“Do you really know why I went and say such things?”

“It ended surprisingly quickly. Congratulations.”

“With nothing but bare hands? I just returned from saving your guild members’ hometown, yet you’re stingy with your praise.”

Excluding London. Seong Hyunjae relaxed his brows into a gentle expression.

“Soyeong would be—living happily, I suppose.”

“She’s with the Thorned Winged Abyssal Dragon. And, as you know, there’s also Noah and Riette.”

I held back the suggestion to meet them in person. Instead, my thoughts drifted back to Seong Hyunjae in the Chinese Nightmare Dungeon.

“But I, this borrowed body, can only offer the pearls upon my tongue. Will you accept a few smooth words to make it sound pleasant?”

“That will suffice.”

I stared at the system administrator window. If Seong Hyunjae truly intended to help us, then with his team’s full effort in the game, no matter what the Mermaid Queen plotted, I would win—no matter what.

I turned to look at Seong Hyunjae.

“May I trust you?”

A brief silence followed. Seong Hyunjae raised his index finger to his lips.

“The outcomes in the last world were determined automatically by record alone.”

…In other words, during the wager game, even the Transcendents cannot eavesdrop on us. But here, no one knows where their ears might be. Important matters, then, should wait until after the wager begins. I nodded slightly.

“But not this time.”

“Pardon?”

“Beware the dog.”

What sudden warning was that? Had another Transcendent laid some trap? I had not expected it, but neither could one prepare for every possibility.

Seong Hyunjae fell silent without further explanation. Soon, Myung-woo appeared. His frown targeted the nape of my neck. Of course he must have noticed my use of Mana Engraving. But I couldn’t destroy an entire nation. I gave him an embarrassed smile, and he sighed.

“Did you rest properly?”

“I slept and ate well. Hamin and Mini asked after you. And the smithy people, too.”

Myung-woo had told the building’s staff I was in secluded training at the Golden Forge. They all asked after me, saying I could be reached if needed.

“Your skills probably have long cooldowns by now, and you must have consumed many items.”

“I replenished them. The subteams should have dropped by their guilds and restocked.”

High-grade consumables are hard to obtain even for S-Rank Hunters.

“…What you did, Yujin, was the right choice, but still—”

Myung-woo trailed off with another sigh. Our team was certainly at a disadvantage in many ways. But if it hadn’t ended in London, there’d have been civilian casualties. On an island nation, evacuation is far harder, and the Goblin Gate couldn’t transport that many people so quickly. Losing a country versus losing a capital city is a vast difference.

“It’s all right.”

There was still a way. But Myung-woo’s face did not ease.

“I regret the insufficient rest time.”

He looked at the two of us and spoke.

“Next time, I will propose a longer respite. And, if you wish, we can also inspect your equipment.”

“Teacher, can you service both our main and subteams?”

I raised my hand eagerly. Myung-woo nodded and looked to Seong Hyunjae.

“We’ll serve only the main team. The subteam need not.”

Seong Hyunjae’s subteam was barely recruited to fill numbers, but to neglect them entirely would breach the contract.

“As always, be cautious.”

Myung-woo vanished. Then—

“It was a festival long overdue.”

The King of Devourment and the Mermaid Queen appeared. In the snake’s hand was a bottle of blue glass liquor.

“Watching small ones gather and combine their strength is quite a spectacle. Rare since I left my world—in spite of the blood shortage, it was not bad.”

A cup was offered to me. The poured liquor was clear as glass. Perhaps too much for now…

“It’s a poison you can handle.”

Poison? I sipped it. Its slight sweetness made it quite palatable.

“It was curious to see the weak follow. A king is not decided by strength alone, but once one’s power crosses a threshold, none wish to stand above.”

He spoke of S-Ranks, innate S-Ranks. That explained why S-Ranks seldom unite. But I could say I have a useful skill…

“My path’s answer.”

It was more than just a skill. My talents had not changed much since immediately after my return. I gained teacher skills and veteran F-Rank titles early on. Yet back then I could not have accomplished what I had now. The S-Ranks would not have trusted me, nor extended help.

Even Yuhyun would not have followed so readily—he might have tried to pull me away for safety. And had I given in, Gyeol would never have been born. Thanks to my brother’s title and skills, I set out, and the result… I could call mine. Though it still hurt to say so.

“It’s still fun, after all.”

A golden snake slithered down the King of Devourment’s arm. Please, not that again. The snake coiled around my head as ornamentation. Another wrapped his forearm. This is not my taste. I was grateful at least that it left my clothes alone.

“This is the third time.”

The Mermaid Queen spoke without emotion.

“Form two teams by mixing main and sub. I will not disclose the wager’s details.”

We were to split into teams without knowing the game. I did not ponder long.

‘Yuhyun and me—and everyone else.’

Our team consumed heavy skills and items. Better to concentrate strength on one side.

‘With the boon, a smaller team suits me best.’

Yuhyun had flight skills, area melee capability, and no mana needs thanks to fire shards—ideal for solo action. I would handle support and defense. I glanced at Seong Hyunjae, also choosing his team via the system window.

‘He won’t split main and sub evenly, surely.’

Since the main team had Manager Song and Hyunah, Seong Hyunjae must go to the subteam. Either matchup would be worthwhile. The subteam’s cohesion had improved, and with Yerim, Noah, and Riette, they would be hard to beat. The game might not be combat-focused, but still.

“It’s decided.”

Seong Hyunjae said. I raised my hand in agreement.

“May I ask one question about team members? You said we could add to the main team fixedly, right? Since replacements aren’t allowed midgame, it means we can add.”

The Mermaid Queen nodded at my question.

