Chapter 46

I sprinted like mad, running the numbers in my head.

"Why didn’t they strike Hamburg directly?"

They didn’t hit Hamburg itself. They dropped it nearby. That means they’re giving us time to react. The impact radius of the shell is way too imprecise.

— The Korean military calculated the impact location, wind direction, and speed. The estimate is that the sarin gas will reach Hamburg in thirty-five minutes. The train will depart for the Netherlands in twenty minutes.

"So that’s the goal."

Relief supplies can get contaminated by the gas. The train has to depart as soon as possible.

— Even if that’s what the enemy is aiming for, we don’t have a choice.

"No, that’s not it."

Sending the train off quickly is just a preliminary step to achieving their goal. If I were the one running this plan, the goal is obvious.

"They’re trying to separate Hunter Lee Se-eun from the train."

The plan is to somehow keep Lee Se-eun here and send the train off without her. That way, retaking the train becomes much easier.

— …They’ll probably succeed.

I almost stopped running. What do you mean, succeed? Are you talking about stopping Lee Se-eun from boarding the train?

"What are you talking about?"

— There’s an archer in military uniform with a hood over their head…

That was enough for me to click my tongue. I knew who it was. It was the same guy Han Sang-ah and I faced back in Gyodong-do.

If it’s that bastard, he can keep Lee Se-eun locked down. No wonder his voice sounded so urgent.

— The train has to depart.

It wasn’t about distributing relief supplies anymore. Once the gas spreads with the wind, Europeans will be mixing sarin gas with their rations.

"These crazy bastards. They really are committed to what they’re doing."

Releasing sarin gas in Germany? Are they trying to avenge the Jews who were killed by the Nazis? Or do they just think this is all a big joke?

"This is… a total shitshow."

The first thing I saw was Lee Se-eun clashing with that hooded soldier.

Dozens of arrows rained down like a storm in an instant, and Lee Se-eun met them head-on, exploding the greatsword she held in both hands to block every one of them.

"At this rate, the station’s gonna collapse."

The train’s engines kicked in and started to move. Everyone else was already on board except Lee Se-eun. I glanced at her briefly, then boarded the train. She couldn’t get on the train anyway.

"We’re moving!"

With that shout, the train pulled away. And the distance between us and Lee Se-eun kept growing.

Inside the speeding train, I was overwhelmed with a sour feeling. It always felt like this when I danced in someone else’s palm.

"Who the hell could’ve predicted a sarin gas bomb."

I wasn’t even curious where they got it from. We’re almost certain now that the Descendants of Dangun are cooperating with the Korean government.

With a superpower like Korea on their side, would it really be hard for them to get a few gas shells?

“…”

The people who had no choice but to leave Lee Se-eun behind in Hamburg sat in silence, staring blankly in the direction of the city.

"What, you think if you stare long enough, Hunter Lee Se-eun’s gonna teleport onto this train?"

All the eyes turning toward me weren’t exactly friendly.

"Pull yourselves together. She’s not fighting her ass off back there so we can sit here and mope."

After saying that, I looked around and continued.

"This train’s headed to Amsterdam. Since those bastards kept Lee Se-eun off it, they’re definitely going to make a move soon."

Factoring in the speed, we’ll reach Amsterdam in about nine hours. The Descendants of Dangun will definitely act before that.

"We need to prepare. We can’t afford to waste time feeling sorry that we left Hunter Lee Se-eun behind."

They’ll come soon. The Korean military might be good for suppressing civilians and protecting supplies, but they’re not much use against Hunters.

"I need your cooperation too, Korean military."

"We won’t be much help in a direct fight."

Before they could continue, I answered immediately.

"You don’t need to protect the shield generator. Reassign your personnel to guard the relief supply trains."

Let’s see how the Descendants of Dangun react to the Korean military.

If they attack the supply train, then all our assumptions about the Korea-Dangun relationship would be wrong.

But if they don’t touch it at all, that’ll be all the proof we need.

"Hunters will focus on protecting the shield generator."

After giving the order, I moved with the other Hunters toward the generator.

"Suspicious group ahead!"

As expected, they were waiting. I channeled mana into my eyes to examine the group in the distance.

It was about two hundred fifty people.

"That bastard."

Among those blocking the tracks was the same guy who sealed Lee Se-eun’s movements back in Khabarovsk.

Next to him was a woman in a black hanbok dress. I spotted the dark cyan gayageum propped beside her.

Looks like those two are leading the group blocking the railway.

"Ready…"

Just then, the woman in the hanbok dashed toward the train. Her leg strength was insane. Dust exploded behind her with every step.

She reached the front of the train in no time and immediately swung her gayageum at me.

"Jesus, what a psycho!"

I ducked just in time. The gayageum whooshed right over my head, letting out a dissonant screech as the strings vibrated.

"Ghha…"

The sound slammed into me, sending my body flying backward. For a moment, my head spun. Some Hunters even collapsed on the spot, retching as their legs gave out.

