Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 17

EP.17 Don’t Think You’ll Die Easily Part 2

“Don’t think you’ll die easily.”

As Jeong-hyeon said that, everyone’s gaze turned to him. Their disgusting stares almost made him gag, but he swallowed it down and grabbed the sword from the pig-like guy, continuing his threat.

“At the moment you die, I’ll make sure to hunt down and kill each of your family members.”

Jeong-hyeon struggled to calm the divine power surging within him and finished his sentence.

“Try to hold on as long as you can. Maybe I’ll only kill you and spare the rest.”

The uninjured man sneered, baring his teeth.

“…You crazy bastard. You got lucky with one strike and now you can’t shut up.”

Jeong-hyeon sneered back at him.

“Of course, I have to talk big when I land a hit. Don’t you agree?”

It was a trivial provocation, but in this situation, it seemed to have the desired effect. The man gestured to the people behind him and drew his sword.

It seemed they were about to charge at Jeong-hyeon.

‘In that case, I should make the first move.’

There was no need to give them the initiative. As soon as he decided, he channelled his divine power and dashed forward. The man in front signalled the others behind him and shouted.

“Get him! Take him down!”

With his shout, three men simultaneously drew their swords and charged. Jeong-hyeon assessed their positions and swung his sword at the first one who approached him.

Swish!

The sound of his sword cutting through the air was followed by a horizontal slash across the man’s neck, sending blood spurting.

“Aaagh! Uggghhh!”

Clutching his bleeding neck with both hands, the man struggled to stay alive. Grabbing the man’s head, Jeong-hyeon spoke ruthlessly.

“One down.”

Then, with an exaggerated motion, he plunged his sword into the man’s neck. The unsettling sensation of slicing through flesh and bone wasn’t pleasant, but the demonstration served its purpose. He couldn’t waste this opportunity.

To ensure the man’s suffering, he twisted the sword, moving it left and right, causing excruciating pain until the man’s life finally ebbed away. Pulling his sword out, he flicked off the blood and looked ahead.

‘The effect seems to be working.’

In the dungeon, once a scent spreads, it lingers. The smell of blood Jeong-hyeon created earlier was now spreading everywhere, likely stimulating their senses. Their eyes quivered nervously as they continued to stare at him.

‘They’re still just students.’

Witnessing even a single death sent shivers down their spines.

He was human too, however countless losses had numbed Jeong-hyeon to the sting of mortality. He had reached a point where he could utilize the fear it evoked.

Observing the remaining group, who wore expressions of terror as they looked at him, he stabbed his sword into the chest of the fallen student once more.

“So, who’s next?”

No one answered. Even the guy who had been screaming with a sword in his shoulder was silent. Realizing that the momentum was now on his side, he slowly walked forward.

“… D-Don’t come any closer!”

The second student in front, frightened by Jeong-hyeon’s approach, fell back in a panic. Seeing the student even fall on his butt in fear, Jeong-hyeon clicked his tongue and stabbed the student in the chest without hesitation.

“Guhhh!”

While some might question the need to eliminate someone so incapacitated by fear, eliminating the risk now was the safest option. Leaving someone alive could lead to complications later.

“Next. No need to say anything, you’re right here.”

“Die, you monster!”

This one at least tried to fight back, swinging his sword wildly. Whether driven by anger over his friend’s death or a desperate will to survive, his attacks were sloppy. Jeong-hyeon easily dodged and plunged his sword into the man’s heart.

‘So, three left.’

He turned his attention to the two who had been tormenting Lucia. As he realized only the main dish was left, he started walking forward slowly.

“Damn… damn it!”

The one who had been giving orders seemed determined to put up a real fight. He infused his ornate sword with sword energy and shouted.

“You dare, you monster!”

He tried to hide his fear with curses, steeling himself as he raised his sword and charged at Jeong-hyeon, emotions driving his every move.

“Dieeee!”

It was sloppy and crude. His attacks, consumed by emotion, failed to showcase any real skill. Jeong-hyeon felt no value in the man’s efforts and kicked him hard, sending him flying backward with a loud thud.

Watching him struggle, Jeong-hyeon repeated his earlier words.

“I told you, you won’t die easily.”

The situation seemed to lend weight to his words now. The one who had previously scoffed at him was now trembling all over, dropping his sword, and begging with outstretched hands.

“I-I was wrong. Please, just once… spare me. If you do, I’ll give you all my wealth and slaves…! Gaaaah!”

Interrupting him, Jeong-hyeon plunged his sword into the man’s shoulder, speaking with a cold detachment.

“Interesting. Anything else you can offer?”

“I-I have… yes, a villa in my name… ughhh!”

This time, Jeong-hyeon stabbed the man’s thigh.

“Not interested. I don’t like villas.”

“Then… something else… anything…”

He was desperate, trying to think of anything that might save him, but he was at a loss. Watching him, Jeong-hyeon spoke calmly.

“Oh, there is one thing I need.”

“W-What is it?”

