Chapter 61 – LV.Twelve Mage Oh Haengun – [Three]

The brief but chaotic battle had ended.

Seo Yun saw the wreckage of the golem and the skeletons that had taken cover behind it.

A small stone was hiding among the golem’s wreckage. It seemed Oh Haengun had seen the situation was resolved through that familiar and ordered the attack to stop.

The skeletons’ gunfire had ceased long ago. The gargoyles in the sky were no longer firing either, now flying above and monitoring the villagers.

A short while later, a clattering sound was heard.

Hadn’t Oh Haengun said his Level went up by one last time, making him Level 12 now? Six of the twelve skeletons he had sent abandoned their cover and approached Seo Yun.

Seo Yun stared blankly at the skeletons guarding her.

The situation of being protected by these bones was strange. A girl who had used a burning sword to inflict burns inside multiple people’s bodies, now being guarded by these ominous creatures—to anyone watching, she would likely appear as some kind of evil witch.

‘If you add the halo into consideration, she might even look like the Goddess of Beauty.’

Seo Yun thought.

‘It’s not that I’m full of myself, but according to the setting, skeletons were created after the Goddess of Beauty realized that stripping away the flesh and skin of ugly people, leaving only their pure white bones, made them look much prettier and more handsome…’

For now, this ominousness would be helpful. Seo Yun gave an order to the man before her.

“Take care of the injured and unconscious people.”

At her words, the man in front of her nodded his head vigorously and then scurried away. Watching his hurried retreating figure, Seo Yun inwardly groaned. She had cast a mind control spell on that man earlier, after turning on her halo, ordering him to prostrate himself. It seemed to have worked, perhaps too well.

Seo Yun approached the lady whose wrist she had severed earlier. She cast healing spells on that lady and several others. Most survived, but some had ultimately died from shock.

Anyway, more people had died and been injured than expected.

She looked at the devastation she and the skeletons had created.

The skeletons lacked the weight and muscles to withstand firearm recoil, so they weren’t exactly great marksmen. It seemed the haphazard shooting had caused significant casualties.

Seo Yun looked at the bleeding people scattered here and there. She had prepared for this, but her heart still pounded.

‘I didn’t know that guy would come this fast. If I’d known this would happen…’

Oh Haengun entered the village five minutes later. Two gargoyle stone statues descended to the mortal realm as if escorting him.

Only then did Seo Yun turn off her halo and ask.

“How are you so fast? It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since I was kidnapped, I think.”

Oh Haengun answered with an uncomfortable expression.

“The barbarian warrior guy carried me and ran.”

“Arnold? Where did that guy go now?”

“I sent him back to protect the kids left behind. It’s awkward to ask a complete stranger to fight together, and since we didn’t know if there would be another attack… I originally planned to come here and start with interrogation and negotiation first, you know? Through my familiar, I saw these village bastards shooting at you. So I hurriedly sent the summons first.”

“Right, thank you so much for helping so quickly.”

“Thank me? So, at a glance, it looked like you swung a flaming sword at these guys directly. Couldn’t you have waited a bit?”

Seo Yun grumbled.

“If I hadn’t handled it myself, the Chief would have come and really finished me off properly.”

Oh Haengun shook his head.

“That would have been the case, really. I’m not being sarcastic; thinking about it, you really did well. How many times were you shot anyway? We need to get the bullets out first.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll dig them out myself later.”

“What are you, Guan Yu or something… Anyway, can we send news to Happy Village now?”

Oh Haengun wrote something on the chest of the gargoyle standing beside him using meteor magic and then sent the gargoyle flying. Seo Yun saw it was flying towards Happy Village.

Several tens of minutes later.

An engine roar echoed from afar. As everyone turned their gaze in that direction, Seo Yun also turned her head.

She saw all sorts of huge trucks swarming in. At their center, she saw Oh Haengbok riding a monster bike.

And then Oh Haengbok entered the village. Just as when the golem had entered, no one could stop him.

Oh Haengun explained what had happened today and the situation to his Chief, visibly cautious.

“…That’s how it turned out. It’s all over now.”

After saying that, Oh Haengun looked at Oh Haengbok’s face anxiously, though it would be impossible to read Oh Haengbok’s expression hidden behind his helm.

Even the red eye light of that orc vampire had grown stronger than before. It was so intense that now you couldn’t even see what his eyes looked like inside the helm.

Seo Yun also looked at Oh Haengbok with an uneasy heart. Was that orc guy angry or not?

He seemed angry. Very much so.

The first to receive the orc’s wrath was Oh Haengun.

“Why didn’t you request village support first and charged in alone?”

At Oh Haengbok’s question, Oh Haengun answered.

“This village was closer than ours. I had to rescue her as quickly as possible…”

“Don’t give me excuses, you bastard. Do I look like a pushover idiot to you? Why are you handling things on your own?”

