All eyes in the tavern were on him.
But Jeong Yusin kept his eyes steady, focused solely on Donald.
Truly a masterpiece. Not a speck of fat, blood, or bone fragment clung to the blade.
Jeong Yusin sheathed the sword and looked around the tavern.
It was clear at a glance.
Their fighting spirit had been broken.
Even though quite a few remained, they were only looking for a way to escape.
Weak against the strong, and strong against the weak.
They were vermin-like creatures.
There was no excuse to let them live.
Jeong Yusin raised the sword and rushed forward.
The men wet themselves and scattered like a frightened herd of sheep.
Every time the blade flashed, screams and pleas for mercy echoed throughout the tavern.
No matter how they tried to escape, Jeong Yusin didn’t let a single one get away.
There were those who ran around like lunatics.
Some used their comrades as shields to escape the tavern.
Others were injured and groaning.
There were those blinded by slashes across their eyes.
Some begged for mercy, crying about their elderly mothers.
Others had given up and were spewing curses as they charged recklessly.
Some had wet their pants with urine and feces and just stared blankly.
Others denounced him as a demon.
Jeong Yusin paid no heed to any of it, cutting down, tearing apart, and disemboweling like a heartless butcher.
When the commotion settled, the tavern fell silent.
Every living thing inside had been killed.
Except one.
Jeong Yusin looked around at the floor painted with blood and entrails before slumping into the chair he had been sitting in earlier.
“Tarman.”
The remaining one’s name was called out.
The intent to kill hadn’t subsided but continued to burn endlessly.
“Bring me a different drink.”
At Jeong Yusin’s words, Tarman’s pants began to soak with urine.
Jeong Yusin stood up upon seeing this.
“Please… please spare me!”
Tarman fell to his knees and bowed his head repeatedly.
Jeong Yusin stared down at Tarman, then walked to the counter and retrieved a bottle of liquor and two glasses.
Returning to his seat, he opened the bottle and poured a glass.
Jeong Yusin sniffed it, then drank it in one gulp.
He poured another glass.
“When is the boss coming?”
“Please!!! Have mercy!!!”
Tarman trembled and pleaded.
Jeong Yusin sighed deeply.
“Let’s stop talking.”
He sipped the liquor slowly, then put the glass down on the table.
Jeong Yusin spent the time admiring the head of the kneeling Tarman who continued to beg for mercy.
How much time had passed?
Creak!
The wooden door opened, and someone entered.
It was a leopard anthropomorph.
Male. A creature with glossy black fur that left a strong impression.
Just as Aldein had described.
‘Callic Highman.’
A former mid-ranked explorer and mid-level cadre of Crimson Hunters who specialized in handling middle management duties.
He possessed a total of four brandings:
[Acid Spit]
[Iron Arm]
[Tracker’s Nose]
[Lethal Precision]
A brute capable of blocking attacks with his sturdy arm, blinding opponents with acid spit, and delivering a fatal blow to finish them off.
In both his skill level and the number of brandings, Jeong Yusin was clearly inferior to him.
But what did it matter?
This one also needed to die.
Callic glanced around the room and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk. You really killed a lot.”
Clomp. Clomp.
Callic plopped down in the chair opposite Jeong Yusin.
“Did you find anything good in the labyrinth, Scar?”
Jeong Yusin remained silent, just tilting his glass.
Callic turned his head to look at Tarman.
“Hey new guy, come pour us some drinks.”
Tarman stood up and poured the liquor.
Splish. Splash.
The shaking hands caused the liquor to splash all over the table, and only a little made it into the glass.
Callic scratched his head.
“This kid is completely ruined. Go away.”
Tarman placed the bottle on the table and moved back.
Callic took the bottle and poured himself a glass.
Splish.
“Are you a murderer, Scath?”
“…”
Jeong Yusin silently tilted his glass, drinking leisurely.
“These guys have families too. Adorable sons and beautiful wives. Parents they must support.”
“Why did you kill Ditto’s family?”
Callic sighed deeply again.
“Wow. You’re asking that question now? You’re marked by us, you lunatic. You saw the dagger’s emblem and should have come running to the east sector and bowed immediately. What are you doing hanging around the labyrinth carefree?”
Their eyes met.
Callic smirked.