This wasn’t just ordinary noise. The sound waves were laced with mana. They messed with your mind and added physical force on top of that.

"It’s you, right?"

"What, be more specific with your questions."

I replied by igniting Paradoxical Flame on the spear in my hand. Her eyes narrowed as soon as she saw it.

"So it is you. Time for you to die then."

"You’re seriously gonna beat someone with a gayageum?"

Pretty sure that’s not what it was made for.

"I’m Seo Yeonju. I was given orders not to kill you. But I’ll make sure to cripple you."

"People really dream big these days I swear."

Did she really think she could cripple me? That psycho swinging a gayageum at people led the charge, and the rest of the group blocking the railway followed close behind.

Behind Seo Yeonju stood the same shaman-looking guy who trapped Lee Se-eun earlier, waving a paper fan.

"Yoo Chan-seok, the Gangneung Yoo clan traces its roots back to China."

"So what, now you’re running a bootleg Holocaust?"

"I’m just saying, your bloodline has been filthy from the start."

He was just spewing nonsense. Was he asking to be sued by the Gangneung Yoo Clan Association? This nutcase.

Who the hell still rants about family trees in this day and age? And he doesn’t even look that old.

"Surely you’re not gonna put two people on a weak guy like me, right?"

"That’s the plan."

"You deserve death."

I looked around after saying those words. In any case, I just needed to succeed in taking these two enemies down. It was clear their skills were impressive.

Realistically, a Hunter at my level shouldn’t be able to handle both alone, but…

"Let’s give it a shot, shall we."

In life, you don’t always face challenges that are easy to overcome.

"Uwaaaargh…!"

With a loud crash, the dissonant sound of the gayageum clashed with my spear and sent me flying backward.

My wrists were throbbing. What the hell is that thing made of?

"Why’d you prepare so hard just to fight me? So annoying."

The gayageum amplified the discordant sound it created from the clash using its resonating chamber.

"If you want to burn something with that creepy flame of yours, you’ll have to get through this first."

Seo Yeonju was right. The spear hadn’t even touched the instrument. The dissonant sound waves clashed with the spear instead.

Then, she kept up the attack, swinging the gayageum with both hands. At this point, it was less an instrument and more like…

"Sign spinning."

You know, the guys who twirl advertisement boards around? She spun that thing like a sign, launching heavy strikes at close range. I shortened my spear and countered the onslaught.

Suddenly, she tossed the gayageum into the air and went into a handstand. Like picking up sausage with chopsticks, she caught it between her legs and brought it down on my head like a pickaxe.

"What the hell…!"

With a crash, a heavy impact reverberated through my arms. Still, the gayageum didn’t touch the spear directly.

As I went in for a strike, Seo Yeonju quickly plucked a string to unleash more noise and deflect the attack.

"I didn’t think you’d be able to counter."

"Yeah?"

She was right. Without rewiring my nervous system, I couldn’t have.

"But hey, you just gonna keep watching back there? I’m reporting you later if you continue to slack off like that."

"Understood. I guess it’s my turn now. Let’s see, how about the Indra’s Sutra of Release from Resentment then."

At Seo Yeonju’s cue, the guy standing behind her finally moved.

"Mighty pillars of iron, bronze beams in ancient halls, with wind chimes at your ears, may the southeast wind blow, and ring forth the omens of fate…"

That shaman-looking freak started chanting nonsense while swinging a ritual knife in dance.

"You rude little…"

As he moved, energy visibly surged through Seo Yeonju. Her attacks became even stronger.

"Evil spirits, vile ghosts, demons of all kinds, I summon divine justice to strike you down. Spirits of wind and thunder, gods of deception and transformation…"

He kept chanting and dancing, shaking bells. Energy like heat waves surged up from beneath my feet and grabbed my legs tight.

"Try dodging this now."

"Oh come on, you know I can’t."

I muttered and raised my spear to block the incoming gayageum blow aimed squarely at my head.

As soon as it hit, the impact bent my spear. Bones cracked in my ankles. The armored floor dented deep.

"Khak, ptu!"

I spat out blood and wiped my nosebleed. I managed to block it, but my limbs were shaking.

"Still in one piece, huh? But not for much longer."

Spinning the gayageum, Seo Yeonju made her declaration. I grinned as I looked at my trembling hands.

Not for long, you say?

"You clearly don’t plan to play a proper song on that thing huh."

I took a deep breath and plunged my spear into the ground. Paradoxical Flame spread out from the impact point.

"Then let’s just fight on mute. Does that sound good? From now on, everyone, a moment of silent contemplation."

As soon as I said it, all sound in the area was burned away by the Paradoxical Flame.

‘Their techniques rely on sound. The gayageum attacks with vibration, and the shaman’s chants need to be heard.’

If the Paradoxical Flame burns all sound in the vicinity, they can’t use their skills. I yanked the spear out of the ground.

I raised my middle finger at the dumbfounded enemies staring at me. Phase two begins now.

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