00728 A Flower Blooming in Blood
As the darkness gradually faded, the eastern sky began to brighten with the first light of dawn. The sun crept up cautiously, casting a faint glow, and the bushes bathed in sunlight slowly lifted their heads. The morning scene of the blue mountain range arrived quietly and beautifully.
Rustle, rustle!
Rustle, rustle!
Just as the light started to spread across the entire mountain range, an unusual noise suddenly broke the silence. Did he hear it? A man sitting cross-legged among the bushes within the mountains flinched and tensed up.
His robe was pulled deep over his head, obscuring his face, but the patchy beard and grime on his exposed jawline revealed he hadn’t washed for days.
He yawned widely, eyes heavy with sleep, slowly scanning left and right—not so much searching as reacting out of habit.
Rustle, rustle!
Rustle, rustle!
But then, the man’s slow head movement abruptly froze. The drowsiness vanished from his eyes, replaced by a sharp tension. Quietly, as if not to make a sound, he pulled back his hood and fixed his gaze straight ahead, his face hardening.
The bushes in the distance shook rapidly. It was hard to tell if it was people, but something dark and shadowy was moving at an incredible speed, cutting a straight path through the thick undergrowth as if to pounce on the man.
A low, humming roar filled the air.
It was the sound of magic—an alarm triggered by a pre-set magical ward warning of an intruder. The vibrations echoed from all directions.
“Intruders! Intruders!”
“Damn it!”
The man’s shout and the curses of the cave’s vagrants woke them almost simultaneously.
“What do you mean intruders? What’s going on?”
“We’ve got a report from the watch! It’s not the Execution Squad—it’s a monster attack!”
Someone shouted urgently, and a burly, hairy man with a thick belly scowled deeply.
“Damn, a monster attack? That’s just great!”
Though it wasn’t the Execution Squad, this was no cause for relief. Most monsters that appeared in the Blue Mountains traveled in packs. When a legion of Death Knights and Liches or a horde of half-demons attacked, as the man said, it was a nightmare.
Yet, despite the surprise, the cave wasn’t in chaos. Everyone moved swiftly, preparing to flee. Their response was quick and practiced, as if they’d been through this many times before.
“Where are they coming from?”
“From the north! They’re swarming in!”
Soon, about 200 vagrants poured out of the cave, heading south. The vagrants had a strict rule: when fleeing the Execution Squad, scatter in all directions. But in the case of a monster attack, that wasn’t necessary. Since monster attacks were usually sudden and unpredictable, the best strategy was simply to escape the area as fast as possible.
At first, the vagrants thought that was all they had to do.
But the first sign something was wrong came when they saw a dozen or so users arrayed in a wide crescent formation blocking their escape route. It was as if they had been waiting.
A tense murmur spread among the fleeing vagrants who instinctively stopped. At the front, the so-called “traitor” Lee Kang-san furrowed his brow. His long experience as a vagrant triggered an alarm in his instincts. Though he didn’t know the full story yet, he sensed they’d been ambushed.
And above all—
“Fucking hell…”
“Isn’t that… the Mercenary Execution Squad?”
Whispers of panic began to spread as they noticed the red emblem on the users’ chests: a sword and shield. No doubt about it—the most notorious Mercenary Execution Squad had appeared before the vagrants.
As the commotion grew, Lee Kang-san raised his massive sword and shouted fiercely.
“Damn it! Get a grip! There’s only a dozen or so of them!”
He wasn’t wrong. The Mercenary Execution Squad numbered just 14, while the vagrants were about 200 strong, including some high-ranking members—seasoned survivors of countless battles.
Perhaps encouraged by Lee’s words, the scattered vagrants began to steady themselves, drawing weapons and aiming forward. It was a scene that showed the vagrants’ higher level compared to ordinary outlaws—they didn’t panic but knew what to do even in a surprise attack.
Though Lee managed to calm them somewhat, his unease only deepened when he saw the woman standing at the center of the crescent formation.
He knew who she was: Nam Da-eun, the “Sword Empress.” Since earlier, she had been watching the vagrants with a cold smile, as if mocking them.
There was no time to waste. Monsters were still approaching from behind. The best-case scenario now was a chaotic three-way battle between users, vagrants, and monsters. In the confusion, their chances of slipping away would increase dramatically.
With that in mind, Lee pointed his blade forward and let out a fierce battle cry. His shout sparked a chorus of yells as the vagrants charged ahead.
But did they realize?
The monsters rushing from behind weren’t from the Blue Mountains—they were a demonic horde summoned by Vivian.
That they were completely surrounded, front and back, was a fact they hadn’t grasped.
And that dark smoke had begun to seep beneath their feet.
“Come forth! Pierre! The Mad Jester who commands the Fourth Legion!”
Suddenly, a clear, ringing voice echoed through the chaos—completely out of place.
Moments later—
Hehehehe, hehehehe!