“I’m sorry.”

Oh Haengbok snorted and turned his head.

“What about Seo Yun? Is she safe?”

Seo Yun, covering the areas where bullets were lodged, approached and said.

“Yes. I’m safe, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief… Seo Yun, don’t you even think about wandering outside the village anymore. Does it make sense to get kidnapped twice in one month?”

His voice was also tinged with anger.

Having said his piece, Oh Haengbok headed somewhere. He seemed to be approaching Kim Jongil.

Seo Yun asked Oh Haengun.

“The situation is over, so why is he so angry?”

“I think he believes it’s his fault things turned out this way.”

“His fault?”

“There is. Last time, the Chief insulted Kim Jongil…”

Meanwhile, Oh Haengbok stood before the fallen Kim Jongil.

Seo Yun had roughly cast a heal on him too, but the area between his thighs was still serious. Regardless of what he had done, one might expect some empathy as a fellow man.

However, Oh Haengbok now seemed to feel not even a shred of pity. His voice dripped only with ultra-low frequencies.

“Is this bastard alive or dead?”

A warrior player from Happy Village checked his pulse.

“He’s alive.”

“Wake him up.”

It seemed the Priest Lady had come along too. She cast another healing spell on Kim Jongil’s body and then splashed water on him. It was water cold enough without needing to be kept in a refrigerator.Only then did Kim Jongil stand up.

“Ugh, damn…”

Kim Jongil, who seemed about to utter a curse, looked at Oh Haengbok. His eyes widened, and his open mouth closed again.

The rage that had been uncontrollable enough to make him throw a hammer at his subordinate moments ago seemed unable to surface before this three-meter-twenty orc. Indeed, even someone with anger management issues tends to shrink before someone who looks strong, contrary to popular belief.

Oh Haengbok looked down at him.

“Why did you do that?”

His voice was now chilling. It felt less like his anger had subsided and more like he was forcibly suppressing it. It sounded like a precursor to a volcanic eruption.

Kim Jongil stammered his reply.

“You made me angry. So…”

“You kidnap a little girl because you’re angry? Are you insane?”

“I…”

“Got any excuses?”

Kim Jongil started to answer again but stopped and looked around. From his gaze, he seemed to have spotted his subordinates.

Perhaps thinking it was late but he should still save face, his tone rose slightly.

“I was wrong. But Hyung, you shouldn’t have done that to me.”

“What did I do? Did you have a fit over one curse word?”

“I’ve had a lot of pent-up feelings for a long time. This time, what was built up just exploded…”

“So, it’s because of me, is that it?”

Kim Jongil bit his lip, then after a brief pause, spoke.

“But, why?”

That insolent attitude seemed to further enrage the already furious Oh Haengbok. Perhaps, as Oh Haengun speculated, the fact that this incident erupted because of him made him even angrier.

The next moment, Seo Yun saw Oh Haengbok’s eye light erupt as if bursting forth. It was a sign he was truly enraged.

The warhammer in his hand swung.

It was like thunder striking the Mortal Realm. The sound, the result—it was just like that. Like thunder, there was no time to stop or block it.

Where the thunder struck, only the grotesque remains of Kim Jongil remained, so grotesque that one couldn’t even think it was horrifying.

As everyone averted their eyes, Seo Yun looked at Oh Haengbok. It was shocking. What the hell did that lunatic just do? She had already seen that orc half-kill Park Taeyang, but wasn’t this a step beyond that?

This was the first time she’d seen that orc kill someone on impulse. That was more shocking than the fact Kim Jongil was dead.

Meanwhile, Oh Haengbok still didn’t seem to have calmed down. He spat out words to Oh Haengun.

“This bastard had close associates, right? Where did they go? Did they run from the village?”

“No, they should still be here.”

“Bring them.”

“Why?”

“They need to die too.”

Oh Haengun closed his eyes, then opened them and replied.

“No. The leader is already dead, isn’t that enough?”

“Earlier, I saw many were already dead. Looked like both Players and worthless thugs died. Does it make sense for them to die and the ringleaders to live?”

“Right. I killed several, but I didn’t kill them to punish their crimes. I just attacked because they were shooting at Seo Yun.”

Those words seemed to have the opposite effect.

“What? Who did they shoot at?”

Oh Haengbok turned his head to Seo Yun. He examined her body, then seemed to finally notice the blood on her and the skin bulging out where bullets were embedded inside.

The infrasound in his voice grew even deeper.

“You’re saying they shot at her? After they kidnapped her? Where do they get off shooting at a little runt?”

Then Oh Haengbok muttered that he really should kill them all.

Oh Haengun pleaded.

“No. Really, no…”

“Bring them.”

“If you do that, all the people in this village will die. This village farms and lives by charging farming lights with the souls monsters collect, right? If they’re Kim Jongil’s close associates, they’re the Players who should be collecting those souls…”

“Tell them all to die.”

