Chapter 37: Duel (2)

"Fuck this shit!"

Hoon got up and tried running away. But before he could, YuWon grabbed him by the nape and yanked him back.

"I-It was my mistake!" Hoon yelled, trying to weasel his way out with words, as usual.

Even though he didn't expect YuWon would let him go, he had to try. But surprisingly, YuWon did. Hoon looked at YuWon, surprised. Unfortunately, it didn't last for long as he threw a punch right into Hoon's midsection.

The impact sent Hoon flying backward, crashing into the monarch's broken carriage. Yeji tried to move, but everyone apart from YuWon and Hoon couldn't lift a foot.

Frustrated, Yeji looked at the angel, who smiled and winked. To ensure a fair duel, the angel had restricted everyone's movement so they wouldn't interfere. It wasn't out of goodwill, but because the sponsors told her to.

Meanwhile, Hoon struggled to get back to his feet. The hit had knocked all the air from his lungs, and he gasped for breath. But YuWon was already on him.

He swung the monarch's blade, and the hilt hit Hoon's shoulder, popping it out of place. YuWon kept at it, breaking, or dislocating the bones in Hoon's right arm, the same arm he had used to hit him countless times.

Hoon's screams filled the air and Yeji couldn't take it anymore. Even though she couldn't move, she yelled for YuWon to stop. But he didn't react, just like she hadn't all the time when Hoon hit him.

"You should have escaped when you had the chance," YuWon growled, as he stabbed the blade into Hoon's thigh.

"Instead, you screwed me over again and stole the kill. Just looking at you makes me want to kill you, but not yet."

Despite the pain, Hoon glared at YuWon and spat on his face. At least he tried to, but even that couldn't land on him.

"I'm not done yet, and I'll ruin your life. You hear me! I'll ruin your life!"

"That's where you're wrong," YuWon replied. "You are done."

Wait... I didn't mean it that way!

The angel then turned to Hoon and continued, "Be careful though, if the slave defies the master too many times, the collar will kill them and it won't be a peaceful death."

Just as YuWon was about to say something, Yeji rushed next to Hoon, holding him close.

"YuWon... You can't do this!" she exclaimed. "I admit Hoon tormented you and did horrible things, but he didn't do it for himself. He did it for me! If you want a slave, take me instead!"

Logically speaking, having Yeji as a slave was a better option. After all, she was quite an adept healer, and in an apocalypse, they were always in demand.

But YuWon's anger didn't see logic. He didn't even glance at her, nor did he care about her words. He had his eyes focused on Hoon, but since Yeji was so hellbent on protecting her beloved, he thought it was the right time to reveal the truth.

"Tell everyone the truth about what happened last year," YuWon instructed, looking at Hoon with disdain. "Tell them who took those photographs!"

Hoon shook his head, trying to resist. But when he did, the collar activated and shocked him. The pain was even worse than before, and his entire body convulsed while he screamed in pain. After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, and Hoon lay still, panting and shaking.

"I-I'll tell you..." he stammered, looking at Yeji. "I was the one who took your nude photos from YuWon's phone... and spread them."

Yeji's face went pale and her eyes widened with shock. She wasn't the only one who reacted like this. Everyone else who had mistreated YuWon had the same reaction.

Meanwhile, Hoon coughed and continued.

"I was jealous... of him. He was better than me at everything. Everyone liked him. I couldn't take it anymore and wanted to ruin his life."

"So, I took the photos, planted them on his phone, and made sure everyone found out about it."

Yeji covered her mouth, tears flowing down her face. From the moment Hoon told her about it, she had never questioned him. Even when YuWon groveled before her, she didn't believe him and now... it was all coming apart before their eyes.