Hihihihi, hihihihi!
Eerie laughter answered, signaling the start of an unexpected hunting season in the Blue Mountains.
Vagrant Extermination!
The Mercenary Clan succeeded in wiping out a large group of vagrants. Not a single casualty on their side, and dozens of key vagrants were captured alive.
The news spread like wildfire. It was inevitable—after a relatively peaceful period, such a major incident couldn’t help but explode across the continent. Especially when it involved vagrants. The rumors traveled beyond the Northern Continent all the way to Atlanta.
The users’ reaction was explosive. The day the Execution Squad returned to Atlanta, the area near the Warp Gate was packed with people eager to see if the vagrant horde had truly been defeated. When they saw dozens of vagrants bound and gagged, the city erupted in cheers.
Some clapped with satisfaction, others shouted curses as if facing their worst enemies, some sighed in relief at the newfound safety, and others were overwhelmed with disbelief. The reactions were as varied as they were intense.
Of course, this didn’t mean the long-standing curse was completely broken. Vagrants still hid somewhere, or perhaps blended in among the users. In other words, the root of the problem wasn’t entirely eradicated.
Still, this was a remarkable achievement. Never before had the leadership been captured all at once. The fact that the “traitor” Lee Kang-san and other key figures were all taken was a monumental success. If previous efforts had been about cutting off limbs one by one, this was like smashing the head. Now, cleaning up the remaining vagrants was only a matter of time.
As the city began to bask in a festive atmosphere, the Execution Squad, having handed over the vagrants to the central authorities, made their way back to the castle through the cheering crowds. I had been in constant contact with them and decided to wait in the first-floor conference room.
Shortly after, the 14 clan members entered confidently, walking in perfect formation. Everyone waiting, including myself, applauded. Even Ko Yeon-ju smiled brightly and clapped. That alone spoke volumes about the significance of this achievement.
At the center of the room, Woo Jung-min bowed slightly.
“User Woo Jung-min and 13 others have successfully completed their mission and returned.”
“I’ve already received the report. Well done, everyone.”
I responded immediately, scanning the Execution Squad members: Nam Da-eun, Woo Jung-min, Seon Yoo-woon, Jin Soo-hyun. Four of them looked noticeably brighter than before. Who said revenge only brings regret? They seemed intoxicated by the sweetness of victory.
For me, it was a good feeling all around. This incident had greatly boosted the reputation of Woo Jung-min and the Execution Squad.
Of course, my name wasn’t among them. This proved that the Mercenaries could achieve such results without me. At least individually, it was a hopeful sign that some users I knew were gradually returning to their first-cycle form.
“It was just luck,” I said.
Amid the string of congratulations, Woo Jung-min modestly glanced my way. Of course, this time an unexpected variable named Ha Seung-woo had come into play. Strictly speaking, it felt like he had taken some credit as well. But even considering that, the outcome remained unchanged. Sure, I set the table, but isn’t being able to enjoy the meal just as much a skill?
Either way, the assassination squad got things off to a fantastic start. I took a risk and sparked a fierce change, and I’m confident that the storm of transformation will gradually calm now that we’ve achieved this success.
Once the praise died down, I announced the rewards for the mission’s success in front of everyone. Clan members ranked C or below would receive an automatic promotion to grade 1, while those ranked B or higher were granted rewards reflecting their solid performance.
It was a bit unconventional, sure, but no one objected. The value of this mission’s success was just that immense—far more significant than completing 30 or 40 ordinary missions.
And then.
The day after the vagrant incident was resolved, and after Ahn Hyun, whom I had worried about, successfully returned from his mission—
A small change came to me as well. More precisely, a subtle shift appeared in the user data of those who had started the rites of passage alongside me.
Our seniority increased. Before I knew it, we had moved beyond the third year and become fourth-year users.
For me, in terms of actual years, it was the 14th year.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
It’s time to slowly enter a period of stability. Of course, there’s still a big mountain to climb first. Our beloved Lee Yoo-jung will face some unexpected hardships. Ha ha ha.
And just to clear up a common misunderstanding: I don’t hate Lee Yoo-jung. On the contrary, I like her. Really. :)
Lee Yoo-jung: So can you stop pushing me around so much?
Roh Yoo-jin: Sorry.
Lee Yoo-jung: What are you sorry for?
Roh Yoo-jin: You still have to get pushed around three more times.
Exactly three times. Yes. All the way down to the depths… But if she endures this trial well, Yoo-jung will become a much more mature user. Honestly, I’m eager to write a mature Yoo-jung. It’s a great look—red hair, crimson eyes, a pretty face, and a sexy figure. Heh heh (?)
And even though Yoo-jung is going through all this now, I plan to have her take full revenge on Kim Soo-hyun later. Oh, how will she get revenge? For example, under the desk in the office, or on the terrace… Hm? Ah, no, that’s not it. Ahem.