The explosion was even more powerful than the one that killed the monster that trapped the guild member. The corpses of monsters, killed in the explosion, were trampled on by swarms of monsters coming from behind.
"Attack!"
The long-distance team unleashed their abilities at the running monsters. Ice shot like sharp arrows and lightning struck from the sky. Each of the various abilities tore and exploded the monsters apart.
Kyaak! Kyek!
The bodies gradually piled up, but there were still many monsters rushing towards them. The long-distance team was bewildered.
"Damn, there are too many!"
"I'm sick of this."
"I can't pierce through their hide."
"Aim for the head! That's the weak point."
The opponents were grade S monsters. Because the attacks of B-rank abilities did not work, they could not exert their power in battle. When the long-distance team's attack was over, Park Geon-ho opened his mouth.
"Second round."
Urrgh, I groaned and threw out three iron balls. Low-pitched laughter was heard from me.
You son of a bitch, you seem to be happy to get a very useful launcher. I'm only enduring this because I'm in a hurry to deal with the monsters.
Kuuung! Boom!
There was another explosion as the monsters neared the iron balls I threw. I got used to the deafening explosion.
"The long-distance team is ready!"
"From now on, I and the long-distance team will focus on attacking the middle area. Let the close-distance team take the lead."
"Yes, sir!"
The close-distance team, who was watching, blocked the front by holding their weapons out at Park Geon-ho's command.
As I struggled to even breathe, Park Geon-ho said, "The third round."
"..."
I want to go home.
I bit my lip and threw out the iron balls.
* * *
"Hah, hah…"
Looking at the monster corpses, I bent down and let out a harsh breath. It was the first time I had squeezed my abilities like this, so it was difficult to catch my breath. I felt a jagged agitation and touched my forehead. The headache was much stronger than before. It seemed to be a side effect of using my abilities to the limit.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm alright."
I wiped the cold sweat and stood up. At least breathing had become a bit easier. Park Geon-ho, who looked at me with a wrinkled brow, smiled bitterly.
"You don't seem very familiar with this kind of battle scene. You look pale."
"This is my first gate."
"As expected. You'll feel better if you go to a healer and regain some energy."
Even if I wouldn't feel better, I was thinking of going back to Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin, so I nodded and went past Park Geonho.
"Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
Park Geon-ho suddenly grabbed my wrist. Park Geon-ho's hands, belonging to a man who was 180 cm tall, were big enough to wrap around my wrist.
"What is your name?"
"…Han Yi-gyeol."
What's up with names all of a sudden? I blinked, tired, and looked up at Park Geon-ho.
"Are you part of our guild? Why haven't I seen you before?"
"Why all of a sudden… Please let go of me."
"If you answer, I will let you go."
Sigh. I sighed and pondered. Could I say that I was independent? Since Cheon Sa-yeon brought me here at his own will, there was no reason to hide it.
I was trying to stay down low, but I was probably doomed. I said while waving my captured hand, "You've never seen me because I'm not a member of the Requiem Guild."
"A mercenary? Hmm. Did the Master call you over?"
Although I was not a mercenary, I nodded as if it was true that Cheon Sa-yeon brought me here.
"I've answered, so take off your hands."
Even though I deliberately said it coldly, Park Geon-ho shrugged his shoulders and let go of my hand, no sign of being offended. As I returned to Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin, complaining inwardly, I saw Cheon Sa-yeon's back in the midst of a battle with the mid-boss monster.
Kkiiiik, kkiiik.
Cut at least once, the monster's shoulders were burning with red flames. Cheon Sa-yeon seemed like he was at ease, avoiding the scythe that cut through the air at a speed that was too hard to follow with my eyes.
I couldn't believe he looked comfortable against monsters that were so strong that even I couldn't fight against them once when they got close to grade S. I realized once again that Cheon Sa-yeon was also an SS-rank person like Ha Tae-heon.
"Han Yi-gyeol!"
"Yi-gyeol-ssi, are you okay?"
"Yes. Is everything okay?"
It was Kim Woo-jin and Min Ah-rin. Min Ah-rin, who came closer, looked around at the injured and said, "The healer team is all safe. There are more injured, so I'll have to go. Is Yi-gyeol-ssi injured anywhere?"
"I'm fine. It must be urgent, so go ahead."
"I'll go help too."
"Please make sure you rest."
Kim Woo-jin, likely because his conscience hurt from being protected, offered to help the healers. After looking at the back of the healer team and Kim Woo-jin, who rushed to the injured guild members, I turned my gaze back to Cheon Sa-yeon.
