Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED: 

“Ra, Ram Hwayeon-ssi.”

Ram Hwayeon stepped aside from the door as she saw Leeha’s flustered face. A group of nurses in uniform bustled in, approaching Leeha.

“You might still be a bit jet-lagged, but the examination isn’t hard, so we’ll start right away. Everyone’s equipped with translators, so speak up if there’s any difficulty. And this. This is my direct hotline, so if you’re having trouble communicating with others, contact me.”

While the nurses were attaching various devices to Leeha, she handed him something resembling a small walkie-talkie. As Leeha nodded in confusion, Shin Nara had stepped back a foot from his bed. Ram Hwayeon looked at Shin Nara. Shin Nara looked back at Ram Hwayeon.

The two women’s eyes met, and for a moment, there was a tense silence.

Shin Nara then approached her and said, “Ram Hwayeon-ssi.”

Step, step.

Neither woman was short, but Shin Nara’s not insignificant height made her almost level with Ram Hwayeon. In the midst of this, Shin Nara, displaying an almost violent intensity, left Ram Hwayeon with no room for confusion.

“What, what?! You’re not suggesting we fight in the hospital, right? Remember, this isn’t your turf, Shin Na-“

The atmosphere was palpably tense.

“Even though I trust you’ll do well, I ask you to take good care of Leeha-ssi. I understand it’s not going to be an easy surgery, but I’m counting on you to give it special attention.”

Just as Ram Hwayeon was about to raise her hand in a sharp gesture, Shin Nara bowed her head to her.

“Nara-ya.”

“Nara-ssi?!”

This sudden act left Bobae, Kijung, and even Leeha startled. Ram Hwayeon bit her lip tightly. She would have preferred an outright outburst rather than this. But what did this behavior signify? In front of Ha Leeha, and in front of her, was this woman’s heart so resolute?

“Tsk, handling stuff like this means you, and- need to be told what to do? I’m not so stupid that I can’t handle it. You’re ‘noble’, right? Both of you stop the nonsense and enjoy Hong Kong. I’ll book the room next to Master Kay for you. Humph.”

With a swift turn, Ram Hwayeon left the hospital room abruptly. Shin Nara remained bowing her head. And surrounded by nurses, Leeha, with all sorts of examination equipment attached, couldn’t do anything but lie there speechless.

The serious mood didn’t last long. Nara broke into a bright smile and lifted the spirits by saying, “That’s great, Leeha-ssi!” 

Bobae and Kijung also began to chatter and enjoy themselves. What about Bobae, who ended up using the same floor, the room next to Kijung’s? Once Bobae realized that what Kijung had referred to as ‘accommodation’ was a Mandarin Oriental-grade luxury hotel, her expression brightened even more.

“Ram Hwayeon is so generous! Though, she might just ask us to pay at checkout…”

“Bobae-ssi, really, Ram Hwayeon isn’t that kind of woman. How much-“

“What? ‘How much’ what? Kijung-ssi, are you already falling for Ram Hwayeon after just seeing her today?”

“No, what nonsense are you talking about!”

The lively noise in Leeha’s single-patient room was interrupted an hour later by another visitor. A little girl with blue-black hair swinging walked into Leeha’s hospital room and stood still.

“Ram… Hwajung-ssi?”

“I want to see Oppa.”

Step, step, step, thump!

She took a seat in one of the chairs beside Leeha’s bed, saying nothing else except that she had come to see Leeha. Ram Hwayeon would have been better! Ram Hwajung, who hardly communicated properly, was almost like an object of avoidance for all the users (?) present.

What’s there to look at?

To the left of Leeha, who was lying down, was Ram Hwajung, and to the right, was Shin Nara. And after Ram Hwajung entered, even Bobae and Kijung couldn’t chat properly.

“Ho, it feels like we’re on a ship heading to a new era, not in a Hong Kong hospital.”

“Hm, I was just about to say that to Bobae-ssi.”

Awkwardness, excitement, and anticipation were all mixed up in the Hong Kong hospital. It wasn’t until about a day later, after a thorough examination, that Leeha’s surgery schedule was finally set.

Two days later, the surgery would take place, bringing good news along with a call from Tale to Kijung.

The atmosphere in the hospital room froze for a moment.

“[Yamato]… you say?”

Kijung muttered the ominous name under his breath.

***

Biyemi: Kitkit, one person suspected to be from the Shinobigumi has entered the northeast entrance of Chesi.

Tale: Hm, understood.

Tale nodded as he received Biyemi’s whisper. The responsibility was not light.

‘With Kay and Bobae absent, I must fulfill my duties diligently.’

Tale knew Kijung had gone to Hong Kong and was not yet close enough with Bobae.

He simply nodded when he heard that Bobae couldn’t log in due to personal reasons, thinking ‘As an athlete, that’s only proper.’ If he knew that the two were chattering and shopping in Hong Kong, even a saint-like Tale might have been a little upset.

The task of eradicating Chiyou was important to Byulcho.

“Shall we continue?”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“…You should know your limits.” Tale was in the central square of Minis’s village, Chesi.

The central square wasn’t very large in this small village, inevitably leading to encounters with well-known members of Shinobigumi, like Sasuke.

“I’d like to say the same. You better leave now. Hyein will be arriving soon. I might hold back since I’m in the village, but I wonder if he will.”

“No.”

