Ji-Kai hadn't expected this. Not even close.
Two new missions had dropped into his system—each worse than the last. The first: he was now in a party with one of the most dangerous unlicensed adventurers in Korea. His task? Either capture him… or eliminate him.
The second mission was even more dire: after completing the first, Ji-Kai would need to clear the dungeon and escape within one hour. Why? Because a high-tier demon was coming.
Kim Nina noticed the sudden shift in Ji-Kai's expression. His face had gone rigid, his eyes distant. It unsettled her. She already thought he was strange—erratic, unpredictable. Now he looked like someone bracing for disaster.
Song Ba-Chu, the blond adventurer leading the group, hadn't looked back once. Only once did he glance over his shoulder, seeing Ji-Kai and Nina walking calmly behind him.
Nothing suspicious. But inside, his thoughts were far from innocent.
That girl with the long hair… she's pretty, even if she's a bit flat. Maybe I should keep her around. Use her properly~
Though the thoughts remained locked in Ba-Chu's mind, Nina felt a chill crawl down her spine. She didn't trust him—not from the start.
He was unlicensed, and that alone was enough.
But she hadn't known the full truth. Ji-Kai had. He saw her calm demeanor and understood: she didn't know who she was walking beside.
Dealing with Song Ba-Chu and his partner, clearing the dungeon, and escaping before a demon arrived—all within an hour?
Could my luck get any worse?
« Hey, what's wrong with you? You look like you're about to crap yourself » said Hyung Bin-Hwan, Ba-Chu's partner, glancing at Ji-Kai with a bored tone, as if the insult had slipped out by accident.
« Oh, I just can't stomach the sight of unlicensed adventurers. Especially when they're infamous criminals like Song Ba-Chu and Hyung Bin-Hwan. Just looking at you makes my dinner churn » Ji-Kai replied, his voice sharp, his tone deliberately disrespectful.
« What the hell are you talking about? » Bin-Hwan snapped, clearly provoked.
« What are you trying to do? » Nina asked, feigning ignorance. She didn't want to appear familiar with Ji-Kai.
If these two really were who he claimed… this could get ugly.
« Your little hobby of luring desperate rookies, torturing them, stealing their gear, and dumping their corpses has earned you a reputation worse than brothel trash. Isn't that right? » Ji-Kai pressed, his voice dripping with venom.
No time to waste. Take the bait. Come on…
Nina grew visibly tense. Both Bin-Hwan and Ba-Chu were reacting. Bin-Hwan looked furious. Ba-Chu, still smiling, had veins bulging on his forehead.
Ji-Kai remembered: Ba-Chu was easy to provoke, despite his laid-back appearance.
« Friend~ you must be mistaken. We're just regular folks looking for— » Ba-Chu began, but Ji-Kai cut him off, flipping him the middle finger.
« Yeah, yeah. And I'm the President of America ruling over the land of unicorns. Who do you think you're talking to? A kindergarten kid dreaming of knighthood in Wonderland? Don't make me laugh, you and that rooster haircut. »
The insult landed. Hard.
Ba-Chu and Bin-Hwan drew their weapons.
Ba-Chu's spear had been with him the whole time. Now it gleamed in his hand, paired with a wicked grin. Bin-Hwan dropped his bag and pulled out a spiked warhammer—medium-sized, but deadly.
« Are you happy now? You've put us in a tight spot with your idiocy! » Nina hissed, pulling a whip from the pouch strapped to her back.
Her frustration boiled over, and she revealed her true strength.
« We don't have time for this. Let's finish them » Ji-Kai said, drawing the dagger he'd purchased earlier. He cursed himself for not bringing his sword.
We might not have a chance. But we need to end this. Either we kill them… or we die.
Without another word, Ba-Chu lunged at Ji-Kai. The two clashed violently. Meanwhile, Nina circled Bin-Hwan, keeping out of his hammer's reach.
Ji-Kai struggled. Ba-Chu's spear was fast—too fast. Ji-Kai's dagger was no match in range. Still, he fought back, using the rocky terrain to his advantage.
« Impressive. You're holding your own with a kitchen knife. I'll give you that. But… » Ba-Chu charged his spear with mana and slammed the butt into Ji-Kai's ribs.
The pain was sharp, brutal.
« There's no comparison. I'm a B+ ranked professional. You couldn't scratch me if you tried » he said, smug and relaxed.
« And I don't Facking care~ » kai replied .
Damn it. Spear users are the worst. I can't dodge from afar, and I can't close the gap.
Across the battlefield, Nina lashed out with her whip, keeping Bin-Hwan at bay.
His rage grew with each missed strike. He smashed rocks, swung wildly, but Nina's agility kept her ahead.
« She's special. I want her even more now » Ba-Chu muttered, watching his partner struggle. His grin twisted into something grotesque.
« You mock me, rooster-head? You think I'll fall from that weak hit? I've survived worse, » Ji-Kai said, rising again, eyes locked with Ba-Chu.
This time, their clash was more balanced. Ji-Kai began channeling mana—Ba-Chu noticed immediately and intensified his assault.
His strikes grew faster, more violent. His intent to kill was now unmistakable.
« Bwahaha! You're persistent! I'll remember you every time I fight a dagger user! » Ba-Chu laughed maniacally, his eyes wide, his mana surging.
Ji-Kai was in trouble. He couldn't use much mana—it wasn't his last fight, and worse was coming. But Ba-Chu's power forced his hand.
Strike after strike, spear and boot, Ba-Chu cornered Ji-Kai with sadistic precision.
« GAH! YOU FACKING BITCH! »
Then, a scream—Bin-Hwan cried out in pain. Ba-Chu turned, distracted.
In that moment, Ji-Kai closed the distance. He didn't stab. He reached out with his left hand and threw something—blinding powder.
« Gaaah! That's cheating, you bastard! » Ba-Chu screamed, clawing at his eyes.
Ji-Kai didn't hesitate. He drove his dagger into Ba-Chu's throat, ending him without mercy.
« Damn you. I don't have time to play with you. I've got bigger problems, » he muttered, wiping the blood from his blade.
He turned to Nina, who had just subdued Bin-Hwan. The man lay on the ground, exhausted and defeated.
« I didn't know you could use a whip like that, » Ji-Kai said, approaching.
« That's none of your business. And you're not authorized to— » she began, but stopped as Ji-Kai stabbed Bin-Hwan in the neck, killing him instantly.
« Hey! Why did you kill him?! » Nina shouted, shocked by the cold execution.
Ah, right. Nina was never fond of killing. She always flinched at it.
« They were high-level criminals. Their crimes—both known and hidden—are extensive. Assaulting a Guild officer alone warrants death. This was justice » Ji-Kai replied calmly, waiting for the system's response.
« But still! That's barbaric! Everyone deserves a second chance. Rehabilitation could've changed them! » Nina's voice trembled with anger.
Ji-Kai felt it. But he ignored it.
« It doesn't matter. Let's finish the dungeon and get out. »
He walked away, leaving the bodies behind without a second thought.
Nina followed, reluctantly, saying nothing.
Ji-Kai checked his system interface.
[ Side Mission: Eliminate the Outlaws – Complete ]
[ Reward: Consumable Item (Rank B) added to inventory ]
Good. That's done. Now for the real problem…
[ Special Mission: Escape Death ]
[ Details: This valley is Golem's Hollow, home to standard golems. But something dangerous is coming—a high-tier demon will soon arrive. ]
[ Objective: Escape before the demon appears ]
[ Time Remaining: 35 minutes ]
[ Reward: None ]
Damn it. Time's running out.
We need to move faster . NOW!!