Chapter 1402. Crimson Ball (12)

— Bring me the pig... Bring him here.

— ...

— Then—

cough!

Then... I’ll forgive you.

—...

— ...

‘What kind of nonsense is that?’

How was he supposed to bring that pig back? In the first place, Song Jung-Wook had no idea where the pig was, and I was sure he was thinking the same thing as I was.

He turned toward Lee Ki-Young in confusion. He looked like he couldn't tell whether the words were a joke meant to mock him or something said in complete sincerity. He still hadn't found the answer, but there was at least one thing he was certain of—that bastard was out of his mind. Even to my eyes, he looked insane.

The one in the dark world I saw with Kasugano Yuno seemed to be holding on to a bit of sanity, but I felt like that was just a mask. He had taken off his mask, but it was his mask of rationality as well; it wasn't just the one the Brigade members often wear.

The sight of him felt disturbingly alien. Perhaps he himself had no idea what he was saying. As for whether he was serious or not, he wasn't even thinking about that at all and simply spewed whatever nonsense came to his mind.

Perhaps it was because of that cold light in his eyes, but the broken Song Jung-Wook soon stammered.

— I-I’m sorry, okay? S-so he died... your brother... That... person...

— ...

— I didn’t know it would turn out like that. I-if I had known he would die, you think I would’ve done it?

Huh?!

Never! I would never have done that! I... you know, right? Ki-Young! Right?

— ...

— Let’s forget everything!

— ...

—

Huh?

Let’s not do this here! Let’s forget it all! Why? It’ll be good for you, too, right? You had a hard time because of that pig. Right? Cleaning up his mess... you must’ve suffered a lot, right?! You couldn’t do what you wanted... and I heard you turned down offers from other guilds... isn’t that right? Right? Isn’t it?

— ...

— If you think about it, your life on this continent got messed up because of him, too! You know better than anyone that things would’ve gone better if you’d been alone from the start. You’re smart, Lee Ki-Young! You’re a smart bastard! Ki-Young... Ki-Young. Listen to me. On this continent, things like affection are completely useless. What matters are ability and selfishness. Don’t you agree?

— ...

— Hey, you can start fresh. Forget everything... okay? You do understand what you’re doing right now, don’t you?

Huh?

You know that you’re making an enemy of the Empire, the Union of Kingdoms, and the entire continent, right? You understand that, right?

— ...

— Instead of doing this, forget everything and work for me. I-I’ll find some way to make all of this disappear. You’re not planning to live like this forever, right? Living your whole life on the run,

huh?

— Living like some criminal bastard?! You were an ambitious bastard. Without your ambitions, you're basically a corpse! Lee Ki-Young! That’s the kind of guy you are! Now, your chance has finally come!

— ...

— Success sometimes requires forgetting and moving forward. You know that better than anyone, right? Forget the pig... forget him. Seize the opportunity.

— You should shut your mouth. You’re loud.

—

Huh? Huh?

Or do you want revenge on the others... Should I help you?

Hm?

Jung Yoo-Ra! Yeah! You should take revenge on Jung Yoo-Ra, too. How about it? You know cleaning up isn’t something I can decide alone, right? Or do you need a list? Should I make you a kill list?

‘This bastard sure talks a lot.’

He looked nothing like the hero who had sacrificed his life to save Castle Rock. In the second life, he was a hero, but now, he looked downright pathetic.

‘Have some dignity, for god’s sake. Either accept it or show some resistance.’

— Don’t be like this! Let’s be honest! Honesty! That pig was just some deadweight holding you back! Damn it! If it hadn't been for that pig, damn it—I would’ve sent you an offer a long time ago! Even given you a position in the black market!

— But you said you wouldn’t do anything illegal because of the pig! You were the one who refused! Don’t you remember who kept getting in your way every time you tried to move forward? That useless bastard! Are you really going to throw away this opportunity?! This is actually good for you! That bastard dying was a good thing!

‘Nothing you say is going to shake him, old man.’

— Maybe you’re right.

— Right?

— But there’s one thing you need to understand... I never forgive anyone who touches what’s mine. No matter the reason, no matter the circumstances. If someone messes with what’s mine, whoever it is, whatever it is, they will pay the price.

— ...

— You should’ve kept your promise.

— ...

— ...

— Th-that deal! You think anyone cared about that?! Damn it! It couldn’t be helped! Shit! Things like this happen all the time. You know that! Why don’t you understand?!

— You’re lucky, Song Jung-Wook. Dying like this is more than you deserve... You’re a message. That’s why you get to die so comfortably. Be grateful for that.

— ...

— ...

‘That guy’s a complete lunatic.’

He actually called him a "message." If I heard him right, he actually said "message." He basically declared war on the Union of Kingdoms, the Empire, and the Republic just to deliver one message.

All those expendable people and all those victims... they were nothing but props for that so-called "message."

‘

You should’ve just done it back in Castle Rock, you idiot.

