The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 93

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 93
The Abyss Clan had secured a contract with the Defense Strategy Department to maintain security in the Bucheon Station Area for some time, and they were currently stationed there.
An office near the Bucheon Station Gate.
This place, once used as one of the Nine-Tail Crew’s offices, had now become the headquarters of Wi Tae-woong, the master of the Abyss Clan.
The office was filled with the mingled scents of coffee and cigar smoke.
Wi Tae-woong was searching through the broadcasts of the Broadcast Spirits, watching Eun-sung and his companions through them.
They continued to hunt Broadcast Spirits while circling the Bucheon Station Outskirts.
Of course, the Eun-sung appearing in the broadcast was not the real Eun-sung, but Helkiyan, the spirit of Card’s Faction [Helkiyan].
The real Eun-sung was facing the living Forest in the 0-Level Deep Area, but Wi Tae-woong had no way of knowing that.
“Hmm.”
Wi Tae-woong’s eyes gleamed like a hawk’s as he watched the broadcast.
“For chicks, they’re quite impressive. Talented ones too. I’d like to test them… but I suppose I must refrain.”
Wi Tae-woong forcibly suppressed the urge to send cotton candy to the Broadcast Spirits.
If he did that again, his relationship with Eun-sung would completely fall apart, and he couldn’t bear the thought.
For that reason, Wi Tae-woong filled an Underlock glass with Royal Salute and drank it down, swallowing his mischievous impulses along with it.
Then, at that moment.
Vroop.
A phone call came in.
“What brings such a busy person to call me?”
– Just a courtesy call.
“My goodness, a person so busy they can barely catch their breath is checking in on me—I don’t know what to do with myself.”
– Still sarcastic, I see.
“Sarcastic? How could I possibly be sarcastic to you, Minister? I’m hurt.”
…he said, but a twisted smile played at the corners of Wi Tae-woong’s mouth.
– …Is the Bucheon Station Area quiet?
“Peaceful.”
– Good to hear.
“No matter how reckless that thug Baek Do-hyuk is, he wouldn’t want to wage an all-out war with the Defense Strategy Department right now, would he? Haha.”
– I suppose not. Not yet.
“You say that as if you don’t already know… Ah, could this be about Cha Eun-sung?”
– Cha Eun-sung? Is he there?
“Heh.”
Wi Tae-woong laughed.
‘As expected, our old man is still as cunning as ever.’
Minister An could not possibly be unaware of Eun-sung’s location.
Moreover, wasn’t Eun-sung’s group currently confirmed to be circling the Bucheon Station Outskirts through the broadcasts of the Broadcast Spirits?
“If you’re worried about that fellow, you can put your mind at ease.”
– Is that so?
“Our staff are already combing through the Station Interior for training purposes. I’ve already instructed them not to enter the deep areas, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”
– Then I have nothing to worry about.
“Yes, yes, of course! Our Minister is worried, so we must take good care of the esteemed Hunter Eun-sung. Absolutely, you’re right.”
– ….
“If anything happens, I’ll step in personally, so rest assured.”
– Nothing to worry about. I’ll hang up now.
Click.
“Treating him like some precious treasure, aren’t they.”
Wi Tae-woong’s irritation flared, and he let out a low growl.
“If that so-called Cha Eun-sung comes under my command, how furious would our Director be?”
Wi Tae-woong recalled recruiting Lee Hyun, and he laughed as if the mere thought brought him joy.
The Defense Strategy Department.
More precisely, it was Wi Tae-woong’s hobby to poach talented individuals that Minister An had his eye on.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Black Panther Team of the Abyss Clan, to which Lee Hyun belonged, was under attack from the Forest.
Crack!
Boom!
Crrrrrash!
The sudden terrain shifts and assaults from the vegetation caused the Abyss Clan’s formation to collapse in an instant.
“Damn it.”
Lee Hyun bit his lower lip hard.
The Forest’s attacks were relentless enough to make one’s teeth ache.
Trees, grass, vines—plants attacked indiscriminately, leaving no room to think.
Plant-type monsters were common.
When clearing Gates, one occasionally faced attacks from carnivorous plants.
But that was always from specific individuals; never had an entire forest become the enemy.
Whoosh!
Crash!
A massive ancient tree came crashing down on a hunter from the Black Panther Team.
Splat!
His head exploded in a burst of gore.
Boom!
The tree itself shattered into fragments, scattering like shrapnel in all directions.
Thud, thud!
“Aaaahhh!”
A hunter was struck by the cascading debris and fell, riddled with wounds.
Fortunately, he was wearing a plate carrier that prevented his heart from being pierced, but he was still critically injured.
“Chang-sik!”
Team leader Jung Ha-jun threw himself toward his fallen teammate.
‘Danger!’
Smack!
Lee Hyun tackled Jung Ha-jun with his body.
At that same moment, a barrage of arrows descended upon the hunter named Song Chang-sik.
Thunk! Thunk thunk! Thunk thunk thunk thunk!
In the blink of an eye, several arrows embedded themselves throughout Song Chang-sik’s body.
But the final arrow proved decisive.
Thunk!
An arrow pierced straight through Song Chang-sik’s skull.
The threat was not merely botanical.
Humanoid Monsters with bluish skin, pointed ears, and hair nearly white as ash lurked throughout the area.
“Chang-sik! Nooooooo―!”
A cry bordering on anguish tore from Jung Ha-jun’s throat.
But there was no time for grief.
Whistle, whistle-whistle!
Arrows were raining down.
