RE: Player again

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[Chapter 092] [Evil for Evil (9)]

The Queen of Hearts' Declaration deployed by Jung Ha-yang was magic that blocked monsters' approach while also reflecting some of their attacks.

However, the monsters didn't give up. Their numbers only increased as time passed, and they recklessly threw their bodies against the barrier.

That's how appetizing the students' mana inside the barrier was to them.

"Seo-na, what did they say about the instructors? Are they still on their way?" "They said to wait just a little longer. The Telepath unni said they're not far now." "...I see."

The situation wasn't hopeless.

But it wasn't hopeful either.

They had to face the monsters trying to break through the Queen of Hearts' Declaration until the instructors and Players arrived.

Ha-yang's mana wasn't infinite, and they needed to lighten her burden even a little.

That's why Eun-hyeok drank the potion Ha-yang brought.

To prepare for the next battle.

"Are you okay?" "I'm fine. How about you, Min-ho?" "I can still manage."

"Manage... Just stay still. I can't treat you like this."

Meanwhile, Min-ho was walking over supported by Eun-woo.

Currently the students were keeping the monsters outside the barrier in check.

Among them, Eun-hyeok and Min-ho's role was to face monsters the students couldn't handle.

In the process, Min-ho injured his shoulder in the previous battle.

Fortunately it wasn't a serious injury, but he needed to rest and recover.

However, he didn't take care of himself. Even though Cha Eun-woo made a sullen face, he didn't let go of his sword.

"You really don't listen to me at all... Don't get hurt, okay? If you get hurt again Min-ho, I'll get angry. Got it?"

"Got it. I won't make you angry."

Cha Eun-woo looking up with a desperate face while grabbing his arm.

Min-ho promised while lowering her hand.

If Seo-na's role was Telepath, Eun-woo's current role was Supporter.

She needed to treat injured students inside the barrier and comfort the students.

"Seo-na, I'm going now too." "Eun-hyeok." "Yeah. What?" "Don't get hurt either."

"...Okay, you be careful too."

Like that, Min-ho was approaching.

Eun-hyeok who waved to Seo-na soon walked alongside him staring straight ahead.

The monster that injured Min-ho's shoulder earlier was still causing trouble outside the barrier.

It was very cunning.

Unlike the monsters ramming their bodies into the barrier, it threw everything visible at the barrier.

Moreover, from a distance where the Queen of Hearts' Declaration's effect didn't reach.

As a result, the barrier that received physical impacts was shaking.

Not only did Ha-yang's burden increase, but the students became anxious again.

Furthermore, it had been throwing Slayers' corpses since earlier, lowering the students' morale.

"Choi Eun-hyeok, what tier do you think that thing is?"

"I don't know either. At least 8th tier... maybe 6th tier?"

A giant as if molded from earth.

It boasted attack power that could easily carry boulders and defense that swords couldn't properly penetrate, and was sneering.

As if it wanted to quickly kill the two who escaped earlier.

"It's humiliating to say, but my attacks didn't work on it. Conversely, your attacks did work. So Choi Eun-hyeok, you need to kill it."

"...Alright. Then I'll leave covering to you."

"Leave it to me."

The two divided roles.

Min-ho would keep the slow-moving creature in check, while Eun-hyeok would kill it.

The two manifested their internal mana.

Mana surging from their pounding hearts enveloped their arms and legs, enhancing their physical abilities.

At the same time, the creature let out an incomprehensible cry.

As if saying come at me.

It bared its features like a hollow tree trunk riddled with holes and swung its fist at Min-ho charging in.

"...Kuk...!"

Just before the fierce wind struck his forehead.

Min-ho gritted his teeth and avoided the fist by sliding.

I won't fall for it twice.

He had been hit by its attack earlier too.

That's why he committed the reckless act of jumping into its embrace, taking the risk instead of leaping up.

Sure enough.

It was swinging its other fist in the air.

If he had jumped into the air, he surely would have been hit by the other fist while avoiding the first one.

Mana Crasher

And right at that moment.

Eun-hyeok who knew it would be momentarily defenseless after swinging its fists charged in.

The sword strike imbued with mana cut the monster's neck.

The startled creature swung both hands.

That exposed its weakness even more.

The power of its fists absolutely couldn't be ignored, but it was fine as long as they weren't hit.

The two pressured it while retreating, as it flailed its fists in confusion.

While Min-ho drew its gaze, Eun-hyeok endlessly swung his sword.

Mana Crasher

Mana Crasher

Suddenly Eun-hyeok was captivated by a strange feeling every time he swung his sword.

Without needing to think in his head.

Without needing to imagine the image.

The providence called Mana Crasher was melting in as if it had put on perfectly fitting clothes at some point.

If I just do a little more...

No, if I do it like this...

His whole body, his senses were telling him.

This is how to swing a sword.

Move like this at times like these.

