Chapter 102: Boss

“So, surrender quietly.”

I pointed the Purple Crystal Sword at the boss.

“No thanks. Too much to do.”

If I wrapped this up in ten minutes, I could slip back to the final exam like nothing happened.

Even showing up late was better than being absent.

Besides—

“I promised. Coming back in one piece. Or I’ll get scolded.”

The real promise was no scratches, but that seemed tough, so I tweaked it.

Her face twisted.

“That! That woman, right? All she’s got is a big chest!”

Thinking of So-hee, she stomped, furious.

In the gate escape, she’d only seen So-hee’s back, clinging to me.

But in stolen photos of me, So-hee’s face always showed.

Once a Legal Department target, now just a leech stuck to me.

How she envied and despised that closeness!

Each stomp sent vines shooting like springs.

Whoosh!—

I twisted aside, swinging my sword, slicing them in half easily.

“What nonsense.”

My protest didn’t reach her.

“Don’t worry! I won’t nag or scold like that nasty woman! Just stay by my side!”

Her eyes were completely gone.

Different from others—no, “different” wasn’t enough.

Something deeper was twisted.

Unable to empathize with others’ love, her own unreciprocated.

Obsession, possession—a world for just us.

Everything else was worthless.

Was it the horrific experiments of her childhood?

Or her nature?

No way to know now.

At least she was aware of her distortion—small mercy.

Others didn’t need to understand her.

But I was different.

If I rejected her affection… Despite her sharpness for her age, she couldn’t find an answer after years.

Keeping distance from me was partly due to that fear.

Not just being hated—her runaway emotions could ruin this bond.

But with reason snapped, it didn’t matter.

Her dream—me—stood before her.

Talking, her suppressed feelings swelled, and jealousy burst, shredding her tattered patience.

Each finger flick sent vines at me.

Unlike usual, they were smooth, thornless, but just as deadly.

Crack!—

Stronger than guns or bombs, too fast for even skilled heroes to track, breaking the sound barrier.

I swung my sword.

Compared to the vines, my move was slow, a simple straight arc.

Slice—

The vines split.

Cutting through, I stepped toward her.

Like a storm, vines poured relentlessly.

I slashed and blocked.

“No need to worry about food! Three meals a day, whatever you want, I’ll cook myself! Clothes, house—everything you want!”

She spilled a long sentence in one breath, spreading her hands.

Vines surged from beneath me.

Before they fully grew—

Boom!—

I stomped them down.

Her eyes grew murkier.

“Oh, oh! Sir! Sirsir!”

Her consciousness faded, unable to form sentences.

Drool dripped from flushed cheeks and parted lips.

What exchange matched the intensity of this fight?

Each slice of my sword flooded her with my emotions.

She clasped her hands, wrapping one thumb, twisting them.

Crunch!—

Thicker vines erupted, targeting me.

Too many to cut.

I slashed the rear ones, pulling my scabbard with my left hand to block the front.

The impact shoved me back.

I clicked my tongue, swinging my sword up and down.

Her balanced, hexagonal Traits—perfect for combat.

For me, aiming to subdue, not kill, she was the toughest foe.

Worse—

“Tch.”

I suppressed an instinctive swing.

The no-kill rule was maddening.

Her overwhelming strength lacked experience, leaving gaps.

Tiny, fleeting gaps—barely perceptible, but fatal.

In a deathmatch, I’d have stabbed one and ended it.

Subdue by hitting a lethal gap?

Near-certain death, maybe severe injury if lucky.

I wasn’t gambling.

So I read the flow, waiting for a bigger chance.

Each swing cut vines a beat late, scattering them.

Three off-rhythm attacks from different angles.

I sliced it with one stroke.

Impossible defense, yet my sword warped time itself.

“Oh.”

Amid the fierce exchange, her imagining a bright future with me wasn’t random.

In our balanced struggle, her inexperience sensed a subtle discord, taking shape.

Her eyes darted around.

The cemetery was a wreck, but the tombs and headstones were untouched—not by her effort.

My will alone.

I’d deflected or cut attacks I could’ve dodged to protect them.

Realizing why, she felt terror despite the battle, chilling her mind.

