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Chapter 337

“Whoa, long time no see.”

“Y-Yeah. You must be here to participate in the fight, right? Let me guide you.”

Meeting Yang Mi-ryeo from behind was quite a surprise, but it also meant I could skip the tedious identity verification process. After exchanging simple greetings, I followed her as we moved forward.

“Have you been well? It must’ve been tough for a martial artist to live in Freedom.”

“It wasn’t too bad. I had my own struggles, but….”

At Yeon-woo’s casual question, Yang Mi-ryeo replied like that. It had been two years since I last saw her at the Harmony Festival, so I honestly couldn’t remember how I interacted with her back then. Based on her composed response, it seemed like not much had changed.

“It’s good to see you again after so long, but I don’t think this is the time for such greetings?”

“True enough. Let’s save the reunion for after that battle over there ends. You’re here to fight too, right? First, we need to meet with the rear officer to get your name on the list, so follow me closely.”

“Oh, you weren’t the rear officer? That makes sense. I thought there’s no way they’d assign someone like you to such a mismatched position.”

“Thanks for the compliment. You could say I’m just responsible for protecting the officer. Apparently, no one else can take that role due to my personality.”

Saying that, Yang Mi-ryeo grumbled about how a guard wasn’t even necessary in the first place, suggesting that she wanted to join the battle herself.

And who could blame her? Every martial artist dreams of rising to fame, especially when they come from a prestigious family that used to teach spear techniques to the royal army.

It’s not just about showcasing the excellence of the Yang family’s techniques in battle; it’s closely tied to their pride.

“So, who is the rear officer?”

“Someone you know well. They’re saying they don’t need a guard and to quickly send them to the battlefield, but the Hunter Guild isn’t accepting that.”

“Someone I know, huh… Is there such a person in America…?”

“Well, I wasn’t appointed just because I’m American or anything. They’re an expert, which is why they were chosen. And I’m not even American myself.”

Her answer left me completely baffled. It was ambiguous, but two things stuck out: she wasn’t American, and they were an expert in the current situation.

The most significant detail, however, was that she got the call-up for a guard role.

Freedom Academy had plenty of sharpshooters. Although other positions were a bit lacking, it didn’t mean those roles were of low quality. In fact, skilled warriors often gathered to build connections with outstanding sharpshooters.

But among them, Yang Mi-ryeo was undeniably one of the most exceptional. If they threw her into the battlefield, she’d sweep through the ranks. Why use someone like that as a guard? This was a big clue.

And interestingly enough, the person who fit all those clues emerged.

“…Could it be?”

“Yeah, you’re probably thinking of the right person.”

With that, Yang Mi-ryeo flung open the entrance of the tent. Inside, in the dim light, a small figure was sprawled out on a desk. They entered without a hint of hesitation.

“Get up, Sa-ryeon. We have a welcomed guest!”

“Ugh, I’d rather be left alone…. Wait, guest? Who… uh?”

The woman, Dang Sa-ryeon, raised her head with a very tired expression and quickly turned away to tidy herself up.

“It’s definitely just as you said….”

With a foul personality, not American, and an expert in toxins—no wonder their treatment methods looked so familiar among the patients I had seen in medical facilities of the Tang family.

“What did you say, Mi-ryeo?!”

“I didn’t say anything!”

In an instant, Dang Sa-ryeon, fixing her disheveled hair and clothes, rushed to grab Yang Mi-ryeo by the collar. They were certainly close, as expected.

*

“Of course, you’d come this way… I completely forgot about that fact.”

“You must not have received my message.”

“I was busy…”

“Looks that way.”

Even covered by makeup, the dark circles under her eyes were visible, prompting Yeon-woo to mumble with concern.

This wasn’t a person who usually showed their weaknesses, but maybe they felt comfortable enough to let it slip this time.

“You came to fight, right? I’ll get you registered quickly, so hurry up and get to it.”

“Hmm, what happens if I don’t register?”

“Then you might be a Demon King’s minion, and I won’t treat you. It’s a method to filter out demons.”

“Well, that’s not much of a concern for me. But still, just register me.”

If I just jumped into the battle, I’d probably get an earful later about how I participated without registering. It’s better not to give them ammunition.

Dang Sa-ryeon lazily began to jot down on the registration list placed on the desk, seeming annoyed. Normally, they’d be typing on a laptop or tablet, but it felt awkward that she was writing on paper.

Upon closer inspection, it looked like Yang Mi-ryeo was uploading the data online. She was clutching a tablet PC under her arm. In this day and age, being so bad with technology…

Given her personality, connections, and sheer cluelessness with machines, it was surprising how well she matched with Dang Sa-ryeon, creating a rather unexpected duo.

