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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 118: Taming the Mad Dog (2)
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
X 5
Crash—!
The hexagonal shield, formed from condensed pale gray energy, shattered like a broken glass window.
It took only 0.3 seconds for all the layered barriers to be destroyed.
The daggers, which had pierced through the protective layers with great force, faltered and trembled.
"Damn it! What is this? It's reversing my power?"
A long shadow fell behind Kim Mijeong as she cursed.
[Unique Trait - The Thief's 7 Tools]
[⑤. The Spring that Bends Anything]
Fafnir, who had followed a step behind, unleashed dark aura.
Kim Mijeong twisted her body at a bizarre angle, deflecting the attack, and once again increased the distance between them.
The tool that had deflected Song Myeongseok's attack in the past.
This time, she applied the "trait" to her body, twisting it grotesquely.
‘Truly a mad dog.’
The [Unholy Shock Shield] has two effects.
It acts as a solid wall against ranged attacks.
And in close combat, it returns some of the impact to the attacker.
Just now, Yoojin deliberately opened a path for her to rush in before deploying the barrier.
However, as soon as some of the power imbued in her daggers was reversed, Kim Mijeong deployed layers of aura to neutralize the reflected energy.
"Seriously. I thought this would be easy, but it's not working."
【Master, do you like raw fish?】
[TL/N: I had a different kinda thought seeing ts😭]
[PR/N: Nasty ahh.]
"I like it quite a bit. Are you going to buy me some?"
【I like eating things raw.】
"Ugh. You're so old-fashioned."
【If you include my past life, I'm almost 60 years old, so you have to understand.】
Fafnir threw a punch with a ferocious momentum that didn't match his casual tone.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
Tatata—Tang!
Would this be what it sounds like if you magnified the sound of roasting beans in oil 100 times?
Each time the auras, honed by their respective wills, collided, a deafening roar erupted, and large and small sparks flew in all directions.
Ignoring minor injuries, Fafnir steadily swung his fist, and Kim Mijeong, wielding daggers in both hands, parried with dazzling movements.
‘I need to find an opening and finish this in one blow…’
[Aura Blade]
[2nd Form - Blinding Strike]
Kim Mijeong, who had retreated again after the incoming sword attack, grumbled.
"Ugh! You guys haven't changed at all!"
【I was going to cut you into a pretty star shape. Just stay still.】
"I'll chop off your head and make it into a drinking cup."
Even as she unleashed her fierce words, Kim Mijeong's mind remained calm and collected.
She had already exchanged blows with these opponents.
Even though their strength and speed had increased with the buffs, it was still within her range.
‘Hmph. I've become quite accustomed to your movements.’
She hadn't been idle during the past three weeks.
She observed Fafnir's habits whenever he unconsciously revealed them while instructing Im Jaebaek.
She also watched Song Myeongseok's swordsmanship whenever he eagerly rushed in to deal with the monsters that spawned throughout the Necropolis.
‘Buffing the undead is unexpected, but it's still manageable.’
Cheon Yoojin.
Hasn't that man shown strange things more than once or twice?
She only needed to add the buffed increase to the enemies' movements that she had learned beforehand.
Of course.
Kim Mijeong, who hadn't received the buffs herself, had to deduce the increased stats while exchanging blows.
‘This is what makes it fun.’
The corners of Kim Mijeong's lips twitched upward.
A situation where she was slightly behind due to an unforeseen variable.
Her spine tingled, and goosebumps rose on her skin.
It wasn't even a life-or-death battle, yet her adrenaline was surging this much.
It felt like all the dissatisfaction she had accumulated so far was being resolved at once.
"It's going to be a problem if you're already satisfied."
As if reading her thoughts.
Yoojin spoke and simultaneously rearranged his mana.
[Dark Spear]
[Bone Spear]
The magic combination that injured Joo Yeongmin, the 3rd ranked Manhunter.
He clapped his hands together forcefully, mixing and rotating spirit power and dark mana.
The fusion of a 1 Star (Bone Spear) and a 3 Star (Dark Spear) spell.
Individually, they wouldn't even touch a hair on Kim Mijeong's head.
‘Dangerous.’
Her instincts screamed a warning, and she swung her dagger widely.
The red aura imbued in the blade severed [Cursed Fang] at that moment.
Due to the powerful recoil transmitted through her wrist, she infused additional aura, completely crushing the power contained in the magically enhanced weapon.
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
【Even I can't get used to our master's bizarre antics.】
Song Myeongseok, not missing a moment's gap, lunged in once again.
Kim Mijeong's lips twitched.
