Chapter 146 – LV.Fifteen Warrior Oh Haengbok – [Three]

Soon, the Sun Ship completely emerged from the Dimensional Gate.

Its hull plating opened. Inside the ship, a massive Artificial Sun revealed its dazzling radiance. Sehul’s Small Sun.

The Sun Ship was still far away, and the sunlight that brilliant sphere cast upon the Mortal Realm had not yet directly shone down here. But its light illuminated the entire surrounding area, capturing everyone’s gaze.

Seo Yun also stared at that luminous ship as if entranced. She had been worried about how properly the Paladins’ support would arrive, but for the Sun Ship itself to come directly?

A glance showed the expanded Dimensional Gate had not yet contracted.

‘Is the Troll maintaining the gate’s size? So the Sun Ship can use that gate to return to its original position too…’

Seo Yun continued thinking. The Sun Ship probably hadn’t originally intended to come here directly. It likely just planned to deploy troops in front of the gate, but upon seeing the gate’s expanded size, it must have judged that rapid support and return would be possible through it, and thus appeared in person.

Truly, it was nothing short of divine, timely aid.

“It’s coming!”

The Sun Ship slowly ascended, then began flying toward them from high in the air.

Having stopped once, it seemed to take quite a while to regain speed, but it would still reach here soon enough. Once it did, even the absurdly enhanced Strength of the Strength 12 Orc Vampire would be suppressed.

Perhaps everyone harbored hope with that thought, as exclamations flowed from all around. Everyone climbed onto the crumbling Fortress Wall to watch the Sun Ship’s approach.

But it didn’t take long for their exclamations to turn into groans.

“That fog over there…”

Seo Yun also groaned upon seeing the bizarre phenomenon unfolding below the wall.

From the heart of the enemy camp, a purple fog began to spread. It was so dense, a thick fog that made the people there barely visible.

Thanks to having studied the Rulebook, she knew the identity of that fog.

“Purple Curtains…”

A Vampire-exclusive Spell to block sunlight. Indeed, if Undead simply melted away defenselessly under a bit of sunlight, the Sun Ship wouldn’t have needed to hide from all the Kingdoms of Immortals.

Soon, the Sun Ship, having approached near Happy Village, cast sunlight upon the enemy camp, but no screams from Vampires erupted from below. Clearly, the fog was blocking that light.

And then Paladins began dropping down from the Sun Ship.

As seen before, they were overwhelmingly powerful. The Paladins landed on the ground, producing consecutive, massive ‘thud, thud’ booms, then stood up unharmed from their spots.

The Paladins who had descended to the ground advanced toward the fog.

The Paladins seemed hesitant to enter the fog. They stopped before it, extending their palms as if to chant a spell.

And from within the fog, a group of Centaur cavalry emerged. The Orc Vampire gripping a hammer was with them.

Oh Haengbok led the Centaurs in a charge toward the Paladins. The Paladins hastily raised their shields to meet them.

Moments later, the fog expanded further, swallowing them all. Soon, their battle was obscured by the fog, becoming invisible.

“What are you doing? Open the fortress gate quickly!”

“Right…”

They had to help the Paladins quickly. Oh Haengun frantically began clearing the rocks blocking the gate with his rock-control spell.

And just as all the rocks were cleared and the gate opened…

A silhouette revealed itself from within the fog.

A silhouette clad in Armor. Seo Yun, thinking it might be a Paladin’s, looked and screamed inwardly.

Oh Haengbok walked out of the fog. In his hand, he clutched the head of a Paladin.

Oh Haengbok’s gaze turned toward the open gate. The Small Sun that should have blocked him seemed shattered by bombardment, no longer shining. Oh Haengbok threw the Paladin he was holding into the fog.

Oh Haengbok began walking toward the village.

“Uh…”

At this moment, the reason no cry of “Block him!” arose among the Happy Village Warriors was likely because no one knew how that was even possible. The cry that erupted from among them was this:

“Run!”

Any attempt to rush out through the gate had to be abandoned. As the village Warriors desperately fled into the village interior, Oh Haengbok finally set foot inside the gate.

Oh Haengbok stood inside Happy Village.

The Orc Vampire’s red Eye Light groped the surroundings like the tentacles of a sea anemone. Anyone caught by those tentacles would likely be torn to shreds, leaving no trace.

