Chapter 82: Companion, Human? (4)

“Crowded places aren’t good for either side, right?”

Lee Taebaek drew his blade about a handspan and spat the words out casually. The figures emerging from the shadows glanced at each other slyly before turning their gazes toward us.

Taking it as silent approval, I stepped forward. They wouldn’t strike for the back of my head.

Those guys—the ‘ninjas’—must have instinctively sensed that Lee Taebaek was a master of presence detection.

Besides, drawing public attention was even worse for the ninjas. Their affiliation was the issue. They operated in the shadows where the city government couldn’t act openly, like soot-covered blades.

Rumors circulated online that ninjas were the city government’s hunting dogs, but both sides vehemently denied it. The city government professed democracy, and the ninjas needed to manage their image for the autonomous district they’d gain someday.

Like it or not, in modern times, you had to watch public opinion. Even kings in the past cared about the people’s sentiments. Upset the masses, and they’d topple the country.

The most crucial ingredient for revolution is discontent. Even the city government, which seemed omnipotent, avoided stirring up unease.

That’s why they sent ninjas for covert operations like this, where secrecy was paramount.

‘Persistent bastards.’

And annoyingly competent, to boot.

According to Jasbi, they’d exposed themselves for just one second before showing up. The upper districts truly had the city government’s eyes everywhere.

‘Feels like jumping straight from normal to hard mode.’

I’d prepared as best I could, but some pursuit was inevitable. Coming to the upper levels meant I couldn’t shake off the city government completely.

From now on, when dealing with someone who’d had net socket surgery, I’d have to thoroughly conceal my face… or bring along Jasbi, the kid I’d just met who proved surprisingly helpful.

‘I owe that kid one.’

An AI that appeared without warning.

The kid had proven her worth right from the start. In Lake City, demonstrating value was priceless credibility. Whatever her intentions, I’d pull her into the fold for now.

‘Just like Kang Hyeonseong did for me back in the Brain Prison.’

I nearly let out a wry chuckle.

Kids grow up drinking their parents’ blood.

But parents are also mirrors for their children. All creations of Laykuns were my offspring, after all.

So it was only natural they’d take after Lee Taebaek.

Turning their backs on the freshly started parade, they moved to a new location. The crowd thinned out rapidly as they went.

During the fireworks, the rides shut down. Unlike the daytime bustle, many areas were now deserted, and they headed for the rollercoaster—the hottest spot earlier, now the emptiest.

‘Even if a full-on blade fight breaks out, it’ll take a while to be noticed.’

Sure enough, the killing intent prickling their spines grew sharper. Walking straight ahead, they soon reached the small open area before the rollercoaster where people had queued earlier.

Lee Taebaek spun around. The group of shadows wriggled like smoke without clear outlines.

Gradually, the shadows took form. The black mist cloaking their skin blew away in the night breeze, revealing their flesh beneath.

“Impressive.”

I muttered without thinking. Pouring all your stats into presence concealment allowed such feats—hiding in shadows or moving in groups without detection.

The enemies were personally proving the setting I’d carefully added: ‘Presence Concealment is the privilege of the strong.’ Back on Earth, my team had griped plenty in private streams about making such a basic skill so grandiose for another game.

‘They’d never say that if they faced this themselves.’

Lee Taebaek smiled wryly and fully drew his blade. Fireworks painted the sky, their light faintly reflecting off the edge. At the same time, the ninja at the front spoke up.

“What a tiresome grudge, Python.”

His eyes flicked down reflexively. The revolver in its holster showed only the barrel. No way to identify the model from that.

“…We’ve been tracking you since your escape from the Brain Prison.”

Ah, so that’s how they recognized me.

I’d embedded a bullet in a guard’s forehead. They’d probably found it during autopsy.

“Slippery as a snake, really. How you slipped our nets and survived this long… A first for us. It felt like a vendetta.”

Fireworks burst over the horizon stained orange like sediment. BOOM- The profiles of the two facing off lit up brilliantly.

The ninja continued.

“Feel free to add a new record on your way out. Escaping the Brain Prison, evading us for months. But even your heaven-sent luck ends here, Python.”

“Naming names before the fight? Why’s your tongue so loose for a gang-up artist?”

He raised Python, the gun-blade combo he craved so badly, in his right hand.

“Just introductions.”

“…No need for courtesy with the dead.”

I knew who it was. If Lee Taebaek’s signature was the gun-blade, ‘his’ was that line. I’d baited it perfectly.

“Figured as much.”

Lee Taebaek replied flatly, donning his mask. It covered everything below the eyes like the ninjas’ balaclavas. The filter made his voice rumble.

“Ninja leader, Rahankel.”

“How do you…?!”

