Han Yeon-soo forced a laugh and mumbled quietly. Yoo Ji-yeon also looked doubtful. No surprise. What I was suggesting was basically for all of us to find a needle in the middle of a desert.
“Si-woo, this isn’t a dream, is it?”
“It’s real.”
First, we came down the cliff and into the empire. Staying still wasn’t going to change anything, and it wasn’t like we were going to find any clues in the woods.
But the first thing we learned upon arriving wasn’t any clues about the Returnees or any critical information.
“This is nuts… Haha.”
A massive scale that was incomparable to ordinary Rifts.
“Who are those people? How can Dimensional Distortions lead to a place like this……?”
“Theoretically, it’s possible. It has just never happened before.”
Unlike other Rifts, there was no sign of Monsters. Instead, people were occupying the space.
The residents of this other world talked in a mysterious language that didn’t resemble English, Chinese, Japanese, or any other language. We felt overwhelmed by the atmosphere they created as they walked through the medieval-like streets of the empire.
“We better collect information first.”
Everything was unfamiliar.
Seeing how confused Yoo Ji-yeon and Han Yeon-soo were, I started to move.
“Excuse me.”
The place I headed to first was a store where a middle-aged man was touting his fruit. The store seemed a bit fishy but looked clean.
As I approached him, the storekeeper laughed and talked in a foreign language I couldn’t understand. The way he was pointing at the apple he was holding, it looked like he was going on about how good the fruit was and how low the price was.
‘Hm.’
I calmly listened to him instead of replying. Han Yeon-soo and Yoo Ji-yeon glanced at me, wondering what I was doing.
‘It’s about time.’
I tapped my thigh. I had been listening to the man talk for more than 30 seconds. Soon… it should be over.
[The user has taken in a certain amount of an uncollected ‘language’.]
[Conditions fulfilled.]
[Analysis of language completed successfully.]
[Target: Retrieving ‘Balstan Empire Language’ information based on data from the Akashic Records.]
“So, this apple… it’s like… all…….”
The language that sounded alien became familiar as if I had studied and used it for years. The confusing words were dismantled and reassembled.
[Data recall from the Akashic Records completed.]
[‘Balstan Empire Language’ completely mastered.]
“I brought this apple in myself, and it tastes very sweet. And this is the only place you can get it so cheap. I can tell you aren’t from this area, so why don’t you buy a bunch to share with your family?”
The faint words became clear. The man’s dull and incorrect pronunciation was annoying. I looked at the talkative man and spoke.
“I’m not buying your apples. They aren’t cheap. You’re obviously ripping me off.”
“Wha-what? What are you saying….”
“And I didn’t come all this way to buy some fruit.”
Yoo Ji-yeon and Han Yeon-soo, who were standing behind me, looked shocked. Their puzzled eyes fixed on me. It was like they couldn’t believe how I was fluently speaking the language of a different world.
“Your pronunciation is excellent. What… are you a nobleman from somewhere?”
The man’s face stiffened as he heard me speak. Apparently, the pronunciation of the Empire Language I mastered thanks to the Akashic Records was not ordinary. It was a misunderstanding, but there was no need to explain. Under these circumstances, such a misunderstanding was more likely to help me.
“Think as you wish.”
“…….”
“Don’t sell me apples. Sell me something else. Just answer a few questions, and I’ll give you enough money to buy thousands of fruits.”
The middle-aged man’s expression kept changing. Among the many skills and Characteristics I had, there were definitely skills related to captivating people with eloquent speech and facial expressions. Techniques that were helpful in conning—no, to getting along in the world.
I could control people to do as I wished even if I had never seen them before, as long as they were civilians.
“What questions……?”
The man put down the apple he was holding and muttered. I smiled at the sight. Yes, even in a different world, there is no exception.
I slowly started to speak again, looking at the man who seemed more relenting than before.
“I’d like to ask you about a person who would have appeared here.”
* * *
“Whew, whoa!”
Clank, clank!
Every time the shield bounced off the enemy’s attack, the shield’s metal coating came off. Every time he defended himself, he felt the bones and muscles forming, at the same time his arms crumbling.
“Haha, where did your strength go? Or was it just a coincidence?”
“Humph!”
But Kim Seung-hyun, who was directly fighting the enemy, knew that his enemy was controlling his strength. As if he was playing. Not using his full power and attacking slowly, even though he could deliver a fatal blow.
Kim Seung-hyun, feeling the humiliation, clenched his teeth and held up his shield. It didn’t matter if he was being toyed with or being ridiculed. If he could buy even a little more time so that the people behind him could be safe, it didn’t matter if he sacrificed himself.
“Mr. Kim Seung-hyun, hang in there! Backup is on its way…….”
