Chapter 13

Kang Mi-young’s impromptu “Kang Jin-young Capture Operation” started off shaky from the get-go.

The plan was extremely simple.

1. Find Kang Jin-young.

2. Persuade (physically).

3. Escape.

4. Profit!

It was a truly perfect plan.

At least, that’s what Lee Seong-han thought.

But life doesn’t always go smoothly.

As the gate’s erosion worsened, the surrounding environment transformed into something resembling a massive temple.

A mix of reality and illusion.

Lee Seong-han glanced at Kang Mi-young.

“Major, your wound has reopened. Even with [Regeneration], emergency treatment—”

“Hmph. It’s fine.”

Kang Mi-young, walking beside him, snorted coldly.

“Unnecessary help isn’t needed. If you’re going to leave anyway, it’s better not to get attached.”

[Kang Mi-young’s ‘Victim Complex’ has been activated.]

[She assumes the worst-case scenario in any situation and acts accordingly.]

Lee Seong-han was now genuinely startled.

Again.

Her victim complex had flared up again.

“After thinking about it, I realized. I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Kang Jin-young, but since you’ve been together for a long time, there must be some connection.”

This was the fifth time.

At first, he let it slide.

But as time went on, Lee Seong-han was reaching his limit.

He suddenly remembered Kang Jin-young’s words while lying in the hospital bed: “My sister is weak in the mental department.”

‘Well, I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Her explanation was a mess. Seriously.’

Lee Seong-han sighed, exhausted.

It was hard to deal with her crying and making a scene because of her victim complex.

He was starting to understand why men didn’t flock to her.

“Major. I don’t go to places that kill people. And right now, you’re in a state of mental instability. You need to take a sedative.”

“Interesting talk.”

“It’s true.”

“Do you think those inferior monsters can control my mind? You. Do you want to be punished in this situation?”

Lee Seong-han coldly scoffed.

Even when he spoke the truth, she only listened with one ear, and there was little he could do.

“Here they come again.”

“I see them.”

“This time, they seem a bit different. It’s not the Eros group.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

[Kang Mi-young’s ‘Arrogance’ has been activated.]

[She ignores others’ opinions.]

Ugh.

Lee Seong-han turned his gaze back to the corridor.

He had already lost count of how many waves there had been.

Thanks to [Automatic Combat], his level was rising comfortably, and his stats were gradually growing, but the mental fatigue was hard to bear.

‘Can we even close the gate?’

Who knows. He couldn’t guarantee it anymore.

For an S-Rank Hunter, the difficulty was supposed to be a cakewalk. But with the large numbers and mental assaults, they often took a few steps forward only to stop.

In the darkness, a faint figure appeared.

Tattered clothing and a whip.

Pink skin and goat horns.

A sinister smile.

‘Is that a succubus?’

Lee Seong-han couldn’t help but feel a bit panicked.

It was definitely a succubus, but…

From what he remembered, they didn’t look like that.

He opened the information window.

[Pure Love Succubus Lv. 19]

– A monster that feeds on human lust and love. Type: Demon. Primarily voyeurs of fresh lovers’ sticky sexual acts and erotic situations.

– Judges pure love by bizarre standards. Incomprehensible by human norms.

– Currently considers ‘obsessive stalking love’ as perfect pure love.

Lee Seong-han clicked his tongue.

What, did she not have parents?

The thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“Are there really creatures like that?”

Originally, succubi were monsters that seduced men to death.

But these ones just enjoyed watching.

And it was pure love play.

Though a bit twisted.

They were clearly different from the ones he had just met.

He wished they could communicate.

Some monsters were friendly to humans at times.

Of course, very few.

This discovery was a first. Judging by her tendencies, she didn’t seem normal either.

“Uh… sir?”

Lee Seong-han sheathed his sword and stepped forward.

The succubus ahead smiled gently at him.

Her outfit was obscene, but her tone was pure and innocent.

“Oh my, oh my, it’s no wonder I fell for you. Your face is so pretty, and your body is so muscular.”

“Huh?”

Thinking he misheard, Lee Seong-han asked again, and the succubus brushed off her own words.

“Oh, oh, oh. What’s the matter?”

“Sigh. Let us pass. Since it seems we can communicate, it would be best for you to step aside willingly.”

“Of course! I was planning to let you pass. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

The succubus grinned, revealing her fangs, and pointed at Kang Mi-young.

“Get rid of that bug first, and I’ll let you pass alone!”

Thud—

She flicked her wrist, and a refreshing sound accompanied a pink wave.

“You wench, how dare you aim for the main wife’s position?!”

[The Pure Love Succubus used ‘Perception Alteration’ on Kang Mi-young.]

[If not swiftly dealt with, Kang Mi-young’s perception alteration will become permanent.]

