RE: Player again

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[Chapter 101] [Even If You Mix Blood with Blood (9)]

When the monster wave occurred, Mok Minho's judgment was immediate.

He searched for Choi Gain in the chaotic situation, even abandoning his group members.

Because he had to protect her, the direct descendant of Galaxy Group.

Although she was known as a rogue in the political and financial circles, the fact that she was a direct descendant remained unchanged.

Her very existence could influence Galaxy Group.

"Minho!!"

Fortunately, he was able to find Choi Gain without much difficulty.

It was because Cha Eunwoo, who had been in the same group as her, informed him of her location.

Mok Minho, who advanced against the crowd, first confirmed the safety of the two and called the students under Galaxy Group's protection nearby.

"Eunwoo, are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine. But Gain..."

"What what what. What on earth is this? Why did this suddenly happen? Why are there monsters when we were sleeping well...!!"

Choi Gain was in a panic.

Holding her head with both hands, she couldn't come to her senses even at Eunwoo's comforting words.

However, it wasn't time to wait for her to come to her senses.

Clicking his tongue briefly, Minho decided to take her forcibly if necessary.

"Eunwoo, take good care of her."

"Okay, I will."

It was fortunate that at least Eunwoo hadn't fallen into panic.

It seemed her mental strength had grown due to the incident that occurred last year.

He trusted her with a nod and decided to keep the rear in check with students under Galaxy Group's protection.

...Has the barricade been breached?

At first, they just had to run down following the instructors' directions.

But as time passed, monsters began to chase to the point of entering the edge of the detection network.

Whether the barricade installed at the main gate of Ucheon Middle School had been breached, their numbers gradually increased.

Eventually, starting with fast-footed monsters, some creatures snatched people running at the very back.

From then on, the panic intensified.

Instructors and players turned to block the chasing monsters, and students scattered to somehow survive.

"Get your wits together and gather here! Are you all crazy wanting to die now!?"

If they scatter, they'll die.

Minho raised his voice at the top of his lungs.

Students who usually followed him quickly came to their senses, and the rest somehow managed to grip their minds.

Meanwhile, he who had formed a semblance of a dense formation came up with a plan to escape from the monsters closing in.

There was only one thing he could do.

With his skills, he couldn't save many people.

Abandoning those of lower importance and protecting only those he could protect was all he could do.

...I'm sorry.

That's why he left other students to be attacked by monsters.

While the monsters targeted them, he sought a safe path to Ucheon Elementary School.

Nevertheless, as time passed, the creatures gradually tightened their encirclement.

Eventually, he had no choice but to drive even those following him to death.

"...Please."

""""...."""

Mok Minho asked them with a heart-wrenching feeling.

They said nothing.

They just nodded calmly and jumped to the rear so Mok Minho's group could move forward.

Soon after, the sounds of monsters were heard, and intermittently, their screams were heard.

"Minho..."

"It's okay. Take care of Gain first."

"Okay..."

He forcibly hurried his steps.

It felt like his steps were getting heavier with each step.

Nevertheless, he had to move forward.

He had to protect Choi Gain even if it meant abandoning them.

Even if he didn't like her.

His father, who had contributed to creating the current Galaxy Group, said:

For Galaxy to pass on its power intact to future generations, there must not be a succession war.

In that sense, Choi Gain, born as an illegitimate child and affecting Galaxy Group's reputation, was a person of concern.

Moreover, she was trying to start a succession war, forgetting her place.

His father couldn't have not known why she, without talent, entered the academy.

That's why he entered the academy with Cha Eunwoo to monitor her.

"Kyaaaa─!! Don't come! Don't come! Go that way! You guys! Do something about those things quickly!"

Maybe it would be better if Choi Gain died here.

No, that shouldn't happen.

Although her character was problematic, she was a direct descendant of Galaxy Group.

She had use value, and her death shouldn't create chaos.

Suddenly recalling this disloyal thought, he issued orders to other students to block the rear.

To think I have to protect someone like her...

However, his heart was with those sacrificing themselves to protect the rear.

Is it right to sacrifice them to protect Choi Gain?