Cluuunk-!
The side of his shield burst and flew off. Metal fragments scattered about, and the fist that punched through the defense slammed into Kim Seung-hyun’s chest.
“Ugh….”
It felt like all of his ribs were crushed. Blood gushed from the throat. It felt like thunder was rumbling all over his body. His heart was squashed, and the world seemed to be spinning.
“Mr. Kim Seung-hyun!”
‘But as long as I don’t die.’
‘Unless I die instantly.’
All injuries were no more than a scratch in Zhang Wei’s presence. Kim Seung-hyun’s crumbling body rose again. Looking at him, the enemy—the Returnee—laughed in amusement.
“That’s a marvelous ability. Incomparable to the so-called ‘priests’ over there. Very impressive. Hahahahaha!”
There was a burst of loud, noisy laughter. And the Returnee started to move faster and faster. His swinging fingertips rip apart the shield, and his fist tears into Kim Seung-hyun’s body.
No matter how many times he was healed, he couldn’t help the accumulating mental damage. Kim Seung-hyun felt like he had already experienced death several times. But he didn’t fall down. The most brilliant talent he was born with. The talent of instinctively attracting people and giving everyone hope.
“Ahhhhhh!”
A hero who does not back down under any circumstances. One who can give himself up over and over for justice and who can throw away everything to protect the weak.
“You’re turning ugly. How long are you going to cling on?”
He swings the half-broken shield. The Returnee avoided it by moving slightly backward, and stretched out his foot to kick the center of Kim Seung-hyun’s shield.
He had repeated this pattern for some time now. Kim Seung-hyun couldn’t stop the simple attack, and the Returnee continued to use the same attack as if he were making fun of him.
The result would be the same again. Part of the shield will break, and Kim Seung-hyun will be knocked away and suffer serious injuries.
“Whew!”
But what happened next was so different from what the Returnee expected. Kim Seung-hyun, who always carried his shield like it was a part of his body, knew his equipment very well.
He knew how much more damage would cause it to break beyond repair, how the fragments would fly when broken at a certain angle, and how the fractured shape would look like.
Craaaack.
When the Returnee kicked the center of the shield, the chunk of metal broke. Instead of being knocked away, Kim Seung-hyun adjusted his elbow’s angle to determine “how” the shield would break.
Fragments flew upwards. Exactly toward the Returnee’s head.
“Oops—”
The Returnee turned his head to avoid the debris.
The Returnee had just attacked by stretching out his foot, and he turned his head, moving his balance. Kim Seung-hyun’s instinct whispered, ‘This is your chance.’
He kicked the ground and jumped up. His worn-out ankles withstand the shock, making Kim Seung-hyun’s huge body soar into the air. With the fragments now gone, the shape of the broken shield is revealed. The sharp, broken tip looks like it’s made to stab someone.
“Hyaahhh!”
Kim Seung-hyun jumped up and swung the tip of his shield toward the chest of the Returnee, who had half-lost his balance. There is no way that he wouldn’t be injured. All he has to do is make the smallest mark.
“What… how dare you……!”
The Returnee’s hand moves violently. It was a massively powerful blow, on a level unlike any of his previous attacks. Kim Seung-hyun realized when he saw the approaching attack. ‘If I get hit, I will die instantly.’ No matter how great Zhang Wei is, he cannot revive a human torn into powder.
“…….”
Kim Seung-hyun, swinging the tip of his shield, closed his eyes. And he emptied his mind and continued his action. No matter whether he was torn to pieces, this chunk of iron would harm the Returnee. Even by the slightest mark, I will be able to hinder this arrogant guy.
He could feel the heat. Was death nearing him? Kim Seung-hyun slowly opened his eyes, looking dejected. In order to accurately attack, he had to overcome his fear and look at the Returnee.
“……?”
However.
“Wha-what…….”
What he saw was a little different from what he had imagined.
“Aaargh….”
The Returnee, who had been so high and mighty, had become a mess. Long spears, swords, axes, and all kinds of weapons were sticking out of his vital parts. Dozens? No, hundreds of weapons penetrated a single human being. There was a strong smell of blood.
In the few seconds when he closed his eyes and opened them, the formidable enemy who seemed undefeatable by anyone, had died. Without a hint of resistance, he had died standing while trying to reach out his fist.
How many people can do this? Kim Seung-hyun’s head began to spin. What’s going on here?
“Was I a little late?”
Kim Seung-hyun, who looked dazed, turned his head towards the voice.
There stood an unexpected figure.
“I met a Returnee recently. They seemed dangerous, so I have been on backup duty…. Good thing I was wandering about nearby.”
Lee Hyun-seung.
The man everyone recognized as the strongest Hunter was standing there.
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