Kagakang! Metal slammed against metal, and sparks flew through the darkness. Han Yoojin's sword was knocked high up by Song Taewon's strength and scraped a long gash into the pillar right beside them. Song Taewon's hand roughly seized Han Yoojin's collar as he staggered hard. Just before he could be dragged in and thrown down, Han Yoojin spun his sword in a circle and sliced through his own clothes in an instant.
The relatively smaller body, already halfway lifted, shot up along the same direction it had been pulled. Planting a hand on Song Taewon's shoulder, he rolled over behind him with the nimbleness of a squirrel. At the same time, he threw a bomb toward Song Taewon's front.
Kwaang!
The powerful explosion struck Song Taewon in the chest. Having already flipped behind him, Han Yoojin took no damage at all as he kicked off Song Taewon's broad back and instantly widened the distance.
"You should think about weight class, seriously. That's so dirty—whoa!"
Crunch! The end of a golden chain pierced straight through the spot Han Yoojin had just been standing. Sung Hyunjae reeled the chain back in and closed in tight on Han Yoojin as he sprang away. The heel of his shoe skimmed low across the floor, aiming at Han Yoojin's ankle, but just slightly faster than that, a golden tail rose up and blocked the strike.
Thud! The tail that had knocked away the kick rippled like a wave. Dark red-black flames flared up, used as a smokescreen, and Han Yoojin's figure vanished from before Sung Hyunjae's eyes. Teleportation. Even if Sung Hyunjae guessed the route with Combat Foresight, it was difficult to completely block movement that fast.
And Han Yoojin was not attacking Sung Hyunjae right now, but Song Taewon. Since it was Combat Foresight and nothing more, it did not work especially well against an opponent who was trying to evade rather than charge in.
Craaack—
Hardly had the heat of the explosion faded when one of Song Taewon's legs froze over. Instead of breaking the ice, Song Taewon wrapped Plunder around his hand and raised it before his own head. At the same instant, a blade of black flames came flying in as if to split Song Taewon's head clean open.
Kkadeudeuk!
A large hand caught the blade, and Han Yoojin, unable to win in a contest of raw strength, let go without regret and pulled back. The corner of his mouth rose toward Song Taewon.
"Why struggle this much?"
The blade caught in Song Taewon's grip burst apart into dozens of flames. Shadows flickered over his rigid face.
"When I'm just a pitiful victim bound by moonlight."
Flying out into the open center of the department store with his wings spread, Han Yoojin spoke.
"Are you not worried about me at all? It's an avatar body, sure, but I'm the one who feels the pain. Look at this, my neck."
He tilted his head to one side as though showing it off. Even with S-rank stats, there was a blue bruise there.
"Even though it was only a glancing hit, it still ended up like this. Were you thinking of snapping my neck outright while you were at it?"
Instead of answering, Song Taewon put strength into his frozen leg. Crack. The foot that had been stuck fast to the floor tore free, rose, then slammed down hard. The ice wrapped white around his leg shattered apart.
"To be honest, I get on your nerves, don't I?"
Pretending to cross his legs and sit in midair, Han Yoojin continued. The posture resembled the one Sung Hyunjae usually took.
"There must definitely have been times you wanted to get rid of me."
"No."
"Do not answer."
Sung Hyunjae said that as he lightly mounted the railing. Han Yoojin's silver eyes curved into a bright smile.
"Oh yes. I'm just an F-rank you can ignore anyway."
At the same time, Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon's brows both drew together.
"So it's only right that I should keep my mouth shut and follow along with whatever I'm told, trembling in front of S-ranks, even if I get dragged around and choked, huh~ So terribly sorry about that. I didn't know my place. What was that? Ah, since neither of you says anything, I guess you both agree—"
"Han Yoojin-ssi."
"Why, S-rank-ssi? Ah, no, I shouldn't lump the admirable Chief Secretary Song Taewon in with ordinary S-ranks. He's someone who devotes his body to the country and lives frugally, almost like some plain common citizen who's nothing special. Even if he is still an S-rank."
Han Yoojin tilted his head as though he truly could not understand.
"If you hate being an S-rank yourself, why did you put your hands around someone else's neck instead of your own? Non-Awakened, Awakened, F-rank, S-rank, lamb or wolf, once you die, that's the end! Once you die, it's all~ the same. Isn't that what you wanted?"
So I'm telling you, I'll kill you for that.
The moonlight wrapped around Han Yoojin's body rippled. Sung Hyunjae immediately spread his chains out wide. Jalgreong! From within the moonlight, several silver chains shot out, and Han Yoojin, standing on top of them, suddenly shrank.
