Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Give Back What You Get

“...”

Kang Jaeho stared blankly ahead, disbelief etched across his face. The mighty Shadow Lurkers, the two “brothers” he relied on, had fled at the mere mention of Gi Soyul’s name.

“Ugh.”

His abdomen ached, and his skin swelled with bruises. The spot where that damned skeleton, Boney 1, had kicked him felt fractured.

“Fuck.”

Spitting out blood and profanities, Kang Jaeho reflected on how it had all gone wrong.

Just where?

It was supposed to be a foolproof plan.

Despite clearing a bizarre dungeon, Joo Donghoon was merely an E-rank mercenary. He was facing a team with two A-ranks and five hunters of D-rank and above. And yet...

This is impossible.

Joo Donghoon alone overwhelmed them.

That’s right. Frankly, it was then that things had started going wrong.

“Ha.”

Laughter bubbled up, and Kang Jaeho had to admit that his judgment had been flawed. He underestimated Joo Donghoon and overestimated the criminal organization, the Shadow Lurkers.

The most humiliating part was that Gi Soyul hadn’t even appeared; it had been over five minutes since the brothers fled.

I’ve been played.

He admitted his mistakes and inadequacies, assessing the situation with cold clarity.

As long as he was alive, the fight wasn’t over.

If I keep fighting him head-on, I’ll lose.

Joo Donghoon was strong, absorbing the mysterious “opportunity” faster than expected.

But he has a naive sense of justice.

Kang Jaeho noticed how Joo Donghoon reacted to the F-rank porters, stepping forward silently when they were threatened.

He possessed a pure heart yet to be tainted by this rotten society.

His eyes gleamed with a sudden thought.

“Why are you standing around? Move! Send those damned skeletons back to their graves!”

“B-But! The skeletons are too strong!” someone protested, and Kang Jaeho’s disbelief turned into fury.

“Shut up! Would you rather die standing there? Move if you want to live! Or I’ll kill you myself!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“We have no choice! Keep fighting!”

Despite the overwhelming odds, the hunters resumed their attack, driven by fear of death.

And I’ll use this chaos...

Kang Jaeho smirked. He saw the porter siblings standing awkwardly.

To take them hostage.

They would make excellent hostages. It was the only way a cornered terrorist could hope to escape.

* * *

Reaper Scans

Translator – Dawn

Proofreader – BringTheRayn

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* * *

“Good effort.”

I controlled the skeletons, keeping an eye on the fight.

—Swish! Swish! Swish!

Kang Jaeho’s team launched desperate, murderous strikes against my five skeletons. They fought with everything they had, driven by the instinct to survive.

“...”

It was a grim sight. Why were humans so eager to tear each other apart?

The emergence of “hunters” had stripped humanity down to its primal core, revealing the true horrors of our time.

It was heartbreaking. It seemed so peaceful just ten years ago...

Or was it? Maybe the world was always rotten? When I think about it, some people traded in human lives even then...

Anyway.

I called out to Boney 1.

—Creak!

It nodded in response.

Honestly, I had already been watching Kang Jaeho’s movements, aware of his intentions.

How unfortunate. Did he think taking hostages would work against my army?

“Finish him.”

Boney 1 moved swiftly, blocking Kang Jaeho’s escape route.

—Whoosh!

It swung its sword mercilessly.

“You son of a bitch. Why! Why did you have to appear before me?!”

Step by step, I walked over to him.

“What are you talking about? You’re the one who appeared before me.”

“Guh!” He could only groan, unable to respond. He had no words to counter me since he was the one who showed his ill intentions first. “You scum! Just kill me already!”

“Kill you?” I shook my head. “Sorry, but you won’t die so easily.”

“What?”

“You have to pay for your actions before you go.”

Dragging him by his remaining arm, I pulled him toward the altar.

“You... You bastard!”

His eyes widened in realization of my intention.

[To break the seal of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, a sacrifice is needed.]

[Place a sacrifice on the two magic circles.]

[The sacrifices must be living F-rank hunters or higher.]

That’s right. I intended to use him as a sacrifice, just as they had planned for the porters.

“Haha, you understand the concept of poetic justice. Seems like you don’t need any moral lessons.” The old man chuckled, clearly pleased with my decision.

I gotta do what I gotta do, elder.

“Indeed, well done!”

After receiving his praise, I continued dragging Kang Jaeho.

“Just kill me! End it now!”

“Shut up. No one benefits from that.”

—Thud!

Placing him on the altar, the engravings lit up.

—Sniffle, sob...

Boney 1 placed the other hunter on the second altar.

[The sacrifices have been placed.]

[Checking conditions.]

My mind was heavy.

Normally, I’d have avoided a dungeon requiring such sacrifices. The idea of gaining rewards at the cost of lives was unappealing.

But...

To become a ranker, my principles and standards must be clear.

Give back what you get.

Repay kindness with kindness, and avenge wrongs with vengeance. If someone sought my life, I would take theirs.

It might be difficult, but it’s a burden that must be endured to become a ranker.

[Conditions met.]

[The ancient seal is being lifted!]

—Flash!

Bright pillars of light shot up from the altars, erasing the sacrifices.

“Goodbye. May you live a better life if there’s a next one.”

This was the final fate of the criminals who demanded others’ lives. I wiped their blood from my hands.

By the way...

A question lingered.

Why hadn’t Gi Soyul arrived? The Shadow Lurkers had fled, fearing her arrival.

I owed her another debt. Without her, I’d have faced two A-ranks, and I might have been the one on the altar.

“Haah.”

My mind was cluttered. I had promised to explain the opportunity I got but hadn’t decided how. And the escaped Shadow Lurkers were a looming threat. I needed protection but disliked the idea of belonging to a guild.

Having power complicates things.

Stretching my stiff neck, I pondered.

—Rumble!

The ground shook.

“Kyaa!”

“Mr. Necromancer, look!”

The porter siblings pointed, mouths agape. At the same time, a message appeared.

—Ring!

[Stage: Ancient Scorpion King]

[The Ancient Scorpion King has been unsealed.]

[Its rage, suppressed for ages, erupts to the heavens.]

[Eliminate the target.]

“Oh, right... That thing.”

Leave the thinking to later.

I had to deal with the boss before anything else.