Chapter 23 - Bait (3)

“Young Master! You must not overdo it. You haven't forgotten that there's something more important than monster hunting today, have you?”

“Ho-joong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“You don’t seem to know yet, but if I say I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“S-Still, the power of the shamanism is formidable...”

His doubt and worry about me. I understood it all.

Because I hadn't shown much yet.

But as time like today accumulated, he too would one day realize.

Who the person he served was, and how reassuring a presence he was when trusted.

Thump, thump.

I walked towards the Shaman Kobold.

As the distance closed, the Roar erupting from its mouth only grew more ferocious.

Grrrrrrrrr!!!

No matter how it had evolved into a shaman, it was imbued with a ferocity that was hard to believe came from a mere Kobold.

Of course, that didn't mean the Roar could affect me in any way.

Because even the Dragon, the master of magic, couldn't do anything to me with mental attacks alone.

Thump, thump.

I continued to walk and raised the Reapersword.

As I entered its attack range, the creature's Roar reached a state of near frenzy.

Like a scared puppy barking like mad.

‘Is it because it's a shaman?’

Compared to the other Kobolds that charged mindlessly, this one was quite cautious.

It took a slight step back, carefully timing its attack.

Even so, the result would not change.

It was nothing more than its life being extended by a few seconds.

Kraaaang!

"Farewell."

A flash of light sparked, and the Shaman Kobold's body was split in two.

Jjeoeok!

[The dungeon has been cleared.]

[Rewards will be distributed based on contribution.]

And so, my second dungeon clear was finished.

What I hunted today were three Kobolds.

Compared to when I first reincarnated, my physical condition could be said to have improved dramatically.

Even after pouring out this much mana, I was still holding on without being exhausted.

“Young Master! Are you alright?”

“You can see for yourself.”

“...You seem alright, but!”

“Then should something happen just from cutting down a mere Kobold?”

“That’s not it, but how could you be completely unaffected by the shaman’s Roar...”

Seo Ji-won was just as surprised.

“Seo Ji-han! What on earth are you?!”

It was an abrupt question, but it held many meanings.

I simply answered with a smirk.

[Unidentified Items: 3]

Just like last time, the number of rewards I received was a whopping three.

“Oppa! I got one Mana Stone here!”

Han Ye-ji looked utterly thrilled.

A typical result seen in an E-rank dungeon.

It was an item that would be treated like a pebble in the Muwon Sword Family, but her excitement was understandable since it was the first reward she earned with her own strength.

“What about you, Ji-han oppa?”

“Me?”

I reached into my Inventory and took out the first reward.

It was a Mana Stone of a similar size to Han Ye-ji's.

“I hunted one less than you, oppa, but the reward is the same. That means I hunted more efficiently today, right?”

“Well. Shouldn’t you judge that after seeing all my rewards?”

“No way! You have more?”

I immediately took out the second reward from the Inventory.

Han Ye-ji’s eyes went wide.

“Y-Young Master! It’s a Mana Rune!”

It was the same pattern as the last dungeon clear.

Both the number of rewards received and the order in which they appeared.

“How about it? I got a Mana Rune for hunting one more Kobold, so I was more efficient, right?”

“That thing dropped in an E-rank dungeon? That's impossible!”

“What's so impossible about it? It's not like it never happens.”

“Still, this is too much! Where else do they just hand out rewards like this in an E-rank dungeon?”

“Go complain to the dungeon about that. After you see my last reward.”

“What? Don’t tell me there’s one more?”

I took out the last remaining item from my Inventory.

I was curious about what would come out too.

In two E-rank dungeons, I had already encountered fortuitous events that others might not encounter once in their lifetime, twice. If this last reward also matched the last one...

“Young Master! This time, it’s an Abyss Rune!”

Choi Ho-joong shouted.

I had a feeling it would be, and that feeling was spot on.

To be honest, I also thought it was ridiculous.

I didn't know if I was lucky or if someone was playing a prank, but for now, it was a satisfying result.

“How about it? My hunting is pretty efficient, right?”

“Is this the time to be talking about that? A Mana Rune, and now an Abyss Rune!”

Seo Ji-won was just as shocked.

“It's certainly strange.”

“What is?”

“That there isn't just one or two strange things related to you. And.”

“And?”

“That there is still one more strange thing left in this dungeon.”

“...You noticed too, brother?”

Seo Ji-won nodded.

A presence filled with killing intent was rapidly approaching us.

The creature had finally revealed its claws.

“You said it was likely a person from a Branch Family, but I thought it might be a castaway who entered the dungeon by chance. Though the probability is low, it’s not unheard of for ordinary people to accidentally open a dungeon portal.”

“But you’ve changed your mind.”

“Yes. To wait quietly until now and then suddenly reveal killing intent means they came here with some purpose.”

“You know well. You’re right, brother.”

“What? You, don’t tell me...”

“That ‘don’t tell me’ is also right. Did you think I brought you here for no reason, brother?”

As I said that, I immediately tossed the Mana Rune into my mouth.

Sareureureu.

A current of air rose within my body, and vitality began to circulate.

It wasn't a huge amount, but considering my existing mana, even this was something to be grateful for.

Another dramatic spec-up had been achieved.

“Ho-joong, get ready.”

“I understand!”

Choi Ho-joong infused mana into his sword and entered a state of alert.