Grabbing onto the moonlight chains weaving chaotically through the interior of the building, his small body shot forward as though riding a high-speed train. Several chains were blocked and tangled in gold, but the chain Han Yoojin clung to brushed past Sung Hyunjae's outstretched fingertips and in an instant reached Song Taewon.
"I'm telling you, if I buy cookies, I always end up eating them all!"
Kang!
The end of the chain slammed like a bullet into Song Taewon's forearm wrapped in Plunder. At the same time, Han Yoojin sprang off the chain and returned to his original size. Spinning sharply through the air like a top, his nails aimed for Song Taewon's neck while his tail lashed out viciously like a whip. It was an attack carrying both Black Blood Flames and poison.
Song Taewon could not use Plunder with both arms at once. The hand wearing the SS-rank handcuffs blocked the dragon claws, but black flames climbed up around Song Taewon's wrist. Cloth burned away, and even the solid skin strengthened by reinforcement weakened beneath the heat.
Still caught by Song Taewon's hand, Han Yoojin pressed his upper body in close as though being dragged in and opened his mouth wide. Fangs that were no longer human showed themselves, and then crunch! he bit into the weakened arm. Right after that, Song Taewon drove his head toward Han Yoojin's skull as he raised his arm.
"Ah!"
Han Yoojin, startled out of his wits, beat his wings and tore free. Healing skills were of little use against dizziness that shook the entire skull. Since it was not direct damage from an attack, pain transfer was impossible as well. Song Taewon's hand seized one of his wavering wings brutally.
Poison and the stat-reduction skill seeped through the bite wound, but the effects would not show immediately. Because he also had a poison-resistance item, he prioritized attacking over healing.
Gripping Han Yoojin's wing and the back of his neck tightly, Song Taewon planted one foot hard into the floor. Then, putting his weight into it, he swung Han Yoojin's body in a great circle.
Kwaaaang!
With a tremendous crash, the entire second floor of the department store shook violently. Han Yoojin's back smashed through the floor and dropped below. Once more, kwaang! A huge hole opened in the first floor as well. Falling all the way through two floors into basement level one, Han Yoojin rolled, smashing display stands and fixtures as he tumbled.
"Ah… damn."
My whole body hurts.
"…Sticky."
One arm had plunged into a cake. A decorative cherry rolled down by his ear. If he had not used a shield skill on his back, his spine would have been completely shattered. Han Yoojin sprang upright and looked up at the hole in the ceiling.
"He's probably healed already."
Clicking his tongue, he shot upward. He did not go straight to the second floor but circled through the large central space on the first floor and flew back up to the second. As expected, Song Taewon's wrist had already been healed. Han Yoojin threw the cake he had brought at the two of them. Splat. White whipped cream burst and spread at the feet of Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon.
"You're dodging someone else's sincerity. Is it because you don't want to eat something I'm giving you?"
"In Han Yoojin-ssi's case, having him fed is more my taste."
"You gobble things up just fine when it's from other people, though?"
"As if. I'm pickier than I look."
The tip of Sung Hyunjae's shoe slowly pressed into the whipped cream and smeared it.
"Food is something that goes into the body and becomes blood and flesh, isn't it. Ordinary meals are one thing, but as gifts, I do not give or receive them lightly."
"Oh really?"
Han Yoojin cocked one brow up. Wearing a smile as though soothing him, Sung Hyunjae said,
"Of course. In fact, there are only two people I've ever brought into my home and cooked for myself. Dear Han Yoojin-ssi, and our Chief Secretary Song Taewon."
"You didn't even give any to Soyoung-ssi once?"
"She'd recoil in disgust and run away saying she'd get indigestion."
The words that circled around it but emphasized it clearly enough—that Han Yoojin was not some ordinary F-rank, but special to him—made Han Yoojin shrug.
"Well, our Yoohyun's picky about food too. He likes what I make the most."
"That young master would naturally only want to eat what Han Yoojin-ssi gives him. You are the only person he can truly feel safe with."
"You do say pretty words."
Han Yoojin's lips twisted slightly. For some reason, the silver eyes instead sharpened more fiercely.
"That means words are still enough to smooth things over for you, even now."
"Shall I be honest, then?"
Sung Hyunjae's hand brushed long through the hair that had fallen over his forehead. Beneath the gloved hand, shadow fell over his eyes, and for a moment they narrowed sharply.
"I want to pin you down and crush you."