The succubus created a dark magic wand and twirled it around.

“Show me your pure love!”

Kang Mi-young, sensing something was off, rushed forward in a panic.

“H-how dare you touch Kang Mi-young’s head—”

As the mental magic took effect, a heart symbol appeared above Kang Mi-young’s head.

Kang Mi-young let out a faint scream, clutching her forehead as if resisting.

The succubus burst into laughter.

“Destroyer of pure love! Die!”

｢Succubus’s Mark｣

That degenerate curse had taken effect.

Lee Seong-han tried to move forward but froze.

A whip coiled around his entire body.

“You stay right there.”

Damn it.

This gate was a perfect counter to Kang Mi-young.

No, it was a hard counter.

Kang Mi-young stabbed her sword into the ground, gripping the hilt so tightly it cracked, supporting her body.

“Ugh, suddenly… my body feels hot… dizzy.”

Heavy breathing.

“Stay away… No, come a little closer.”

A faint smile appeared on Kang Mi-young’s lips.

Her eyes were gradually losing focus.

‘Damn it. The Major doesn’t have [Mental Barrier], so it’s only going to get worse.’

Lee Seong-han checked the whip.

A faint pink light swirled around it.

It must be magic.

Thud——!

“Uh, uh, uh.”

At that moment, a dagger struck the succubus squarely in the shoulder.

[Automatic Combat] had activated.

The succubus flapped her small wings and scraped the ground.

She fell to the floor.

[Since the caster has been incapacitated, the perception alteration on Kang Mi-young has been lifted.]

“Ugh! Just you wait!”

The succubus fled, tending to her wounds.

Lee Seong-han didn’t chase after her and instead checked on Kang Mi-young.

“Are you okay?!”

“Sorry…”

Kang Mi-young held her head and let out a groan.

If this kept up, they would fail.

Lee Seong-han knew it too.

Aside from the limited personnel.

With monsters like that running around.

Especially since the one they had to bring back was the National Intelligence Service’s mage from Namsan.

Failure was something he didn’t even want to imagine.

Especially with Kang Jin-young’s seductive glare being so deadly.

He’d rather die than become that kid’s father.

—

Two hours into the search. Lee Seong-han had memorized the layout of the National Army Capital Hospital to the point of nausea.

Finally, he detected Kang Jin-young’s signal.

As he activated [Reconnaissance] while climbing the stairs, something specific caught his attention.

It was located on the upper floors.

Lee Seong-han and Kang Mi-young trudged up the emergency stairs to the rooftop.

The emergency stairs didn’t lead all the way to the rooftop.

After several expansions and regulations, the building’s structure had changed a long time ago.

“Can you sense Kang Jin-young’s location now?”

In response to Kang Mi-young’s question, Lee Seong-han activated [Reconnaissance]. Nothing was detected except for a few monsters.

In the distance, something was identified as a red dot.

It looked dangerous.

“I don’t feel anything. But based on my speculation, something much more important has been detected.”

“The core, then.”

“Yes. The heart of the gate that sustains it.”

“Enemies ahead.”

Kang Mi-young drew her sword.

Iron skewers.

Candlesticks.

Crossbows.

Even maces.

“Kee-hee-hee-hee!”

“Pure love, give me pure love!”

Eros monsters, as well as the succubi they had just met, appeared.

Damn it. Lee Seong-han didn’t know why the gate had appeared, but with monsters like that swarming around, he’d rather die.

The quality and level of the monsters were exceptional.

It was ambiguous to deal with them all at once.

“Disabling the gate is the priority. Let’s move.”

“Understood.”

Lee Seong-han’s eyes widened, and his vision changed.

His eyes turned a deep red.

[Activating ‘Automatic Combat’.]

‘Here we go again.’

[Applying ‘Super-Reconnaissance (SSS)’ to refine combat information.]

Click, click, click.

The Eros monsters were identified as red semicircles. Various pieces of information piled up and stacked.

[Highlighting weak points based on accumulated data.]

“Can you see anything?”

“Yes.”

Different parts of their bodies were marked with various colors.

Some were blue, others red.

Most of the vital organs were marked in bright green.

Likely weak points, but it was dangerous to charge ahead alone.

‘There are too many. One-on-one would be manageable.’

There were roughly ten of them.

Honestly, that number was manageable.

Lee Seong-han gripped his greatsword with both hands.

He swiftly took a guard stance.

“…Major. Over there.”

“A boss monster.”

[‘King Eros’ has detected intruders.]

[『Favorability Quest』 has been updated.]

[『Emergency Quest』 has been updated.]

[‘Kang Jin-young’s’ movements have been detected.]

“If this works…”

Lee Seong-han smirked bitterly.

We’ll win.

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