“Never seen a Barvaroy who doesn’t like to mate. This guy doesn’t seem like a Barvaroy at all.”
Callic turned to look at Tarman.
“Is that right?”
“Um… I don’t know.”
Tarman barely answered, trembling.
“If you don’t know, go find out, you fool.”
Callic rubbed the corner of his eye as if annoyed.
“Scath, you have two options.”
Callic held up one finger at a time.
“One, come work under me.”
“Two, die here.”
Jeong Yusin leaned back in his chair comfortably.
Amid the silence, Callic and Jeong Yusin stared each other down.
Callic gazed into Jeong Yusin’s eyes.
“I don’t normally make such offers. But you’re an interesting rookie who shows skill and guts. Come work for me.”
Would he be one of those large-hearted men or someone who could easily secure more subordinates anytime?
Callic continued.
“I’ll teach you how to survive in Labyrinth City. Fiend, you have potential.”
Jeong Yusin’s lips slowly parted.
“Go to hell.”
At Jeong Yusin’s single word, Callic shook his head.
“Hmph. You’re crazy.”
Jeong Yusin narrowed his eyes.
His vision began to fluctuate. The rising bloodlust in his chest became impossible to suppress.
The world alternated between red and blue repeatedly.
‘Should I cut or spear? That’s the dilemma.’
Wild illusions passed before his eyes.
Under the red light of the lantern, a hobgoblin and simuth clasped hands to dance, and an arachne sang together with Darmong.
Unable to bear it, he let out a single word.
“Fine, let’s do this. Yes, yes.”
Callic sighed.
“It’s too late.”
“Āsurābattabalā.”
First strike.
He upended the table.
BOOM!!!
The wooden table shattered. Splinters of wood and glass flew through the air.
Before he knew it, Jeong Yusin had drawn his long blade and charged at Callic.
“Damn!!”
Callic screamed and quickly drew his longsword.
KA-CHING!!!
The clash of sword and blade sent sparks flying.
Callic clenched his teeth and swung his sword.
‘Damn it. Where the hell did a monster like this come from!’
He had unmistakably fought only his third labyrinth run. Even then, he went as a porter the first time.
YET, I let him strike first.
Being defensive under such circumstances, Callic dodged Jeong Yusin’s blade by moving left and right.
CHING!!! CHING!!!
The sounds of clashing blades reverberated through the tavern.
Tarman was huddled in the corner, too scared to even think about escaping.
They clashed several times.
Jeong Yusin stepped on the entrails that had fallen on the floor. For a moment, his stance wavered, and he stumbled.
‘An opportunity!’
Callic’s eyes shone.
Callic swung his sword horizontally.
SWOOOSH!!!
Callic’s blade aimed for Jeong Yusin’s arm.
TSST!!!
Jeong Yusin quickly twisted his body to evade. The shoulder of his coat was slightly slashed, and blood trickled down.
[Avenger]
Branding activated.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes burned with a fierce blue flame.
KA-CHING!!!
Sparks flew again.
The sword and the blade once more clashed and parted.
‘What kind of strength is this?!’
Callic gritted his teeth.
The force exerted against his sword was immense.
The two weaved through the scattered wood pieces and bodies while their blades clashed repeatedly.
CHING!!! CHING!!!
Sparks flew, and with each clash, another slash mark appeared on Jeong Yusin’s body.
The opponent was a mid-ranked explorer, one who had spent several years in the labyrinth city, steeped in its underworld.
The difference in skill garnered from years of experience couldn’t be overlooked.
But Jeong Yusin showed no sign of retreating.
The more his flesh was cut and blood sprayed, the more the azure fire in his eyes blazed ferociously.
KA-CHING!!!
Once again, their blades met.
The two entered a contest of strength while their weapons were locked.
KA-GA-GA-GAK!!!
The sound of grinding metal echoed from their entangled weapons.
Their eyes met.
A fleeting moment.
Callic puffed out his cheeks and closed his mouth.
‘It’s coming.’
[Acid Spit]
Jeong Yusin turned his head.
He couldn’t completely evade it.
The sticky acid splattered across his neck and shoulder.
CHI-I-I-IK!!!
With a bubbling sound, the flesh and cloth began to burn away.
!!!
“Ugh!!!”
An excruciating pain surged upward from his shin.