It was an extremely strange sensation.

When he entrusted his body to his senses' guidance, his body displayed movements he had never done before as if they had been familiar from the start.

But those were just extensions of movements he had trained since childhood.

Movements that were fragmentary connected lines to create one style.

His body that had remembered over years was unconsciously displaying movements his head couldn't think of.

Huh?

Was there such a thing?

Then he discovered a swirl of light circling the creature's side.

Though the sky was so dark.

Why had he only discovered that light now?

Though he didn't know, he knew.

Though he couldn't understand, he understood.

Where the swirl of light circled was the creature's weak point.

His body that discovered the light leapt into the creature's embrace without hesitation.

His body moved so naturally.

As if recalling something forgotten.

Mana Crasher

Eun-hyeok cut the swirl of light with his sword.

The swirl of light was split exactly in half.

At that instant, the creature collapsed its huge body and vanished.

Before he knew it, only a mana stone had fallen to the ground.

"Choi Eun-hyeok, you..."

"...Huh?"

The mana stone that bumped against the tip of his shoe.

Eun-hyeok who was looking down at that discovered Min-ho blankly staring at him.

Soon Eun-hyeok who recalled what he had done unconsciously was also dazed.

Still, he desperately tried to remember the sensation ingrained in his body.

"...Mana is..."

"Idiot."

Then he realized his internal mana had hit rock bottom.

He had poured out almost all his remaining mana to defeat that creature just now.

If Min-ho hadn't quickly run over, he would have collapsed to the ground.

"...My body won't... listen..."

"Rest. Don't worry, the instructors are here too."

Eun-hyeok lost consciousness and fell asleep.

Min-ho who endured the pain his shoulder was complaining about carried him on his back.

Just then, the instructors and Players were arriving.

Cheers from students could be heard in the distance.

"This guy... even though he lost consciousness, he still won't let go of his sword until the end."

Min-ho looked back at Eun-hyeok who wouldn't let go of his sword and chuckled.

He was stubborn.

With a strong sense of responsibility.

And he didn't dislike people like that.

☆

The instructors and Players arrived.

The situation reversed.

The Players tracked the fleeing Slayers and slaughtered the rushing monsters.

"Everyone come this way!"

"We're leaving the forest now!"

Nevertheless, distortions didn't stop, and monsters kept rushing in endlessly.

As if all the monsters inhabiting Seoraksan were rushing in.

Howls and screams continued from the direction the Slayers fled.

Monsters were swarming even within visible distance.

The ones targeting the Slayers wouldn't attack the students right away, but before long the same calamity would befall the students too.

So the instructors who had been preparing the path until now hurriedly tried to leave with the students.

"Jung Ha-yang, you know well that you violated instructions, right?" "...I'm sorry." "Know you'll be punished when we get back."

Meanwhile, the instructors scolded Jung Ha-yang.

Though she protected the students from monsters, she was still clearly a student who needed to act on the instructors' instructions.

Especially her instructor in charge was quite angry.

Credit was credit, but punishment was punishment.

If they couldn't distinguish that, the academy would lose its meaning as an institution for teaching students.

"...Still, you did well."

But the Class 5 instructor also told her those words before turning his back.

Though her actions were reckless, as an instructor teaching her, he was proud of his disciple.

"...Yes."

"But did you really come alone? Did no other kids come?"

"...No, they didn't come."

"Hmm..."

Then a question striking in.

Ha-yang who had momentarily relaxed her tension quickly raised her head and trailed off.

After that, the Class 5 instructor didn't bring up any other topics.

Just that he was relieved to hear Jin Parang was safe.

Eun-ha, are you okay?

Before she knew it, the monsters' aura was growing distant.

The students had almost escaped from the Slayers' village.

Ha-yang who was walking through the forest blocking the moonlight soon turned back and worried about Eun-ha.

She couldn't detect Eun-ha's aura because the monsters' auras were so ominous.

Moreover, the distance was far too.

So she could only pray.

That Eun-ha wasn't hurt.

☆

[...ve me.]

At that time.

Su-bin who was walking on a path where her feet weren't visible suddenly stopped at a sound ringing in her head.

Did I hear wrong?

She thought that for a moment.

[...Save me.]

The telepathy of someone hoping for life flashed through her mind.

She got goosebumps for a moment because the unfamiliar voice rang as if whispering in her ear.

She would sometimes be startled when Seo-na or Parang sent telepathy too.

But she felt uncomfortable having someone she didn't know, whose identity she didn't know, send telepathy like this without her allowing it.

Setting aside the content of the telepathy.

Where is it?

She looked around.

The students were moving forward.

It seemed she was the only one who heard the telepathy.

[If you can hear my voice...] [Please...]

A desperate plea.

That's why she couldn't just ignore the telepathy.

She knew well it was dangerous.

Nevertheless, she couldn't turn away from someone crying out for help so desperately and earnestly.

