“This ti, I pushed myself to the brink for you, so make sure to do your part, alright? I’m counting on you.”
*[Hehehe, just leave it to .]*
“Yeah, yeah.”
The seductive voice of Dark Ganph echoed in my ear through the magical gear. Honestly, it was sothing I could have handled on my own, but after what had just happened, I felt a pang of indignation. Driven by sheer stubbornness, I was determined to squeeze every last ounce of usefulness out of Reyna.
That said, was she really capable of sniping from the Songdo penthouse? I’d been planning to et Yoo Jin-seok as close to Songdo as possible, but forget it. First things first: I needed to act. My main goal was to drive Yoo Jin-seok away.
“If Yoo Jin-seok’s on the move, he should be around Yeonsu-dong by now.”
The realization hit instantly. Sure enough, I could sense him there. To withstand the corrupted mana of the erosion zone, he was releasing an overwhelming aura of mana, cleansing his surroundings.
It was unmistakably him—the kind of intense mana wave that scread *Yoo Jin-seok.* As a forr Sword Saint, his body housed vast reserves of mana, enough to qualify him to wield the Holy Sword. He used that power to purify the corrupted mana around him.
Of course, this purification didn’t extend across an unlimited area. It was localized, just enough for him to move forward. Other hunters worked similarly, but Yoo Jin-seok’s righteous and potent mana allowed for broader purification. Even so, there were limits—it wasn’t permanent, nor could it expand indefinitely.
He probably thought tracking down Baekhwa wouldn’t be too difficult. Too bad for him, my approach to mana—turning it into mana stones for an economy of creation—was entirely different from his purification thod.
“I doubt he’ll find easily. Should we just call it a day and go on a date instead?”
A familiar voice chid in from a nearby building. It was Firebat, Kim Ji-hye.
Only Kim Ji-hye would shalessly try to lure Yoo Jin-seok into a date while on a mission. If she kept this up, she was destined to be single forever.
“Ji-hye, focus on the task. All you ever think about is slacking off. Is your head even screwed on right?”
“Do you really need to bring up my age for this?”
How old could she even be?
“Anyway, the Hunter Association’s image is at stake here, and I’m personally curious. Just how impressive is this Baekhwa woman?”
“Oh, do you like her?”
Even now, Kim Ji-hye brandished her flaming bat, trying to intimidate him subtly. Jealousy was one thing, but her antics were why Yoo Jin-seok didn’t like her. Anyone dating or marrying her would live in constant fear of that bat coming down on them for the slightest infraction.
“That’s not the point. We’ve been to the Quarantine Zone plenty of tis before, but we’ve never seen a strong individual like Baekhwa.”
“True.”
Yoo Jin-seok had hit a nerve. In the previous story, even after barriers were set up, villains thrived in the Quarantine Zones. Back then, the governnt’s policy under Ha Jeong-seok was to abandon heavily corrupted areas, which naturally allowed more monstrous villains to erge.
“Maybe the dynamics in the Quarantine Zones have changed since we’ve been away.”
“Like new kinds of monsters?”
“Exactly. Honestly, I suspect Baekhwa might be one of them. Others might not sense it, but the techniques she uses reek of malice.”
As expected of a Sword Saint. Still, *malice?* Co on. Sure, I took down villains, but that was justice. I just happened to enjoy it while I was at it.
“So?”
“She seems to enjoy killing, not out of justice, but for the thrill. That ans it’s possible Baekhwa is a monster herself.”
Nice, brother. You’ve got figured out.
“Does that an she’s soone we shouldn’t bother saving? Can I just bash her head in with my bat?”
Kim Ji-hye’s infamous bat-smashing tendencies had been well-known since the previous story.
“That’s one way to see it, but not all monsters are inherently evil. That’s why I agreed to bring her in—I want to see for myself.”
“Well, I guess we have no choice.”