Seeing Dang Sa-ryeon moving sluggishly like a zombie made Yeon-woo feel pity as he spoke up.

“So, how’s the situation? Does it look okay?”

“…Well, it’s not as bad as I thought. The physicians are managing without overdoing it. They said you handled the seriously poisoned patients?”

“Tae-oh didn’t treat them; he just devoured them. He can’t consume all poisons, but if it’s related to the Demon King, he practically can.”

In the end, Apophis was affected by the Demon King, presenting poison reminiscent of a curse. If that’s the case, it was a battlefield where Tae-oh could shine.

By the way, was she working while looking this tired, despite her physicians managing to keep it together? That’s some serious responsibility she had.

“Even though the situation is bound to be tough, you’re here now, so maybe it’ll change a bit. Go lighten the workload. The physicians are fine, but I’m exhausted.”

“Alright, I’ll do my best. Just don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Why are you worried? If I feel like dying, I’ll rest myself.”

“You’re saying you’ll only rest when you feel like dying—what a fool you are.”

With a light punch, Yang Mi-ryeo playfully tapped Dang Sa-ryeon’s head. After unexpectedly being scolded, Dang Sa-ryeon pouted, tilting her head away.

“Let’s all go eat something delicious after this ends. Don’t die before that, okay?”

“If we do well, there’s no way I’ll die.”

“Well, that’s not entirely wrong.”

Listening to Dang Sa-ryeon’s whiny remarks, Yeon-woo stepped out of the tent. Right now, it was time to fight rather than talk, no matter what was going on.

*

The dead do not stop. Not at night, nor at dawn. It truly is the night of the living corpses.

There’s no greater advantage than soldiers not feeling tired in battle. Let’s set aside the fact that if they’re not purified, they’re like the undead. Once that’s introduced, the story goes completely off the rails.

The front lines have been fighting consistently from dawn to early morning. Bit by bit, the people in the rear have been retreating and adjusting their positions according to the movement of the front lines.

Thanks to the purification potion, their retreat was somewhat controlled. Without it, they might have been pushed back entirely.

“Damn it, it’s right over there…!!”

Bailey spat out a curse in frustration.

The gun couldn’t reach. In the back ranks, atop the throne the army carried, sat a massive mummy with its legs crossed. It was clear that this was the Demon King.

Yet, the gun couldn’t reach. Even if it did, the surrounding undead wouldn’t just stand by.

As they neared the Demon King, the undead grew stronger. Even if auras were mastered, charging into that mass would be tantamount to suicide given the tremendous disparity in strength among the undead.

However, the reason they couldn’t push in aggressively was due not only to the purification potion but also because of one man.

Covered in rotten flesh and filthy blood, disheveled and yet unwavering among the ranks—this man had been fighting in the same spot for nearly two days without moving.

Every time he swung his weapon, a contingent of the army was decimated and then recovered.

The third-ranked hunter in China, known for his infamous nickname “Suicidal Aspirant”—Ray Shin.

Many renowned hunters caught the eye, but the most outstanding performances were from Ray Shin and Cassie Kanari.

“Right side!! Apophis is coming!!”

In that moment, a voice that sounded like a scream erupted into the air.

Cassie, who had been holding back enemies around Ray, swiftly turned to target Apophis. She was the only one who could hold that over here…!!

[Kwaaaang!!]

[───?!]

A gigantic golden wolf appeared from behind the hunters, biting into Apophis and pushing it back toward the undead.

A whirlwind rose around the hunters. The poisonous mist surrounding Apophis soared into the sky, carried by the wind.

But even for a massive wolf, it was only about a quarter of Apophis’s size. Almost immediately, it regained its balance, attempting to wrap and push away the wolf when something even larger descended from above.

Kwaaaang!!

A dust cloud erupted as if a volcano had exploded. Shadows loomed over the heads of the hunters. Those looking up could only feel as though they’d stepped into a dome stadium.

It was a giant with bat-like wings. Its surface was covered in shimmering golden scales, twinkling like stars in the sky. The sudden appearance of this presumed ally, a colossal lizard, caused the hunters to exclaim in awe.

No hunter worth their name wouldn’t recognize that wolf. And surpassing even that, the name that immediately came to mind when one mentioned the golden dragon was unmistakable.

“The Dragon, the Dragon’s Contractor has arrived…!!”

“All forces, retreat from Apophis!! Focus solely on the undead!! Leave Apophis to the dragons!!”

The change of situation happened swiftly. A golden meteor streaked across the dark sky and crashed right into the middle of the undead army.

It unfurled its alien-colored wings, and the golden aura surging from its sword shattered the army apart.

“Choi Yeon-woo is here!!”

At that call, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but tremble. The thrill of someone calling his name was indescribable.

(To be continued)

 

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