Chapter 120
Ouroboros (2)
***
“Kyaaaaaaaaah!”
“Hueeeeeng, mommy!”
“F-Fuck! W-Where are the heroes? When are they coming?”
Screams.
The screams were deafening.
The groans, cries, and moans of people strongly pounded on Lee Jinhyuk’s eardrums.
The streets that were full of people’s expectations, cheers, and joy for the Life and Auction festival just moments ago had turned into complete chaos.
People who couldn’t escape in time were helplessly toyed with in front of the disaster called monsters.
The monsters were simply destroying buildings as if they were their own homes, crushing roads, and violating people.
“Kiririri.”
“Grrrr, grrrrrr.”
“Kurrruk, kurrrrruk, kurrruk.”
Steel-legged centipede, Red monkey with poisonous fangs, Large-fanged wolf, Fierce eagle, Large-bladed mantis, and so on.
Various kinds of monsters were rampaging.
If there’s anything fortunate, it might be that the rift is slowly closing?
It seems the rift phenomenon is coming to an end.
“It was supposed to be a long-awaited vacation, but to think monsters would appear.”
In the distance, the figures of several heroes could be seen.
“Damn monster bastards, how dare they come here of all places.”
“It’s swarming. It’s been a while since so many monsters appeared at once.”
“Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any particularly dangerous monsters. Ah, except for that… huge snake-like monster over there. But what exactly is that monster? Is it an Imugi?”
“Whoa, that snake bastard is fucking huge.”
Professional heroes who had visited the auction festival for vacation were using their special abilities to subjugate monsters and rescue people.
They were responding swiftly and accurately, befitting their name as professional heroes.
The Busan city police were also gradually arriving.
Bang bang! Gunshots rang out.
Although guns might have difficulty penetrating the monsters’ outer skin, they should be able to handle weaker monsters.
The police were doing their best from their positions.
They were busy engaging with monsters, controlling traffic, and safely evacuating citizens.
“……”
Lee Jinhyuk watched this scene for a moment, then radioed Yoo Seolhyun again.
“…So, Yoo Seolhyun. What did you want to say?”
“Take our clan members and deal with the monsters moderately while evacuating people.”
She wanted them to act tactfully, skillfully, to avoid any backlash.
“Don’t touch that snake monster. Honestly, it looks too dangerous. I don’t want to expose our clan members to unnecessary danger.”
The Ouroboros was certainly one of the powerful monsters.
Although its attack power and lethality weren’t particularly outstanding, its regenerative ability was exceptional, making it very difficult to kill.
It would probably take quite some time for the Busan police or heroes to subjugate the Ouroboros.
Because its regenerative power was close to infinite, it was practically immortal.
To kill such an Ouroboros, a powerful single blow would be needed, or its weak point, like its reverse scale, would need to be targeted.
Of course, it would take a lot of sacrifice and time for heroes without any particular information about the Ouroboros to realize such weaknesses.
The sacrifice of people…
If Lee Jinhyuk just pretended not to know and left it alone, many people would really die, right?
It was obvious that many people – heroes, police, citizens alike – would die and get injured, so a conflict was swirling in his heart.
…Hah, really.
“Teacher, I’ll help too.”
“Wait, Soyeon?”
Lee Jinhyuk frowned at Jin Soyeon’s sudden words.
As he shifted his gaze, he could see Jin Soyeon swallowing hard with a determined expression, then staring up at the Ouroboros.
“What are you suddenly saying?”
“You didn’t expect this situation either, right?”
Yes, Lee Jinhyuk didn’t expect it.
Because he doesn’t have any future prediction ability or anything like that.
Jin Soyeon seemed to simply think that Lee Jinhyuk couldn’t see through the current situation with his predictive ability.
“That monster… if we leave it alone, a lot of people will really get hurt.”
The Ouroboros, showing an overwhelming presence.
It felt like it had tremendous power incomparable to other monsters.
As she said, if there was no one to properly restrain the Ouroboros’s feet, it would ravage the entire Busan city, causing massive casualties and property damage.
And with the skills of those professional heroes dealing with those small fry over there, it seemed they would be insufficient to handle the Ouroboros.
Sensing that they couldn’t handle it themselves, they weren’t even touching the Ouroboros for now.
The Ouroboros also seemed to be observing the situation for now, flicking its tongue, but it would start moving soon.
That snake, no different from an unstoppable disaster.
“We need someone to buy time until stronger heroes arrive. With my current self… I think I can probably buy some time.”
It can be said that the most important thing for a hero is to distinguish between what they can and cannot do.
Because recklessness and courage are just a paper-thin difference.
And Jin Soyeon says.
That standing before that monster is not recklessness, but courage.
She seemed to be somewhat confident that her current self, having grown by subjugating villains and monsters throughout the summer vacation, could somewhat restrain that monster’s feet.
Really.
This is just like the Jin Soyeon Lee Jinhyuk knows.
