CHAPTER 225: MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS (4)

"GONG YOOL, I really want to run, too. But look at her— do you think we can outrun that monster?"

Yool hated to admit this, but Hamin was actually right.

Bride, the Top 10 World Ranker, was smiling at them with a really creepy look on her face.

[That’s the face of a psycho killer.]

Yool must really have a stroke of bad luck for him to have a monster for a kidnapper.

Haaah.

[All I wanted was to be an NPC in someone else’s life, but here I am now.]

"Hamin-ssi, do you think you can win against that monster?"

"Nah, I’ll die."

"Do you not have pride as a Hunter for you to easily admit defeat?"

"Will putting on a tough façade help me survive?" Hamin asked bitterly. "The last time I acted like I could handle the situation, an innocent Civilian was badly hurt."

"So, are we just going to let that monster kill us?"

"That monster won’t kill you, so don’t worry about too much," Hamin said while descending. And then he carefully put Yool down on the floor. "I’ll fight the monster and distract her. Run to either Soobin Hyung or Semi Noona if you get the chance."

Haaah.

That wasn’t a feasible plan.

Yool looked around while hiding behind Hamin and assessing the situation.

Song Moonho was busy holding down Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi, while the Necromancer’s puppet monsters were dealing with Hwang Minho and Hwang Junsang.

In short, Yool’s only hope was Hamin.

But he couldn’t really trust anyone but Wonhee when it came to his survival, so he used his head in silence.

Bride...

World Ranker...

Top 10...

Yool remembered that in the "novel" that he had read before, there was a glossary featuring some of the World Rankers. That page also listed down the featured World Rankers’ basic skills and short background.

He could swear he had read about a World Ranker who had a wedding dress for a "uniform." The "character design" was unique, so he read the information about her.

But he had been stuck in this world for five years, so his memories turned hazy.

[If only I could remember the part about Bride’s background...]

And, just like that, Yool suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.

[Ouch!]

He clutched his head and shut his eyes tight. Then he bit his lower lip to stop himself from groaning in pain. After all, he didn’t want to distract Hamin.

Fortunately, the pain immediately disappeared.

And then a character sheet suddenly flashed in his mind.

Yes, a character sheet complete with the "character’s" sketch, an explanation of her basic skills, and even a piece of pivotal information about her background.

[Is this Bride’s past that made her go insane?]

Yool opened his eyes, catching his breath in silence.

[Did someone hear my prayer or something?]

If someone was listening to his chaotic thoughts, then...

[Send someone to rescue me instead of sending me a character sheet!]

"I’ll give you another chance to surrender peacefully. After all, I’m a pacifist," the Bride said, descending. When her feet touched the floor, she put down the bouquet of black roses at her feet. And then she smiled at Hamin and Yool. "Hunter Hamin, hand over Gong Yool to me. This is the last chance I’m giving you, so you better answer wisely this time—"

"This is non-negotiable," Hamin said firmly. "I know my chance of winning against you is low. But it’s not zero, so bring it on."

As expected, the crazy World Ranker’s face turned really cold and scary.

To be honest, at this point, Yool couldn’t blame Bride for wanting to kill Hamin.

[Hunter Hamin has no survival skills. If he knows he can’t win against a stronger enemy, then he shouldn’t provoke her further!]

He had no choice but to step in.

[I need to survive, after all.]

"Miss Belle Blanche."

Yool just mentioned Bride’s real name.

The World Ranker didn’t look surprised.

[Well, their real names were released before. Hence, she probably thought it wasn’t unusual for me to know her real name. But she looks intrigued.]

Hence, he proceeded.

"Mr. Wilhelm."

Bride’s face turned even scarier. "What are you trying to say, you weak Civilian?"

Oh, it was working.

[The character sheet says that Bride has a weakness: she "forgets" how to use her power when she’s painfully reminded of her tragic past.]

That was exactly what Yool was doing.

"Mr. Wilhelm was the fiancé of your beautiful, talented, and kind older sister," Yool continued. To be honest, he was feeling goosebumps. After all, the monster’s "sob story" was a little cliché. "You fell in love with him first, but he didn’t notice you because you were ugly, plain, and boring."