“No, please.”

Oh Haengbok’s red eye light turned toward Oh Haengun. He snapped.

“Since when did you become so life-respecting that you care about their lives?”

One might have been frightened by that eye light and voice, but Oh Haengun answered in a calm voice.

“Frankly, I don’t care if all the bastards in this village starve to death. They’re not from our village, so why should I care if they freeze or starve?”

“Then why.”

“Still, I don’t want the cause of that mass death to be you, Chief.”

Oh Haengbok looked at Oh Haengun as if asking what he meant.

Oh Haengun stammered an explanation.

“You’ve been doing so well until now. Talking about the sun rising on the world someday? When the world is restored, biographies will be written about how heroically you’ve acted. If others don’t write them, I will… But I can’t stand the idea of a stain on a great man’s record because of unnecessary deaths or whatever.”

“I don’t care.”

“I said no. Hey, hey, guys. See? The Chief is angry. Let him calm down a bit, listen to him later or something, but for now…”

Oh Haengun was about to say something to the Players of Happy Village.

Perhaps intending to strike Oh Haengun for not listening? Oh Haengbok swung his hand.

This time, Seo Yun was watching closely.

Seo Yun jumped in front of Oh Haengun. To minimize the impact, she crossed her arms in front of her and crouched down. She calculated that she could withstand one hit, and seeing her intervene, that orc would stop his fist.

Indeed, Oh Haengbok seemed surprised to see her. However, he couldn’t completely retract his fist.

Finally, a massive fist filled Seo Yun’s vision.

Her vision went dark.

How many minutes had passed?

Regaining consciousness amid terrible pain, Seo Yun saw the expressions of the people looking down at her. They were all looking at her with concern.

Oh Haengbok, who had removed his helm, wore a similar expression. Perhaps the middle-aged woman had finally cast a Calm Spell on him.

Oh Haengbok asked.

“Are you okay?”

Of course she wasn’t okay. Seeing her body intact after being hit by 11 points of Strength, it seemed he had somewhat controlled his power, but it still hurt terribly. It must be like being hit by the tail of a brachiosaurus that was holding back.

It seemed she could provoke guilt by pretending to be in pain now. Seo Yun deliberately grimaced and answered.

“I’m okay. What about Mister Haengun…?”Meanwhile, when she looked at Oh Haengun, the Priest Lady was reciting a healing spell over his collapsed body.

It seemed he only regained enough energy to speak properly after receiving that spell. Oh Haengun clumsily pushed himself up and spoke toward Oh Haengbok.

“I’m… okay too.”

Oh Haengbok tightly shut his eyes.

With a face that was anything but okay, Oh Haengun continued.

“Anyway, don’t touch the others. Let me say it again, it’s not because the lives of the people here are precious, but for the Chief’s sake. It’s also for the sake of the temple serving the Chief…”

“Alright.”

Seeming satisfied at having finally bent his will, Oh Haengun smiled.

Oh Haengbok looked back and forth at the two injured men, then bowed his head.

“I’m truly sorry.”

Only then did Seo Yun inwardly breathe a sigh of relief. Yeah, if it ends with just Kim Jongil dead and two people injured, that’s cheap.

Even in a state of pain that felt like death, she opened her mouth.

“More importantly, there’s something urgent right now.”

Under everyone’s gaze, Seo Yun explained that it seemed Kim Jongil had some kind of plan. She also explained about the abnormal scrolls, which might have been secret weapons.

The Happy Village Players immediately brought the villagers here for interrogation. This kind of question-and-answer ensued.

Are there any more of those supposedly amazing scrolls?

There are no more immediately-activatable, expensive items. Just a few more Fireball Scrolls.

What on earth were you trying to accomplish by doing this?

And a bizarre answer came back.

“To escape to a fantasy world?”

As Oh Haengbok narrowed his eyes, Oh Haengun, having finished his healing, explained. His tone was surprisingly nonchalant, as if the earlier events were a lie.

“To be precise, he planned to escape to the Brittany region of France, I’m told. Apparently, it’s already half become a fantasy world there?”

Listening beside him, even Seo Yun found it absurd. Oh Haengbok also asked in a dumbfounded voice.

“How?”

“By crossing a Dimensional Gate. You remember that Mage Troll, right? Why, Siwoo told us about that guy.”

“I remember. That guy who’s at least Level 15 or higher.”

“He was supposed to come tomorrow and open the Dimensional Gate, they said. He even supplied several scrolls, I’m told. As a condition for crossing over there.”

As if the earlier events were on his mind, Oh Haengbok asked Oh Haengun in a disgruntled voice.

“I might not know much, but isn’t Europe, that place, much colder than the Korean Peninsula right now?”

“Probably, right? According to some Barbarian Warrior, it’s much more of a Hell.”

“Kim Jongil, that guy was insane.”