Han Yoojin broke into a bright smile.
"And here I thought you said you'd protect me!"
"That is why I'm restraining myself."
"If you're going to restrain yourself, then back off entirely!"
Giggling, Han Yoojin spread his wings wide. With a single flap, his body shot upward. He passed the third and fourth floors swiftly and reached the seventh in an instant. Then he vanished beyond the railing. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon both frowned.
"…What is he trying to do?"
"I'm not a prophet."
At first Sung Hyunjae had thought Han Yoojin would blow open the ceiling of the top floor and draw in moonlight, but he had stopped at the seventh.
"Just in case, do not go up."
It was a building with over ten floors, so even if a hole were opened in the ceiling, it would be difficult for the light to reach the lower levels. Before long, Han Yoojin reappeared. A faint humming could be heard, and he threw bombs toward the ceiling.
Kwa-gwa-gwang—!
Building debris rained down in a shower, and a huge hole opened in the ceiling. Moonlight began creeping in, but the places directly affected only reached around the sixth floor. Dodging the debris here and there, Han Yoojin dusted off the powder that had landed in his hair and turned his gaze downward.
"At a time like this, I know better than anyone."
Han Yoojin spread both arms wide like wings. From his fingertips, shhrrr, something fine spread out.
They were dozens of fishing lines.
"Dungeon byproducts are insanely expensive, after all. So compared to everyday goods…"
Hobbies. Among them, it was only natural that sports where equipment greatly affected results would develop first. Unlike the second floor, which was centered on pure dungeon items and luxury accessories, the seventh housed high-end sporting goods stores. Among them, there were several fishing lines so fine they could have been dungeon items in their own right. They were meant for catching monster-grade fish within dungeons.
"A pricey hobby even Seseong Guild's Guild Leader enjoys!"
Moonlight seeped into the fishing lines spread wide like a spiderweb. Even the highest-grade fishing lines for dungeon use could take on attribute power and possessed strength not far below mid-grade combat wire. Of course, the degree to which they accepted attributes was only at the level of low-grade items, but the crescent moon's moonlight settled into things comparatively easily, more so than other attributes.
And those translucent fishing lines were items that paired especially well with moonlight.
Silver strands carrying a soft glow came loose thread by thread. At the center, Han Yoojin bent his body toward the floor below. His golden wings snapped shut, and he dropped straight toward the second floor.
"Move!"
From within the rippling silver light, Sung Hyunjae shouted to Song Taewon. Song Taewon instantly vacated the spot, and golden chains tore through the web of threadlike lines.
Kwarreung!
Gold exploded. The light, dazzling enough to scorch the eyes, swallowed the soft silver glow and raged madly. Every railing on the second floor shattered, the ceiling and part of the third floor's base burned black. The first floor too, already a mess with overpowering fragrance, was swept by the fierce current.
In air so dry even the moisture seemed burned away—
Jalgreong!
A bell-like sound, absurdly faint compared to thunder, rang out. More than a dozen silver lines accepted the golden downpour and burned away, but far more remained. At the very center where silver and gold tangled and crossed, scattering light, Han Yoojin smiled. His black hair drifted as though submerged underwater.
Sung Hyunjae stared up at that sight as if engraving it into his eyes.
To him, all beings around him were no more than creatures to be raised. Whether non-Awakened, high-ranking Awakened, or born S-rank. Everything stood beneath him and never held his interest beyond the briefest fascination.
Song Taewon, directly tied to Sung Hyunjae's survival, had been the sole exception. But even he sought to suppress and kill not Sung Hyunjae, but himself.
That was why a battle that could truly satisfy Sung Hyunjae had been impossible. The ones capable of killing him existed outside the world. Every one of the many worlds he had passed through had been like that. A fight with an opponent incapable of threatening him was as boring as a simple sport played with perfect protective gear under strict rules.
What joy could there possibly be in a scuffle that at most left a few bruises?
Compared to the repetitive monotony of everyday life, it could at least serve as a small stimulus. That was all.
"If Han Yoojin-ssi were to come at me with the intention of killing me."
That would make him happier than anything.
"Too bad. Tonight isn't your turn."
The crescent moon would not harm Sung Hyunjae. Sung Hyunjae's expression became slightly sullen, and the fishing lines swaying from the seventh floor drank in moonlight and began to drop.
As the gold was visibly pushed back, Sung Hyunjae withdrew the Searcher's Chains. Parts of the chains that had taken on gold while holding electricity now gleamed silver. The moment he wound them around himself protectively—
Kang! Kagang!
