NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 65
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“So-yul! Baek So-yul!”
“…You can’t go.”
“What nonsense! Hurry up! There’s no time!”
An uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave me. No, I couldn’t go this way. I had a gut feeling that it was dangerous, that I had to stop them. I said it over and over again, but no one took my words seriously. It felt like I was losing touch with reality and about to go insane.
“Baek So-yul!”
I bit my lip. Anxiety grew, and I became restless. Everything felt like a dream. The giant mass, the crumbling academy, us trying to escape.
The nightmare was slowly creeping in. Yet, I couldn’t utter a word.
—No one was left to believe the words of the dreaming shepherd girl.
***
“Dark clouds gather.”
Dark clouds were covering the sky— the ominous clouds were intensifying. According to the words of the man with the mouthless mask, the magic power that was shaking was manifesting as spells, altering the weather.
“Kwang-hwi!”
With Gu Jin-ha’s loud shout, an arrow of light pierced through the window and soared away. The arrow, extending like a beam of light— the arrow of Kwang-hwi, the best archer in existence, tore apart the magic power of Silent Mouth.
“Thunder of Judgment—!”
And Silent Mouth, without a care, completed the spell with the destroyed magic. A bolt of lightning began to gather, culminating in a massive strike.
“…How?”
Kwang-hwi’s arrow had dispersed the magic of Silent Mouth. Like pouring water out of a cup, it became unfit to drink. Naturally, the spell shouldn’t have been manifested.
“—Fire Pillar.”
With Hong Yu-ri’s chanting, a colossal pillar of fire shot up. As the thunder from above met the flame rising from the ground, they spread immense light and both vanished.
“What’s so surprising? I couldn’t cast it. It was on hold, you idiot!”
Hong Yu-ri shouted in frustration. The spell that was on hold— the magic she had been chanting was disrupted, but it was simply the same magic that she had held back.
“Sorry, I got excited.”
“Enough, just carry me and run.”
Hong Yu-ri hopped onto Gu Jin-ha’s back. Carrying her while continuing to chant, he leaped onto the roof in an instant.
“Kwang-hwi!”
In the distance, Kwang-hwi was nocking another arrow. As he casually glanced over and their eyes met, Gu Jin-ha spoke.
“I’ll leave Silent Mouth to you. We’ll handle the giant mass.”
Gu Jin-ha briefly glanced back at Hong Yu-ri. They were already past the second verse and reaching the third. Before that, he needed to create a favorable situation for her to use her magic.
‘Four.’
In this narrow neighborhood, four giant masses appeared. Even while carrying Hong Yu-ri, Gu Jin-ha effortlessly passed through the four of them like a flash. In no time, his drawn sword caused the masses to sway and linger.
‘This’ll do.’
Suddenly thrusting into the gap, Gu Jin-ha infused magic into the sheath and threw it. The magic-infused sheath whipped through the air— intercepted by a mass that had come creeping from somewhere.
‘Timing is everything.’
Of all times. It was the perfect timing, yet he was left with the sheath alone. The masses’ attention drawn, Gu Jin-ha slowly lured them away.
‘This should be enough.’
It was regrettable that he couldn’t take them all out in one strike, but for now, four of them. Just in time, Hong Yu-ri’s magic was coming to fruition.
“Disappearing into thick flame!”
Instantly wiping out the masses. It was a power that could only leave one speechless. Just as the massive flame extended from her hand, it was about to reach Silent Mouth, another mass blocked the way.
‘Is this a coincidence?’
This was already the second time. Around then, as the burning masses collapsed, the scattered masses on the island began to gradually gather. Some of the masses still remained around him, as if they were protecting him.
“……”
No, it wasn’t a coincidence. The masses were firmly protecting him. Layered shields were blocking Kwang-hwi’s arrows. By now, three arrows remained in his quiver— even though the fallen masses exceeded ten, it was still far from over. It felt like the entire island of Deokjeok was swarming with masses. Gu Jin-ha’s expression twisted.
***
“Where’s the witch?”
