Chapter 71 of 100
Chapter 71
6 min read1,457 words
Chapter 70. Life +4 (1)
Shaking.
My hands were trembling. If I could, I would have killed him in one blow.
But I couldn't make the decision easily.
‘No, I can't interfere here...’
The opponent was the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall.
A supreme expert.
How could I possibly defeat someone who wields demonic powers at a transcendent level?
I would never survive if I challenged him. But if I didn't, Jipseong...
9... 8...
The countdown appeared before my eyes as I pondered seriously.
In an instant, my mind raced, and I made a decision.
‘No, it's fine. If I think about it, it's too risky.’
Even if the opponent was the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall.
Currently, Jipseong and I are members of the Yin-Ying Corps, and Jipseong is my direct subordinate.
Even if the main school values strength, unreasonable demands must have a justifiable reason.
It didn't seem like a worrying situation would easily arise.
<You have chosen 'Wait a bit more.'>
I decided to wait. Below my line of sight, Jipseong bit his lip as he looked at the sword that had fallen to the ground.
He must have known too.
What the opponent meant by throwing the sword.
“Hahahaha.”
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall smiled, his face filled with the expectation of a cruel spectacle.
Swoosh.
Jipseong, who was slowly reaching for the sword, paused his movement.
“What reason do you have to treat me like this?”
Looking up at the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall, he spoke.
“What?”
A moment of silence.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall's face showed disbelief. Jipseong continued slowly.
“I am a member of the Yin-Ying Corps, under the command of Master Gonma. If my actions are displeasing, you can file a formal complaint.”
“...”
“If you pressure me because you didn't mention where my superior is, Master Gonma will not let this go.”
‘That’s it.’
I cheered inwardly at Jipseong's words.
Righteous cause. It was the best move for a Yin-Ying Corps member to counter with.
Of course, it's natural to follow the orders of a higher-ranking person in the main school, but the Yin-Ying Corps is directly under the command of the fourth disciple, Gonma.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall's actions were clearly excessive. No matter how great he was, he couldn't just push Gonma aside.
“Hah. Hahaha!”
Perhaps because Jipseong mentioned the hierarchy and issued a quiet warning, the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall laughed.
But anyone could tell that his laugh was not a pleasant one.
“Black Shadow, come out.”
Thud.
The moment his laughter stopped, a shadow appeared beside him.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall's retainer. An incredible level of stealth. I hadn't seen him a moment ago.
“Surrounding area?”
“No one.”
“Is that so?”
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall nodded with a smirk. Then Black Shadow picked up the sword in front of Jipseong.
Gulp.
Jipseong's Adam's apple moved as he watched. His eyes wavered.
I felt the same.
I couldn't predict the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall's reaction or Black Shadow's actions.
Swoosh.
Black Shadow handed the sword to the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall, and I witnessed a shocking scene that made me doubt my eyes.
Thud!
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall plunged the sword deep into Black Shadow's body. Into his own subordinate who had just handed him the sword!
‘What, is he crazy!’
A curse burst out.
Stabbing his own retainer? I was so bewildered that I doubted whether what I was seeing was real.
Swish.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall pulled out the sword he had stabbed.
“...Cough.”
Black Shadow, despite having his chest pierced and blood flowing, remained standing in a rigid posture.
“Here.”
Snap.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall handed the sword, pulled from Black Shadow's chest, to him again.
And then he gave the order.
“Kill him.”
His murderous voice echoed softly around.
* * *
Bang!
The atmosphere changed.
Jipseong quickly stepped back, drawing his sword and taking a defensive stance.
Both he and I knew why the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall had stabbed Black Shadow in the chest just now.
He was creating a pretext to kill Jipseong.
<What will you choose?>
▷ Wait a bit more.
‘Damn... this bastard!’
As I thought this, I realized.
Why I hated the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall.
He doesn't see people as people. That's the kind of person he is.
The same goes for his decision to kill Jipseong just now. It wasn't because Jipseong had disobeyed his orders or hurt his authority.
Just because he didn't like it.
Just because he wanted to kill him.
Thinking about it, our bad relationship started the same way. Initially, the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall didn't care about my office when he wandered around the Imperial Hall.
But when I was caught searching his office, he started to torment me relentlessly.
‘At first, I thought I was being punished for my mistake.’
Daring to search a superior's office, so I deserved punishment? That wasn't the reason.
Just because I was visible.
He wanted to crush me.
It was absurd, but that was all there was to it. If he really wanted to punish me, the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall could have killed me with a single move.
Instead, he deliberately gave me a mission to be killed by a righteous expert.
The reason was simple. It was more humiliating that way.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall just, really, just enjoys tormenting someone and laughing at their suffering.
It seemed like he had come here to crush me like a bug.
9... 8...
‘Damn it. Damn it!’
I was in a dilemma at the moment of choice.
Should I intervene?
If I don't, Jipseong will die. That's certain.
But even if I step in, the situation won't change.
The power gap is too obvious.
[State Summary, Status Summary]
Black Shadow [Retainer of the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall]
Health 5,000,000/7,000,000
Internal Energy 7,000,000/7,000,000
Realm: Supreme
Coin: Life +4
Combat Power: 8,700,000
Even ignoring the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall, his retainer Black Shadow alone has a combat power of 8,700,000.
Although his health was reduced by 2,000,000 from his master's attack just now, he still possessed an overwhelming combat power.
‘Damn it. What kind of retainer...’
Despite all the numerous fortuitous events and efforts, and repeated training, I...
Couldn't even defeat the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall, let alone his retainer.
4... 3...
I know.
The best choice is not to intervene.
Jipseong will die no matter what, and if I get involved, I'll just add to the pointless deaths.
‘I'm sorry... Jipseong.’
Therefore, I...
Had to make a cowardly choice.
<You have chosen 'Wait a bit more.'>
Time flowed again.
Jipseong, who had drawn his sword, had a solemn expression, while Black Shadow stood with an unusually relaxed posture, despite his severe injuries.
Only her eyes were visible under the mask, and she showed a strange smile.
The brief silence continued.
Swish.
The distance closed in an instant.
“Gasp!”
Jipseong's collarbone shattered without any defense, and the sword pierced his shoulder.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Black Shadow, without giving him a chance to resist, pulled out the sword and stabbed it into his abdomen and thigh three times.
Gasp.
Watching this made my teeth grind.
But it was a level of skill that could only elicit admiration.
‘The skill gap is too big.’
Even Jipseong, who leads dozens of commandos, was powerless against the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall's retainer.
“Gasp! Cough! Cough!”
At this level of combat, it was practically impossible to resist. Jipseong didn't even counterattack once.
He couldn't even defend, almost defenseless.
‘Bastards!’
Watching, I became increasingly agitated.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Black Shadow, despite being able to kill Jipseong with one strike, didn't do so.
Instead, he was slicing Jipseong's flesh thinly, like peeling a fruit.
Causing extreme pain and inducing bleeding in the wound areas, making the person collapse on their own.
A one-sided hunt.
Even just watching this made my blood boil.
“Enough.”
Snap.
At some point, the Grand Master of the Imperial Hall spoke, and Black Shadow's movements stopped.
“Gasp! Cough...”
Jipseong was already half-insane.
The injuries were severe enough to be fatal if not treated immediately.
The Grand Master of the Imperial Hall approached him calmly.
“Do you know this?”
Looking down at the fallen Jipseong, he sneered at him, unsure if he was still lucid.
“The commander you are so loyal to. In reality, he's a guy who abandoned his subordinates.”
“...?”
A slight trem