It felt like they weren't far away.

When she deployed detection nets again, no monster presences were detected.

She turned her steps in the direction where the telepathy was coming more clearly.

And what she encountered was─

"─......"

A rabbit-type Telepath collapsed on the ground dyed bright red, blood gushing from her torn side.

Su-bin knew who she was.

The Telepath who had watched giggling when Jin Parang fell off the cliff.

One of the Slayers who endlessly tormented them trapped in cages.

[...ve me.]

The positions of strong and weak reversed.

She who was once in the position of the strong was now begging Su-bin to save her, unable to even move her body.

"...Save you?"

An incredulous question.

Su-bin who was once in the position of the weak looked down at her and asked back.

She didn't answer.

Sparks repeatedly flowed between her rabbit ears, but couldn't continue for long.

"Why should I...?"

Su-bin felt passionate emotions boiling up in her chest.

An uncontrollable fire spread through her whole body, making her clench her fists.

[...Save me.]

The telepathy was heard again.

A voice that somehow made her feel like she should.

But Su-bin didn't feel the slightest desire to do so.

If she were human, surely she wouldn't be able to ignore someone dying before her eyes.

Because humans are creatures who don't want to commit sins 'with their own hands'.

So if she didn't want to save a dying enemy before her eyes, it was enough to just quietly watch her die or turn away and disappear like this. Or curse at the dying woman.

"...Why should I?"

But Su-bin picked up the knife fallen on the ground.

She straddled the rabbit-type Ein who was taller than her.

Then she raised the knife held in both hands above her head.

[...ve me.]

The rabbit-type Ein's pupils shook.

Su-bin froze looking down at the rabbit hoping for life in the face of death.

She was a living being.

And a human.

The shaking pupils were conveying.

Please save me.

I don't want to die.

The moment she faced that, she realized she was about to end one life now.

So what.

Su-bin impulsively stabbed down.

Bae Su-bin who had practiced killing monsters many times at the academy stabbed her chest without wavering.

A cracking sound was heard.

At the same time, dark red blood spurted up.

That blood splattered on Su-bin's face and glasses.

She was looking up at Su-bin as if unable to believe what was happening now.

Shuk

She pulled out the knife stabbed in her chest.

Blood gushed like a fountain from the wound site and fell on Su-bin's head.

But Su-bin stabbed her chest area again with all her might.

The sensation of stabbing something heavy.

A cracking sound was heard.

That sound rang clearly as if echoing in her ears.

Before she knew it, her hand holding the knife was dyed bright red with blood.

[......]

Her squirming transmitted as if traveling along the blade.

She got goosebumps at the sensation like holding dozens of worms that seemed impossible to grasp in one hand.

So what.

But Su-bin squeezed to death the worms squirming in her hand just like that.

Then her mind calmed.

This time she stabbed the rabbit-type Ein's heart with the knife she pulled up.

The sensation of the rabbit-type Ein struggling to live transmitted through the knife gradually lost strength and disappeared.

The rabbit-type Ein died.

The person who looked down on them so much.

The person who watched others die while giggling.

By her own hands.

Died so easily.

"─What. It's no big deal?"

At that moment, she realized.

That no matter how strong a person is, once their heart is pierced by a knife, that's the end.

An obvious fact if obvious.

But now her body knew the fact she had only known in her head until now.

Above all, she realized.

The sensation of becoming an omniscient god and destroying a life someone had painstakingly built up.

It was ecstasy.

It was pleasure.

The vitality felt in her hand awakened a sense of fulfillment that she was alive, and the sensation of that vitality faintly disappearing brought thirst.

Why hadn't she felt it before?

That life dies so easily.

That the act of killing proves you yourself are alive.

"...What?"

She was intoxicated with joy like that.

Then she belatedly discovered monsters gradually closing the

And then she belatedly discovered the monsters closing in on her.

8th tier monsters that form a group.

Soobin, whose face was covered in blood, looked at the drool-dripping guys with indifference.

If it were before, I would have trembled in front of those guys.

But not now.

Just die quickly.

She relived the sensation of life disappearing from her hands again and again.

That memory influenced her image.

Simple yet intuitive words gave more flesh to the image.

The mana in his body, which had been bubbling with excitement, reacted actively to her image.

And the image combined with mana interfered with the providence of the world.

“Hehehe… .”

Bae Soo-bin hugged himself and laughed.

The monsters that had been in the position of predators now realized that they were in the position of prey.

Soobin found it so funny how the guys backed away.

I felt thirsty there.

I wanted to hear them scream as they were unilaterally massacred.

That intense feeling moved the magic that unfolded unconsciously.

Eight blades rose from her back and pierced the men.

They cried out in a breaking sound.

Bae Soo-bin looked up at the guys floating in the sky with their skewers stuck in them, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

Like an evil witch.

Like a brutal murderer.