“Yes. One addition or substitution allowed each. But not during the wager—only before or after. Adding requires matching numbers, so the opposing team’s consent is needed. Would you like to add or substitute now?”

“None to bring immediately. But our consumption is heavy. Is there any restriction on members?”

“If they are people of the Honey World and the other side consents, anyone is fine.”

That sufficed. I said I’d finished team selection. At her gesture, the surrounding space warped and a forest appeared.

“Brother.”

A familiar voice greeted me. Though less than thirty minutes away, any message of the game’s start had yet to appear. I surveyed my surroundings and spoke to my brother.

“We don’t know the game’s nature, but it’s likely we’ll face the subteam including Seong Hyunjae, or the main team without him.”

Yuhyun immediately drew the Dominator’s Blade. He doubled offensive skills but could not use my own.

“If it’s the main team, no one has flight. Use that. Our initial target remains Hyunah—since teacher skills work easily on her. With only Yuhyun now, using teacher skills on those without keywords is no great strain. We can handle them one by one.”

“They may choose not to fight, but that seems unlikely.”

I activated the Boon S-Rank and moved forward slowly. Yuhyun stood alert beside me.

“It’s been less than a day since the London battle. Don’t overdo it.”

“It feels better than I thought. Maybe because I slept soundly at home?”

I wasn’t completely fine, but the aftereffects were milder than expected. I’d prepared to be bedridden, wondering if I should sleep alone away from the kids—but that proved unnecessary.

“Somehow we ended up with three children. Take care of yourself.”

With three kids, even a fairy can’t leave home. Stealing others’ transport and getting shackled at the ankle is wrong, but still—these children are my responsibility. [N O V E L I G H T] Though I entrusted many, still—

“Yuhyun, are you okay? The family suddenly increased.”

He remained silent. Clearly he disliked the change.

“…You like children, brother. The beasts grow fast and need less care, so it’ll be fine.”

“Seol is independent, Gyeol wants to mature. I think both could grow more slowly like Byul, though.”

“I’ll help too.”

I worried entrusting the kids to Yuhyun, but perhaps he would care for them well. Childcare is a stamina battle. Meanwhile, when would the game’s message pop up? Soon—

Crack!

A dreadful sound without warning. To my ears it was one crack. But it was not.

“Yuhyun—!”

Though it seemed a single strike, five barbed spears punctured my brother’s limbs and chest, burying themselves deeply in the ground. Blood gushed. Flames flickered and died. It was an ability I remembered—one that disrupted an opponent’s mana and blocked their skills.

I felt I had to escape, but my feet would not move. I couldn’t leave Yuhyun behind. Mini Mini Cookie. I reached urgently for a cookie, when behind me—

“Han Yujin.”

A hand snatched my throat. My neck was lifted, and Yuhyun’s blood-stained lips contorted.

“…Brother!”

It was Chorawoon. The one lifting me wore a slow smile. His smooth but unsettling brow felt oddly unfamiliar.

“…You.”

His eyes were different. The whites were nearly gone; the once-dark eyes turned pale brown and the pupils shrank. They were the eyes of a beast, not a human. Swallowing, I used the Seedling skill.

[Awakened ? Chorawoon (Worshipper of the Wolf)

Current Stat Grade: SS]

“Ugh!”

Before I could read the full status display, Chorawoon shook my body like a toy. Yuhyun’s body, trapped by the barbs, jerked. The smell of blood grew stronger.

‘Worshipper of the Wolf?’

His stat had risen to SS. What on earth had happened?

“I never expected you to be this easy to catch.”

Another voice spoke. I barely turned to look and saw another Hunter with wolfkin eyes, fangs bared. Including Chorawoon, they were five in total.

“How…did this happen?”

“The weak are devoured.”

Chorawoon said with a mocking tone.

“Five remain.”

…So they all died? How many subteam members were there? Upper-tier Awakened, several S-Rank Hunters… as the cost. My throat tightened. Gasping, I studied them again. I sensed a similar surge of mana from each—all SS-Rank. That alone would not suffice to instantly overpower Yuhyun. Had they gained special skills? The five flew barbed spears simultaneously. Wolves operate in packs. Perhaps they could teleport their spears by combining skills.

“…Let me go, brother!”

A strained voice called. Chorawoon shook me toward Yuhyun with evident relish.

“As promised, I’ll cut off both your legs. Before your brother’s very eyes.”

Yuhyun clenched his jaw. Yet he could not escape the barbs. Chorawoon and the other Hunters leisurely gazed at their captured prey. My teeth ground. A wolfkin, eh? That mutt had interfered last time, and again now.

Though no Transcendent had intervened directly, this outcome was surprising. Anger and panic pressed upon me. I had to somehow free Yuhyun—somehow…

“Han Yuhyun! No!”

Blaze—flames erupted again. Contrary to my desperate cry, the beasts remained complacent, certain the fire would die out again. But—

“The spears!”

A startled voice rang out. Blue flames—clear as glass—engulfed the barbed spears. Though blood welled from his wounds, Yuhyun rose to his feet. The beasts recoiled. Even Chorawoon faltered under the onslaught. He hurried backward and threw me toward Yuhyun. At the same moment, the flames vanished.

“Brother!”

Fearing they might even harm the Boon grace, I—

Crack

No! Yuhyun had caught me. The spear piercing his heart pressed against my body and halted. I hugged him tightly and closed his trembling eyes.

“Don’t worry.”

[Han Yuhyun has died

One life has been consumed.

The deceased will remain asleep in Han Yujin’s main team room until this wager ends.]

It was a mercy. My brother’s form vanished. The blood-stained spear clattered to the floor.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep