Chapter 374

"Ragi-hyung, what brought you here?"

After the two Holy Mother statues were completely smashed, Jung Garam approached Woo Ragi, who recalled his echoblades.

He responded, with a blunt expression, "What do you mean, 'What brought me here?' I came because you two were being clumsy."

"Oh come on~ Hyung! Didn't you see my amazing moves earlier?"

"Also, I'm here to keep an eye out to make sure you're not doing anything stupid."

"Stupid?!"

"You guys were about to go that way, right?" Woo Ragi pointed to a direction with his chin.

Bang Eunji tilted her head, "That's the direction Eunji's Chaser pinpointed."

"I know. But that's wrong. Lee Seolhwa laid a trap that way."

"There's no way... Eunji's intuition has never been wrong."

As someone with such pride in her abilities, Bang Eunji couldn't easily understand. However, Woo Ragi explained bluntly and calmly, "Do you remember Seo Dawon's Dungeon plan?"

"Yes."

"Then, you can think of it like this: Lee Seolhwa carried out that plan first."

"By herself?"

"Hers is more sloppy than our plan. However, the other rankers made up for the imperfections in her design."

"Which other Rankers can make something at this large a scale?"

"Moon Issak. Just look at those Holy Mother Statue bastards-it's clearly him. You can see how he influenced the design."

As soon as Moon Issak's name was uttered, the three of them hardened their expressions.

However, soon Jung Garam said, "So, you're saying we can't let ourselves dither around here?"

"That's right. And we need to grab that punk Lee Seolhwa. She's probably hiding like a rat somewhere within this mansion."

"......" Bang Eunji nodded. "You're saying that she's tricking me as someone might do so 'within a dungeon'?"

"It's similar to that."

"Understood. Eunji will also try to approach cautiously."

Woo Ragi shook his head at that statement, "No, wait a minute. Kyung-sik-ie is penetrating through the maze-literally, physically breaking it."

Therefore, the three focused on understanding the area's structure and waited patiently. Suddenly, Bang Eunji piped up, "Then, is Moon Issak not here right now?"

"I don't know."

"He's probably nowhere near here. Ham-Lee-kyung isn't here after all." With that said, Jung Garam threw his dagger into the air and looked at Woo Ragi, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

"What's going to happen when Moon Issak appears in front of Dawon-hyung."

Woo Ragi, who had been standing with his arms folded across his chest, raised his eyebrow at the unexpected question. However, when he saw Jung Garam's excited expression, he replied coolly, "Seo Dawon will probably handle him."

Bang Eunji seemed interested in that question as well. Her cheeks flushed red as her eyes shone in anticipation. "It'll be no joke... Haha. Eunji wants to see the guildmaster's violent side with her own eyes."

Woo Ragi looked at her as if he couldn't understand, "Are you out of your mind? He always acts like a dick."

"But... Eunji wonders if he's restraining himself because Ham Lee-kyung is around."

"Haah..."

"You also want to see him when he's being completely devilish, don't you?"

Woo Ragi, who was looking at Bang Eunji as if she were a sasaeng fan 1, sighed and shook his head. "If Seo Dawon goes wild, it'll be Choi Lee-kyung who'll be in danger, not Moon Issak."

"That's true. Ham Lee-kyung... Is a bit clueless, right? He probably doesn't even know that Dawon-ie hyung is a bit out of his mind right now," Jung Garam quipped.

"But, rather than Ham Lee-kyung being the problem... Guildmaster-nim acts sane only in front of Ham Lee-kyung."

The three fell silent for a moment, reaching a strange consensus. They soon raised their heads simultaneously.

"Hyung, was that...?"

"Yeah. it's the signal."

"Great."

Afterwards, the three started to speed up, running in the same direction as if they had coordinated their movements.

* * *

Moon Issak stood in front of me, clad in a black priest robe; he was less than ten steps away. Looking at his neatly combed black hair and his glasses that were so transparent it seemed to lack lenses. I recalled the first time I encountered him.

However, there was a definite difference from that time.

His snake-like gaze.

I grit my teeth as soon as I saw Moon Issak scanning me with his eyes.

Slither-!

Koo Hui-seo's tentacles moved to block the space between me and the investigator. I gripped Koo Hui-seo's shoulder and held him back. "Don't overdo it."

"......" Koo Hui-seo broke out in a cold sweat as he glared at Moon Issak. The same was true for Lackey. Startlingly, Lackey broke off one of his ribs and held it firmly in his hand instead of his bladeless sword. I was surprised at his appearance, but Koo Hui-seo and Lackey only continued to stare at Moon Issak and didn't look back at me.