As expected of Jin Soyeon, whose meddling knows no bounds.
“Still, there’s no need to specifically deal with that snake monster, right? It would be better to handle smaller monsters like the other heroes and evacuate citizens…”
“Jinhyuk.”
Jin Soyeon looked straight into Lee Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Her pure and clear golden eyes were cast.
Determination and resolve were reflected in those two eyes.
“I don’t want to run away in front of that monster.”
Unreasonable malice.
The disaster called monsters.
People’s lives.
She declares that she will not dare to turn away from facing these things.
“I’m an aspiring hero.”
Aspiring hero.
That’s right.
Jin Soyeon aspires to be a hero.
The hero image Jin Soyeon desires is one who confronts unreasonable malice and unstoppable violence without regard.
Running away with one’s life in such a situation is not the hero she envisions.
“I think… I shouldn’t run away at a time like this.”
She silently faced Lee Jinhyuk with a look that seemed to say, “How can one be called a hero if they back down just because the opponent seems strong?”
Lee Jinhyuk also just stared directly into Jin Soyeon’s eyes.
“There’s no need to worry too much. It’s not just me alone in the first place, right? We have High Ranker Hong Daye instructor too.”
So you call her instructor at times like this.
“And while regular police or ordinary heroes might be enough to handle normal monsters, that monster is different. I think probably only a high-class hero or above would be able to properly buy time.”
“……”
“So, Jinhyuk.”
Jin Soyeon gripped her sword tightly.
“I’ll ask you to evacuate people. You should go to a safe place with the others…”
“Hey, Jin Soyeon.”
Lee Jinhyuk cut off Jin Soyeon’s nonsensical words.
“So you’re telling me to just run away?”
When Lee Jinhyuk spoke gruffly with a deeply furrowed brow, Jin Soyeon blinked her eyes and then flinched her shoulders as if quite perplexed.
“Huh? Ah, no, that’s not what I meant, I was asking you to take care of the other monsters and people who haven’t evacuated yet…”
“No, you’re risking your life to fight that snake bastard, but you’re telling me to stay in a safe place.”
Lee Jinhyuk let out a deep sigh.
“Haah, Soyeon, think about it in reverse. If I said I’d fight that snake alone so you should stay out of it, would you just nod your head? You wouldn’t, right?”
“T-That’s true, but… no, my case is different from yours.”
“Shut up.”
Lee Jinhyuk had been contemplating whether to confront the Ouroboros or just slip away appropriately, but now that Jin Soyeon had made up her mind, he had no choice but to steel his resolve as well.
In the first place, it could be said that Yoo Dahee summoning the monsters was half Lee Jinhyuk’s fault.
If Lee Jinhyuk hadn’t done anything today, it would have ended with just the auction items being stolen.
Thinking that way, a strange sense of guilt and sin made Lee Jinhyuk’s heart uncomfortable.
As if he had brought this disaster upon them.
That’s why he was even somewhat glad that Jin Soyeon stepped up like this.
Because he could make a decision without further conflict under the pretext of not being able to leave Jin Soyeon alone.
“Can’t be helped. I’ll help. Even if I tell you to stop, you won’t listen to me anyway.”
“Huh? What? No, what are you saying? It’s dangerous.”
It would be dangerous.
But isn’t it dangerous for you too?
“It’s different from when we fought villains, we don’t have any information about that snake. In that situation, you getting involved is a bit…”
She was glancing around and choosing her words carefully.
In short, it seems she wanted to say “Jinhyuk, you’re weak, you could die if you’re not careful” in a more euphemistic way.
Well, it’s true that Lee Jinhyuk is weak.
Thanks to the ranking match with Baek Yoorin, many people have started to see Lee Jinhyuk differently, but despite that, Jin Soyeon still treats him as weak.
Or rather, should he say she sees him as a somewhat ambiguous strong person?
“That monster’s name is Ouroboros. It has an effect of endless regeneration and can spew flames and acidic liquid. Its third eye and reverse scale are its weaknesses.”
“…Huh?”
“And Soyeon, who said I’d fight directly? I’m just going to give orders from a reasonably safe place, just orders.”
Lee Jinhyuk knows well that his life is precious too.
He has no intention of overdoing it at all.
“Also, it seems I’m not the only one who’s going to help… right, Kang Daehan?”
Lee Jinhyuk glanced towards Kang Daehan.
Kang Daehan was dealing with nearby monsters appropriately while glancing at them.
He pierced a butterfly-shaped monster with his spear in one go and then took a step towards them.
“About dealing with that snake monster. Soyeon is joining in, what about you? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of running away?”
“Me? Ha. Don’t be ridiculous. Lee Jinhyuk, there’s no need for unnecessary words. I was planning to step up even if you didn’t say so.”
It doesn’t seem likely that he, who would be a corpse without his pride, would meekly run away.
He even swung his spear at Yoo Dahee until the end in a situation where he could have lost his life during the midterm exams.