“You’re not a stranger, we were once in the same group, so a little respect would be nice.”

Sasuke clenched his teeth but couldn’t attack Tale. If it was about level or strength stats, Sasuke was far higher. If it were an assassination, Sasuke would definitely win. But this wasn’t an assassination situation. In this case, Tale’s ‘physical’ capabilities would be powerful.

The way a real-life 5th dan kendo practitioner moves and finds openings, combined with Middle Earth’s skills, would create a tremendous synergy, which Sasuke, once a member of Byulcho, knew well.

“You talk of respect. And I’m not asking, I’m warning.”

“Huh… Whether it’s a request, warning, or advice, I’ve heard enough. Leave now. If you’re around when Chiyou is revived, I’ll definitely kill you.”

As Sasuke emphasized his words, Tale finally turned to look at him.

Seeing the fiery eyes of a middle-aged man, Sasuke had nothing more to say. Especially since there were flashes of purple light near the entrance of Chesi Village.

“Tsk. You’ll regret this.”

Whoosh!

Sasuke disappeared in an instant. At the same time, Hyein appeared beside Tale.

“Tale hyungnim? Sasuke just-“

“Hm. He gave me a warning. Telling me to be careful.”

“A warning…? And you just watched? Tsk. If I had arrived a bit earlier, I could have torn that guy apart.”

Tale flinched momentarily at Hyein’s fierce words.

Just 10 minutes ago, when they were whispering, Hyein had seemed like a librarian, but when it came to Shinobigumi, he was more like an executioner.

Sreeeeech—

Just then, the sound of a hawk’s cry echoed through the skies above Chesi Village.

Tale and Hyein, along with other Byulcho members scattered throughout Chesi, looked up. It was a signal from Jin Gonggong, gliding over the entire village.

Tale: What’s happening?

Jing Gonggong: Something’s coming! About 2km away? Countless numbers, a huge dust cloud rising from the Silver Plains!

Tale: The Silver Plains?

Jin Gonggong: What on earth is that-

Tale: Please find out. I’ll prepare for defense.

Jin Gonggong: Got it!

After finishing his whisper with Jin Gonggong, Tale contacted all Byulcho members in Chesi.

Silver Plains, 2km, large number of unidentified users approaching

Even without much information, they easily deduced they were ‘users.’ While monsters attacking the village in quest-like events had happened several times, ‘Chesi’ didn’t fall under that category.

Considering what Sasuke had just mentioned, Tale naturally assumed they were ‘users.’

“Hyein, the space is-“

“Yes. I don’t know for sure, but when that group enters Chesi, it’s likely when Chiyou will log in. I’ll block the space to match that timing.”

“Ugh.”

Hyein instantly understood Tale’s hint. However, there was still something odd.

“But why call all of Shinobigumi now? Especially from one direction…”

Haven’t they experienced several defeats already? If they were going to use this strategy, why didn’t they do it earlier? From the first time they were killed by Leeha until now, there was only one reason.

‘Was it the ranking drop that bothered them? So, they gather all of Shinobigumi for a counterattack…?’

Hyein could only think of this explanation. But she was confident. After all, Byulcho’s goal was only Chiyou’s assassination! No matter who they were, they couldn’t cause a disturbance inside the village.

By blocking the space at the right time, the venom mage Biyemi would poison Chiyou with a single attack.

‘And then I’ll use blink with Biyemi-nim to escape.’

The plan was perfect. They had enough guards and sentinels. Hyein was confident.

Eeeeee, EEEEEE, EEEEEE, EEEEEE, EEEEE1-

That was until Jin Gonggong added two more cries.

“Damn!”

“What’s happening?”

Tale clenched his teeth. Flames burst from his sword.

“I don’t know what that cunning woman has done outside, but we need to prepare.”

“Who is it?”

Tale whispered again to all Byulcho members and looked at Hyein with a grim expression.

“We can identify three. Igor and Faust, and the tamer Yongyong.”

“Agromni Igor? Faust?”

“Plus, four outsiders confirmed by Jin Gonggong. There’s no count of Czar Guild or Faust’s minions.”

“Damn. We need to call for reinforcements.”

“Got anyone to call?”

“Close by, we have Rashian’s Bantal-nim and Amonsan Zeye. I’ve sent a whisper.”

“Tanks from the New Continent Expedition.”

Of course, they would be helpful. But could they use Chain Teleport Scrolls immediately?

Tale was skeptical. Even if they weren’t busy, what if they needed to stop by a village for preparations?

“…They’re coming.”

The crowd now visible to the naked eye would arrive in Chesi before they could get reinforcements. Dust rose beyond the fence.

“Prepare for battle! These aren’t the types to avoid fighting just because it’s inside the village! Everyone except Biyemi-nim, form groups for battle!”

The distance was now less than 300m.

Tale tapped Hyein’s shoulder, who was still focused on whispering.

“Let’s fight.”

A massive purple barrier enveloped Chesi Village. They had ‘first’ blocked the space from the other side.

“Kyakyakyak! Just killing this trash is worth so much?! Furious, furious! Wipe them all out!”

“Didn’t I say I’d get revenge someday? ‘Dark Promotion,’ go, my lovely Dullahan!”

The guard at the entrance of Chesi Village was the first to spill blood. The former agents of the Demon King’s army had entered. Into Chesi, one of the smallest villages in Minis.

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