Receiving their hostility and bloodthirst head-on, Moon Issak ignored their determined poses and kept looking at me. But, when I didn't open my mouth, he smiled and said, "I'm here to talk to you a bit. It's not a bad offer either."

"Shut up," It's not that I didn't have anything to say-As soon as I faced him, I had to hold my left hand firmly with my right, because it was painfully and wildly twitching.

I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping to look natural with my movements; I didn't want Moon Issak to see I was still suffering from trauma from when we last met.

That bastard sighed when he saw that. "What are you even going to do if I were to join hands with Bae Jaemin?"

"......"

"Do you think you would be able to comfortably walk around after turning the investigative agencies into your enemy?"

"......"

"It would be foolish to turn me away and make me into an enemy, Choi Lee-kyung."

In the end, subtle threats dripped out of his lips.

'As expected... This bastard is looking down on me.'

Just as I was about to shoot back a reply, hoping to mar his smug attitude, Moon Issak suddenly raised his hands and blocked something.

That something was Koo Hui-seo's tentacle. I was surprised at the speed-I didn't even realize the man had attacked-and turned around to look at the ex-chimera; Koo Hui-seo's gaze was still focused on Moon Issak. He was biting on his fingertips-enough for them to bleed-while mumbling almost incoherently, "Diediediediediediediediediedie..."

Goosebumps rose all over my skin at the barely audible curses, but I liked how he had shut Moon Issak up. In the meantime, I quickly ordered, "Lackey! Don't go easy on him and attack!"

[Clack Clack!]

[Yes, Master!]

To be honest, I didn't think that Lackey's attack would be effective. However, because Seo Dawon was currently in combat with Sung Yi-hwan, I had to buy some time. Therefore, I activated another class skill. "[Eternal Night]!"

As I shouted, the temperature inside the building drastically dropped. It felt as if the desolate night air of the desert was blowing inside. As soon as the skill activated, Lackey's entire body started to glow softly, as if bathed in moonlight.

Crash-!

Lackey struck Moon Issak's arms with his new rib-blade sword. Surprsingly, though, Koo Hui-seo managed to be agile enough to wrap a tentacle around Moon Issak's legs, hindering his ability to dodge.

Unfortunately, Moon Issak's [shield] activated, and Lackey's attack failed to hit; however, the man's movements became sluggish as Koo Hui-seo's tentacles interfered with his movements.

"......." Eventually, Moon Issak wrinkled his brows and drew a holy sign in front of his body with his fingers. Ominous light oozed from his shoulders.

"Nnngh!" Koo Hui-seo was hit first by the seeping light. He spat out red blood from his mouth without any chance for me to assist him. Looking closer, the tentacles that were touching Moon Issak had withered and dried up like a mummy.

In addition, as soon as Moon Issak neutralized Koo Hui-seo, he punched at Lackey.

"Lackey!"

Fwip-!

Fortunately, the attack did not land as Lackey narrowly dodged. However, Lackey was unable to move closer after it landed, as if it couldn't find an opportunity to jump closer.

In the meantime, the halo behind Moon Issak's head became more intense; I couldn't open my eyes.

'At this rate...'

"I didn't want to do anything extreme, but..."

I heard a pretentious voice, and I could see Moon Issak reach out to me out of the corners of my eyes. I opened my mouth, intending to use [possession].

At that moment-

[Grrr..... Gr....]

I suddenly smelled the iron-y scent of blood; soon, a huge giant appeared, blocking the way between Moon Issak and I.

Startled, I looked ahead to see an unexpectedly headless wolf standing there. Red blood gushed from the neck's cross-section, as if the head had just been severed.

"S-Sung Yihwan?" I murmured, absentmindedly. I just couldn't comprehend the turn of events.

Then, someone spoke from behind me.

"Moon Issak."

The laid-back, casual voice was definitely from Seo Dawon, but, when I looked back reflexively, I couldn't exactly welcome Mage's return.

After all, he held the head of the 'still alive' Sung Yi-hwan-complete with a grotesque expression-in one hand. Sung Yi-hwan looked at his body in terror; his lips had turned pale and blue.

[Save.... Me....]

His lips were clearly begging for dear life.

Become a member!

TL: That feel when all the Red Lotus guild members are like: "Wow, Seo Dawon, what a violent jerk. He's a lunatic"

and Lee-kyung is like "Wow, Seo Dawon, what a sensitive sweet bbygurl. I worry for his body even though he's immortal and undead."

But I guess Eunji's going to get her wish soon.