Questions flashed by every time he swung his sword.

But it was already a path of no return.

He had already driven many to their deaths.

Therefore, he who gave them orders had to take responsibility for their deaths.

Hesitation was not forgiven.

From now on, he would have to protect Choi Gain so that the students' deaths wouldn't fade.

Also, just as they chose death, he too should be able to give his life for Galaxy Group.

That's how it should be, but—

"G-go away!"

"Kyaaa!"

Monsters jumped out from the bushes.

Choi Gain, startled by the monsters appearing before her eyes, pushed Cha Eunwoo forward in her panic.

While Cha Eunwoo was surrounded by the creatures, Choi Gain fled without looking back.

The creatures began chasing after her.

"...Ugh!"

Mok Minho was at a crossroads.

Dealing with the creatures that appeared in a group, he had to choose one of the two while leaving the front to others.

Save Choi Gain?

Or save Cha Eunwoo?

I have to save Choi Gain.

Eunwoo can probably hold out for a while.

Rational judgment said he should save Choi Gain now.

Although he was upset at Choi Gain discarding Eunwoo like an old shoe after all her devotion, he had to save Choi Gain for the sake of those who had died so far.

Choi Gain was the first priority.

Cha Eunwoo was the second priority.

The answer was clear.

Although the answer was clear, his body was already running towards Cha Eunwoo.

Ugh...!

Surely he would regret making this choice.

He had no face to show the students who had given their lives for Choi Gain.

He would live feeling guilty towards them for the rest of his life.

Therefore, from now on, he would become more ruthless in protecting Choi Gain, whipping himself even more.

"M-Minho..."

"Those with free hands, protect Choi Gain!"

Minho blocked the monster targeting Eunwoo even while allowing his back to the monster he had been facing.

There was a heavy sensation in the claws swung by the large-bodied monster.

Minho felt his feet being pushed back and put strength into his sword.

He couldn't be pushed back like this.

He chose to protect Cha Eunwoo even while abandoning Choi Gain.

If he couldn't block the creature here and Eunwoo got hurt, the choice he made while abandoning his values would be meaningless.

Grrrr

So he must protect Cha Eunwoo even if it means his death.

Minho gritted his teeth while looking up at the claws raised by the bear-like monster.

He couldn't avoid the attack with Eunwoo behind him with a sprained ankle.

There was no choice but to block.

He imbued his blade with internal mana and glared at the claws coming down towards his left eye.

—Alright, I'll give up one eye.

Mok Minho, who made an instantaneous decision, swung his sword towards the creature that showed an opening while swinging its claws.

Just as the creature's claws were about to attack his eye—

—Huh?

It wasn't just the sword that reacted to his mana.

The artifact sticking out from his clothes flashed with light, affected by mana.

The ring threaded on a chain jingled and created a protective magic while rapidly cooling the surrounding temperature.

The dome-shaped barrier instantly froze the claws falling from above and froze more than half of the creature's body in an instant.

Mok Minho, momentarily surprised, instinctively swung his sword next.

☆

Ah, so this is where I die.

She sensed death.

When Choi Gain pushed her, Cha Eunwoo gave up her remaining life.

Many had died.

She had watched as Minho forced sacrifices on students to protect Gain.

Although all human lives should be equal, she, like Minho had done, prioritized Choi Gain's life for Galaxy Group.

While repeating that it was unavoidable, she could never forget those who looked at her with resentful eyes.

That's why she thought her death would be no different from theirs.

She didn't want to die, but she also didn't want to make the deaths of the students she had ignored meaningless.

I'm fine.

Minho, please take care of Gain.

Just as the monster was about to swing its claws, she saw hesitation cloud Minho's face as he faced the monsters.

Reading his hesitation, she was inwardly happy but gently shook her head.

Because she could guess what choice Minho, who had forced sacrifices on other students, would make.

So she closed her eyes with a faint smile so he wouldn't hesitate.

"—M-Minho, you...!?"

However, her expectation was off the mark.

Minho, who should have run to save Choi Gain, ran to protect her even while allowing his back to the monsters he had been facing.

It wasn't the Mok Minho she knew.