And Lee Jongho, who had tripped while running and couldn’t leave this spot, was caught by those tentacles.

“No!”

As Oh Haengbok approached, Lee Jongho screamed. And Oh Haengbok asked:

“Where’s Oh Haengun?”

“Huh… huh?”

“Are your ears clogged, you bastard? I said where’s Oh Haengun—!”

Seo Yun, who had been approaching to help the guy, twitched her eyebrows.

Looking for Oh Haengun even in this situation? Did Oh Haengbok think in his head that this whole situation was that Mage’s doing? That the betrayal and rejection he faced in his own village were all the result of that Mage manipulating the villagers with wicked Magic?

That unreasonable situational judgment and paranoia reminded her of schizophrenia symptoms. Perhaps if she looked at that Orc’s Mental Stat now with a Detection Spell, it might show around 2 points. It was already a well-known fact, but that Orc was insane.

As Lee Jongho trembled uncontrollably and Oh Haengbok’s Eye Light grew fiercer, Seo Yun shouted:

“That bastard Oh Haengun is over there!”

Then Oh Haengbok turned his head and laughed pleasantly. Though his expression was hidden by the Helm he wore low, it was clear from his voice alone.

“My pretty Seo Yun.”

“Follow me!”

“Don’t give orders, okay? I’m the senior here…”

As Seo Yun moved with quick steps, Oh Haengbok followed. Seo Yun kept walking until her eyes met Arnold’s.

Arnold seemed about to run over, perhaps to help. Seo Yun shook her head subtly, signaling him not to. As if understanding the signal, Arnold nodded and began cautiously following, trying not to be noticed…

“Is Oh Haengun here?”

Seo Yun stood before the Chief’s Tent and nodded.

“Yes.”

“That bastard, so now he’s the Chief, huh… Can’t see him. Used Invisibility, huh? Who does he think he’s fooling, that little shit…”Finally, the moment Oh Haengbok stepped inside the tent, Seo Yun judged that the village warriors had likely all escaped from that orc by now and shouted.

“Arnold!”

Immediately, Arnold rushed into the tent.

Seo Yun watched the scene unfolding inside the tent.

As Arnold’s greatsword struck his back, Oh Haengbok staggered. However, his armor deflected the greatsword.

“What the—!”

Oh Haengbok immediately turned around and swung his warhammer. Arnold easily dodged and swung his greatsword once more, and Oh Haengbok threw a punch, striking the side of the greatsword.

The powerful wind and shockwave from the collision swept through the surroundings. Objects inside the tent were sent flying, and soon after, the tent itself collapsed.

The leather of the tent covered the two fighters, but true to his vampire nature, Oh Haengbok, with his heat vision, made no effort to break free. Arnold, who could see through objects even in darkness, was the same.

Beneath the billowing leather, the two powerful warriors continued their battle.

Meanwhile, perhaps sensing the commotion here, a girl came running over.

Gaeulbi asked in an urgent voice.

“Seo Yun? What’s going on…”

Seo Yun shouted.

“Bring the Sun Priest here!”

“What?”

“Bring the Sun Priest! To deal with the vampire!”

Gaeulbi did as she was told. Watching her dash off with the unique speed of a Martial Artist, Seo Yun chanted a spell.

A Weakening Spell? No. That orc’s Spell Shatterer could likely easily remove any Debuff cast on him… After Gaeulbi’s figure disappeared into the darkness, Seo Yun looked back at the source of the roaring sounds.

It seemed the successive shockwaves had shredded the leather covering the two warriors.

Now, Arnold and Oh Haengbok were fighting in the center of Happy Village, their forms clearly revealed.

And at a glance, as expected, Arnold was being pushed back. The sight of him gritting his teeth, raising his greatsword, and desperately defending was pitiful.

After all, even though Oh Haengbok was Level 15, his Strength was 12, and judging by that Ability Score alone, he was practically Epic Level. Considering that fact, it wasn’t that Oh Haengbok was fighting well against a Barbarian Warrior four levels higher; rather, it was Arnold somehow managing to keep fighting against an Epic Level opponent.

Truly, Arnold was fighting with all his might, gritting his teeth against that orc who was trying to kill him.