“She’s being guided to the park. She’ll soon join Squad 4.”
The man nodded at someone’s report and rotated his shoulders as if loosening his stiff body.
“What about the incomplete products?”
“Five. They’re planned to be used in Seongdong-gu and Dobong-gu.”
The man nodded again. To be honest, he also had doubts about this operation. Did it really necessitate going this far? Yet, when ‘Broken Finger’ made such a call, it would be merely foolhardy for him to question it. Judging the course of action was up to those above him, not him.
“Indeed, impeccable as always.”
The harsh magic power felt from afar. No doubt it was an academy teacher. They said each one was a hunter from the top clan, and they were successfully driving back the masses. The buildings had indeed fallen, but within thirty minutes, it looked like the situation would be brought under control.
“Let’s move. Since we’ve started this, it makes sense to deal with at least one more.”
Though his words were cold, the corners of the man’s mouth rose unrestrainedly. The sprouts of hunters whose future was uncertain. Most of them would end their lives around C-class, but every year geniuses emerged.
To trample such individuals… just thinking about it filled him with exhilaration. The thrill of cutting off a hunter’s future he wouldn’t even dare to look at in the future thrilled him.
“Shall we first discuss the route we took…?”
The man frowned. For some reason, the heartbeat in his chest had been loud since earlier.
‘Is it because it’s been a while?’
He had been restraining himself for some time. Nevertheless. The self-ridiculing man took a deep breath and calmed his emotions. If he got too excited now, he could end up in a mess. When he regained his composure and opened his eyes,
“……?”
No one was around him. No, no one was alive. The smell of blood stung his nose. The sound of someone swallowing saliva echoed unusually loudly.
‘When did this happen?’
In an incomprehensible situation, the man couldn’t move. At some point, his hands had begun to tremble. As his breath grew rough, he belatedly realized. The pounding wasn’t due to excitement or exhilaration.
“……!”
At the rustling sound, the man looked down— and saw his shadow wavering.
***
‘Gotcha.’
The shadow seized its ankle, and the tentacle piercing from its sole went up. Just then, Transformation began to surge massively, starting from its toes— and the man severed the area below his thigh.
“Cough!”
As blood spurted out like a fountain, he desperately held back, starting to swiftly chant a spell.
“Flame!”
With a simple incantation, flames erupted. The flames that rose forcibly sealed the wound from which blood was gushing. Yet, not losing his focus, the man rolled twice and spat out harsh breath from a distance.
“Shit…”
He’d confirmed with insight. The rest of the masses were mere fodder, but this one was certainly a tail. Above all, the words those things had spat testified to that. With eyes full of obsession, he glared at me hidden in the shadows.
“Who are you! Who are you?!”
The man, who was trying to escape, realized he had just severed his own leg and gritted his teeth. Knowing he couldn’t run with only one leg left was a damning realization.
“―――.”
The man began to chant. There’s no way I’d let it chant quietly. The magic power was already weaving through the shadows. Entering through the gap, I burrowed into his rear. At that moment, as if expecting it, he turned his body towards his shadow.
‘……!’
He had already shown his ability to use shadows. But was his judgment this swift? I was struck anew by the fact that these so-called tails were no ordinary beings.
“Window of Flame!”
With a self-satisfied smile, he cast magic directed towards his own shadow. The spear of flames came approaching with a momentum to burn everything. As expected, I— triggered Transformation. The black flames swallowed the spears of fire in an instant, and instead began to spread.
“……!”
The man, with an expression of disbelief, was left stunned. Before long, Transformation would have reduced everything left in that place to ashes.
***
‘They said it was a park.’
It was no doubt. The academy encompassed the entire area of Oryun-dong. And if it’s a park,
‘Olympic Park.’
The witch. There was no doubt, it was Baek So-yul.
They were clearly guiding the witch to join Squad 4. I didn’t know how many squads there were, but it meant there were at least three more like this. Accordingly, I grasped the location— and I ran without hesitation. In less than thirty seconds, I arrived at the park where two people were fighting against the masses. A young hunter and an old hunter. The mark symbolizing the faintly brightening sun on the horizon. Looking closely, it was Dawn.
