Chapter 35:

Chapter 35:

Chapter 35

Seo Gangrim glanced at the people from Zone Four. Ju Hyereong was still looking at him with a displeased expression. Nam Yoojun looked around nervously and spoke, "W-Well, it's not certain. Let's go for now. Let's be careful while we're together."

"Sigh..."

Ju Hyereong rubbed her face and eventually turned away. The rest of the people grumbled and soon left their positions. After seeing that, Shin Sooah spoke to Seo Gangrim, "This is a big problem. We should go back and let the others know that there's a killer."

"Yes. Ah, and Shin Sooah-ssi, I have a favor to ask..."

Shin Sooah looked at him as if asking what he meant. Seo Gangrim pondered his words for a moment and then spoke, "For the time being, it would be best if you didn't enter this place and instead watched over the twins."

"Why?"

"Because of the killer."

Shin Sooah had lost one of her eyes here due to the killer. The easiest way to prevent this from happening was to prevent her from entering this place.

"Yoon Geoul was in the pit of danger and almost died in the last stage. I don't want to put him in another dangerous situation," Seo Gangrim offered an explanation.

"That time was definitely... dangerous."

"Yes. Considering the personalities of the two, even if I stop them, they will still come in. So I hope you can watch over them, Shin Sooah-ssi. Until we find clues about the killer."

He didn't think this would solve the problem but it bought him some time. Thankfully, Shin Sooah nodded in agreement, saying, "Okay. But we also need to accomplish our mission, so I can't hold them for too long."

"Yes. One or two days should be enough."

At these words, Shin Sooah's expression became slightly strange. Then she let out a small laugh.

"Seo Gangrim-ssi, you take good care of them even though you say you won't."

"I'm just doing what's good."

"Yes, I understand. You say there's a killer, but will you be okay alone? Should I go with you?"

Shin Sooah looked at him with a worried expression, but Seo Gangrim shook his head in response.

"It's fine. I plan to be with someone else. I won't be alone."

"Well, that's a relief... But if you ever need me, just call. Be careful."

After saying that, Shin Sooah returned to the lobby. Seo Gangrim watched as she left, remembering the time she had lost one eye while protecting him in his previous life. If he didn't catch the murderer, the same thing would likely happen again.

'I can roughly guess who the murderer is.'

He didn't know the murderer's face, but there were points that could be speculated based on physique and gender. Now, what he needed was direct evidence. Seo Gangrim unfolded the Demon World map to confirm the location and stepped into the forest.

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-Keyaack!

Demons screamed in pain and writhed on the ground until spirit pearls flowed out of their mouth, signifying their death. Seo Gangrim picked up the spirit pearls.

[Spirit Pearls Acquired: 880/1000]

He was close to completing the Fourth Stage. The forest was silent at the moment, though there were probably people fighting over the beasts.

【What are you doing, Gangrim? Why aren't you catching the murderer?】

【We should go catch the culprit!】

【Did you forget about your grandfather's honor?】

"The murderer hasn't appeared."

People became passive in hunting when the story that there’s a murderer spread. There were even cases where they didn't enter the stage at all. The supposed killer was also not showing up.

[Using Demon World Map!]

[Discovered 80% of the forest!]

While waiting for the murderer, Seo Gangrim was also searching for a certain hidden weapon. By doing so, he had successfully explored about 80% of the vast forest. At this point, he thought he would be able to find the location of the weapon, but he still couldn't. Shin Sooah, meanwhile, was staying at the training facility. She would probably come back tomorrow, so Seo Gangrim needed to find the weapon quickly.

As he was about to move to search the remaining area of the forest, he caught a strong smell of blood coming from somewhere. It was the scent of human blood, not demons.

[Heightening the 'Senses'!]

Seo Gangrim walked with heightened senses to the body who had collapsed nearby. He couldn't see their face, but judging by the amount of blood on the ground, it was certain that they were dead.

