#093
“Nice posture.”
When Eunseok complimented him, Ji Taeuk smiled ambiguously. Then, maintaining his shooting stance, he swung the gun muzzle to the side.
Somehow, a strange sense of discomfort arose. For someone handling a gun for the first time, his shooting posture was too stable. Could he have been secretly practicing shooting? While Eunseok was thinking this, Ji Taeuk moved his finger and disengaged the safety on the pistol.
“Hyung, that’s the safety…!”
As Eunseok reached out in surprise, the pistol in Ji Taeuk’s hand fired with a bang. Reflexively looking in that direction, Eunseok saw Shin Jeongho standing with his back to the gate. Then, hit squarely in the middle of his back, Shin Jeongho turned around with disbelieving eyes before collapsing sideways.
His body moved before he had time to think.
Smack!
With practiced movements, Eunseok quickly snatched the pistol from Ji Taeuk’s grip.
“What are you doing?”
Eunseok said in a hard voice, pressing the muzzle of the seized pistol against Ji Taeuk’s chest. But regardless of whether the gun was pointed at him or not, Ji Taeuk’s gaze remained fixed on Shin Jeongho.
“I… didn’t want to do this.”
Ji Taeuk muttered in a slightly trembling voice.
“Hyung!”
Eunseok shouted loudly. Only then did Ji Taeuk’s gaze slowly move to Eunseok. For someone who had shot Shin Jeongho without hesitation, his face was deeply etched with guilt.
“Never mind the reason, let’s heal him first.”
Eunseok chose to prioritize saving Shin Jeongho. Ji Taeuk shook his head. Then he slowly moved his eyes, which had been fixed on Eunseok, to the side. The reason for this shift in gaze soon became apparent.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound of applause rang out from behind.
Eunseok, who hadn’t sensed any presence, quickly turned the gun muzzle around. Standing there was none other than Park Sunwoo.
“Well done, Taeuk hyung.”
Park Sunwoo praised with a wide grin. Eunseok pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang-!
The pistol’s recoil lightly shook his arm. As Eunseok was about to pull the trigger again, he immediately frowned. The bullet that should have hit Park Sunwoo, or at least grazed his skin, was spinning in circles right in front of Park Sunwoo’s face.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He fired three more shots in rapid succession, but instead of hitting Park Sunwoo, the bullets just spun in the air.
“Shooting without hesitation. How hurtful.”
Park Sunwoo said with a smiling face.
“Are you from the Apostles of the End?”
Eunseok asked, still aiming the gun.
“As expected, you’re quick. Our Guide Lee Eunseok really can do anything. The more I know, the more attractive you become.”
It was impossible to deal with Park Sunwoo, an S-class esper. Eunseok quickly moved, embracing Ji Taeuk from behind and pressing the gun to his head.
“Get lost. Or I’ll shoot.”
Eunseok threatened, pressing the gun hard against Ji Taeuk’s head. They were likely on the same side, so it was worth trying a hostage situation.
“I heard you were quite close with Taeuk hyung, but when things go down, you don’t show any mercy? That’s so cool. I’ve fallen for you again. As expected of my guide.”
Park Sunwoo’s eyes, fixed on Eunseok, gleamed with greed and desire.
“Isn’t it about time for a reaction?”
Park Sunwoo muttered, glancing at his watch. As if on cue, Eunseok’s vision began to spin. The strength in his hands, arms, and legs suddenly drained away.
Clack-.
The gun slipped from his hand and fell to the floor. And as if following the fallen object, Eunseok’s body collapsed to the ground.
“…I’m sorry, Eunseok.”
Ji Taeuk whispered, looking down at Eunseok who had fallen at his feet. Eunseok tried to exert strength, but his limbs wouldn’t obey, only twitching slightly. His vision was spinning wildly, as if he had been injected with a strong drug. Only then did Eunseok recall the ion drink Ji Taeuk had handed him earlier. It must have been drugged.
Step. Step.
Park Sunwoo approached and crouched in front of Eunseok. He removed the watch from Eunseok’s wrist and tossed it aside.
“Where’s the location tracking chip inserted?”
In response to Park Sunwoo’s question, Ji Taeuk bent down and pointed to the back of Eunseok’s nape.
Ah-.
That was exactly the spot where Choi Hanseo had bitten until the flesh came off, and Ji Taeuk had healed recently. Had they implanted the chip before healing it then? Eunseok thought, forcibly clinging to his fading consciousness.
