MLCAI 16

Chapter 16

It was only because the opponent was an Awakened that he could dodge at the very last moment. If Kang Suho had also been Awakened, that man would have had a hole blown through his face.

Kang Suho delivered such a sudden, precise strike and then vanished smoothly, cloak flowing behind him.

Perfect timing, perfect angle, perfect positioning.

Saebyeok couldn’t help but recall the days when she fought back-to-back with him.

With him, no words or signals were ever needed. Their combat moves matched as if they shared a single brain.

A sudden pang of longing gripped her heart and vanished just as quickly.

It was a time she never wanted to return to—but it was ironic that even there, something could be missed.

“Sihoo.”

Saebyeok, still caught in the afterglow of her emotions, flew up through the hole in the ceiling using <Blow> and spoke.

“When this situation is over, will you live with me?”

“With you…?”

Sihoo looked at her, swallowing nervously while scanning the surroundings.

He tried to stay composed, but there was no stopping his heartbeat from growing loud enough for Saebyeok to hear.

“Yeah. My house has lots of good food. There’s also a brother who cooks well.”

“A brother who cooks well… husband…?”

Sihoo asked, glancing nervously. His frequent blinking betrayed how tense he was.

“Ahaha! That’s a gross way to put it. He’s family, yes, but…”

“Ah…”

Quick-witted and smarter than his age, the child immediately realized that the “brother” Saebyeok referred to wasn’t her husband, but her sibling.

Perhaps that’s why the tension in his face eased a little.

“…Yes. I want to live with you.”

Even as he answered, he kept glancing around, checking if it was okay to say such a bold thing, or if he was being improper.

Saebyeok, seeing such a mature attitude in a child, hugged Sihoo tighter. She rested her cheek on his small, soft forehead and spoke.

“So it’s your job to convince your brother, then?”

Unaware that this question was part of Saebyeok’s scheme, the child grabbed her collar tightly and nodded enthusiastically, eyes full of expectation.

Satisfied with the trap she’d set, Saebyeok lifted her spear.

“Then let’s finish this. <Glimmer>.”

Still hovering high in the sky, Saebyeok aimed the spear toward the ground and drew a large circle.

The light spheres shot out from the spear and scattered into the surrounding bushes.

The forest, previously dark except for the lights from the buildings and the Glory Guild gathering, suddenly brightened.

It was illuminated as if street lamps had been installed everywhere, almost as bright as a city. From one corner, a gasp could be heard.

“Hghaaah!”

She turned her gaze toward the source of the noise and saw the cult leader tumbling to the ground as he ran.

He had fled immediately after his totem was destroyed.

All his power came from the totem, which he had used to subtly brainwash the Scavenger Guild members, keeping them obedient.

But with the totem shattered, all the brainwashing was undone.

It was obvious the Scavenger Guild members, now fully aware of the truth, would turn their blades against him.

Yesterday’s comrades were today’s enemies. His only choice left was to run.

Already tense and fleeing frantically, he was inevitably startled when the previously dark forest suddenly lit up.

“Bingo.”

Saebyeok pulled her spear arm back and assumed a throwing stance.

“<Lightning>.”

Electricity began to gather at both ends of the spear.

Unlike when she restrained her power to stealthily subdue the opponent, she now unleashed her full magical power.

With the skill pushed to its maximum, sparks flew everywhere.

Crack, crackle.

They hit the tree branches, setting trees on fire. When they hit the buildings, walls crumbled.

But Saebyeok didn’t stop; she poured even more power into the spear.

!! Warning !!

Available mana has dropped below 5%.

“Hmm.”

Despite the system warning, Saebyeok let out a sly, wicked smile.

!! Warning !!

Available mana has dropped below 1%.

If mana reaches 0%, you will enter <Mana Depletion> state. Be cautious.

“System, have you forgotten?”

Ignoring the warnings, she continued to pour her mana, scraping every last bit.

!! Warning !!

Available mana has reached 0%!

You are entering <Mana Depletion> state!

“Even mana depletion….”

!! Notification !!

An abnormal status has been detected.

You are unaffected due to <Passive: Heaven’s Care (S)>.

