< Episode 17. SSS-Class Talent (2) >
Sgagagak!
Every time Yoo Sangah's dagger moved, the enemies' bodies were shredded alive.
Amazing.
…Is she really the Yoo Sangah I know?
There weren't many large-scale skills capable of displaying that kind of power in a one-versus-many situation. At this point in time, only Armed Castle Lord Gong Pildu's [Armed Zone], or Han Sooyoung's [Avatar], came to mind. Yet Yoo Sangah was demonstrating that level of destruction without any such large-area skill.
How did she get this strong?
Could this be… talent?
As if he had read my thoughts, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke.
—She's growing faster without you at her side. You don't seem particularly good at raising your companions. It was the same with Lee Hyunsung.
—…Hey, it's because I invested heavily in her early on that she grew this much, you bastard.
That wasn't really true, but I wanted to say it anyway.
Damn it. Why did she have to get stronger while I wasn't around?
This just makes it look like I'm not much help at all.
"Hey."
At Han Sooyoung's call, I belatedly nodded.
I couldn't stay overwhelmed by Yoo Sangah's brilliance forever.
After all, the enemies were many—and Yoo Sangah was alone.
"Yoo Sangah, this way!"
At my voice, Yoo Sangah's figure hesitated.
It seemed she hadn't expected to meet me in a place like this either.
"Han Sooyoung, I'm counting on you."
As if she'd been waiting for those words, Han Sooyoung activated her Avatar.
While dozens of avatars rushed forward and disrupted Dokhee's group's line of sight, I safely made contact with Yoo Sangah.
"Dokja? How on earth did you end up here…?"
"Let's move first. We'll talk after."
Reinforcements were chasing us from afar. Fortunately, the survivors seemed to have escaped Gangdong safely via Cheonho Bridge.
The problem was us.
—Head for the high-rise buildings behind you. Securing higher ground and visibility comes first.
As expected, Yoo Joonghyuk's judgment was decisive in moments like this.
No matter how thoroughly I'd read Ways of Survival, I couldn't make battlefield decisions as perfectly as Yoo Joonghyuk.
But his next words carried a deeper meaning.
—And that woman… you'd be wise to be careful around her.
Careful? About who?
Yoo Joonghyuk said nothing more.
We quickly slipped into a nearby high-rise building and hid.
Perhaps stirred up by the commotion, a sudden surge of monster species flooded the area, and Dokhee's group seemed to lose our trail. After searching the surroundings for a while, they soon abandoned the chase and retreated deeper into Gangdong.
Only then did I turn to Yoo Sangah.
"Yoo Sangah, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. What about you, Dokja?"
"I'm fine too."
We'd only been apart for a few days, yet an odd awkwardness lingered in our conversation.
It felt like meeting a former classmate for the first time in ten years after graduating high school.
I forced myself to look away from her tight combat suit and spoke.
"Um, well…"
But I had no idea what I should ask first.
Meanwhile, after glancing once at Han Sooyoung and then checking Yoo Joonghyuk slung over Han Sooyoung's avatar, Yoo Sangah gave me an unreadable smile.
"Looks like you've been through a lot too, Dokja."
For now, it was time for a brief exchange of circumstances.
After the 'Absolute Throne' shattered, Yoo Sangah fell into Gangdong.
Fortunately, she wasn't alone when she landed.
"Gong Pildu was with you?"
"Yes. He helped me a lot."
Judging by the way she called him "ajusshi," it seemed they'd grown quite close.
"Where is Gong Pildu now?"
"He fell two days ago while fighting the Gangdong group. He was trying to save me, and then…"
Today was full of surprises.
That one of the 'Ten Evils,' Gong Pildu, would willingly put himself in danger to save someone.
Lowering her head, Yoo Sangah continued with difficulty.
"At the end, he lured them toward the Han River…"
As Yoo Sangah clenched her lips, a flash of venom passed through her expression.
Suddenly, I understood why she had slaughtered Dokhee's group without a moment of hesitation.
I spoke to comfort her.
"Gong Pildu will probably be fine. Don't worry."
Since I was contracted with the [Defense Master], I would know immediately if Gong Pildu died—because I'd suffer a penalty according to the contract terms.