Kiiiii! Kkiiiik!
It wouldn't be easy to dodge the swinging sickle, but Cheon Sa-yeon's steps were light as if he was out for a walk. The monster trembled, red eyes turned toward Cheon Sa-yeon, who had avoided all of its attacks.
'It's strange.'
Black smoke crept up from the blue scythe. Even though it was quite far away, I could feel the chill up to here. I watched Cheon Sa-yeon dodged an even faster attack.
'Why…'
… did he look like he was very familiar with it?
In the battle between the monster and Cheon Sa-yeon, the winner was already decided. Cheon Sa-yeon moved smoothly as if he already knew how and from which direction the monster was going to attack.
Yes, it was like he memorized all the patterns.
I thought of Cheon Sa-yeon, who had no reaction to the appearance of a grade S+ monster. Perhaps…
Kkiiik, chaeng!
Cheon Sa-yeon, who blocked the huge scythe falling over his head with his sword, slashed it with a gentle movement then bowed his body to avoid the attack that followed while drawing the sword crosswise. A new flame was planted on the monster, prompting a terrifying scream that was hard to hear. The fire already burning on its shoulder had swallowed its right arm. The monster, who was twisting its body strangely, screamed and started swinging the sickle with its left arm.
Kwaaang! Bang!
The sand and dust rose thickly, and the figure of Cheon Sa-yeon was hidden. Through the hazy smoke, Cheon Sa-yeon and the giant scythe were blurrily seen jumping up the ground. Immediately after that.
Boom!
There was the sound of something huge collapsing. At the same time, the chill that had been holding me back disappeared. I carefully walked in the direction of Cheon Sa-yeon.
Kkik, kkigik, gigik. Geuk.
The monster that had collapsed to the ground was burning with its neck twisting like a broken machine. The tip of the sword dripping bright red blood relentlessly pierced the monster's head. The fire that was burning around the sword and monster disappeared.
Cheon Sa-yeon, who killed the monster, was so put together that he didn't look like a person who was just in a battle. Not a single drop of sweat was dripping from the white skin visible under the slightly dishevelled black hair. The figure standing on the black monster looked noble, like a priest who had slain the devil.
"Han Yi-gyeol."
"…ah."
I looked at him unconsciously. I quickly looked away and rubbed my nape. I felt like I'd been caught…
Cheon Sa-yeon, who looked at me for a while, said with a strange smile, "You seem to like my face quite a bit."
"…huh? No, it's not that."
"So, what is it then?"
…you son of a bitch.
I answered, squinting my eyes at Cheon Sa-yeon, "Everything is accounted for. There are no deaths and the injured are currently being treated by the healer team."
"Hmm."
Cheon Sa-yeon glanced at the team behind me as he wiped the blood from his sword.
"There are no deaths."
"Yes."
"You really are good, Han Yi-gyeol."
I blinked my eyes. Now, this was… it wasn't a compliment, but sarcasm.
"It's not me, but Team Leader Park Geon-ho's skills."
"No. If Park Geon-ho had been alone, someone would have died."
"...?"
I didn't know what he wanted to say. What was wrong with him when no one died and everything was well organized?
'Well, when did he find out?'
Cheon Sa-yeon was tricky—it couldn't be that he realized it at our first meeting? Giving up on deep thoughts, I said something else, "You should go to a healer."
"Healer?"
"You're hurt. It's still bleeding."
I frowned and pointed to Cheon Sa-yeon's hand, which was dripping with blood. How could blood flow so much with just a cut from the sword? Don't tell me the pain got worse as he progressively lost blood?
"Ah, this."
Cheon Sa-yeon waved his injured hand as if it didn't hurt. Drops of blood splattered here and there.
"I cut myself with this sword. It's an S-class sword, so the wound doesn't heal easily. I can just bandage it up."
"No, doesn't that give more reasons to get treated by a healer?"
"I don't care. I'm stronger than this sword."
He looked at the healers busily running among the injured.
"It is already too much for those three healers to handle those injured. I don't need to get treated."
"..."
I was genuinely surprised by that. To be honest, I thought that if it was Cheon Sa-yeon, he would be healed by a healer right away.
I was somewhat embarrassed. I guess I'd been looking at Cheon Sa-yeon too narrowly. No, but he really is a son of a bitch…
"Master."
"Everyone must be tired, so let's rest, focus on recovery, and move tomorrow."
"All right."
I looked at Cheon Sa-yeon's back, who was in conversation with Park Geon-ho, with a complicated mind.