Silver chains began pounding savagely at Sung Hyunjae's entire body, at the chains wrapped around him. Then the shining silver threads brightened the inside of the second floor as they shot out strand by strand. Having trapped Sung Hyunjae with chains, Han Yoojin ran across the silver threads in search of Song Taewon.
"There's not much time left now."
He had poured out not only Chainling's power, but too much of the crescent moon's as well. As though aware of that, the urge hammering at the inside of his head only grew stronger.
Erase the shadow that will soon swallow the full moon.
Han Yoojin wet his lips, dried by the wave of electricity, with his tongue.
"Chief Secretary Song can't run away. Not while leaving me behind."
Had he gone to the first floor? Or basement level one? Or the connected subway? That would be troublesome. But the place where Han Yoojin picked up Song Taewon's presence was the third floor. Silver threads rapidly occupied the third floor. Crunch, they pierced display windows and coiled around mannequins.
Sliding over the silver threads spread in every direction, Han Yoojin charged at Song Taewon, who stood tall in darkness streaked with moonlight. Song Taewon met the silver gaze fixed on him with ferocity.
On the outside, he looked as blank-faced as ever, but he was already tired and worn. As always, but now more than ever, it felt like he was sinking deeper into a swamp. It would surely be easier if he were buried clear over the top of his head and his breathing simply stopped, but Song Taewon did not possess the slyness needed to seek out the comfortable path for himself.
So he moved.
Death was a sweet temptation, but precisely because of that, he raised his arms and bent his legs and resisted the force crashing down on him.
Using tautly stretched silver threads like bowstrings, Han Yoojin's body shot forward fiercely.
Kwa-ga-gak—!
The sword made of Black Flames struck hard against the handcuffs. With the added charge of support skills and the elasticity of the silver threads, Song Taewon's feet were driven back, grinding slightly. Behind his back too, the fishing lines hanging everywhere dug sharply into his clothes and skin.
If he was wounded and could not heal in time, Song Taewon's stats would drop. And once his stats and strength fell, the outcome after that was obvious as fire.
"You can rest now."
Instead of answering, Song Taewon pulled on the sword caught in his grasp and threw his other fist. Han Yoojin raised an arm immediately to defend. The difference in strength was obvious, but just before the fist struck, ice wrapped around Han Yoojin's forearm like armor.
It was not merely simple ice. Its surface was wetted to be as slick as possible.
Kkajik!
Song Taewon's punch slipped slightly and struck Han Yoojin's arm. It was only a tiny slide, but it reduced the force enough that Han Yoojin could endure it. Having blocked Song Taewon's fist, Han Yoojin spun his body and launched a kick. But Song Taewon swiftly raised his knee and blocked that attack too.
At the same moment—
Jjeojeojeok—
The floor beneath Song Taewon's feet turned slick with ice. He had already been supporting himself on one leg to begin with. He blocked the attack, but Song Taewon's body slid backward helplessly. Silver threads wound savagely around his back and nape, and several drops of blood flew.
There were several wounds now. Sung Hyunjae still had not reached the third floor. And even if he did, all Han Yoojin needed to do was keep Song Taewon from using potions by restraining him with chains.
"It's really just a matter of time now."
During battle, it was no easy thing to take a potion out of one's inventory and treat wounds on one's back rather than the front. Han Yoojin attacked Song Taewon without mercy. Tudududuk, Song Taewon tore through the silver threads all over his body and retreated. Countless minor wounds opened here and there on him, and while receiving Han Yoojin's uninterrupted attacks, Song Taewon stamped the ground hard.
Kwaddeuk! The flooring cracked, and the fragments kicked up by Song Taewon's foot flew upward. The flying debris struck not Han Yoojin but the ceiling.
"What are you—"
And just as Han Yoojin blinked in confusion at the attack aimed in such an absurd direction—
Drip.
Liquid began to flow down from the broken ceiling.
Over Song Taewon's head.
"…Potion?!"
Potion poured down from a large water container. It was low-grade, but enough to treat the many superficial wounds covering his whole body. Han Yoojin let out a short laugh.
"That was clever."
He had swept up all the potions from the second floor, stored them in large containers, and hidden them here and there. So that he could break them when needed and use them.
"But what a shame."
Han Yoojin smiled sharply. His mana spread out even more delicately, detecting every liquid on the third floor.
"Normally it would be hard to handle potions strongly imbued with other people's mana, but I've got a mana imprint."
Kurureung!
Places all over the third floor burst open, and the hidden potions shot upward.
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