The gap revealed while deflecting the magic.
‘If you think that looks tempting, then that will be your end.’
She thought.
"Oh. So the lizard is coming out for a head-on fight instead of hiding behind his summon?"
[Unique Trait - The Thief's 7 Tools]
[①. Needle's Eye]
The aura concentrated at one point. Its power increased with each rotation.
The original effect of the unique trait was to focus the user's power, but Kim Mijeong adapted that sensation to her aura control, maximizing its power.
‘If I can just pierce and destroy that skeleton's head!’
The combined attack of the two undead, possessing [Eyes of the Martial God] and [Heavenly Bone], cannot be underestimated.
Even if she had adapted to Fafnir and Song Myeongseok's movements, it didn't mean they were no longer a threat.
If she could destroy the berserk Skeleton Knight, she could turn the tide of the battle in her favor...?
[Trait - Sixth Sense]
A chilling sensation shot through her mind.
A "trait" developed by those who have crossed the line between life and death countless times was issuing a warning.
As soon as Kim Mijeong felt the warning from her Sixth Sense, she tried to withdraw the power imbued in her hands.
"Too late."
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
[Using Unholy Shock Shield...]
The concentrated aura easily pierced the shields woven from Divine Power.
At that moment.
The sharp tip of the aura, which had been heading for a single point, dulled and reversed direction, attempting to harm Kim Mijeong.
"Damn it!"
She was the one who had become excited.
She had forgotten that his defensive barrier reflected a portion of the force back at the attacker.
The Skeleton Knight and Song Myeongseok weren't being reckless.
It was all to lure Kim Mijeong in.
She realized it the moment she released her aura with full force.
‘I need to neutralize the reflected power.’
The most crucial aspect of aura manifestation is the user's will.
Kim Mijeong quickly erased the murderous intent from the reversing aura.
Her wrists throbbed, and the muscles in her forearms screamed in pain, but the damage wasn't significant considering the force that was reflected back at her.
A peak 6 Star Hunter.
It was the skill of a hunter whose aura control had reached its limit.
【The battle is over. Mad Dog.】
【Is it already over?】
A blade was aimed at her neck.
Behind her, a fist as hard as a rock was also aimed at her.
"One more time."
"Can't you accept defeat after the fight we just had?"
"I didn't even get to properly warm up."
"Alright. Come at me as much as you want."
[TL/N: Huh???.]
[PR/N: Please stop…]
But could she win?
Kim Mijeong's expression twisted into a fierce grimace at Yoojin's final words.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Let's go again!"
"You can't even fight properly."
"Hey!! I said, let's do it again!!"
Blood and dirt smeared across Kim Mijeong's face, her hair a tangled mess. A wild, untamed aura flared around her.
In stark contrast, Yoojin remained utterly composed, his clothes barely ruffled by the breeze.
The outcome of their repeated clashes was clear for all to see.
"Damn it. What the hell? How can this be happening?"
"Because you're not good enough."
Yoojin replied calmly.
"You son of a— I've already figured out your summons' movements!"
Ten losses.
Ten humiliating defeats.
Each one a fresh sting after the initial shock of that first unexpected loss.
‘I can win this!’
She thought fiercely, her chest tight with frustration.
She had adapted to the two undead. Their strength, their speed, their reflexes—she knew them all.
Three weeks of observation, ten consecutive battles... She had even accounted for the stat boosts from Yoojin's buffs.
‘Even with the buffs, one's around 6 Stars, the other with the swords, maybe 5 Stars.’
Fafnir might have unusually high stats for his rank, but his aura reserves and output couldn't match hers.
She could make up for any shortcomings with her superior control and her unique [The Thief's 7 Tools], which were perfect for keeping her opponents off balance.
‘I should be winning. So why...?’
She knew the reason.
The man who was smirking while using the two undead as shields.
"Oh dear. You're going to bore a hole through me with that glare."
His nonchalant attitude made Kim Mijeong's blood boil.
Whether that initial opening had been a deliberate trap or not, she hadn't been able to get close to him since.
And it wasn't just that; the two undead were fighting differently now, their movements unpredictable, their tactics shifting.
‘I'm so close!’
She thought, grinding her teeth.
‘Just a little more, and I can win this!’
But frustration gnawed at her.
She had identified their weaknesses, found ways to exploit them, yet somehow, she couldn't land a decisive blow on Yoojin.
"Are you going to admit defeat now?"
Yoojin asked, his voice smooth and confident.
"Tch. I lost."
Kim Mijeong spat, the taste of defeat bitter on her tongue.
"Excellent. You haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?"