[Agility] Level 15

[Senses] Level 24

[Magic] Level 12

Most of the numbers were in the early teens when Seo Gangrim first saw them, but now his strength and senses had surpassed 20. He must have killed quite a few people. Currently, Seo Gangrim’s highest was only at Level 18 for strength and agility. Using achievement points, he could raise his strength to level 20, but he wasn't sure if that alone would be enough to win.

Nam Yoojun lightly tapped his shoulder with the back of his blade and said, "Compared to the people I've seen so far, you seem quite strong. You even noticed my act of playing dead."

[Ability 'Invisibility' is activated!]

He chuckled and then suddenly disappeared from sight. Seo Gangrim focused all of his senses and observed the surroundings. He heard the sound of grass being stepped on from behind.

-Kaang!

Seo Gangrim swiftly turned his body and blocked the attack coming from behind. Somewhere along the way, Nam Yoojun had crept behind him. Seo Gangrim could feel a slight numbness in his arm from blocking the attack. At the moment, blocking his attacks was all Seo Gangrim could do.

"Wow, how did you block it? You're quite strong. It's worth killing you."

[Ability 'Fighting Instinct' is activated!]

With no people around, Seo Gangrim decided to use this ability without hesitation. As 'Fighting Instinct' was activated, a strong desire to triumph over Nam Yoojun, who had a higher rank than him, began to boil within him. If there was anything regrettable, it was that his rank had risen a bit, and the gap between Nam Yoojun and him had lessened.

'Fighting Instinct' was more effective when the gap between Seo Gangrim and his opponent was wider. Although Nam Yoojun's stats were higher than Seo Gangrim’s, the effect of 'Fighting Instinct' wasn't particularly significant due to Seo Gangrim being at Insect Second-class. Still, with this level, he had a chance of winning.

-Spot!

"Huh? Huh?"

Seo Gangrim lowered his stance and immediately struck below Nam Yoojun. The moment when he swung my sword to cut Nam Yoojun’s leg, Nam Yoojun disappeared.

【Hey, where did the killer go?】

【He has an ability to turn invisible.】

【Wow, the ability that made him able to kill.】

【I don't think Gangrim can find him.】

Nam Yoojun's figure disappeared, but that was all.

-Kwaaang!

Seo Gangrim kicked a nearby tree, and then leaves made of blades started falling.

【Why are you kicking the tree?】

【Hey! There, there! Leaves are hanging there.】

【Leaves are floating in the air?】

As Seo Gangrim surveyed the surroundings, he noticed a place where leaves were awkwardly hanging in mid-air. He swung his sword towards that place, and Nam Yoojun revealed himself with a sudden scream.

"Argh...!"

Seo Gangrim felt the sensation of the blade cutting through flesh. Nam Yoojun exhaled, and revealed himself with a bewildered expression.

"Hey, Seo Gangrim-ssi? Shall we have a talk?"

His words were worthless to listen to. Seo Gangrim immediately launched an attack towards Nam Yoojun.

-Kaang, Kwaaang!

Instead of fleeing, Nam Yoojun raised his sword and blocked the attack. The clash of swords resounded loudly.

"Huff. Let's talk!"

Although he was trembling, he spoke leisurely. Seo Gangrim’s strength was slightly lower than Nam Yoojun's, but his agility was higher. With 'Fighting Instinct' in effect, Nam Yoojun wouldn't be able to keep up with Seo Gangrim’s speed. However, if they engaged in a direct contest of strength, the situation would be different. Nam Yoojun seemed to have realized that fact, as he no longer retreated and began to swing his sword.

"I told you! Let's! Talk!"

-Kaang, Kwaaang!

With each word he made, their swords clashed, creating sharp echoes. Seo Gangrim was blocking Nam Yoojun's attacks, but there seemed like there was no progress. During the moment when he relentlessly attacked Seo Gangrim as if he would kill him-

-Chaeang!

Someone burst out from the bushes and swung a sword at Nam Yoojun. In the face of the sudden attack, Nam Yoojun showed a greatly bewildered expression. Dokgo Jun, meanwhile, had a crazed expression, saying how delighted he was.

"Haha, now a proper villain has appeared!"

Dokgo Jun was even more insane than the killer. With this man's appearance, the tide noticeably shifted.