It was probably easier to do it there. No, it would have definitely been easier. If he had the pull to push this many people into the royal capital of the Union of Kingdoms, a terror attack in Castle Rock would have been nothing for him.

I couldn't even imagine how much time and effort he had poured into making all of this happen. And that was not even the end of it. He had personally walked into the capital despite the danger, and he even arranged things so that he and Song Jung-Wook would end up alone in the same room.

Outside, the fighting was still raging. Jung Jin-Ho was still driving his sword into the necks and chests of the remaining enemies, holding back the endless wave of enemies by himself. He looked like he was enjoying himself, but he knew full well that wasting time here was dangerous.

If they ended up getting isolated, they would die. Securing an escape route ought to be the priority. Despite danger being right at the door, Lee Ki-Young had decided to ignore everything for the sake of his own personal objective.

For this moment, he had been walking on a tightrope, sacrificing so many things along the way. And all of it, apparently, was to send a message. It was inefficient, pointless, and utterly meaningless, but for him, this moment mattered more than anything.

He started walking toward Song Jung-Wook, one step at a time. Jung-Wook tried his best to scoot back, but the wall eventually stopped him. I wondered whether he'd use dark magic, but he chose a different tool—an axe.

‘

What the hell? An axe?’

It was just lying there in the room, as if someone had placed it for him on purpose.

It wasn't a legendary enchanted axe or anything like that, just the kind a lumberjack would use. It did make sense, though. Even if Jung-Wook couldn't move or use mana, his Endurance remained strong.

With his low Strength stat, a normal dagger would struggle to leave a mark. A longsword wouldn’t be much better. With a simple swing, an axe was the most effective choice. The weight made it easier to put force behind it, and it was far more efficient for chopping downward.

As expected, he looked incredibly awkward lifting it. Since his strength was worse than mine, the axe wobbled in his hands.

Honestly, he did not look like a threat at all. He raised his arms, but his skinny wrists made me doubt whether he could even swing the thing properly.

If he were a lumberjack, he would need someone else to chop wood for him.

However, to the guy about to become the log, Ki-Young didn't look weak at all.

Panicking, Jung-Wook hurriedly stammered.

— D-don’t do it. Lee Ki-Young... damn it! Are you really thinking this through? Are you seriously doing this? You’re making the entire Empire your enemy. Do you think you can handle that?! You’re turning the entire continent against you. Are you sane?!

— Yeah, I am, Jung-Wook.

— I-I’ll tell you everything. Everything you want to know! I will tell you all of it!

— I don’t need it.

— Okay. O-okay! Kim Hyun-Sung is here, too. He’s here, too! Did you know that?! Did you know he agreed to the cleanup, too?!

— ...

— ...

— I knew.

- Wh-why does it have to be me?! Damn it! Why is it me?! So many people agreed to the cleanup. Why me?! Why is it me?! Damn it!

— You.

— Wh-what?

- Now that I think about it. You... broke the pig’s finger once, didn’t you?”

— Th-that was because he was being cocky—

Aaaarghhhhhhh!

I see First Ki-Young bringing the handle of the axe down on his hand. Yes, the handle instead of the sharp end. A

crack

echoed followed by a scream.

‘Come on.’

— You bastard. You filthy bastard! Lee Ki-Young, you... you want to dieeeeeeee?!

‘His yelling is impressive.’

— The pig never screamed once...

This time, the sharp end of the axe descended on his arm. It couldn't chop his arm with a single swing. It barely sank a quarter of the way into his thick forearm, but it was more than enough to inflict pain.

‘

And it won't come out so easily.

’

The axe appeared to be stuck in the muscle; Ki-Young kicked him away and hacked down again.

Thud!

—

Aaaaargh!

— ...

Thud!

— Lee Ki-Young, you insane bastard!

— ...

— Do you really want to die?! You bastard!

Aaaaargh!

Thud!

— I-I was wrong! I apologize for everything! All of it! I deserve to die! It's me who deserves to die!

—

Ugh... ah... hah... hah...

Thud!

— Please. Please spare me. Please spare me, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. I’m begging you. It’s all my fault. All of it. I’ll do anything you command. If you tell me to be a dog, I’ll be a dog. If you tell me to bark, I’ll bark. So please...

— ...

Thud!

—

Ah... ahhh...

— ...

Thud!

— Just... just kill me. Just kill me already... please...

— ...

Thud!

— Enough... enough already.

— ...

Thud!

— I-I didn’t think... it would end... like...

— ...

Thud!

— I’ll... curse you. I... will curse you. You demon bastard... Even after death... you will not rest... One day you will... end up like...

Thud!

— Like... that pig...

Thud! Splatter! Crack!

Thud!

— ...

—...

—

Heh... heh... heh...

Thuuud!

—

Heh... huh... huu... pfft... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Thud! Splatter! Splatter!

CRUNCH!

—

Huh... ugh... heh... pfft... hahaha...

THUD!