“You’re not seriously going to die here, right?”
“Stop talking nonsense and swing your swords!”
They fought back with spears and swords. Their skills were decent, but they were outnumbered.
Behind them, a fallen student lay twisted and mangled. It seemed that they had been massacring students before those two had arrived. They had likely tried to block it late, but… already, more than half were no longer breathing.
No matter how much they were academy students, they wouldn’t win against the masses. It was a given. A given, but…
‘…….’
—I calmed the boiling emotions. I couldn’t get excited. If I got too excited, I couldn’t find Baek So-yul. Taking a long breath, I forcibly cooled my head and organized what I had to do first.
‘First, those trash over there.’
—With the magic power, my magic began to slowly spread through the shadows.
***
“That’s far enough.”
“…….”
“Baek So-yul! What on earth are you thinking? You can’t just wander off like this! Let’s go back. The others…”
“Lies. It’s you, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about? Can’t you see it’s urgent? Hurry up!”
“If you really thought it was urgent, you wouldn’t have come after me.”
The teacher stared at Baek So-yul’s eyes for a long time, then tilted his head.
“I thought it was a good thing…”
The teacher’s voice, disguised as kindness, acknowledged that what he said was true. Baek So-yul, biting her lip, looked around with anxious eyes. A wall over five meters tall. She could jump it using magic, but there was no way this guy would just let that happen.
“Haha. I never imagined our So-yul could run so well.”
“…….”
“Why so silent?”
Seeing Baek So-yul’s silence, the teacher twisted his lips.
“I won’t kill you, so don’t worry. You have your uses.”
Baek So-yul’s fists trembled with suppressed rage. Like in a dream— if it was going to be like this, it would be better to just die.
‘Coming this far was the right choice.’
If I had just run away together with him. If this man hadn’t followed me, no one would have survived. Here, I was all alone.
“I won’t say it again. So-yul. Come here.”
“…….”
“If you don’t hurry, more people will die. You know that, right? What? You said you saw it in a dream?”
“I thought you would come after me.”
“So what? Knowing how it changes anything?”
With a sneer, he got closer. The moment he approached, Baek So-yul shouted loudly.
“Ice Spear!”
The decisive blow she had been aiming for. In this narrow space, there was no escaping it. Just as Baek So-yul had predicted, it struck perfectly— crashing into his fist.
“Spell on hold… and you haven’t even graduated yet?”
“…….”
B-class. Was it this bleak? Ice fragments fell from his hand. As her critical strike went wasted, a deep shadow arose on Baek So-yul’s face. This was all she had planned. She had originally intended to use herself as bait to escape. She had suspected this would happen the moment he came after her.
“…Running away like this won’t save you. There are many others out there who’d kill them.”
“…….”
“Why did you think if you escaped, the others would be saved?”
What naïveté. An opportunity had come, there was no reason not to cut it down. The teacher twisted his lips. As his fist approached, Baek So-yul closed her eyes tightly for a moment—
“—Distort!”
The space warped. The magic infused with will wrapped around him, bringing him to a halt. And just before the precarious magic could snap under raw strength, she shouted.
“Go quickly!”
One hand gripping her wrist felt ready to break at any moment. At the dead end, Baek So-yul gathered magic at her toes and jumped over the high wall. A mere five seconds. As Euna, who had endured with gritted teeth, lamented over the snapped distortion.
‘I worked so hard for this.’
No, thanks to that, I managed to buy some time to escape. Her training with Hong Yu-ri had not been in vain. Finally, as the magic snapped, he turned around with an angry expression.
“…Dawn?”
“…….”
“Why are you getting involved? That child caused this situation! If we lose her now, the masses will only grow!”
“……”
“Damn it! We have to chase her even now! The child, I mean!”
The emotional appeal of his voice made Euna laugh in disbelief.
“Excuse me. I heard everything?”
At those words, the teacher’s expression vanished.