It made her happy but also brought tears to her eyes.

"A-are you hurt anywhere!?"

"...I'm fine. What about you, Cha Eunwoo? Are you hurt anywhere? I'll go bring Gain for now."

She was Mok Minho's childhood friend.

She couldn't not know his beliefs.

Raised under a strict father, he adhered to rules and had a strong sense of responsibility.

Yet such a person ran to protect her while breaking his beliefs instead of protecting Choi Gain.

Surely he must have had all sorts of thoughts while running to her.

I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.

That made her sorry and grateful.

On the other hand, she had no face to show the students who died for them.

Moreover, if Minho had gotten hurt to protect her—

—I wouldn't have had the face to see Minho.

If he who saved her even while breaking his beliefs had gotten hurt, she would have lived with guilt for the rest of her life.

If that wound had been an unhealable one, they might not have been able to continue their current relationship.

That's why she was relieved.

That Minho had no wounds.

"I'll... become stronger from now on."

Eunwoo tightly clasped her hands gathered in front of her chest while watching Mok Minho go to save Choi Gain.

She can't be this weak.

Because she was weak, Minho ended up breaking his beliefs.

So that she won't need his help in the future.

She also firmly resolved while recalling those she had turned away from.

On the other hand—

—Will Gain apologize to me?

She soon shook her head.

Choi Gain probably wouldn't know what she had done, nor would she be grateful to those who sacrificed for her.

The seed of doubt Eunha had planted was steadily growing in her heart.

☆

The situation was gradually entering a lull.

Eunha, judging that he could no longer move actively, put the ghost spider's spinneret in his bag.

Uncle Bruno will take care of this.

When the situation settles, people will probably collect the students' corpses.

The threads attached to the students' bodies might be discovered then.

To prepare for this, Eunha asked Bruno in advance to eliminate the ghost spider as soon as lunch was over today.

When the creature confined in the red dungeon disappears from this world, the artifact and spider webs will cleanly disappear.

It could be called destruction of evidence.

I wonder what happened to Mok Minho.

Then Eunha recalled Mok Minho.

He had grasped Parang and Minji's situation.

Parang, transformed into a Blade Wolf, had already rescued Minji and run into Ucheon Elementary School.

There was a situation where players pointed swords at him on the way, but Minji riding on his back explained and they were able to safely head to the gathering point.

However, Mok Minho and Cha Eunwoo were not seen.

They must still be somewhere in the forest.

They'll manage on their own.

It doesn't matter what happens to Mok Minho, but I hope Cha Eunwoo doesn't die.

Talents who could use healing magic were extremely rare.

Because healing magic itself was so difficult, most supporters started their education from middle school academy.

Students who entered from high school academy tended not to achieve much even if they applied for the supporter division.

Moreover, Eunwoo even had a Gift related to healing ability.

With Lee Yujung not at the academy now, she was a talent that must be recruited unconditionally.

In that sense, Iriya was amazing.

Recalling Iriya who activated "Blessing" to save numerous people before the regression, he soon manifested his internal mana.

A strong wind was blowing.

Hidden by the sound of rustling leaves, something was approaching him.

I thought it would end quietly...

Eunha frowned.

Among the monsters that appeared from the monster wave, there were three high-tier monsters.

Two 5th tier monsters and one 5th tier over-rank monster that appeared in this life.

Among them, the one that appeared at Ucheon Middle School was just subjugated, and the other 5th tier monster was in the process of being subjugated.

But it seemed the players ultimately failed to block the 5th tier over-rank monster.

Or they let it slip.

Thud

The creature suddenly fell from the sky with a thud.

A demon with pointed ears.

The demon covered in splotches of blood cried "keeruru" while shining the two jewels embedded in its face.

Although bipedal, it sat on the ground like a beast and swung its long tail back and forth.

"To let such a creature slip..."

A demon that bewitches people.

He showed no sign of fear even when facing a creature with a cruel and ferocious nature.

Although he acted strong on the outside, he couldn't not know that the creature had lost quite a bit of strength from battling players.

"Still, I'm grateful."

—I should take the final blow.

Eunha raised the corners of his mouth.