Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Homecoming (2)

“Ah, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Whitey. Lying is a bad habit.”

“When ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did I lie?”

“Did ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you not say you were going to use your abilities just to be flashy without being practical? It did not seem that way at all.”

“Is ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the person who gets hit and dies by this not the strange one?”

“Haha, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that is true... well, let us just go with that.”

The main gate of the Baek family was not just destroyed; it was shattered beyond recognition. Baek Ha-seong and Yu-hyeon stepped past the gate while exchanging idle jokes.

Of course, it was not as if there was no interference...

“Irregular! How dare you come here?!”

However, as one might expect, they were dealing with Baek Ha-seong, Yu-hyeon, and the Puppeteer.

“Ke-hu-uk...!”

With a single gesture from Baek Ha-seong, a member of the Baek family collapsed, his heart pierced by lightning before he could exert any significant power. Watching this, the Puppeteer laughed joyfully, as if she were having the time of her life.

“Kyahaha! It is even more fun because it has been such a long time!”

“Is there something here that you find fun?”

“Of course! Killing an opponent to survive. Where else could you find a better pleasure than the thrill of not knowing when you might die!”

“Sigh, between Whitey and you, it seems there is not a single normal person around me.”

“I do not know why I am being lumped in with her. In the first place, are you not a cultist yourself?”

“A cultist? I do not particularly pray to a god.”

It was a playful conversation that lacked any sense of crisis. However, it was not that they felt no danger at all. This was none other than the main base of the Baek family. They were fine for now since they had just broken in, but there was no telling when the true powerhouses would gather.

But who were these individuals?

“I hope a more exciting situation comes up soon!”

Although she acted like a child, the Puppeteer was an S-Rank Villain who had earned her rank solely by slaughtering nearly a thousand villains who had once challenged her.

“I cannot relate to the fun you are looking for, but I do agree that it is still boring.”

Then there was Yu-hyeon, a man whom even Shin Yu-hwan—the owner of the Reverse Heaven Sect and the one known as the death of villains—could not capture.

“The two of you seem to get along surprisingly well.”

And finally, the Irregular, Baek Ha-seong, who had proven his value at the age of nineteen by killing two hundred and seven members of the Baek family who had already become official Players in a single night.

All three were veterans who had lived for over ten years in a villainous society where killing and being killed was a daily occurrence. Therefore, keeping an eye on their surroundings even during such trivial conversations was as easy as breathing.

Just as they were taking down the members of the Baek family one by one while chatting, it happened.

“You bastards! Did you think you would be safe after daring to cross the threshold of the Baek family?!”

A thunderous roar filled with immense pressure echoed toward Baek Ha-seong’s group. At that voice, Baek Ha-seong shifted his gaze upward for a moment and began to take a combat stance.

“It is someone from the direct line.”

“Are they strong?”

“I wonder. They were not in a high position back in my day. Looking at the guys following him, it seems to be the main estate’s guard unit. They are probably moderately strong.”

Based on ten years ago, the man who had just shouted would be A-Rank. Those under him would likely be around B-Rank. They were not threatening enemies, but it was true that they were troublesome. The fact that they moved as a group meant they were well-coordinated.

Just as Baek Ha-seong was about to step forward to finish them quickly, someone blocked his path.

“I have not had much fun so far, so I am going to play with them.”

The person was the Puppeteer. She wore a bright smile, as if her mind were filled only with the thought of pleasure despite the dozens of enemies swarming toward them.

“You?”

“What? Are you underestimating me right now?”

“No way. I just asked because I wondered if something like that would satisfy your need for fun.”

“Heh, of course it will. Seeing the expressions of those who think they are so great as they collapse helplessly is a guaranteed good time.”

“If you say so.”

At the Puppeteer's words, Baek Ha-seong cleanly stepped back. Although it was not publicly known, Baek Ha-seong had fought the Puppeteer once in the past, so he had no reason to doubt her. Leaving Baek Ha-seong behind, the Puppeteer immediately cried out in a joyful voice, her face flushed with pleasure.

