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Chapter 174: So This Is How They Get Recalled?

Choi Yeon-woo muttered as he gazed momentarily at the spot where Dang Sa-ryeon had vanished. It felt less like a gate and more like someone disappearing in a VR game.

“I can’t believe how those magic engineers create such functions; it’s always a wonder.”

Taking a deep breath, Yeon-woo directed his gaze at the bushes in the swamp. He thought he was hiding well enough, but it was meaningless since his opponent was Yeon-woo. He could clearly see the swirling aura like a mirage.

“I wonder if you enjoyed hiding and watching.”

There was no response from the bushes to Yeon-woo’s query. What’s this, ignoring me? Do they think they haven’t been caught?

“Hey, you! Excuse me, Moon Gi? Can you hear me?”

“……”

Even after he called out the name, Moon Gi didn’t react at all. Was I imagining it? Yeon-woo rubbed his eyes and looked again. No, it couldn’t be mistaken. They’re definitely there. Well, some people only wake up when the fire is at their feet.

Since we’re enemies here, there’s no problem attacking right away. With that thought in mind, Yeon-woo raised his voice.

“If you don’t answer in ten seconds, I’m going to set this place on fire~”

“Yikes! I’m coming out, I’m coming out!”

As soon as Yeon-woo threatened to ignite flames at his fingertips, Moon Gi tumbled out of the bushes. Rolling out with a shy front flip, Moon Gi cautiously looked around as if on high alert.

“So may I ask why you were quietly watching instead of joining in? Or should I just talk casually? Is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s fine~ We’re the same age, after all.”

With an overly casual demeanor, Moon Gi waved a hand like a neighborhood aunt, causing Yeon-woo to pinch the bridge of his nose. What is this person doing?

“Uh, were you saying why I was watching? Honestly, I didn’t want to jump into the fight; watching was just more fun.”

With that friendly smile, Moon Gi gave Yeon-woo an indescribable feeling. How to express this… After pondering for a moment, Yeon-woo clapped his hands once.

“Aha, so this is what they call ‘infuriating’?”

“Why are you suddenly saying something strange?”

With a look that seemed to say he’d seen all kinds of weird people, Moon Gi stared at Yeon-woo. Is that so… To me, you seem infuriating, but to you, I must be equally infuriating…

There was no denying that. Honestly, the way I talk is indeed infuriating. Realizing that, Yeon-woo cleared his throat.

“If you’re not going to fight, either back off or forfeit. I need to rest and go catch some other guys.”

“Can I watch, though?”

“Why the heck would you want to watch, you brat? Can I take you down first?”

“Hey, don’t be like that. Instead, can’t I help out a bit?”

“Wait, are you saying you’d forfeit?”

“Not really. If I was just representing my sect, I might consider it, but we’re in a place where the honor of each academy is at stake, right? You trusted me to be here, so I can’t betray that.”

“Hey, that sounds like you’re planning to swoop in with the finishing blow after watching.”

“Uh, you’re right?”

Yeon-woo frowned at Moon Gi’s awkward laughter. What the heck is this kid? Should I just eliminate him? Since Bailey and Almerin are the only ones left, I don’t want to waste strength.

“Oh, then if I take someone out, will you let me go?”

“Uhm? That’s fine, but… you seem pretty confident?”

“Of course~ They seemed to have fought on their own side already, so why not?”

With Yeon-woo being the one who organized this fight, he struggled to find something to say in response.

Honestly, it seemed like a reasonable condition. Fighting all four of them at once might be too much, but taking them down one by one seemed doable.

In truth, anyone who doesn’t have that kind of confidence wouldn’t even be chosen as a representative for the last one standing. It’s disappointing not to achieve a clean sweep, but the truth is, I don’t want to fight a perfectly healthy guy who just stood by and watched.

“Fine, I’ll stay here and take a break, so you take one out. Then I’ll let you watch.”

“Yep, got it!”

Moon Gi, responding with a feisty voice, jumped and dashed into the bushes. After watching him for a moment, Yeon-woo sprawled out on the soft ground away from the swamp.

“Let’s see how you handle this.”

How dare you peek at my game while refusing to show yours? If you’ve seen mine, you’ve got to show yours too~

*

Dang Sa-ryeon, who had forfeited, shrugged upon realizing someone else had fallen before him. At least he managed to save some face.

Leaving the arena with determined steps, Dang Sa-ryeon stopped in a deserted area and scribbled something on the ground before leaving.

A little while later, a green shadow appeared at the spot. Dang Myeon, the member of the Nokpungdae assigned to Dang Sa-ryeon, stopped and looked at what had been marked.

“Ah, this girl is such a headache…”

– Investigate the internal malpractices and illegal activities within the Dang family.

Defying that order was an unimaginable idea for Dang Myeon. What if he got his neck cut off for something like this?