“It might hurt a bit, but bear with it, Eunseok hyung. Taeuk hyung will heal you right away.”
Park Sunwoo said, pulling out a knife from his pocket. Without hesitation, he sliced open Eunseok’s nape. Then he felt inside the flesh and pulled something out, crushing it between his fingers. Due to the drug, Eunseok couldn’t even feel the pain.
“Heal it cleanly, quickly.”
At Park Sunwoo’s commanding words, Ji Taeuk hurriedly placed his hand on the wound.
“Now you’re one of us too, hyung.”
Park Sunwoo whispered, gently brushing Eunseok’s hair behind his ear.
Choi Hanseo….
Eunseok turned his blurring eyes towards the gate. And soon, his vision went completely dark.
Dealing with the monsters that the gate was spewing out was grueling, but entering after clearing them was even more so.
The interior of a gate where a break had occurred was completely different from a normal gate interior. All sorts of monsters were charging towards the gate. As soon as they entered the gate, everyone had to deal with the monsters trying to cross the gate with all their might.
It was nothing but killing, killing, and more killing. Everyone was desperately slaughtering monsters while covered in their blood and flesh. The one fortunate thing was that Choi Hanseo was actively moving.
There was an immeasurable gap between A-class hunters and S-class hunters. While Moon Bora and others were taking down two monsters at a time, Choi Hanseo was dealing with ten or twenty. His full power, unleashed without reserve, was truly overwhelming and seemed limitless.
When they finished dealing with the monsters gathered around the gate, the surroundings were completely covered with monster corpses. While team members were gasping for breath, Choi Hanseo headed towards where the boss would be without wasting even a second.
The path to the boss was also treacherous. A brief rest was desperately needed, but no one dared to mention it. This was an A-class gate break. If they didn’t deal with the boss, monsters would continue to regenerate and pour out of the gate. They had to deal with the boss as quickly as possible.
Choi Hanseo took the lead, turning monsters into bloody pulp. The others only had to deal with the leftovers. In this way, they broke through in about three hours what would normally take over ten hours. And finally, they encountered the boss.
Instead of charging at the creature, the 1st Combat Team members collapsed on the spot, exhausted. Since Choi Hanseo was going to handle it, their help was unnecessary. In fact, they would only be a hindrance.
Choi Hanseo, who usually enjoyed leisurely dealing with monsters, was completely different from his usual self. He focused solely on killing the boss quickly and efficiently.
A one-sided slaughter that ordinary people or low-ranked hunters could never witness unfolded.
“I wonder if Eunseok would still want to date him after seeing this side of him,” Moon Bora muttered, watching blankly while sitting on the ground.
“He’ll probably still date him, right? After all, Guide Lee’s tastes are a bit… unusual too,” Oh Seongeun whispered in a tired voice.
Moon Bora thought about Eunseok’s tastes for a moment before nodding. “That’s true. Eunseok isn’t exactly… normal either.”
“But I think the Guild Master is sincere. The reason he’s rushing like this now is probably because he wants to get back to Guide Lee quickly,” Han Cheolyong chimed in, lowering his voice.
“Of course he’s sincere. His destined S-class guide has appeared, and it’s Lee Eunseok with that face and body. How could he not be serious?” Moon Bora said, and the other two nodded in agreement.
In the brief time it took for this conversation to unfold, Choi Hanseo had completely pulverized the A-class boss. After extracting the magic stone from the corpse and putting it in his pocket, Choi Hanseo approached where the group was sitting. Everyone quickly stood up as if they hadn’t been sprawled out just moments ago.
“We’ll exit the gate at top speed from here,” Choi Hanseo said briefly before vanishing from the spot.
“Damn it…” Moon Bora whined as she started running at top speed after Choi Hanseo. Han Cheolyong and Oh Seongeun followed like the wind.
They exited the gate just five hours after entering. It was truly a record-breaking clear time. Of course, this was only possible because of Choi Hanseo’s presence.
When they stepped out of the gate onto solid ground, the group flinched at the sight of Choi Hanseo’s back standing stock-still. Contrary to expectations that he would immediately disappear to find Lee Eunseok, Choi Hanseo was standing motionless, staring at the ground.
“Guild Master, to find Eunseok…” Moon Bora approached Choi Hanseo but stopped short. Then she saw what Choi Hanseo was looking at on the ground and her eyes widened.