“Team leader! We have to go!”
“Damn it!”
Jung Ha-jun cursed, but there was no other choice.
A team of six in total.
Two dead in the blink of an eye.
Actually, four.
The first two had been strangled by vines the moment combat began, their necks severed by Humanoid Monster hands.
“Let’s go!”
“Yeah… let’s move. Now.”
Jung Ha-jun gritted his teeth and bolted forward.
Whistle, whistle-whistle!
Arrows poured down upon the backs of the fleeing Lee Hyun and Jung Ha-jun.
“Chase them!”
“Where do you think you’re running?”
“You will not escape a single step within this Forest.”
The Humanoid Monsters pursued Lee Hyun and Jung Ha-jun.
Thus began the desperate chase.
* * *
Hours later.
“Gasp, gasp.”
Lee Hyun, leaning against a massive tree, slid down slowly.
His appearance was a complete wreck.
His blood-stained combat suit was torn in countless places, and the plate carrier holding ballistic plates and various equipment had already lost its function and been discarded.
No one stood beside him.
Crunch—Lee Hyun gripped the military watch in his left hand.
It was the watch that team leader Jung Ha-jun always wore.
– Please… just one thing… could you… *cough!* take this to their mothers? *cough!*
Gasp!
Lee Hyun clenched his teeth, recalling Jung Ha-jun’s final moments.
I had to survive and escape, no matter what.
Only then could I hand over the watch—now nothing more than a keepsake.
But even that seemed impossible at the moment.
“Tch!”
A bitter laugh escaped Lee Hyun’s lips.
Rustle, swish.
Humanoid Monsters were parting the tall grass one by one, revealing themselves.
“Damn it. If only this cursed forest didn’t exist.”
Curses spilled from Lee Hyun’s mouth.
To be honest, the Humanoid Monsters weren’t particularly strong.
Killing them was easier than eating soft rice.
What was truly formidable was nature itself.
The Forest.
The vegetation writhing as if alive was far more terrifying.
But complaining inside a Gate was utterly pointless.
“…Even if I die, I’m taking half of them with me.”
Lee Hyun rose to his feet, a savage smile spreading across his face.
Whoooosh!
Ether erupted from Lee Hyun’s spirit blade like flames.
“Still struggling, I see.”
“Stubborn human.”
The Humanoid Monsters shook their heads at the sight of Lee Hyun, as if disgusted.
Given what he’d displayed during the hours of pursuit, their reaction was only natural.
After all, more than a few of their kin had fallen to his blade.
But that was where it ended.
“We shall never forgive you!”
“Die, you filthy intruder!”
The Humanoid Monsters rushed toward Lee Hyun.
“Fine, I’ll kill every last one of you monsters.”
Lee Hyun’s blade flashed.
Shing!
His sword, brimming with blazing ether, traced a deadly arc toward the neck of the charging Humanoid Monster.
Then, in that instant.
Clang!
A jungle machete intercepted Lee Hyun’s blade.
“…!”
Lee Hyun’s pupils dilated in shock.
Cha Eun-sung.
He was the one who had blocked Lee Hyun’s blade.
“Why…?”
Lee Hyun couldn’t fathom why Eun-sung had intercepted him.
Thwack!
Eun-sung’s kick exploded against the Humanoid Monster’s chest.
“Gasp!”
The Humanoid Monster coughed blood and flew backward.
“Enemy!”
“There’s another intruder!”
The Humanoid Monsters rushed forward in a frenzy.
Whoosh!
Crimson blades materialized around Eun-sung.
Blood Manifestation, Chaotic Dance!
Whoooosh—!
Blades cascaded down like a torrent.
“Aaaah!”
“Ugh!”
The Humanoid Monsters fell one by one.
They weren’t dead.
The crimson blades had pierced only their ankles, thighs, knees, and calves.
“Move.”
Lee Hyun shoved Eun-sung aside and approached the fallen Humanoid Monsters.
This was it.
The perfect moment to snuff out their lives with ease.
But Eun-sung wouldn’t allow it.
Grab!
Eun-sung’s hand seized Lee Hyun by the scruff of his neck.
“What the hell, you bastard.”
Lee Hyun spun around irritably, growling.
“Don’t kill them.”
“What…?”
“I said don’t kill them.”
“Bullshit.”
Lee Hyun’s eyes flickered with agitation.
“What, did you suddenly become a saint? Are you running some kind of monster rights campaign?”
“Yes.”
“What did you just—?”
“If it’s necessary, then yes.”
“That’s complete non—”
“Shut up and follow me.”
I grabbed Lee Hyun by the collar and dragged him back.
“Let go! Damn it!”
Lee Hyun wrenched himself free from my grip.
“I need to kill every last one of those dog-like monster bastards.”
“I can’t allow that.”
“What are you going to do if I don’t get your permission?”
Lee Hyun thrust his sword toward me.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue.
“You still haven’t come to your senses, have you?”
“How could I possibly be in my right mind? Hah.”
“Dear me. Once you hear the truth, you’ll be even further from sanity. What a predicament.”
“The truth? What truth are you talking about?”
“Those Humanoid Monsters—you killed them, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. And I’ll keep killing them.”
“Then you must have paid a price each time.”
“A price…?”
“The Forest came alive and attacked you, didn’t it?”
“That’s… surely not.”
Lee Hyun’s expression hardened like stone.
“Surely is how people die.”
I smiled coldly as I spoke.
“Your teammates—you killed them.”
My words tore through Lee Hyun’s heart like shredded paper.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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