“…Then, it can’t be helped. We have no choice but to take care of it.”
In a flash, as the fist rushed at her, Euna instinctively ducked and rolled.
‘……!’
Incredible speed. Her body simply couldn’t keep up. The only thing she managed to evade was thanks to her magic detection. The second punch, she couldn’t escape. —And Euna, as planned, was enveloped in a flurry of light.
“…Short-distance Teleportation Scroll?”
Now she noticed the shreds of paper scattered around. It seemed she had torn them from the very start. She had intended to escape all along, without any thought of fighting.
“Tsk. Of all times.”
He clicked his tongue and turned his body away. Being discovered by a hunter of Dawn was painful. However— to make up for that mistake, he couldn’t let Baek So-yul slip away. Making a calm decision, he jumped over the wall after Baek So-yul.
***
The young hunter’s spear pierced the shoulder of an approaching mass. Just as he was about to end it, the young hunter quickly lifted the spear. His wrist throbbed from the two-handed blow he had delivered. It felt as if he might drop his spear at any moment.
Individually, the masses weren’t strong. The problem was that their numbers were three times what they had. Every time he tried to do something, they came rushing in to stop him as if possessed. The young hunter, who couldn’t think of a way to break through, unconsciously bit his lip.
‘What if I just bolt?’
He could likely escape. Glancing at the older hunter, though, it seemed he had no intention of retreating.
‘This is infuriating. Seriously.’
He couldn’t escape alone. Because of that, he was about to dig his own grave. With a heavy sigh, the young hunter raised the little magic power he had left. Meanwhile, the masses closed in on him, methodically and calmly pressing him back. If things continued as they were, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
‘Whatever will be, will be!’
In frustration, the young hunter threw his spear, infusing magic into it. The mass was startled and stepped back, and in that instant, another mass swung down its sword, and he took a step forward to meet it. Shoulder charge. The mass’s sword lodged partway into his shoulder, but it was calculated. Thanks to that, for this brief moment, its weapon had been neutralized. However— it was only so for two of them. The remaining one was unavoidable.
‘One’s definitely gonna hit!’
Preparing to take the knife from the side, he pushed on relentlessly. But the expected pain didn’t arrive.
‘Why?’
Did the older man help? He didn’t know, but it was an opportunity. Mounting the fallen mass, he rained down magic-infused punches. The hit came down on the asphalt ground with a crushing force, bursting like a watermelon.
‘One down.’
As the young hunter wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket when he turned around, surprisingly, the older hunter stood frozen stiff.
“Old man. Why are you just standing there?”
Following his gaze— the young hunter saw it, too.
“…How?”
It wasn’t the shadow on the ground, but the shadow rippled right in front of them.
“…….”
The shadow took the form of a wolf. As the two hunters stood frozen, language flowed from it.
“—What about the remaining masses?”
The wolf’s form. Breath caught at the voice from the shadow. A clear, articulate sound. How? The frozen man couldn’t move. The older hunter, with wide eyes, was trembling, sweat trickling down as he gripped his sword tightly.
“…….”
At the moment his gaze met the wolf’s red eyes harboring shadows, his breath stopped. As he felt the suffocating pressure, his mind clouded, the wolf slowly turned its body. Just as it vanished, both men collapsed to the ground.
“…Hah, hah. Hah.”
They gasped for breath, unable to stabilize their breathing. What had been a facade of calmness crumbled into bravado. Their legs, which could barely hold them, gave out completely. It was pitiful; it seemed they wouldn’t be able to stand for a while.
“What was that?!”
The young hunter’s question, entangled with confusion and fear, was met with a shake of the head from the older hunter.
“…I don’t know.”
What lay before them were only the gruesomely dead bodies of the masses. The old hunter had seen it clearly. The shadow that stretched from it, and the countless tentacles. He had seen them piercing and tearing apart the adversaries that had harassed them. The only thing he could decidedly say was that had they fought, they would definitely have been killed.
The two hunters could only stare vacantly at the wolf that had disappeared beyond the shadows.
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