Even years after the original story, Yoo Jin-seok was still the quintessential protagonist. Whether Baekhwa was a monster or not, he believed in eting her first. If she stood for justice, he’d aim for compromise. Knowing him, he wouldn’t take Ha Jeong-seok’s words at face value. Yoo Jin-seok would either verify Baekhwa’s ideals himself or strike a deal that wouldn’t tarnish the Hunter Association’s image.
Too bad for him, I had no intention of eting.
Talking was one thing, but with Kim Ji-hye—a reckless firebat—around, it was a different story. She was impossible to control, even for Yoo Jin-seok. As a forr instructor, she had zero qualifications to lead, and I wasn’t joking.
Kim Ji-hye’s style, unlike the novels, made her unworthy of the protagonist’s favor in real life. Calling her a heroine was an insult.
Alright, ti to start my broadcast.
They probably knew I was here by now. I was already within Yoo Jin-seok’s purification zone. No way they didn’t notice. The recent silence was telling.
Kim Ji-hye likely realized it too. Ti for a little performance.
“Hello, everyone! This is Baekhwa from *BaekhwaTV!*”
I flashed a broad grin, waving at the cara, though my mask hid my face. The viewers greeted with enthusiasm.
- *Baekhwa!*
- *Why’ve you been gone so long? I nearly suffocated holding my breath.*
- *S-class breath-holding skills, lol.*
- *Why’s it so quiet today?*
The villains of Yeonsu-dong had either been dealt with or accepted as residents of Songdo. The area was now just a mana-laden erosion zone.
“Today’s content is a little stroll through the Quarantine Zone! I bet you’re curious, right?”
- *Oh yeah, I’ve always wanted to see that.*
- *For real, we’ve only ever seen you beat up villains. Show us the interesting stuff already.*
The Quarantine Zones beyond the barrier were mysterious spaces, even for hunters.
“Here we are—this is Yeonsu-dong!”
- *Whoa, it’s completely wrecked.*
- *Exploring ruins like that would be fun.*
In my previous life as an office worker, there was no such thing as apocalyptic zones. This world’s erosion zones were a place of despair and hopelessness.
“Occasionally, you might run into monsters, so this isn’t for ordinary people, okay?”
I wagged my finger at the drone, mimicking a warning to children not to play with dangerous things. The chat exploded with mockery.
- *Restricting the stream to hunters and talking nonsense, lol.*
- *For real, hahaha.*
“Alright, today’s content is practically a horror experience. For instance…”
“Baekhwa, right?”
There it was—a rude interruption.
- *What? A special guest?*
- *Doesn’t seem like soone Baekhwa knows. Villain?*
Not a villain. Even with a hood, it was obvious who they were.
“Haha, you really think that’ll hide you? Yoo Jin-seok, Kim Ji-hye.”
“As expected, you’re no ordinary person.”
Ordinary, my ass. Anyone could recognize that face under the hood if they were close enough.
“We’re not here to fight. We just want you to join Seoul, along with the survivors.”
“Survivors? Baekhwa doesn’t know anything about that~”
“Oh, you cheeky little brat. Just co with us while I’m asking nicely.”
Kim Ji-hye’s bat was already afla.
The chat went wild:
- *Is this real? Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye?*
- *So the rumors about the Association looking for Baekhwa were true.*
- *What’s Baekhwa going to say?*
A response? There was only one thing to say.
“Fuck you.”
I raised my middle finger.
At that mont, Dark Ganph’s corruption arrow struck the ground between and Yoo Jin-seok’s group.
*Boom!*
And thus began the legendary ga of tag between Baekhwa, the SS-rank villain, and humanity’s strongest.
***
The Chase with Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye
Boom!
While Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye, playing the roles of police, chased , the thief, Dark Ganph’s corruption arrows proved to be a reliable ally. In fact, the arrows launched from the Songdo penthouse to Yeonsu-dong were less like arrows and more akin to missiles.
Wherever they struck, corrupted mana exploded outward, obstructing visibility. Every ti Yoo Jin-seok got close to catching up, the arrows would rain down, perfectly tid to disrupt him again.