The killing intent directed at us was closing the distance at a rapid pace.

Sasasasak!

Two black dots began to appear in the distance.

Those black dots grew larger and larger, then stopped in front of us.

They were faces I had already expected.

One was Seo Chang-woo’s right-hand man, Im Jeong-seok.

The other was the double agent I had captured and released as a hostage.

“You guys, were you waiting for us?”

Im Jeong-seok asked with a sly smile.

“That’s right. We were waiting for you.”

“...Hoo! How?”

“How could we not know when you were approaching with such a murderous aura?”

“Is that all?”

“No. Actually, I knew it would be like this from the beginning.”

I smirked and gestured to the double agent.

“I kept my promise! No matter what happens here, my brother must...”

“Yes, you and your brother will now be free men.”

Im Jeong-seok looked puzzled for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“Wow! What the hell? You’re telling me you set a trap?”

“The assassins Seo Young-joon sent to me. They were either killed by my hand or are all captured now.”

“Wow! I’m going crazy! So the guys Young Master sent failed, and this bastard lied about everything to save his brother?”

“You’re quick on the uptake, unlike how you look.”

“Wahahahaha!”

Even in this situation, Im Jeong-seok showed no signs of panic.

It meant he was that confident in his own skills.

I admitted he had a reason to be arrogant.

He seemed to be far more skilled than Choi Ho-joong.

“Hey, youngest master of the Main Family? What are you relying on to be so confident? Don’t tell me you think you can win by numbers?”

Im Jeong-seok began to emit an even stronger killing intent.

“I told you. I set a trap from the beginning.”

“And the ones you brought are just Choi Ho-joong and two extras.”

“I take back what I said about you being quick on the uptake! You really thought that application list was real?”

“What?”

Im Jeong-seok frowned and began to scan the two people behind me.

I wasn't sure if he'd recognize them right away.

“How dare you call me an extra!”

Han Ye-ji threw off her hat, stepped forward, and glared at Im Jeong-seok.

She was full of spirit, not shrinking back even in the face of Im Jeong-seok's strong killing intent.

“Don’t tell me, the only daughter of the Muwon Sword Family?”

“I guess I’m pretty famous? I’ll forgive you for calling me an extra since you recognized me right away.”

“Kuhahaha! This is getting really burdensome, damn it! I have to kill the youngest son of the Main Family and the only daughter of the Muwon Sword Family!”

Im Jeong-seok immediately raised his sword.

The time remaining until the dungeon disappeared was 10 minutes at most. He would want to end the situation before then.

The corpses of those who died here would disappear along with the dungeon, and all evidence of what happened inside would vanish.

“Alright! You can come at me one by one, or all at once!”

Simultaneously, Im Jeong-seok's sword began to move.

His first target was obvious.

The double agent who had deceived him and was closest to him.

The moment that sword created a straight line, the double agent's neck would be severed.

Frankly, it wouldn't matter if he died, but since I had promised to spare him, I had to keep my word.

Wheeeeing!

I threw the Reapersword.

The one point I aimed for was Im Jeong-seok's wrist.

Kwaang!

Faced with the attack that flew like a gale, Im Jeong-seok twisted the trajectory of his sword and blocked it.

Taking advantage of that opening, the double agent barely managed to escape, and Im Jeong-seok, with a flabbergasted expression, located the origin of the attack.

“Did the youngest master of the Main Family just do that?”

“Yeah, that was me. Can you throw my sword back?”

“Young Master Young-joon definitely made a mistake. This is by no means the known skill of Seo Ji-han.”

“I asked you to throw the sword, you talk too much.”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“You even have a question?”

“Why did you specifically aim for my wrist?”

“If I had thrown it at your head, you would have twisted your body and cut down that double agent, wouldn’t you?”

Of course, if I had the power of my Johan Raven days, I would have just blown his head off, but that was impossible for now.

The only point that could stop his sword was his wrist.

“Amazing! Are you really Seo Ji-han?”

“Just throw the sword.”

Im Jeong-seok picked up the Reapersword that had fallen to the ground. And then.

Wheeeeing!

He threw it towards me.

The place he aimed for was my wrist, just as I had done.

He might have imagined my wrist being severed, but unfortunately for him, that didn't happen.

Chaak!

The Reapersword landed lightly in my palm.

Im Jeong-seok's expression was already frozen solid.

“Why? You look very surprised.”

The Reapersword was an ego sword.

The moment someone other than its master touched it, the blade would become dull.

And one more thing. The mana that Im Jeong-seok had fully imbued into the Reapersword had all dispersed during its flight.

Of course, the reason was that it wasn't the master's mana.

“I think I know for sure now. Why Young Master Seo Young-joon failed.”

“Then do you happen to know why you will fail?”

“What?”

“It seems Seo Chang-woo sent you, Im Jeong-seok, after putting some thought into it, but that also ended in failure.”

“Kekekekek!! The youngest master of the Main Family sure says some funny bullshit, huh?”

It was at that moment.

Bingeureureu-

A hat flew into the air and then fell limply to the ground.

Today's ridiculous dress code had come to an end.

Seo Ji-won's sword was already blazing.

“So, this is how the story was unfolding, huh?”

From now on, it was Seo Ji-won's time.

Im Jeong-seok, you're dead now.

Because my brother is very angry right now.