The man’s face lit up with hope, looking like he had seen a ray of light. Observing his expression, Jeong-hyeon recalled a thought he had long ago.

‘There are many forms of revenge, but the one I prefer most is delivering the most terrible despair at the happiest moment.’

With this in mind, he asked the man calmly.

“Tell me who’s behind you, and I’ll let you live.”

At this, the man trembled, his eyes darting around, before tightly shutting his eyes and refusing to speak. Seeing this, Jeong-hyeon didn’t hesitate. He kicked the man to the ground and drove his sword into his heart.

The man’s horrific death cry echoed. Ignoring it, he turned his attention to Erie and the last remaining man.

“Alright, two left. Erie, I’ll save you for last. So, what’s your name?”

“L-Lou Gehrig.”

“Ah, Lou Gehrig. So, Lou Gehrig, can you tell me who’s behind you?”

Having witnessed his friend’s death, Lou Gehrig quickly nodded and shouted desperately.

“… Regina. It was Regina who ordered it.”

Hearing the name Regina, Jeong-hyeon approached and pulled the sword out of the man’s shoulder, speaking.

“Good job. As promised, I’ll let you live.”

At those words, the man’s face lit up with unrestrained joy. Seeing this, he gestured for him to leave quickly. The man, gripping his bleeding shoulder, started to run forward.

However, before he could get far, Jeong-hyeon threw the previously removed sword, embedding it into the opposite shoulder.

“Aaagh!”

The painful scream echoed through the dungeon. Grabbing Lou Gehrig by the hair, he dragged him back to his original position and spoke.

“You’re naive.”

Why had he believed he would be spared? Reflecting on how people tend to believe what they want, he pulled out the sword from the man’s other shoulder and continued.

“Alright, this time I’ll really let you go. Try again.”

Lou Gehrig hesitated, still reeling from the earlier injuries. But driven by his desire to live, he started stumbling away again. Seeing this, Jeong-hyeon drove the sword into the man’s right thigh, causing him to collapse.

“Guhhh… why…!”

He stared silently at Lou Gehrig’s question of why, then grabbed his hair again and returned him to the original spot.

“It’s amazing that you believed I’d let you go. Isn’t it?”

At this question, Lou Gehrig trembled all over and looked at him with a face mixed with despair, fear, and desperation. The grotesque expression was extreme, yet Jeong-hyeon’s thirst for revenge remained unshaken.

‘It feels like I’ve found my direction.’

He had been uncertain about what to do and how to exact his revenge, but after this encounter, he had a clearer idea. Nodding to himself, he realized that killing everyone who had pushed him into the abyss was the answer.

‘Why was I hesitating? I just need to kill them all.’

It was obvious from the start. They had treated him as nothing more than livestock, worth less than a self-destructing beast. Was he supposed to forgive and understand those who had ordered self-destruction in their final moments?

‘What a load of crap.’

That was something he could never tolerate. Determined, he set his goal: to eliminate the kingdom, the order, and those wretched individuals.

‘So, the last one is…’

Erie, that bastard.

As Jeong-hyeon approached Erie with a stern expression, Lucia, whose face had turned red and swollen, blocked his way.

“… Jeong-hyeon, I have a request.”

At those words, he silently stared at Lucia, trying to understand why she was blocking his path.

‘Could she be trying to save Erie?’

Considering Lucia’s personality, it was possible. But he had no intention of sparing Erie and was about to push past her when she said something completely unexpected.

“I can’t let my friend carry all the burden alone. So, at least let me share the responsibility and the weight.”

“… What?”

“You’re carrying too much of this… Jeong-hyeon… no…”

Lucia, trembling with her lips quivering, shouted at him.

“It’s too cruel for you to bear alone… let me bear it with you.”

Using informal language instead of the usual polite speech, Lucia took the sword from him. With her once pristine hands now covered in blood, she spoke.

“It should be fair… and it’s the right thing to do. Let me do this.”

With an awkward smile, different from her usual expression, she turned to face Erie.

“……”

Erie was paralyzed with fear, unable to move. Lucia, trembling all over, plunged the sword into Erie’s chest.

“Aaah!”

But her strength was insufficient, and the sword fell out weakly. Seeing this, Jeong-hyeon stepped on Erie, who was trying to crawl away, and picked up the wobbling sword.

“I’ll help you.”

With a small nod, Lucia made room for him to grip the sword handle. Together, they drove the sword into Erie’s chest.

The alien sensation of piercing flesh and bone traveled up the handle. Lucia gagged each time she felt Erie’s dying spasms through her fingertips, but she didn’t let go until Erie was dead.

As Erie’s life faded, Lucia’s white hair was stained red with blood. She muttered softly with trembling hands.

“… This time, I won’t leave you alone… so the burden, the responsibility, and everyone’s resentment… together…”

Her disjointed words were hard to understand, but at that moment, countless messages appeared before his eyes.

– Ding

[Hidden Achievement – The Fall of the Saintess has been completed!]

[Warning! – You have destroyed the predetermined fate!]

[A new hidden quest has been generated!]