The fact that there'd been no reaction meant that Gong Pildu was still alive somewhere.
Like Dokhee, Gong Pildu was also a member of the Ten Evils.
He wasn't someone who'd die that easily.
"Where did you get those clothes and that dagger?"
"Ah, those…"
After separating from Gong Pildu, Yoo Sangah wandered the surrounding area and happened to discover a [Green Meteorite].
A [Green Meteorite] was a meteorite containing rare items.
I checked the items she possessed.
Sure enough, I remembered that there had been a meteorite like this containing such items near the Cheonho-dong area.
[Ancient Assassin's Dagger][Floating Cat-Leather Suit]
Both were excellent S-rank items.
The [Ancient Assassin's Dagger] had an option that increased damage the farther the target was, while the [Floating Cat-Leather Suit] enhanced agility the longer the wearer remained airborne.
"Those are good items."
"Yes. Thanks to them, I was able to fight properly."
As Yoo Sangah smiled, Han Sooyoung—who had been listening silently until now—picked a fight.
"Hm. Is that really all?"
"Pardon?"
"Sure, I'll accept that you 'happened' to get those items. But showing that kind of combat ability with just equipment alone makes no sense. Who exactly is your sponsor? How did you raise [Agile Movement] and [Dagger Technique Enhancement] so quickly? Even using a 'Growth Package,' that kind of speed is impossible."
"...And who are you?"
"Me? The First Apostle."
Without a word, Yoo Sangah drew her dagger.
"Wait, Yoo Sangah. She's not an enemy."
Yoo Sangah looked at me with distrust.
"You've already gotten close?"
"It's not that we're close, it's just—"
"Members of the Chungmuro group were killed by that person. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
Yoo Sangah had been the vice-leader of Chungmuro while I was gone.
So her attachment to the Chungmuro group was far deeper than mine. Han Sooyoung spoke up.
"Chungmuro? Ahh, right. So you're that one from back then?"
At her casual tone, Yoo Sangah narrowed her eyes.
Han Sooyoung chuckled and added,
"Hey, Kim Dokja. Sure, I'm a bad bitch—but you should still judge things properly. From where I stand, something about that woman doesn't add up."
"You—"
"Since Chungmuro came up, I'll say this. When I saw her back then, she wasn't anywhere near this strong. Don't you think that's strange too? Even if she had a narrative-grade constellation as her sponsor, that kind of explosive growth in such a short time is impossible. Unless she has an SSS-rank growth acceleration skill, maybe… but how many constellations in Korea could even provide that kind of support?"
Emotionally, I wanted to deny it—but rationally, I thought Han Sooyoung was right. Yoo Joonghyuk's earlier words also lingered in my mind.
And on top of that, Yoo Sangah was still hiding her sponsor from me.
Her flustered gaze met mine.
I had assumed Yoo Sangah's sponsor was the "Lover of the Abandoned Labyrinth."
After all, the only constellation capable of granting 'Pathfinding' through 'Magic Threads' was the one who gave Theseus the thread in Daedalus's Labyrinth—Ariadne from Greek mythology.
But as Han Sooyoung said, Ariadne's level of recognition couldn't possibly nurture Yoo Sangah to this extent.
Moreover, the movements Yoo Sangah displayed when she leapt through the air earlier weren't the martial arts skill [Void-Stepping], but looked closer to [Hermes' Walking Method]. There was no way Ariadne's incarnation could use Hermes' stigma.
Just as I was about to speak, an unexpected presence cut in.
[Haha, everyone! Have you all been doing well?]
Damn it… what timing.
I immediately looked out the window.
Against the darkening sky, the form of a dokkaebi floated leisurely.
[You participants are awfully impatient. The main scenario doesn't even start for another week, yet some of you are already awakening a calamity. You must be very curious about the next scenario, huh?]
It wasn't Bihyung speaking, but Bihyung's figure was visible as well.
It seemed the damdangja was absent, and lower-ranking dokkaebis were filling in.
[The assigned goblin stepped away for a bit, so we were planning to take it easy during this period… haha. But you've all learned how things work by now, haven't you? You know we're not just going to let an event like this slide.]