“Abnormal status!”

Saebyeok swung her arms fiercely.

Whoooosh—!

The spear sliced through the air and struck the fleeing cult leader’s back.

Boom!

A deafening roar shook the sky as lightning struck from above, splitting the heavens.

“Gyaaah!!”

The ground trembled violently, as if a meteor had hit, and sank slightly.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense about the Devil’s punishment, you better be ready to face divine punishment yourself, you cultist!”

Saebyeok’s whispered words barely left her teeth before another thunderclap shook the land.

“…?”

Even after the attack, Saebyeok was momentarily confused by the thunder that followed a beat later.

!! Notification !!

<Separation Anxiety Spear (B)> reacts to the owner’s emotions.

Skills stored in <Passive: Attachment Skill> have been activated.

Another lightning bolt split the sky, striking directly above the cult leader’s head.

Ka-bang!

The bolt was more erratic than before, scattering in all directions with explosive sounds.

Flames erupted around the massive crater that formed instantly.

“…”

Saebyeok blinked in surprise.

The spear, stuck in the cult leader’s scorched back, vibrated as if fuming—it was palpable to her.

“What the…?”

And it was only B-rank?

It made no sense. Ego Weapons that react to the owner’s emotions were supposed to be S-rank traits.

She was momentarily stunned by the unexpected turn of events, her body swaying.

“Uwah!”

“Nu-nuna!”

Having drawn mana into <Lightning>, she expected <Blow> to be interrupted.

But the spear distracted her, and she momentarily lost her balance.

Still, as an S-rank hunter, landing shouldn’t be a problem.

Looking down, Saebyeok gasped.

“Crazy! Move!”

Thud, thump!

A man suddenly leapt forward, catching Saebyeok and Sihoo as they fell, rolling across the ground.

Saebyeok, caught off guard, clung to him while also holding onto Sihoo, tumbling across the dirt.

Cough! Cough!

She involuntarily inhaled dust and coughed.

“You’re insane?! Trying to die? What if we jumped down like that!”

She sprang up to inspect the man who had caught them.

Covered in leaves and dirt, he slowly rose, staring at her with unreadable eyes.

Deep as the abyss, or perhaps looking into it, his dark blue eyes stirred a strange mixture of anger in her chest.

“How can you catch a Hunter with a normal body! An S-rank Hunter can’t even land properly?!”

Her throat felt blocked, as if someone had stuffed it with stones.

Her voice grew louder, fueled by emotion, as she clenched her neck and shouted.

“Seriously, at Seoul Station last time too… why are people this reckless!”

Even a moment’s lapse could reveal her complex emotions, so all she did was raise her voice.

“Let me see. Any injuries…?”

Saebyeok checked his shoulders and arms. She expected they might be broken.

But he only had scratches from rolling. No serious injuries from catching her fall.

When he rolled up his sleeves, his wrists were red and swollen with bruises from being kicked.

Seeing the patchwork of bruises over old scars left her speechless.

Even though she already knew, why did it still make her heart feel so tangled…

Her throat felt constricted as if someone had grabbed her vocal cords, and she twisted her face in frustration.

“I’m fine.”

He spoke after noticing her expression, trying to pull his hand away to hide the wounds.

“What’s fine about that!”

Saebyeok’s emotions surged.

She grabbed his hand tighter.

Perhaps due to her sudden grip, he let out a suppressed whimper.

Saebyeok flinched momentarily but did not let go.

She pulled a potion for bruises from her inventory and poured it onto his wrists.

The blue potion was absorbed immediately upon contact.

The scars on his arms couldn’t be erased, but the redness and bruises on his wrists slowly healed.

The fact that no potion was left indicated how badly battered his body was.

Why did this upset her so much?

She bit her lower lip.

Fighting <Destruction>, she had seen much worse, but why did a mere wrist scrape stir her so deeply?

Her mind felt like blood was boiling in her head while icy shards filled her skull—a whirlwind of emotions.

She poured the potion onto both wrists, lips pressed together, when Kang Suho’s voice, calm despite being held above her, reached her ears.

“Are… you crying?”

He stammered, clearly flustered.