Jeong Yusin gritted his teeth.
Something sharp had shattered his shinbone and embedded itself firmly.
Jeong Yusin pushed away the sword and limped back.
Callic had something protruding from his shoes.
A hidden switchblade under his soles.
“How’s it feel?”
Callic sneered.
“…A bit painful.”
Jeong Yusin spoke calmly, gripping his blade tighter.
Callic burst into wicked laughter and swung his longsword.
He was a man who had lived in the underworld.
No way he’d give up the upper hand he had seized.
Jeong Yusin, with a broken shinbone that made it impossible to press firmly on the ground, lifted his blade to block the attack.
With his broken leg, the strength in his blade swing weakened.
The situation increasingly turned against Jeong Yusin.
Callic was clearly enjoying this situation and leisurely pushed Jeong Yusin further.
SHREIK!!!
A sharply slicing sword targeting the right arm.
The sword trajectory was calculated in the blink of an eye.
He twisted his body. But due to the injured leg, he couldn’t evade fully and rolled.
Rolling across the floor, sticky blood clung to his coat and hair.
Callic pounced, striking with his sword from above.
There’s no way to dodge.
Jeong Yusin, kneeling on one knee, lifted his blade.
KA-CHING!!!
The powerful sword strike twisted his wrist.
A gush of blood spurted from the right shin.
KA-CHING!!!
Callic struck once more.
Jeong Yusin’s body completely collapsed.
THUD!!!
Callic’s foot slammed into Jeong Yusin’s chest.
Jeong Yusin was sent flying, crashing into a wall, and the blade he was holding flew and fell somewhere.
“Ha-uuuuh!!!”
Jeong Yusin twisted his body like a worm, exhaling.
Callic chuckled and rested the longsword on his shoulder.
“Not a bad fighter. Sorry for doubting you weren’t a Barvaroy for a moment.”
“…”
“Let’s finish this. Extend your neck.”
Jeong Yusin wobbled and stood up. Callic clicked his tongue.
“I almost mistook you for a tiger cub. A dangerous kid. You should really die.”
WHOOSH!!!
Callic’s sword aimed for Jeong Yusin’s neck.
[Sacred Weapon]
A golden longsword materialized in his hand. He gripped it with both hands and raised it high.
KA-AAA-AA-CHING!!!
The swords clashed. Shards of light scattered.
“That branding!! I knew it!! Pathetic!!!”
Callic bared his teeth and growled.
He showed no intention of stepping back, locking swords once again.
Jeong Yusin’s golden sword, pushed by the force, was gradually being driven back toward his shoulder.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
The golden longsword vanished, reaching its limit for weapon summoning time.
Callic grinned.
There was no longer any obstacle in front of him.
He thrust the sword straight into Jeong Yusin’s body.
The sharp tip of the sword tore through the intestines and pierced out through the back in an instant.
The cold sensation of the sword slicing through the stomach.
The pain that followed immediately caused Jeong Yusin’s mind to go completely blank.
In the flickering vision, he clenched his tongue tightly.
“What do you think? You should’ve just gone peacefully, you stubborn…!”
Callic mocked.
“PHFFT!!!”
Jeong Yusin spat a mouthful of blood.
“Damn this…!!”
Callic was startled and jumped back.
Jeong Yusin’s blood landed in Callic’s eyes, blinding his vision.
SHUDDER.
Callic tried to pull out the sword impaled in Jeong Yusin’s abdomen.
But the hilt didn’t budge.
Jeong Yusin’s hand had the sword firmly gripped.
The grip was so strong, it wouldn’t move an inch.
‘What the…!’
Even as he marveled at this.
BANG!!!
Callic’s head snapped back.
His vision blurred, and blood gushed out of his nose.
Jeong Yusin’s headbutt shattered Callic’s nasal bone.
Callic screamed and blindly spat acid everywhere.
Undeterred, Jeong Yusin lifted his head again.
HEADBUTT.
WHOOSH!!!
“Krrrrhaaahhaaaa!!!”
Callic screamed and twisted his body, but Jeong Yusin reacted faster.
[Sacred Weapon]
The light dagger plunged deep into Callic’s abdomen.
“Ku-herrrk!!!”
With a final shriek, Callic stumbled backward, fell to his knees and crumpled.