This is bad.
Really bad.
[Since you're all asking for it, I wouldn't be much of a dokkaebi if I didn't deliver a scenario, would I?]
In a situation like this, a scenario appearing meant only one thing.
[Sub Scenario — 'Prevent the Calamity' has arrived.]
The hatching of the calamity was now imminent.
Type: SubDifficulty: S-
Clear Condition:An unknown faction that has established a foothold in Gangdong District is attempting to hatch one of the 'Calamities.' Defeat them and prevent the impending 'Calamity.'
Time Limit: 2 hours
Reward: 22,000 Coins
Failure: Early appearance of the 'Calamity of Questions.'
Since we received the "Prevent the Calamity" scenario, the Dokhee Group must have received the "Protect the Calamity" scenario.
Those damn dokkaebis were trying to incorporate even this sudden turn of events into the scenario itself.
I immediately turned to the others and spoke.
"This isn't the time for us to fight among ourselves. We deal with that first."
For the first time, Han Sooyoung and Yoo Sangah nodded at the same time.
The Dokhee Group had established their base in Cheonho-dong, within Gangdong District.
More precisely, it was an area densely packed with churches and cathedrals.
If their objective was to prematurely revive a calamity, choosing a religious district as their base was a brilliant move.
The prayers of people who had lost everything would create the perfect environment for hatching a 'Calamity Meteorite.'
After finishing her reconnaissance, Han Sooyoung spoke first.
"The route with the lowest terraforming level runs north-northeast from the stronghold. Cheonjung-ro 16-gil. If we push through that path, we can reach the core of the base in the shortest time possible. But the defenses won't be light."
I nodded.
We didn't have time. We had to take the fastest route.
"It's fine. We'll move through the buildings where possible. Han Sooyoung and Yoo Sangah, you two take the front. And don't fight."
"...Understood."
Since Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't provide immediate support, we decided to leave him on the rooftop of a high-rise building using Han Sooyoung's avatar. Officially, it was to have him "observe the battlefield."
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't voice any complaints. He only gave this warning.
—If possible, kill them before the hatching begins. Without the [Path of the Wind], suppressing the 'Calamity of Questions' in its early phase is nearly impossible.
Of course, I wanted that too.
"Let's go."
At the signal, we leapt down from the building.
Taking point was Han Sooyoung using [Avatar]. In an instant, dozens of avatars multiplied and scattered through the streets, drawing the attention of the Dokhee Group.
"What the hell?! Kill them!"
The moment the flustered group members chased after the avatars, thin, transparent threads flew in from the air.
Sgagagak!
"Aaaaargh!"
Men pursuing the avatars were caught by the wire and had their legs severed. But that wasn't the end.
Along the trajectory of their fall, there was another wire waiting.
Pu-kwaak!
Their heads flew through the air.
It was a chilling double trap, designed with even the angle of collapse taken into account. Han Sooyoung clicked her tongue.
"Wow. Brutal."
"That's not something you should be saying."
Despite the murderous banter, their coordination was impressive—no, more than that, it was extremely effective.
Thanks to that, I was able to slip past the Dokhee Group's surveillance with ease and infiltrate the core of the base.
Finding the Calamity Meteorite wasn't difficult.
A massive meteorite over eight meters tall.
Gooooooo...
It stood there, exuding ominous waves of aura, practically screaming, "I am a calamity."
You could tell—whatever was inside it was on a completely different level from the Fire Dragon species.
If we failed to stop this, Seoul would be finished. Completely.
And standing beside the meteorite was a woman.
Snow-white hair, as if dusted with fresh snowfall.
Lips vivid like a red flower blooming on a snowy mountain—looking at her, I could understand Yoo Joonghyuk's tastes.
The moment her frost-laden gaze locked onto me, an overwhelming pressure erupted from her entire body.
Just her presence made my skin prickle.
It was a different kind of oppression from Gong Pildu.
I see.
So this is what someone empowered by a [Calamity Meteorite] looks like.
"...Who are you?"
She was one of the Ten Evils.
Poison Queen—Lee Seolhwa.