The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 107



Only Noblemtl

Episode 108

108. Let’s stop here.

Kang Moo-hyuk, who heard a brief explanation of the situation from Joo Se-ah, approached Pyo Beom-hee to check on her condition.

“Don’t stick around any longer. Sometimes you get poisoned.”

Kang Moo-hyuk stopped before Joo Se-ah could even reach the line drawn on the floor. This was because Pyo Beom-hee’s condition was much more dire than what he had seen from a distance.

Her complexion was pale. The cold sweat on her forehead not only dripped down her cheeks, but also ran down her chin.

The hands were blackened like burnt charcoal and could never return to their original color.

His gaze, which was only focused on Dokjeong without even looking at Kang Mu-hyeok, was shaking dangerously.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Well, it’s still a limitation… but what’s certain is that Team Leader Pyo will fall before he absorbs all of Ufumangbau’s poison.”

“So that means we have to give up Vladivostok?”

Joo Sea hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“There is one way to try.”

“What is that?”

“I’ve heard it before. S-ranks are said to have free control over mana. I’ve also heard that they can use various techniques that they couldn’t even try before. The reason Team Leader Pyo is having a hard time right now is because he doesn’t have enough mana to control all the poison.”

“Are you talking about ‘Mana Transfer’?”

“I don’t think there is any other way.”

Kang Moo-hyuk couldn’t make a decision easily.

There were many risks involved in lending one’s mana to others.

There were real-life cases.

One of the Tier Guilds in North America experimented with transferring the mana of other Hunters to their Wizards in order to maximize their Wizard power, but the results were a miserable failure.

There was a time when all the hunters who participated in the experiment had the worst result, becoming disabled.

The conclusion of the experiment was that ‘only S-rank is possible’.

‘The problem is that it hasn’t been long since the guild leader became an S-rank. It’s extremely difficult to perform such techniques without sufficient training. No, it’s dangerous.’

When Kang Mu-hyeok hesitated, Joo Se-ah decided on his behalf.

“This is what raids are like. No matter how weak the monsters are, there is always danger.”

“I’m sorry. I had to make plans considering the existence of a tyrant… … .”

“How can you calculate all the whims of a strong crazy guy? I’m ready. I can’t let Team Leader Pyo carry such a heavy load all by himself. Team Leader Kang, in case of an emergency, get out of the city. As far away as possible.”

“I will stay too.”

“Are you crazy? What are you going to do if you fail? Captain Kang is a hunter… … .”

Joo Se Ah swallowed her words. She almost slipped up. Not being able to awaken as a hunter was something that touched Kang Moo Hyuk’s pain.

Kang Moo-hyuk continued to say the words she had not been able to say.

“Of course not a hunter. But what kind of leader would abandon his members and run away?”

“There are a lot of those guys.”

“I’m not that kind of guy.”

“This is not the time to talk about responsibility. No one thinks that Captain Kang is a coward. So, let’s go somewhere safe… … .”

“It’s not a sense of responsibility, but the minimum qualification I need to continue fighting.”

Kang Moo-hyuk’s reason clearly knew that Joo Se-ah’s decision was the right choice. However, his heart was screaming at him not to run away.

‘Is it because of the guilt I feel for dragging Team Leader Pyo Beom-hee back into this world? Or is it because of my lack of qualifications for not being a hunter?’

It didn’t matter what the reason was.

‘If there’s no reason, then just make one.’

Just like I told Joo Sea.

Let’s say that now is not the time to avoid it if we want to continue fighting in the future.

“Whew~ I got it. This makes my shoulders feel heavier. Does this mean I have to succeed somehow?”

Joo Se-ah, who had read Kang Mu-hyeok’s firm will, could no longer stop him.

‘He’s not the kind of person who can be stopped just by telling him to stop.’

However, you can’t say that he’s being unreasonable, because that’s how Kang Mu-hyeok’s life was originally. I hired him knowing that he was that kind of person.

He had no way of running away.

“You will succeed.”

“Of course. We have to do it if we don’t want to have to hold a funeral for our members. Just in case, stay a little far away.”

Kang Moo-hyuk turned away from Joo Se-ah, contrary to her turning away from Pyo Beom-hee.

He was angry at Igor for creating this situation. But after thinking about his actions, he soon calmed down.

‘If what the guild leader said is true, then the tyrant knew about Team Leader Pyo’s existence. That’s why he must have targeted Team Leader Pyo while destroying the box. That means he didn’t intend to turn Vladivostok into ruins. Why did he go to the trouble of raiding this place and destroying the box?’

It was too easy for him to back down, even though he had come to end the fight with Joo Sea. That tyrant who was obsessed with pride.

At that moment, Igor’s plan suddenly came to Kang Mu-hyeok’s mind.

“Makar!”

He turned around and looked at Jusea.

If the only one who can stop the tyrant is trapped here, then what is Igor after?

‘It’s not just Makar. It’s all of Nadzhinski’s survivors.’