To put it nicely, he’s stubborn, and to put it badly, he has a reckless personality.
“I’ll catch that snake bastard.”
“Wait? Daehan, what are you saying…”
Joo Hwayun of the HanYoung Clan hurriedly tried to dissuade Kang Daehan.
From her position, it would be very uncomfortable to carelessly expose the second son of the HanYoung Clan to danger.
“I’m a hero apprentice, uncle. Would it be right to back out at a time like this?”
“But there’s no need to rush into such a dangerous monster…”
“Ha. Uncle, if you’re not going to help, forget it. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Hey, hey. Daehan! Haah… really.”
Joo Hwayun looked at Kang Daehan’s retreating figure as if she had a headache, then shook her head.
As someone who knows Kang Daehan’s temperament well, she seemed quite at a loss.
This is why Lee Jinhyuk doesn’t team up with Kang Daehan.
Because controlling that guy is very tricky.
Well, guiding him is easy enough.
“…Wait, wait. Lee Jinhyuk, Jin Soyeon, are you two crazy? What are you saying?”
Yoo Seolhyun, who had been eavesdropping on the radio, raised her voice as if dumbfounded.
“You two are going to face that snake monster now? A building-sized monster? What are you thinking, really. Stop this foolish act and turn…”
“Yoo Seolhyun, don’t you want to become a hero who saved Busan?”
“…What?”
Yoo Seolhyun paused for a moment at Lee Jinhyuk’s words.
“If you make a big contribution in resolving an incident of this scale, it would help you get what you want, wouldn’t it?”
“Lee Jinhyuk.”
“I know the weakness, abilities, characteristics… in other words, the strategy to defeat that snake monster. If you just lend me your clan members, I think we can definitely take it down.”
“How do you know the strategy for a monster you’re seeing for the first time… no, wait, ha.”
Yoo Seolhyun, who had been reacting as if dumbfounded for a moment, suddenly paused as if something had occurred to her.
She had suddenly remembered that Lee Jinhyuk was a future prediction ability user.
“You know my ability, Yoo Seolhyun. Have I ever disappointed you so far?”
“…No, but the current situation isn’t simple enough to make a decision so carelessly.”
“I’ve shown you what I can do so far, Yoo Seolhyun. I’m confident. So just trust me one more time, even if you think you’re being fooled.”
“I shouldn’t think I’m being fooled… Haah, really.”
Yoo Seolhyun showed signs of contemplating for a moment.
Because she had a track record of gaining numerous benefits from Lee Jinhyuk under the pretext of future prediction ability, she wasn’t carelessly expressing her intention to refuse.
As mentioned earlier, she had never suffered a loss because of him.
Even if it might be quite reckless behavior.
“…Are you really confident?”
“I’m stepping up because I’m confident. Do you think I’d lack confidence when I’m at the scene myself?”
“Unnecessarily, your confidence is… tsk. Well, fine. I’ll entrust the team members to you, but if anything happens to even one person, really. I won’t let you off easy.”
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
That monster is quite a powerful monster, but if proper caution is exercised, it should be manageable enough.
“Gaon Nuri Clan members, you heard that, right? I’ll continue to hold the command authority, so if anyone has any complaints, speak up now.”
“…Are you saying you’re going to face that snake monster now?”
“Yes.”
One Gaon Nuri Clan member asked as if perplexed.
“…How?”
“You heard the radio, right? I know that monster’s weakness.”
“How? It’s a monster we’ve never seen before.”
“Well…”
Lee Jinhyuk trailed off for a moment, then answered in a casual voice.
“…I have that kind of special ability.”
“Pardon?”
The man reacted as if he couldn’t quite understand.
Well, that’s understandable.
If Lee Jinhyuk were in that man’s position, he would have thought, “What kind of special ability out of nowhere?”
But he can’t say things like having memories of a past life or being able to use future prediction.
“Anyway, everyone, you don’t need to worry too much. I won’t push you too hard. I’m just thinking of tying up that monster’s feet moderately until support forces arrive in Busan.”
“…Well, if that’s the case.”
Actually, that’s a lie.
Lee Jinhyuk intends to take it down if he can.
And the Ouroboros is not an easy monster.
Although it looks like just a slightly larger snake monster on the outside, even tying up its feet will require their best efforts, won’t it?
“Kiririririri? Kiiiii, iiiiiiii!”
Bang!
The Ouroboros had suddenly clashed with Kang Daehan’s group.
Lee Jinhyuk could see the HanYoung Clan members busily fighting amidst the thunderous noise.
Not only Kang Daehan’s group but also Hong Daye was using her telekinesis diligently to pressure the Ouroboros.
“Given the situation, I’ll inform you of the detailed operation outline via radio.”
The Ouroboros had started to rampage in earnest.
Lee Jinhyuk spoke while looking at the Ouroboros with calm eyes.
“Let’s go, everyone.”
The subjugation of the first raid-type monster, Ouroboros, begins.
End of Chapter