“Alright! Then, shall we begin~?”

With her words, puppets began to appear behind her. Their numbers were in the dozens, far exceeding the dozen or so enemies. However, there was something lacking. Unlike her confident words, the Mad Puppeteer’s toys did not look particularly strong.

But.

“Neural Network Construction.”

There was a reason she was called an S-Rank Villain. There was a reason she was still alive and well despite living a life in pursuit of pleasure. It was because of her overwhelming talent and the genius required to wield it to its extreme. It is said that there is no genius who is not an eccentric, and she was the living proof of that statement.

“Kyahahat! Hurry and show me your despair!”

Neural Network Construction was one of the sub-abilities of her talent, ‘Puppet Fabrication.’ It was an ability that allowed her to directly control every single toy she handled. It was a skill that demanded an extreme level of difficulty; if an ordinary human were to use it, their brain would overload, and they would not be able to move even a few puppets properly.

However, for the Puppeteer, moving dozens, or even hundreds, of toys was not a problem at all. Furthermore...

“Da-Damn it! These bastards... Ke-heok!”

“Are these things crazy?!”

The Puppeteer was someone who could handle that control at an extreme level. Moreover, since the puppets rushing forward lacked the fear of death, how could they be easily dealt with? Consequently, the Baek family guards were swept away one by one without any chance, and the battlefield quickly tilted to one side.

“Is that all you have? Make me have more fun! Kyahahahat!!”

The laughter of the Puppeteer echoed alone amidst the battlefield where blades whirled and flesh was carved away. As they watched her, a woman who was faithfully proving why she had earned the epithet of ‘Madness,’ the guards of the Baek family felt only one emotion.

“You... you monster...”

It was fear. Rather than a fear felt in the face of overwhelming power, it was a fear of the enemy herself, who was driven by pleasure and never stopped laughing.

“Why? It is not strange to want to have fun, is it?”

The guards of the Baek family finally realized one fact in the face of their approaching deaths: that true terror comes from purity, not from something manufactured. And as they say, a price is required to gain such an epiphany.

“Aaaaagh...!”

Eventually, with the direct-line man who had let out the mighty roar being the last to fall, the 3rd Guard Unit met their deaths. The guards, who had been unable to display their true skills out of fear, could not even last ten minutes. They had paid for their realization with their lives.

“What? You could not even last this long? Tsk, how boring.”

Furthermore, those deaths resulted in a miserable outcome that failed to even pique the Puppeteer’s interest... It was a moment when one could not help but feel a strange sense of pity for the Baek family guards, despite them being enemies.

***

Meanwhile, the group of Players had entered the Baek family estate. Perhaps it was because everyone’s attention was focused on where Baek Ha-seong was, but they had not encountered anyone from the Baek family since their entry. Because of this, the situation allowed them to advance without hesitation and pick up the pace. While running through the vast Baek family grounds, Shin Yu-hwan was the first to speak.

“I think it is best if we split up around here.”

Since Baek Ha-seong’s goal was to draw attention, he focused on a flashy battle, but that was not the case for this group. Their primary objective was to find evidence that could bring down the Baek family. For that purpose, it was much more beneficial to split up rather than move as a group. Since everyone knew this fact, no one objected.

“Then, what would be the best way to split up?”

“The Horizon members to the left, and our Team 1 members to the right. And the Hong family...”

“Our priority is the safety of Lady Sera.”

“Since you say that, please head to the center, the source of the commotion, with us.”

“Good. Then let us split up immediately.”

Ryu Jin-seong agreed to Shin Yu-hwan’s words without hesitation. One might think it strange, but it was a natural reaction. Even though he usually acted like a reckless brat, Shin Yu-hwan had been active as a villain hunter for seven years. Furthermore, most of the scenes Shin Yu-hwan had worked in were places where the most heinous villains lurked. In short, his judgment in the field was more than sufficient to be followed.

“Then we will split up right now.”