He didn’t enjoy insulting a woman to make her feel inferior on purpose, but he had to because he needed to survive.

Like he said, it was working.

Bride looked too shocked while looking at Yool in disbelief.

"But when you awakened as an A-Class Hunter, Mr. Wilhelm started to notice you," Yool continued yapping. The story was really cringe, but he was doing his best to power through. "Long story short, Mr. Wilhelm cheated on your older sister with you. But it wasn’t because of love. He only led you on because he needed you to protect him. After all, the small town where you came from was always a target of dungeon breaks."

"Stop it," Bride said in a low voice, covering her ears with her hands, Her expression remained icy. "I don’t want to hear it."

To be honest, the next ’point’ that Yool was about to reveal was a bit strange.

Even so, he continued reading the information from the character sheet.

"When you found out that Mr. Wilhelm was still in love with your older sister, you killed him and turned him into your puppet," Yool continued, smirking. "At that point, you didn’t care anymore since there were plenty of men who showered you with attention. All because you’re a Hunter, and not because you’re a good person. Because, even after being awakened, you remained the ugly girl that you were."

Bride wasn’t ugly.

Everyone who awakened had a visual upgrade, after all.

He was just saying that for her to lose her mind.

"I said stop it!" Bride yelled, but nothing happened. No Mana burst out from her. It was as if she had returned as a human. "Stop talking!"

"You enjoy the attention, respect, and love that you receive as a Hunter," Yool said, still mocking the woman. "But what will happen when the world returns to normal and you become the ugly, plain, and boring woman that you truly are?"

Bride let out a deafening yell this time.

This time, the flowers that the woman put down earlier suddenly turned into snakes.

Yool thought he had made a mistake.

Hamin immediately moved to protect her.

However, it happened.

A child wearing a tangerine head costume appeared out of nowhere and kicked Bride.

"Gong Yool, Hunter Hamin!" the weird child yelled. "I’m sending you there!"

***

YEJUN had to make a decision quickly.

He didn’t want to bring Wonhee to where a dangerous person was. However, he also couldn’t leave here alone with Do Ahyeon.

[It’s not like I don’t trust the baby herbivore.]

Yejun just knew that he was the only person who could protect Wonhee the best.

Especially now that a Top 10 World Ranker was at large.

"Yejun-ah, please," Wonhee pleaded, her puppy dog eyes making Yejun waver. "I have a plan."

"A plan?" Yejun asked hesitantly. He knew that Wonhee’s puppy dog eyes were already making him weak. And, so, hearing her plan would only make him cave in easier. Hence, he shouldn’t be listening to her. But how could he not? "What’s your plan, Wonhee-ya?"

"I’m going to use the Sleeping Salon as a shelter for me, Yool, and Ahyeon," Wonhee said firmly. "We’ll hide there while you’re fighting here. Then, when midnight is here, come back for us and bring us to the Namsan Tower."

He quickly checked the time on his watch.

It was already near 10PM.

[We just need to hold on for two more hours.]

Yejun opened his mouth and was about to tell Wonhee that they needed to be more careful when he felt it— a portal courtesy of the System.

Again.

When he looked up, he saw two people falling from the ceiling.

[Cyrborg Hyung and Gong Yool?]

He didn’t move to save either of the two because he didn’t have to.

After all, Hamin already caught Gong Yool safely in his arms before landing.

"Hwang Yejun, go," Hamin said, pointing a finger upward. "Stop the World Ranker before she gets here— I’ll protect Chu Wonhee and Gong Yool with Do Ahyeon."

That sounded like their only option.

"Alright," Yejun said, his body turning translucent. "Hyung, I’ll never forgive you if Chu Wonhee gets hurt."

***

WONHEE immediately pulled Yool to her side as soon as Yejun left.

Hamin immediately followed them inside Ahyeon’s barrier.

"Tannie, please activate my Sleeping Salon," Wonhee said in a hurry. "And please hide us!"

***

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