“Look at me—you bastard—!”

Oh Haengbok, feinting a hammer swing, landed a kick on Arnold’s knee.

Arnold dropped to one knee while slashing down with his greatsword. It was a fierce counterattack launched even while being struck, but it didn’t work.

Oh Haengbok blocked it easily, then pushed Arnold far away with the hammer’s shaft and raised the hammer high.

And Seo Yun shouted.

“—Submit!”

The moment Seo Yun shouted and thrust out her palm, Oh Haengbok’s body, about to bring the hammer down, stiffened.

It was a Mind Domination Spell. She hadn’t yet given up on the plan to overwrite brainwashing with another brainwashing.

The caster’s mind and the target’s mind connected.

Seo Yun concentrated her spirit, striving to determine if she could truly restore that maddened orc to his senses.

Through the connected mental imagery, Oh Haengbok’s spirit was conveyed. The rage and persecution complex consuming his head… and the curse of the Goddess of Beauty that had caused those negative emotions.

『Cute, isn’t it?』

In Oh Haengbok’s heart, the Goddess of Beauty laughed. It was an unpleasant laugh, even though it was Seo Yun’s own face and voice.

The next moment, Seo Yun felt her spell being pushed out of the orc’s mind. Was Oh Haengbok resisting? No. An orc vampire with a Spirit of 3 didn’t have the mental strength for that.

It was the power with which a higher vampire had bound the lower vampire Oh Haengbok, the invisible chains imposed by the Goddess of Beauty, forcibly moving him to obey the command of the centaur vampire again.

Seo Yun gritted her teeth. She had already prepared herself, but now she confirmed that restoring that mind was impossible.

Gaeulbi’s voice rang out.

“I brought him!”

Seo Yun turned her head that way. She had said to bring the Sun Priest, but who had she brought?

It was Park Taeyang.

Seeing his frightened face, Seo Yun almost swore. Why, of all people, did she bring him? Truly, it was a chimpanzee-like move. Seo Yun gave instructions while swearing.

“Prepare to use a Divine Spell! Anything that will work on a vampire!”

Park Taeyang’s face hardened at the command to use magic harmful to his adoptive father.

Fortunately, Seo Yun didn’t need to urge him to hurry. Soon, Park Taeyang, albeit with a stiff face, nodded and began mumbling a spell.

“Gra… nted.”

Oh Haengbok was on the verge of breaking free from the Mind Domination Spell. And not missing the moment when Oh Haengbok’s movements slowed from resisting that spell, Arnold landed a blow.

The tip of Arnold’s greatsword slashed across Oh Haengbok’s jaw.

Oh Haengbok’s body staggered, and his helm was knocked off.

Thus, the orc vampire’s face was revealed. A face twisted with rage.

When Oh Haengbok opened his mouth, sharp, protruding fangs were exposed. It was the moment when anger as sharp as those fangs was about to erupt from his mouth.

Park Taeyang’s spell was completed.

“O Light!”

Then, a glowing sphere appeared in this space. The glowing sphere floated in the air and cast warm sunlight on the surroundings.

It was the Small Sun spell. Faint but unmistakable sunlight illuminated the area.

About to shout something, Oh Haengbok instead took a few steps back, frowned, and covered his face with one arm.

As if the sunlight was burning his flesh, smoke began to rise from Oh Haengbok’s face. However, Oh Haengbok did not immediately melt or turn to ash. Oh Haengbok was high-level and had high HP. No matter that he was a vampire, he wouldn’t die just from exposing a bit of facial skin.

Ultimately, that small sphere was insufficient to stop Oh Haengbok. But why?

Oh Haengbok, who as a vampire should hide from the sun, did not.

Oh Haengbok stood still where he had stopped, then slowly lowered the arm covering his face and turned his head this way.

It seemed he was looking precisely at Park Taeyang standing beside her.

The orc’s face, hideously distorted with rage, gradually smoothed out, and his mouth opened.

“Nice day, isn’t it?”

Oh Haengbok feels the dark clouds clearing. The dark clouds clogging his mind.

He sees the sun shining between the dark clouds. The sun burns away the dark clouds and the darkness they brought, shining its light upon him.Ah, that sun. Truly dazzling.