She lowered her hand.

“You’re incredible, Sir.”

Sincere praise.

Our caliber was different.

She cared only for her friend’s tomb and me.

I protected even forgotten graves.

Stopping her attack, she whispered.

“A world where all deaths are just. No worthless deaths.”

Soft, but strangely clear.

I halted mid-step to close the distance.

She continued.

“I agree. You dreamed that too, right? Losing someone precious unjustly? I did. My friend died while testing two drugs’ reactions. I nearly died stopping them from discarding her body. Such a senseless death.”

She stroked the headstone.

Why didn't she retreat, even as I advanced—she feared damaging her friend’s tomb.

Pointless now.

How could someone so kind let that happen?

She looked at me.

“You promised. A world without such deaths.”

She stepped toward me.

“I wanted to see your world. I worked to be your strength, grew this strong.”

Each step sprouted green buds in her footprints.

Vines were for efficient combat—her true trait was different.

“You asked about my dream.”

She clasped her hands as if praying.

“My dream is yours. I gathered strength, people, a faction—not to watch, but to help.”

She reached me.

Close enough to touch, she raised her arms to embrace me.

But—

My sword stopped her.

Staring at the blade, her eyes trembled.

“Am I not enough?”

I opened my mouth.

My sword dipped slightly.

“…If you’re sincere, that’s touching. But your way’s wrong. I learned that too late. No dream’s worth crimes and evil.”

“I don’t see it as a crime. Necessary sacrifice, just retribution for a greater cause.”

She’d half-expected it.

I was different from her memory.

Hearing my rejection, her heart sank, breathing hard.

She teared up, ready to sob.

As a clear victim, she insisted.

The weak always lose.

She was repaying pain—why was that a crime?

“Is what I’m doing wrong?”

“I thought like you. Just revenge. But I’m not worried about their pain.”

Causing unjust deaths to stop them—what’s left?

“I’m worried about you.”

“Huh?”

My heartfelt words widened her eyes.

I saw my past self in her.

Could she be saved, like I was?

That’s why I’d offered chances.

Unlike me, she hadn’t crossed the fatal line.

She could turn back before deeper regret.

“The price of crime isn’t law or guilt.”

When the right path appears but you can’t take it.

Realizing you should’ve stopped, but can’t.

That’s the true hell of crossing the line.

I declared firmly.

“I might be your last right path. I won’t give up.”

Not just because of her affection.

The hero who saved me would’ve done this for anyone.

I was passing it on.

One person believing in you makes the world worth living.

Her expression wavered—smiling, crying.

Her feelings matched.

Intense emotion—she wanted to collapse, scream.

My words repaid all her struggles.

“Truly, thank you.”

She wiped her eyes.

It cemented her resolve.

“And so sad. I can’t persuade you.”

Stepping back, she smiled, but it held only sorrow.

Our wills parallel, only the stronger’s logic prevails.

She reached toward the ground.

Unlike before, crimson vines—her hair’s color—erupted.

Their power was distinct.

Not one.

Dozens, hundreds grew, coiling around the first.

Crack—

Twisting like braids, compressed.

Hundreds, yet no thicker than one.

She gripped and yanked it from the ground.

“Ji-an. My name.”

“…Jeong Ho-cheol.”

“Cool name.”

She knew, but hearing it was different.

“I want to be the only one to say it.”

“Haa.”

I sighed, running my hand through my hair.

“You’re crazy.”

“I know. Crazy for you.”

Should’ve subdued her when she was unhinged earlier.

Her rookie flaws were gone—calmness transformed her.

“Heavy love. So, surrender?”

My final ask.

Ji-an didn’t answer.

She swung her whip.

Persuasion was pointless.

Only strength remained.

Whoosh—

The whip scarred the ground, rippling space.

I gripped my sword.

Not mere haze—serious.

This beat Eclipse.

Before, she had top S-rank power.

This was different—a wavelength only those beyond the wall had.

“No wonder Eclipse felt trapped facing her. And why did he say that?”

I tapped the ground lightly, pulling my scabbard with my left hand.

“One promise. The loser obeys the winner.”

“Deal.”

She swung her whip.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.