"Where the hell are these attacks coming from? Should I destroy them?"
"Don’t. It’s clear Baekhwa has a formidable monster ally. That increases the likelihood that Baekhwa herself is a monster."
"These arrows are nothing. Should we try to track their origin?"
I could hear Yoo Jin-seok and Kim Ji-hye muttering behind . If they gave up chasing and focused on locating Dark Ganph, it wouldn’t take them long. However, even Yoo Jin-seok’s purification couldn’t dispel the corrupted mana shrouding this city. If they targeted Reyna instead of , things would be over.
"No, I can tell the direction they’re coming from, but I can’t determine the exact location or distance."
"You can’t figure it out either?"
"That just ans this monster must be using a mythic-level weapon."
Do they really have ti to chat like this? Maybe I should provoke them a bit.
"You sure you have ti to stand around talking?"
"That damn brat! When I catch her, I’m shoving this flaming bat right into her mouth!"
"Uh-huh. If you can’t catch , what’s the point? Dimwitted, single, and bitter—sounds about right."
"That’s it. I can’t take it anymore. I’m killing her! Calling single in my mid-twenties—how dare she?"
For soone her age, it’s pitiful how easily she rises to the bait. I could use her simple-minded nature to my advantage.
Wait, Baekhwa has another ally besides the X-slave?
Who’s this ally? The arrow attacks are insane.
Guys, forget that! Every ti those arrows explode, mana spreads everywhere. Baekhwa’s ally is definitely a monster.
So does that an Baekhwa is also…?
It’s getting harder to mislead the audience. Maybe it’s ti for a little reveal.
"Fufu! If you’re curious about my identity, I’ll indulge you. I’m the 17-year-old Dark Saint, awakened with an SS-rank core!"
Damn, she really is a monster.
So she’s a villain? A villain!
Doesn’t she feel embarrassed calling herself the Dark Saint?
"Not all monsters are terrible, though. Where else would you find a monster as cute, charming, and heroic as ?"
Can’t tell if you’re cute when we can’t see your face.
Still, running from the first Sword Saint like that… Baekhwa’s sothing else.
Shut up and show your face already.
"Alright, ti for an explanatory broadcast, everyone!"
What’s going on now?
Reluctantly, I used mana to alter my appearance slightly. My new look featured crimson eyes, a half-mask with a sinister smile, and a nun’s habit—perfectly designed to scream “eccentric villain.”
"Behold! This is my true form! The half-mask is a result of my awakening as a monster, so I can’t take it off!"
Not bad.
Alright, I’m joining Baekhwa’s fan club.
What’s wrong with you guys getting turned on by a villain?
"Aww, don’t you think I’m adorable? I’m the kind-hearted Baekhwa!"
Honestly, if I were a viewer, I wouldn’t care if soone was a villain or a monster. If they were pretty, that’s all that mattered. In the end, won are won, and they don’t co with sticks, just… options.
How did you end up as a monster, though?
"That’s a secret~"
Now wasn’t the ti to chat. I had to keep running, making sure Yoo Jin-seok was exhausted and drained. I planned to run just enough to wear him out.
After running for a while, I noticed things had gone eerily quiet behind . Had I been too distracted by the chat?
Why aren’t they chasing anymore? Are they hiding sowhere?
This feels sketchy. Run faster, teacher!
Suddenly, I heard a loud creak as the buildings on either side of began collapsing inward. Worse, the buildings were on fire. It was clear they intended to kill .
"Die regretting that you called single!"
"Whoa, isn’t this a bit much? Picking on a poor little girl?"
"Don’t act like such a wimp for a monster!"
Now I was getting annoyed. I slipped into the collapsing building, scaling the wall to perch silently above Kim Ji-hye’s unsuspecting form.
"Looks like it’s ti to punish this reckless firebat."
"Huh? Where—"
"Right here, Firebat ♥"
Grabbing her by the head, I spun her around and planted a deep, passionate kiss on her lips.
Smooch!
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