He raised the gun barrel and grinned.

“No need to tell the dead.”

BANG-!

Fireworks or gunshot. Perhaps both. As the opening salvo rang out, Lee Taebaek charged.

“Hm, where’d he go?”

Behind the crowds watching the fireworks, the Great Existence scattered presence detection. He was searching for Lee Taebaek. He’d planned to escort him to the haunted house where he had business, then meet up again, but the guy had vanished.

‘Well, that viper doesn’t need my permission to wander off.’

It was just a whim.

There was something about Lee Taebaek that oddly drew people in. That thing called charisma. The wry part was realizing he’d been unconsciously swayed himself.

The Great Existence strolled leisurely. The parade and fireworks were in full swing. Kids gasped in awe; adults smiled, alternating gazes between sky and children.

Then something bumped into his navel. Looking down, he saw a kid in a pumpkin mask. The dress suggested a girl.

“Lost your parents, little one?”

The Great Existence crouched to eye level. The pumpkin girl stood stock-still like a rock. Only the lights in her hollow eye sockets flickered.

“Help me.”

Then she spoke.

“Of course, princess. Follow me. I’ll find your parents. What’s your name…?”

“Not that.”

The kid balled her fists and shook her head.

“Taebaek-nim is in trouble right now!”

“…What?”

“So help him, not me!”

Jasbi pleaded.

“You’re the Great Existence, right?”

Blades clashed. A sharp crack rang out, and one ninja clutched his throat. His mask slipped, revealing a line of blood across his neck.

BANG-!

He thrust Python like lightning and pulled the trigger. The ninja with a hole where his Adam’s apple should be collapsed. Through that tiny gap, two more lunged with daggers poised.

Lee Taebaek buffed the dead man’s strength. Then he kicked the corpse square in the chest. It slammed into the two ninjas with massive force. Their startled cries suggested surprise at the weight.

300kg now, after all.

Whoosh.

He leaped. Landing on the corpse that had crushed his comrades, Para Blade traced a full moon arc. Beneath, crimson ripples bloomed outward.

Eh? What the hell is that?

The waiting ninjas looked baffled. Speed was their specialty. Yet in the blink of an eye—pavement shattered, gunshot echoed, sword flash gleamed.

A 0.3-second combo like sparkling jewels. Then three comrades dead, target standing atop them.

The ninjas faltered. BOOM- A distant explosion snapped their minds away for a split second.

Lee Taebaek’s form blurred in a sidestep, his dark eyes flicking left and right like pinning points.

Crack-

-Gurk!

The blade sank into a ninja’s neck. Guh! Guh! Python barked from his shoulder. The recoil shook his upper body lightly with each dull thud. Ninjas behind toppled like autumn leaves. As Lee Taebaek swiftly reloaded the revolver, the groaning ninja finally met his end.

“Shuriken! Throw shuriken—!”

“Shuri, shuri, shuriken…!”

Rahankel barked. The ninjas finally flung their shuriken. Erratic trajectories.

Whiiiir!

Lee Taebaek bit down on his blade and reached for his hip. Click, metal chunks chambered.

Bang!

The umbrella fabric unfurled over his chest. Bulletproof material. The flung metal lost momentum, clattering harmlessly like toys.

Eh?

The ninjas paled. They should counterattack, but their feet wouldn’t move.

“C-C-Commander!”

He knew. They’d studied the target thoroughly before pursuit. They knew he was a master of martial techniques.

They knew in their heads!

Speed was the problem.

Losing where you’re confident crushes you manifold. Ninjas who’d never lost in speed were being toyed with now. Chasing his tail was best-case; eight in ten glimpsed only the end result.

Fuck, is that even human?

The target moved in another time zone. And more—their fingertips and toes stiffened. Frost actually crept up their calves. He’d cast magic mid-fight. Ice magic froze even their brains.

Tap-tap-

Light footsteps. Too late to pinpoint. One head dangled upside-down against the fireworks backdrop. Aaagh! A ninja charged screaming. Terror drove him. He meant to flee, but disorientation flung him off-course.

Haaaah…

The mask exhaled snow dance. The open area’s vibe turned to a chilling ravine.

Snow-white backdrop. Shaking pupils. Target suddenly close enough to gouge eyes. Python, Lee Taebaek.

Slash!

The ninja’s nape burned. Arterial blood sprayed. It added color to the fireworks. Guh, guh, guh. The milky world drained into the abyss.

Stalemate after 10 seconds. Whirlwind emotions spread via ragged breaths to comrades.

Hah- hah-

Lee Taebaek caught his breath. Air was cold, yet his esophagus burned like swallowing coals. Excitement. Euphoria.

“Next.”

Despite his words, he moved first.