WHOOSH.
Jeong Yusin, trembling, pulled out the longsword impaled in his belly. Normally, he should have left it and gone to the temple, but he trusted the Avenger branding.
THUNK.
The longsword fell to the floor.
The blood flowed across the floor.
Jeong Yusin, limping, approached Callic.
Callic’s eyes widened with fear.
“Ke-hak…!”
With pleading eyes, as if he had something to say, he only vomited blood in gushes.
Jeong Yusin grabbed Callic’s jaw.
‘What…!’
The grip tightened. Callic’s mouth slowly opened.
SHHZZZZZ.
Acid bubbled on Jeong Yusin’s fingers but he paid no heed.
“Ahgahggah…!”
With the mouth opened to its limit, Callic shuddered.
‘Please! Please!’
TSZZZZZZZ.
The edges of his lips began to tear.
Callic flailed his body with all his might, but Jeong Yusin didn’t budge.
“Ahgahgah! Ahgahk!”
Tears streamed down Callic’s eyes.
TSZZSSSSSSSS!!!
The lower jaw shattered and the mouth completely split open.
“Kaahhaaa!!!”
Callic’s eyes rolled back.
Jeong Yusin removed his hand from Callic’s mouth and stood up.
Thanks to the continuing activation of the Avenger branding, his wounds were slowly healing.
The amount of blood spurting from his gut had reduced.
Jeong Yusin found an intact chair, limping while clutching his stomach, and sat down.
The tavern was a bloody mess of bodies and broken tables.
Jeong Yusin tapped on the table.
“Tarman, bring some drink.”
Overwhelmed by Jeong Yusin’s bloodthirsty brawl, Tarman trembled and didn’t move.
“I said, get me a drink.”
Jeong Yusin spoke again.
“Yes?! Yes!”
Tarman rushed to the counter, rummaging through the liquor cabinet as if he would break it, and brought a bottle and a glass.
Tarman hurriedly approached and placed the bottle and glass on the table.
Jeong Yusin took the bottle and poured himself a glass.
Slurp.
Jeong Yusin raised the glass to his lips and threw the drink inside. But he didn’t swallow it.
He swished it in his mouth a few times and spat it out onto the floor.
“Phht.”
The alcohol mixed with blood spread across the floor.
Jeong Yusin leaned back in his chair.
He inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of blood that filled the tavern, and exhaled deeply.
“Who the hell do you think you are, teaching me how to survive in the Labyrinth City?”
Jeong Yusin muttered, looking up at the ceiling.
The relentless bloodlust hadn’t subsided, prodding at his mind with madness.
Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at Tarman.
“Tarman.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Get on your knees.”
“Yes?”
“Kneel. I said kneel.”
Tarman fell to his knees on the blood-soaked floor.
“Spare… spare me!”
Jeong Yusin tapped the glass with his fingers.
“You’re such a wretched man. Just wanted to make some cash, huh? Kidnapped and tortured children and their mothers, ripped their mouths apart and killed them. Are you even human?”
“I… I didn’t!”
“Did you assist? Did you say no? Should I trust your words?”
Jeong Yusin stared at Tarman’s head while speaking.
“Why did you come here?”
“For…money.”
“Jobs in the southern district?”
“…I lost my job because of the Labyrinth Closure Order. They offered a lot of money… Believe me!!! I truly didn’t know about this!!!”
‘What should I do with you? Should I spare you because of Ann’s face?’
The intention to kill ebbed and flowed like the tides.
“Your mind is unstable.”
Jeong Yusin brushed his blood-soaked hair off his forehead.
He looked up at the tavern’s ceiling.
Tarman bowed his head, shaking and muttering something.
It couldn’t be heard.
Jeong Yusin got up from the chair and wandered among the dead.
As he passed, he noticed Callic, lying with his torn mouth vomiting blood as his eyes rolled around.
Still alive?
Jeong Yusin kicked Callic’s neck with his boot.
CRACK!!!
Jeong Yusin’s work boot mercilessly crushed Callic’s neck.
The long tongue that came out of the torn mouth hung limply.
A pathetic death.
One day, would he die the same way?
Thinking this, Jeong Yusin opened the tavern door and walked out.
The dark night.
Someone stood outside the tavern.