Kang Moo-hyuk hurriedly called Anton. But the waiting tone just got longer.

* * *

Hunters were strewn about in an overturned command vehicle and a mangled camp.

Most of them are incapacitated.

Anton sat down, spitting out blood from his mouth and looking at his smartphone, which was lying on the ground and ringing.

[Chief Kang Mu-hyeok]

‘Chief Kang… I think he noticed Igor’s movements… but he was a little late this time.’

Crunch!

A heavy foot stepped on the smartphone. When the ringtone stopped, Anton looked up at the owner of the foot.

“Igor Dudnik. Do you know what it means to attack a fellow Russian guild for no reason and do this?”

“No one killed him?”

“You have put Vladivostok in danger. The absence of the guild that protects the city creates a security vacuum. Attacking such a guild? That in itself is treason!”

“Isn’t this kind of conflict common in the hunting grounds? I know you guys commit similar acts a lot.”

“Are you equating the fight at the gate with the raid within the city?”

“Anyway, ever since Upumangbaou showed up, this city has been like a hunting ground. If you’re a hunter, then stop crying.”

“Why on earth are you doing this to us?!”

“You know? Nadzhinski.”

“That again? What on earth happened there?”

Anton stood up, spitting out the blood that had accumulated in his mouth. His legs were wobbly from the beating, but his pride would not allow the Master of the Vladivostok Guild to sit there.

It was the same even if the opponent was S-rank. I thought that if I died, I had to die with dignity so that the guild’s spirit would not collapse.

“If we were to trace the culprit, you guys would have had to be chewed up and destroyed thousands of times. Every single cornerstone of the guild would have had to be pulled out and turned to dust.”

“crazy…….”

“I’m glad the Russian government is supporting you. I recognize your contribution in defending Vladivostok. Sooner or later, my brother will take over the city. Or the raid will fail and you will be destroyed by Upumangbaou. Either way, you will lose this city.”

“Don’t think we’ll fall apart so easily.”

“Well. It wasn’t difficult, was it?”

Igor looked around and grinned.

This happened less than three minutes after he arrived at the command camp.

Anton had nothing to say since he had been unilaterally attacked.

“Until now, it was a warning from Igor of the Tyran Guild.”

“what?”

“From now on, I will refer to you as a tyrant. There’s that guy named Makar. Where is he? Where are the survivors of Nadzhinski locked up?”

“Huh? Why? Kill them all?”

“… … .”

“Really? Are you really crazy?”

“They are now the ghosts of a lost city. It is time for them to disappear together. It would not be a bad idea for you either. It would be nice for those who hold such grudges to disappear.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Who do you know as a murderer like you?”

“If you don’t tell, you’ll see how I got the nickname Tyrant.”

Igor placed his foot on the head of a nearby unconscious hunter.

Anton knew very well what kind of person he was, having been eyeing Vladivostok for a long time.

He was not the kind of person who would break something or kill someone without saying anything.

“Should I show you in person before I decide?”

“profit…….”

“Well, that doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’ve seen blood for more than a day or two.”

In the end, Anton had no choice but to give in. The Kremlin was far away, and the fist was close.

“Tell me what you want.”

* * *

“what?”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Why did you drag us all here?”

The Nazhedzinskis were led by their former guild comrades to an empty square.

Even though they had released the prisoners, no one was able to run away on their own due to the ominous atmosphere.

Even my old colleagues turned their backs on me as I guided them to the square without saying anything.

Snow began to fall from the sky, but it was not visible because of the darkness. The square was quiet except for the sound of the snow piled up underfoot.

The square became noisy because of the last person who was dragged out.

“Makar!”

Everyone flocked to him. The fact that he, the leader of the Nadzhinski survivors, was safe meant that there was still hope.

But no one dared approach him after seeing that Makar’s right hand was bandaged.

“You, that hand… … .”

Makar stared blankly at the square, avoiding eye contact with his comrades who could not close their mouths.

“It’s like an execution ground.”

“what?”

“The place that freed us. If we run away now, will one of us be able to survive?”

“What are you talking about, Makar?”

“He must be quick-witted because he did something so daring.”

A gloomy voice echoed through the darkness.

The voice was full of life. The Nadzhinski survivors quickly got into combat mode.

“Po, Tyrant… … .”

Someone confirmed the other person’s identity with a trembling voice.

Finally, the tyrant came out to where the streetlight was shining and spread his arms.

For a moment, the hunters felt surrounded. They had a gut feeling. They couldn’t survive here.

The comrades around them exchanged glances.

After that, one of the hunters belonging to the leadership of the Nazejinski survivors approached Makar.

“Makar, you run away too. We’ll buy you some time.”

“It’s a good thing Kozlov isn’t here.”

“I want you and Kozlov to live together.”

“I’m sorry, but even if we spread out and run in all directions, we can’t escape that guy. We’ll all die before we get out of this square.”

Makar spoke skeptically, but the Hunter gritted his teeth and lashed out.

“That’s why we’re risking our lives to stop you! Run away!”

