Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Shadow Lurkers (3)

“I will tell you everything.”

As I spoke resolutely, Ko Jaeyoung momentarily lowered the dagger from Kim Junseo’s neck. Then he licked the blood off of it, a grotesque sight right out of a Japanese manga.

“Hehe, if you want to save your life, you better.”

Wow, was this guy always like this? He seemed stuck in a middle school mentality, but I had to play along with him for now.

No matter how much I had improved recently, I could not defeat three A-rank and ten B-rank hunters alone.

“Of course. Any one of the hunters here could easily kill someone like me. I’m just grateful for the chance to stay alive.”

“Hmph, you’ve always been good with words.” Ko Jaeyoung snorted but didn’t seem displeased.

I continued, “The opportunity I earned is simple.”

“Alright, speak.”

“I have a master.”

“A master? Are you talking about the old man that Kang Jaeho mentioned? The one that even Gi Soyul had trouble with?”

“Yes, that’s right.” I nodded. “To be precise, he’s an old man strong enough to utterly destroy the Dark Empress no matter how many times she challenges him.”

“Huh. I knew, but hearing it again is still surprising. Such a person really exists.”

Ko Jaeyoung lamented. As an assassin himself, he couldn’t believe that someone like Gi Soyul, who was on a higher level than himself, was defeated so easily.

The nearby Shadow Lurkers were also murmuring.

“A master who can overwhelm someone ranked 380th? That’s certainly a significant opportunity.”

“Indeed. If what he says is true.”

“Of course, Jakan wouldn’t move without reason.”

“But where is this master? Is he only visible to that guy? Then he’s useless to us.”

Someone expressed doubt, as expected.

“Ah, about that. The master is a spirit, so you can’t see him now, but I can make him visible through a special method. Not only that, but I can also share him with all of you.” I licked my lips and spoke.

Here’s the recipe for a good lie. You mix 10% lies with 90% truth. Most people get hooked on the 90% truth and miss the 10% lie.

Just like now.

“Is that really true?”

“You can show your master to us too? And he’d teach us?”

As the hunters murmured, I smiled.

“Of course. That’s why the Dark Empress has stayed by my side.”

“...!”

Ko Jaeyoung’s eyes widened.

“I knew that woman had a scheme going on.”

“Is that why she was sticking to this rookie as if he had a treasure chest?”

“Was she getting this training all by herself?”

Some were still skeptical, while others nodded in understanding.

“However, the training process is quite harsh and painful. Our master is a bit eccentric and uses a Spartan method. Honestly, I don’t think you could endure it.”

I shivered. It wasn’t acting; it was real. My muscles were still sore from the morning massage.

“So,” Ko Jaeyoung said, “can you pass it on to me right now?”

And in his eyes, I saw greed.

It can’t be helped.

Since that’s what I was aiming for. This guy had been obsessed with my ‘opportunity’ from the beginning. He wanted to learn and obtain it.

But now, he had to be cautious.

Because Jakan, the leader of the Shadow Lurkers, had directly intervened! The priority for the spoils would go to Jakan, his superior!

Therefore...

I lied about being able to pass my opportunity to everyone. So he wouldn’t have to go to Jakan first; he could covet it himself without sharing.

But why lie like this? one might ask.

“Of course. I can pass it on right now. But the preparation takes about 30 minutes.”

So I could buy time.

In fact, the situation was like this. After Gi Soyul left...

—Bzzz!

Several messages arrived with a vibration from my phone.

[Gi Soyul: Donghoon.]

[Gi Soyul: Don’t try to fight alone recklessly.]

[Gi Soyul: Remember the connections I mentioned before? It feels a bit early, but if it’s at my request, they’ll definitely come.]

Ultimately, Ko Jaeyoung gritted his teeth and let go of Kim Junseo. And what had attacked him was a skeleton holding a weak-looking bone spear.

Ko Jaeyoung couldn’t believe his eyes.

“A mere skeleton made that attack?”

Its spear technique was amazing. It was like the manifestation of the Spear King, Ranked 10th from China.

The aura of the skeleton was formidable.

“Ha.” Joo Donghoon’s previously relaxed expression changed. “I thought I could buy more time, but it’s a pity.”

His voice was different as if he were a completely different person. Ko Jaeyoung’s rage surged to his head as he realized he had been deceived.

“You damned bastard! You’re overstepping your bounds!” Ko Jaeyoung spat out. “You dare to mock me? Did you think you could overcome this situation with just a single intriguing skeleton?”

It was absurd. Though momentarily surprised, that was all. He was A-rank. No matter how well a four year old boxed, they couldn’t fight a twenty year old. There was a fundamental difference in power between the skeleton and him.

“Kill the hostage and capture that bastard! Make him pay for deceiving us!” he shouted to the hunters.

“Let’s go!”

“Kill him!”

“No, he said to capture him!”

The hunters rushed at Joo Donghoon. They unleashed their skills at the five skeletons with precision, forming a formation. Each attack would be a B-rank or higher attack.

“...”

However, while watching the attacks, Joo Donghoon’s eyes were cold and frosty.

“Sunny.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“It will be a tough fight, but I’m leaving this to you.”

Sunny’s spear danced brilliantly. Sunlight flashed across the dark night sky.

[Using skill: Solar Strike]

A hot wind swirled around. Sunny’s attack momentarily took the hunters aback.

What is this?

An eerie technique.

I need to avoid it for now.

One by one, feeling a sense of dread, they stepped back. They all retreated with selfish and complacent thoughts.

This was happening due to a mere E-rank hunter’s skill. It was laughable how all the higher-ranked hunters retreated.

Exasperated, Ko Jaeyoung yelled in frustration, “You fools! It’s just a flashy technique. What are you doing?”

Even though Shadow Lurkers was a criminal group, they were very selfish. Watching the pathetic hunters, Ko Jaeyoung finally decided to act himself.

I’ll take care of him.

—Swish!

He stealthily hid within the shadows. An assassin’s stats are even more effective in the dark night.

I am an assassin destined to be a ranker.

He had sworn to discover why Gi Soyul was attached to that man.

—Vwoom!

Ko Jaeyoung erased his murderous intent from the dagger. The essence of assassination is to kill the opponent without them knowing why they died.

First, I’ll take the neck of that skeleton holding the spear.

Ko Jaeyoung’s dagger gracefully approached the back of Sunny’s neck.

—Rumble!

Suddenly, the ground shook. No, it felt like the island itself was trembling.

“Huh?”

Feeling a chill up his spine, Ko Jaeyoung instinctively halted his attack. He held his breath and simultaneously lowered his stance.

“Ugh!”

“Wh-What is this?”

“What kind of energy is this...?”

The other hunters who were about to attack Joo Donghoon also felt this enormous force—an unknown energy dominated the space.

Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to where the energy was emanating from.

“....”

And there stood a man with rippling upper body muscles. Seeing him suddenly appear, it seemed as if he had fallen from the sky like a meteor.

“Ah, am I too late?” The man spoke in a very relaxed tone.

Cold sweat dripped down Ko Jaeyoung’s forehead. It was inevitable because no one in the world didn’t know that man’s name.

“Why is Jang Daewoong here...”

Jang Daewoong the Berserker—ranked 20th in the world.

This was the appearance of the world’s most famous madman.