The Horizon Guild members moved to the left, Team 1 to the right, and finally, Shin Yu-hwan, the main combat forces, and the Hong family members moved toward the center. Some time passed.

“Yu-hwan, when I look at you, I truly feel sorry for Yu-na.”

As they were running silently, Ryu Jin-seong spoke quietly toward Shin Yu-hwan. At his words, Shin Yu-hwan replied as if he did not know what he meant.

“What are you talking about? I care for Big Sister plenty.”

“And is that why you are breaking the promise you made just dozens of minutes ago?”

“......”

“Does heading to the center not mean you are going to that guy, Ha-seong? If Yu-na were here, I think we would have seen her old personality for the first time in a while.”

He was right. If Cha Yu-na had not been in a situation where she could not leave her post as the person in overall charge, he would have surely been subjected to all sorts of curses. However, that was only if Cha Yu-na were present. Thus, Shin Yu-hwan let out a smirk at Ryu Jin-seong’s words and spoke.

“You did not have any intention of stopping me either, Old Man.”

“Haha, I also wanted to see the face of my dear former student after a long time.”

“Then let us just say we are all in this together. It seems Red over there and Han Su-yeon feel the same way.”

“Could you not lump me in with you so casually?”

“Otherwise, you could have moved to another area.”

“...Tsk.”

Yes, it was a sorry thing to say to Cha Yu-na, but unfortunately, everyone present here was in on it together. Of course, their inner motivations were not the same. Shin Yu-hwan felt hostility, Ryu Jin-seong and Hong Sera were thinking of past ties, and Han Su-yeon wanted to chase even the slightest trace of her brother. As everyone was running toward the center with different thoughts but a common purpose, it happened.

—Kyahahahahat! Is this all you’ve got? Come on, put some more effort into it!

—Aaaaagh!

Faint voices began to reach the ears of Shin Yu-hwan’s group from a distance. They were not words they could understand in detail, but they could tell at least one fact. It was that one side was essentially massacring the other. They did not know which side was doing the massacring, but at least this much was certain.

“It seems we are almost there. Everyone, get into your combat stances.”

They had arrived at their destination. At Shin Yu-hwan’s words, everyone applied a level of tension different from before, gripped their weapons tightly, and began to run faster than earlier.

“This is...”

The scene they arrived at after picking up the pace was nothing short of a massacre. Perhaps it was because they were seeing such a tragedy for the first time, but the people from the Hong family could not easily continue their words. It was not an incomprehensible reaction. Even though they had come here regarding the Baek family as the enemy, the corpses of the Baek family members scattered and mangled on the ground were enough to make it difficult for someone not in this line of work to adapt. Moreover, since the number of bodies was not just one or two but dozens, it was all the more shocking.

However.

“Where is he?”

Not everyone reacted that way. Those with experience maintained their composure even amidst the carnage, and among them, Shin Yu-hwan was calmly looking only for his target, as if this were just another day. And soon.

“Found him.”

A single figure entered Shin Yu-hwan’s sight. White hair as pure as snow, and purple eyes that looked arrogant but made that arrogance feel like a natural right. Although he had changed a bit compared to the past, those characteristics were exactly as he remembered.

“You bastard!!”

The man who had once been a senior he had hung out with unexpectedly because of the words of a precious person. Yet, he was the man who was deeply involved in the death of that very precious person. Without a doubt, the being before his eyes was Baek Ha-seong.

Perhaps that was why Shin Yu-hwan could not control his surging emotions for a moment. He charged toward Baek Ha-seong with his Black Spear at the forefront.

CLANG—!!!

Baek Ha-seong parried Shin Yu-hwan’s attack with the dagger he carried and spoke in an indifferent tone.

“It has been a long time.”

“Baek Ha-seong...!”

“I do not think you need to call my name for everyone here to know who I am.”

The two stared into each other’s deep eyes and pointed their weapons at one another.

 Though they were once senior and junior, they had now become a villain hunter and a villain.

 A reunion after a full ten years had finally taken place right here.