Makar’s chest was pounding, but he still had no intention of running away. Instead, he headed towards Igor. His comrades next to him hesitated, missing the timing to stop him.

Igor also walked towards Makar and said:

“Is the operation time over?”

“Your patience is finally running out. You made a fuss about revenge after waiting 14 years, and now you’re giving me time to plan a strategy.”

“Should we just do it to those of you who have been hiding in the Tsar’s Guild?”

“There’s something I want to ask before I die.”

“I’m not the type of person to listen to things like wills.”

“14 years ago. Citizens of Nazhezinski. Why did you kill those people?”

“You want to know why he killed you? Would it make any difference if you knew?”

“Why did you kill me, you little punk?!”

Makar swung his left fist. Igor didn’t even try to block it.

Makar’s attack sank into Igor’s abdomen. It was a full-force strike, but Igor didn’t even flinch.

Igor grabbed his fist and crushed it.

Even though severe pain came, Makar did not groan.

“The reason our family died. Wasn’t it because you guys instigated it? The Citizens’ Council, the Assembly, the Administrative Office, and the guild members of Nazejinski, they were all in cahoots. They drove my father to death without even letting anyone know that a boss monster had entered the city.”

“So, you killed just anyone? Because they were citizens of Nadzhinski?”

“The ones who were running away had already received an evacuation order. But not a single one of them told anyone about it. They knew that they could only survive if their father’s guild was blocking them. Tell me, you really didn’t know that? Oh, you guys here are all young at the time, so you’re going to say you didn’t know? If that’s the case, what was your revenge? I guess you remember that.”

None of Nazejinski’s survivors responded.

Only Makarman opened his mouth.

“You may be right. Yes, let’s say the citizens were selfish. But that’s not a reason for the massacre.”

“The Tsar Guild was also selfish. That’s why they’re sending this message. What about you guys who brought the Upumangbau to this city? Aren’t you guys also selfish? You interpret things in a way that’s convenient for you.”

“If you are weak…. Who will reflect on you? Who will judge you?!”

“Oh my, that sounds similar to what my little brother said.”

“!!”

Only then did Makar realize.

‘What’s the difference between me and that guy?’

I had a vague idea, but when we actually met and talked, I felt like I was talking to a mirror.

“As expected of a man who talks too much. There is no one who can give a reason for revenge that is worse than blood.”

Igor reached out. Makar, who had not even noticed, was grabbed by the collar and dragged into the air.

“There’s no need to qualify revenge in any way. Just see blood and feel relieved.”

“It’s a shame. I didn’t get to see your blood.”

“Just die quietly. My heart will be free.”

“You too will see blood someday… Ugh!”

Igor snapped Makar’s neck in one blow.

He dropped the hanging Makar on the floor and stepped on it.

The sound of bones breaking and skin ripping echoed through the square.

“MAKARU!!!”

The survivors of Nazejinski rushed at Igor all at once. They attacked without fear, even to an S-rank hunter, and their appearance was so tragic that they knew the outcome.

“I’m bored. Let’s end it.”

As Igor’s body grew larger, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

* * *

As the day dawned.

“It’s over.”

Kang Mu-hyeok muttered as he watched the swirling mana calm down.

Joo Se-ah, who had been placing her hand on Leopom-hee’s back, collapsed.

Leopard Hee also hugged the shining poison and fell to the floor, gasping for breath.

Most of the blackened skin returned to its original state, but the tips of the fingers remained black.

“Guild Leader, Team Leader Pyo. Are you okay?”

Joo Se-ah just nodded her head as if she didn’t have the strength to respond to Kang Mu-hyeok who ran towards her.

Yeom Su-hyeong and Noh Song-rin, who were standing guard, checked on Pyo Beom-hee and nodded to Kang Mu-hyeok. It meant that she was safe.

Kang Mu-hyeok, who was approaching Pyo Beom-hee, was startled when he saw her fingertips.

“Oh, this? I got it. I won’t have to spend money on pedicures anymore.”

Kang Moo-hyuk forced a smile as he watched Pyo Beom-hee joking. He knew that the reason she was joking in this situation was because she wanted to put the other person at ease.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“If you know how hard it’s been, give yourself a big vacation.”

“Yes. I will give you a lot.”

After confirming that the Korean hunters were safe, Dmitry approached cautiously. He and the Tsar Guild hunters were also standing guard in the vicinity just in case.

“Last night, Igor took all the survivors from Makar and Nadzhinski. Our group members, including Gilma, were injured and are receiving treatment.”

“The result is obvious.”

“Yes. There are no survivors.”

“Vladivostok has also overcome its crisis… Then, the only thing left is how to deal with the tyrant.”

“It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing we can do about S-rank hunters.”

“If it’s not strength, you have to use something else.”

Kang Moo-hyuk gritted his teeth. Dmitry tilted his head.

“Tell Darden Dudnick to meet me.”

“Yes? Dardenne?”

“Let’s end this damned bad relationship here.”