I look at my hand in the sunlight. It’s a hand with a healthy complexion, not the pale skin unique to vampires, nor the gray skin unique to orcs.

I intuitively understand this is myself from the time I was a Taekwondo Master. Then, where is this?

A park. I’ve come out on a picnic with the kids.

Honestly, it wasn’t a good day for a picnic. The sunlight was so strong that the kids who came without sunscreen would probably all get sunburned. I’m worried I’ll get an earful from the kids’ parents over the phone later. Damn it, even though I’m this big, those aunties aren’t afraid of me.

It’s so hot that sweat is pouring down. But I can’t make a displeased face and show my discomfort in front of the kids. I force a smile and look at them…

For some reason, the appearances of most of the children are blurry, but only Park Taeyang’s appearance is clear. I idly speak to him.

“Nice weather, isn’t it?”

Seo Yun alternated her gaze between Park Taeyang’s face and Oh Haengbok and that orc.

Park Taeyang muttered.

“Ah, dad?”

The smile disappeared from Oh Haengbok’s face, which had been giggling. Had he lost his mind? It was impossible to know.

After a moment of looking serious, Oh Haengbok smiled slightly again. And he spoke.

“Taeyang.”

Arnold let the greatsword he had been gripping tightly drop to the ground. Just from the emotion carried in that voice a moment ago, it seemed he could sense that the orc had no intention of fighting right now.

Indeed, Oh Haengbok did not try to fight. He spoke to his adopted son.

“I don’t think I’ve apologized yet, I’m really sorry about that day.”

“Huh?”

“You know, that time I kicked you a long time ago. And this time, the harsh words too… And, remember this.”

“Remember… what?”

“It wasn’t you who killed me.”

As Park Taeyang’s body stiffened, Oh Haengbok muttered as if speaking to himself.

“Absolutely not.”

Oh Haengbok’s face turned this way. Seo Yun met that gaze.

“Chief.”

“Seo Yun, will you testify for me to the village folks?”

“I will.”

As Seo Yun nodded, Oh Haengbok grinned.

“Our good Seo Yun.”

Oh Haengbok stopped laughing and groaned, “Ugh.” He raised his arm again to block the light of the small sun beating down on his face, then took a step forward as if trying to escape that light. Muttering in a strained voice as he did so.

“Watch closely.”

The discarded helm lay on the ground. Even though it was an item that would have protected his flesh from burning under that sunlight, Oh Haengbok trampled it underfoot as he passed.

With a crunch, the helm crumpled, becoming unusable again. It didn’t seem like an accident.

“The sun I’m going to die by… is that one.”

Oh Haengbok slung the warhammer over his shoulder just like that and strode briskly away.

Seo Yun turned her head in the direction he was heading.

The Sun Ship had approached right up ahead. That brilliant light… Using that light as a backlight, she could see a group of monsters approaching.

Centaur were charging through the open castle gate.

Oh Haengbok charged head-on towards them. The centaurs, perhaps thinking their general was joining them, didn’t try to avoid him and paid the price. Swept around by a single swing of the warhammer, their lower bodies were crushed as they flew through the air.

Oh Haengbok, having smashed one wave of enemies, didn’t stop and kept running. Into that blinding sunlight, intense enough to burn flesh, over there.

Into the space filled with light beneath the Sun Ship, the space the fog had not yet reached, Oh Haengbok threw his body.

The light pouring down from the Sun Ship above was so intense that now, under that light, Oh Haengbok’s form was hard to see clearly. He was visible only as a shining silhouette, neither orc nor vampire.

From that silhouette, black smoke began to rise. The sunlight was burning the flesh of him, the vampire.

“Long live—Haengbok—Village!”

At the moment the orc’s roar echoed through the light, Seo Yun felt as if the entire battlefield had frozen for an instant. No, considering that a Warrior’s battle cry had a paralyzing effect, it was likely not an illusion.

As heaven and earth trembled once, Oh Haengbok raised his Warhammer high and hurled it toward the space within the mist.

The Spell Shatterer flew, tearing through the violet mist. Along its trajectory, a group of vampires stood frozen. Seo Yun could clearly see the sight of vampire soldiers and a centaur clad in splendid armor being crushed together by the spinning Warhammer.