If a mage is the flower of the battlefield, then a secret, rare class can turn the tide of war. They can even overturn a losing battle in an instant.’
”───. ───. ───.”
As he continued to chant, thoughts flooded his mind.
‘Do you know why you always fail?’
‘Beast summoning is a unique spell, but the most important thing is the contract.’
‘Beasts are powerful, but they have strong pride.’
‘But you’re scared of them, not desperate enough. No! You lack the will to make a contract. Why would they come? Huh?’
The moment his thoughts ceased, the incantation ended.
“Come forth!”
Shin Sang-yong opened his eyes wide and raised his right hand.
”…”
But nothing changed. All he saw was the shield, like a cracked eggshell, on the verge of breaking.
Crack! Shatter!
No, it wasn’t on the verge anymore—it had shattered.
“It’s over. Goodbye, you useless fool.”
The man’s spear was raised high.
“Come! Come!”
“What’s coming?”
Just before it struck, the spear halted in mid-air.
In that fleeting moment, a myriad of emotions surged through Shin Sang-yong.
Thinking it was truly the end, he squeezed out every last drop of his magical power.
And with a heart full of desperation, he shouted with a voice louder than ever before.
“Come! Please come! Imprison!”
Crack! Crackle!
Then, though distorted, a magic circle appeared in the air.
And at that moment.
“O ruler of the 49th legion, the iron binder!”
Clang, clang, clang!
From the distorted magic circle, dozens of dark chains shot out in all directions.