“Ugh, people say if you want to die, you can do whatever you want, but… I don’t want to die…”

Muttering complaints, Dang Myeon kicked up the dirt and leaped in the direction opposite to where Dang Sa-ryeon had vanished.

*

“Oh ho.”

The beastkin were not a tribe that prominently revealed themselves, so to Yeon-woo, they were unfamiliar.

Moreover, like the beastkin, the way the beastkin fought varied greatly depending on which animal was mixed in with their genetics.

It was easy to guess that defining the fighting style of the beastkin would be quite challenging.

Still, he had an idea about their inclination. If the beastkin adapted animal traits in human fighting, the beastkin mirrored human traits to fight like beasts, Yeon-woo surmised as he observed Moon Gi’s battle.

With one hand skillfully wielding a whip, lightning struck. As his clothing fluttered, the wind swirled, and he even breathed out fire.

‘Just as I expected, it’s a Taoist technique.’

[What’s a Taoist technique?]

‘Huh? Was there no Taoist technique in your world?’

[Nope. I’ve never heard of it. What is it?]

…How do I explain this?

As he tried to think of a way to explain, he realized it was incredibly complicated.

It seemed he belonged to the Hunter department, but what he was using was practically magic. If he mentioned it was cultivated using teachings from Taoism, they’d probably ask questions and Yeon-woo didn’t have the knowledge to answer those.

[Ah, I see.]

I can’t believe I forgot I had a listening device in my ear. Hadn’t we agreed not to do such things for the sake of privacy, Shar?

[Hehe, I forgot.]

‘You think cuteness will save you? I won’t forgive you.’

Shar’s cuteness was an unavoidable aspect, a brutally overpowering violence that humanity could not resist…

‘But the matchups aren’t great.’

Lightning strikes, fire erupts, and wind blasts. Yet, the opponent didn’t appear to falter at all.

‘The Rogue’ Bailey Crawford. The top contender at the Freedom Academy, this boy hailed as America’s best marksman didn’t give a damn about what his opponent did.

At the optimal moment, the revolver he drew fired off. He thought he fired just once, yet three bullets flew and lodged into Moon Gi’s body. The mana-infused bullets pierced through the giraffe scales.

“Ugh…”

Moon Gi groaned in pain. More than anything, the rope around his neck had become quite bothersome.

The lasso, known as a cowboy’s lariat, seemed to be exerting some magic-like pressure as it tightened around his neck.

“Ha ha! I don’t know what it is, but it’s working! Do you have any beastmen ancestors!? That thing only works on animals!”

“Why did you bring something like that to the Last One Standing!? …Wait, are you targeting Lady Dang Sa-ryeon!?”

“Wait!! Stop using societal death attacks when you can’t win in a fight!!”

It seemed quite enjoyable to battle, and those guys—especially Moon Gi—were having a blast even while getting hit.

But, I never anticipated he’d bring something like a capturing rope. However, even aside from that, Moon Gi was overall struggling against Bailey.

Moon Gi maintained a human form, seemingly unable to reveal his beastkin features, while fighting by altering parts of his body into that of a giraffe.

It looked as if he was using a technique to transform rather than displaying his true form.

Nevertheless, the influence of him being a beast was evident in his fighting style. A kick from behind—something that hadn’t been apparent while wielding the whip—was a prime example.

And against someone like Moon Gi, Bailey moved with a predatory ease. Watching over this scene, Yeon-woo thought it made perfect sense.

The region where the Freedom Academy was located in the West of the American continent was known as the land of cowboys and encompassed various quadruped beasts.

Guarding the plains where creatures from herbivores to saber-toothed tigers and dinosaurs roamed, they were the cowboys of freedom.

In battling four-legged beasts, they had more experience than anyone else. That was the essence of the Freedom’s cowboys.

‘Man, this Moon Gi got himself in over his head.’

No way to win this one. It’s just plain unfair.

*

“Phew, wow. Not even Crazy Fire could spring around like this.”

Watching Moon Gi collapse and get recalled, Bailey wiped the ash from his brow. Since Moon Gi had been jumping around and emitting various things, he had a few scratches. But, due to a favorable matchup, it hadn’t been hard to secure the victory.

Bailey quickly gathered up the lasso lying on the ground and rolled sideways, maneuvering to shoot behind him. He sensed a presence suddenly emerging from his back.

A shadow blade flew and embedded itself in the spot where Bailey had just crouched.

Thud!!

One bullet aimed straight ahead, and the other redirected towards a tree nearby—the hope was at least one of them would hit, as he turned to face the assailant.

Coincidentally, the attacker dodged both shots. Evading the bullets fired directly, they deflected the ricocheting bullet with their sword.

“Hey, long time no see, Choi Yeon-woo!”

“It’s been a while since the Coliseum. To be honest, we’re not that close, are we?”

“Exactly, that’s why I can fight comfortably!!”

With an aggressive grin, Yeon-woo lunged at Bailey.

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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