Yoojin replied, a smirk on his face.
"No. That slave contract, or whatever you call it. Let's get it over with."
"Director Im. The document, if you please."
Yoojin said, turning towards his subordinate.
Im Jaebaek, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, carefully handed over a document.
⋯⋯⋯
[Self-Geas Scroll]
Classification: Consumable
Grade: Unique
Durability: 10/10
A contract guaranteed by the Asgard Star Cluster. It declares restrictions on the user, and penalties are imposed when the contract is violated.
⋯⋯⋯
Yoojin unfurled the scroll, revealing the text he had prepared beforehand.
The content followed the typical superior-subordinate relationship.
Naturally.
Yoojin was the superior, and Kim Mijeong was the subordinate.
"What is this dog-like piece of paper?!"
Kim Mijeong exclaimed, snatching it from him.
"It's a Self-Geas Scroll, made by the Romanov clan themselves. I assure you, it's quite effective."
Yoojin explained calmly.
"Wow. You're really going to treat me like a slave?"
"I never said anything about slaves."
"What's 'obedience' if it isn't being a slave?!"
She retorted, throwing the scroll back at him.
Yoojin caught it with a smirk.
He knew the scroll had its limitations. It required genuine consent; forcing someone to sign wouldn't activate its magic. That's why it was rarely used. But in this situation, it was perfect.
"You made a promise, didn't you?"
He reminded her.
"You agreed to obey if you lost."
"Yeah, but this is ridiculous."
Kim Mijeong grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Fine. I'll be generous."
Yoojin sighed dramatically.
- Refusal is possible for missions deemed life-threatening.
- 10 days of autonomous activity are guaranteed per month. However, this clause is not valid in case of long-term projects when instead the autonomous activity time rolls over to the following month.
"Deal?"
"Deal?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Why? You'll receive proper compensation. And I won't overwork you."
Having 10 days off a month is a great deal.
It's almost a four-day work week.
What company offers such work-life balance?
【To think he'd use a peak 6 Star Hunter like this. He's our master, but he's truly ruthless.】
【Our master has always been like this. That's why he revived me only to exploit me to the bone, isn't it?】
‘These guys… Whose side should they be on? Can't they tell?’
Yoojin glared at the two undead, and they quickly averted their gazes.
〔A ruler oppressing the virtuous—it's the same now as it always was.〕
'Coming from someone who was a ruler in the past, that's rich.'
〔Kahaha! I, too, ignored all the advice not to devour my children.〕
'That sounds suspiciously like a curse.'
Yoojin thought, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
'But does Kronos have a point?'
He mentally listed his actions—
‘Regular paycheck. Decent work-life balance. Food, shelter... I even brought them back to life.’
He paused at that last thought.
‘Okay, maybe that one's a bit of a stretch.’
But then again, wasn't it true? He could have left them dead. Instead, he chose to revive them, to give them a second chance.
A flicker of something that might have been guilt, or perhaps just self-satisfaction, crossed his face.
Kim Mijeong, misinterpreting the flicker in Yoojin's eyes as a hint of murderous intent, quickly picked up the pen.
‘Better to sign this ridiculous contract than become another one of his undead puppets.’
She thought grimly.
The moment she wrote her name in the blank space, the scroll emitted a bright light.
Whoosh—
It burst into blue flames and was completely consumed.
⋯⋯⋯
[The contents of the contract have been confirmed.]
[Contracting Parties: Cheon Yoojin - Kim Mijeong]
[Contract Terms]
…….
"Welcome."
Yoojin said, with a smile on his lips.
"Welcome to Black Company."
"I can't believe I signed this ridiculous contract."
Kim Mijeong grumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose.
〔But why didn't you think she would refuse?〕
Kronos questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity.
'I told you, she acts on impulse and interest.'
Those ten consecutive matches? They were just bait, a way to pique her interest and make her overconfident. Kim Mijeong probably thought she had barely lost each time, but he had been holding back, toying with her.
'She probably thinks she has an advantage because of her unique trait.'
[The Thief's 7 Tools]
A trait that allows the user to exert control over their body and manifest various abilities.
It's not an exceptionally powerful trait, but she uses it to manipulate her aura as well, resulting in a versatile and unpredictable fighting style.
〔And yet you still held back?〕
'Knowledge is power.' Yoojin thought.
Information asymmetry, the advantage of a regressor—this was the perfect example of how to exploit it.
He had lured her in, this mad dog, with the promise of a challenge, the allure of the unknown. And now, she was his.
Even at this moment, she glared at Yoojin with a strange, almost obsessive look in her eyes.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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