Chapter 28

“He fought so brutally. Just one guy…”

The man grumbled as he stepped onto the blood-stained road.

Normally, he wouldn’t go near such a bloody place, but today, he had no choice.

Because he was ordered to.

‘How did he get taken down? Ugh.’

The Rattlesnake was a hunter famous even among the lawless group of venomous snakes for his exceptional skills.

He was also notorious for his creepy ability to emit deadly poison from his body.

Anyway, with such abilities, the Rattlesnake had a certain standing among hunters.

There was hardly anyone as specialized in killing as he was.

Just a little more, and he could have become an executive. But yesterday, he didn’t return to the swamp area, while the target returned unharmed.

That alone made the Venomous Snakes realize that the Rattlesnake and his underlings had failed to capture him.

But they didn’t immediately seek revenge.

Even if he wasn’t the top elite, if he could take down the Rattlesnake and his crew, gathering information was essential.

So, Salmusa sent a spy to find out how the Rattlesnake died and gather clues about a rookie hunter named Park Yi-sak.

And now, arriving at the murder scene, he couldn’t help but gasp when he saw the wall lined with corpses leaning against it.

“Crazy… Is this guy seriously insane?”

Leaving corpses propped up against a wall?

Why?

No sane person would do that.

The spy unconsciously swallowed his saliva as he walked toward the corpses. The closer he got, the more fear spread across his face.

“He’s… not in his right mind…”

That much he could swear by.

No hunter would do something like this.

Even if the world had gone to hell, emotions hadn’t sunk that low.

So, playing with corpses like this was something only the most deranged would do.

Of course, the Venomous Snakes had such figures.

But even they rarely used corpses as a means to deliver messages by propping them against walls.

Yet, here were horrifically murdered corpses propped up, with Salmusa’s name written on them.

‘Maybe we’ve messed with someone far more dangerous than we thought.’

Strength alone isn’t that threatening.

But the firm will to kill and the clear intent to leave a warning.

And the corpse with dozens of holes in its face… another with half its skin melted by poison… and the Rattlesnake, dead with something piercing his forehead.

‘Did this guy blab?’

Salmusa.

Only a handful of people knew that name, so an outsider couldn’t possibly know.

The spy concluded that the Rattlesnake must have given Salmusa’s information to him.

Of course, that was natural.

No one would think their opponent was a possessor.

Having made his judgment, the spy laid the corpses down, covered their heads with clothes, paid his respects, and erased the name “Salmusa” written in blood on the wall.

No one should remember the name Salmusa.

Poison only holds value when it’s secret.

“Nothing more to say, rest in peace.”

He didn’t take the corpses.

It would just be a hassle.

He left the corpses in a suitable spot and turned away.

And as soon as he turned, he felt a sharp pain in his ankle and collapsed.

“Damn it, my ankle!”

“Glad you made it this far. I was worried you wouldn’t.”

“You, you…”

‘I clearly saw him going the other way.’

How the hell is he here?

Before his question could be answered, Park Yi-sak crouched in front of him, unable to move with his shattered ankle.

“You think you can pull this off and survive?”

“Hmm—so to survive, I have to act without hesitation.”

A steel ball.

On his index finger rested a single steel ball.

Naturally, the spy’s eyes were drawn to it.

He realized that the steel ball on that finger was the weapon that slaughtered the Rattlesnake and his underlings.

Isaac, using gravity to keep the steel ball on his fingertip, spoke.

“Why is Salmusa after me? I just scared your guys a bit in your territory. I don’t get why you’re hunting me down like this.”

At most, I just taught some low-ranking members a lesson.

This reaction is overkill.

So, Isaac couldn’t help but wonder.

To his question, the spy forced a sneer and replied.

“Ha… Did you think you could mess with the Venomous Snakes and get away with it? Especially after taking one of our own?”

“One of your own…”

Isaac’s eyes lit up.

From his perspective, it was quite an interesting story.

‘I knew she was from the swamp area, but I didn’t know she was so deeply involved with the Venomous Snakes.’

Seolhwa’s origin.

In the original story, she was the final boss of an episode, a villain who pushed the protagonist to the brink. This was the first time he’d heard about her past.

And perhaps, this was a chance to learn more about the Venomous Snakes, who were just punching bags in the original.

‘But… the important thing is that they’re after me.’

A villain group from the original story is targeting me.

But I already have two dependents.

Unless I plan to risk everything and hide in Seoul’s slums, I need to cut ties with the Venomous Snakes here.

‘I’m not some movie protagonist, and this might be too big, but…’

When you do something, you have to do it decisively.

Only then can you survive in this hellish world.

“Any other information?”

“Like I’d tell you… Ah!”

The steel ball on his fingertip disappeared.

It reappeared inside his leg.

“Damn it, you bastard—”

With both legs shattered, he cursed as he collapsed.

Now, unless someone carried him, he’d never return to the swamp area.

And that meant his life was hanging by a thread.

‘This crazy bastard, without hesitation…’

Isaac’s expression was calm as he shattered both legs.

A face too peaceful for someone who’s killed four and is about to kill another.

Seeing Isaac’s almost bored expression, the spy felt chills run down his spine.

‘This guy… he’s the real deal!… He’s for real!’

The most troublesome type of enemy had appeared before the Venomous Snakes.

“If you don’t want to talk, then goodbye.”

As he finished speaking, the steel ball on his fingertip disappeared like magic.

A sight that would amaze children.

But the result was anything but boring.

“Damn… bastard… Salmusa… will kill you… and your toys…”

“Toys? What nonsense.”

Isaac, annoyed, looked down at the corpse with a hole in its heart, sinking into a pool of blood.

The corpse he had created.

———————

…This is why I feel like I’ve become a psychopath.

I searched the fifth corpse and took some items.

A map, a small knife, and a small badge with a threatening snake emblem.

Nothing special, but the badge might come in handy somewhere, so I’ll keep it.

I tossed the useless items into a corner and hid the corpse in the shadows.

To buy as much time as possible.

I didn’t know if they’d send another search party, but if they did, delaying them would be to my advantage.

So, this was unavoidable.

But the unease from the experience of killing someone lingered in a corner of my mind, tormenting me.

Couldn’t I just run away until they lost interest?

Was it really necessary to kill them?

…No.

With Mina and Seolhwa around, that’s not an option.

Without me, there’s no one else to fight, so I have to step up.

Being strong means you’ll break, but I plan to break them before I do.

Their heads.

“Maybe I should just uproot them entirely…”

It might be possible, but they won’t give up on me either.

I’ll have to make it clear.

That messing with me comes at a great cost.

But for now, I need to focus on being a hunter.

Gotta eat, after all.

I stepped into the ruins.