Chapter 37: Hellscape Island (2)
Normally, a warrior of Anton’s caliber would awaken an extremely subjective sense known as the sixth sense.
That sense rarely led him astray, and just moments ago, he detected a dangerous aura from the Viper gang that passed by.
‘Something feels off. This isn’t just about their bad reputation.’
Long ago, Viper Stein became a force that protected the kingdom against the continent’s invaders.
In recognition of his contributions, the kingdom refrained from interfering with his organization, Viper.
They, in turn, underwent self-regulation to become a lawful group that refrained from crime.
But that was only the surface story.
Covert assassination contracts had always been the backbone of Viper’s operations.
‘Moreover, the elder said he didn’t expect them to come. That means someone must be pulling strings in the middle.’
It probably wasn’t related to the princess.
Her visit was shrouded in utmost secrecy, after all.
But as a royal guard and as a man who didn’t view Viper favorably, I wanted to dig into their activities.
However, my duty was to protect the princess, so I had no choice but to harbor my unease.
“Anton.”
“Yes.”
“Go.”
The princess, eating Nakoa Tand in the elder’s reception room, suddenly spoke.
“Pardon?”
“I’ve felt you distracted since those suspicious people passed by. You want to investigate, don’t you?”
“…I’m sorry. To think of something else while by your side, Princess.”
I felt ashamed.
To think my emotions were so transparent.
But the princess encouraged me instead.
“You must have a reason for it. I’ll stay here for a bit, so go resolve your curiosity.”
“But.”
“If you’re late, I’ll eat all the Tand.”
Her reassuring words reminded me of our sparring match.
With her throwing technique and magic, which even surprised me, no one on this island could threaten her.
“Then I’ll return in five minutes.”
With the princess’ permission, I set out to track the Viper gang.
Unexpectedly, I overheard their vile plan to target Evan’s life.
“They’re insane. Who do they think they’re going after?”
Having heard their scheme, I couldn’t just let it slide.
“And who are they targeting?”
I placed my hand on my sword.
—Srrrng.
In an instant, a flash of light engulfed the Viper gang.
Sword aura emanated from my blade.
—Pakang!
The aura struck a transparent barrier, shattering it completely.
The man called the leader drew his sword, blocking the aura head-on.
Behind him, a giant pushed the leader’s body forward.
“Hmph!”
The leader deflected my sword aura upward, cutting through a tree as it vanished into the sky.
“Not bad.”
I commended their swift response to my sword draw.
Spurring my horse, I leaped, swinging a sword cloaked in aura.
This time, it wasn’t a ranged aura but a direct, powerful slash.
“Rauf!”
The giant, Rauf, drew an iron club.
Lina, who had retreated, infused the club with magic to reinforce it.
—Kkang!!
Thanks to that, the club withstood my sword aura without breaking.
It was temporary, but that brief moment was enough.
“Hah!”
The leader darted to the side, aiming for my opening.
I had no choice but to halt my attack and step back.
‘Their teamwork is impressive. Do they always operate as a trio?’
If I tried to take one down, the other two would combine their efforts.
Had they attacked individually, I could’ve subdued them easily, but they didn’t just stand by.
‘Their composition is ideal too. A tank at the front, a mage at the back, and a leader coordinating the fight.’
In that brief clash, I learned a lot.
The same went for them.
“Stay sharp. A moment’s lapse, and your head’s gone.”
“Kasion, how about we escape? Use Rauf as bait.”
Lina’s half-joking, half-serious comment didn’t faze their leader, Kasion.
He gripped his sword tightly and issued orders.
“Heighten all your senses. Be ready to die.”
As they prepared to clash again, I withdrew my killing intent and sheathed my sword.
—Srrrng.
Kasion, still on guard, questioned me.
“What’s this? You’re stopping now?”
“Yes, I’ve changed my mind. Go ahead and do what you want.”
“What?”
They planned to kill an Academy student.
Yet, I expressed my intent to stand by.
Kasion couldn’t comprehend my attitude.
“How can I trust you? What’s to stop you from stabbing us in the back?”
“As expected, people in your world don’t trust easily. I wouldn’t trust me either… but if you don’t, what can you do?”
“…”
He had no counter to that.
‘A clearly superior opponent is stepping back voluntarily. There’s definitely a scheme.’
But whatever it was, they couldn’t control it.
“Trust me. I’ll pretend I didn’t see what you’re up to. It doesn’t concern me directly.”
“…”
“So go ahead and do your best.”
True to my word, I mounted my horse.
It would be ideal if they left, but Kasion, unable to shake his unease, called out.
“Why are you doing this?”
I looked down at Kasion and his gang, smirking.
“Because capturing you benefits me nothing.”
With that, I turned my horse.
—Clop clop!
As I rode back, I sank into thought.
‘Evan Lafard, what kind of mess are you in to get tangled with those guys? I sensed you’re no ordinary person this time.’
Though brief, our connection was real, and since Anna cared about him, I considered intervening.
But.
‘If your strength is what I think it is, you’ll crush them. Survive and grow stronger.’
I didn’t believe Evan would fall to them.
It was a conviction born of expectation, mixed with a small, belated revenge for dragging the princess into a sparring match.
‘I’ll keep this from the princess.’
As I vanished, the Viper gang adjusted their clothes and prepared to mount their horses.
“Leader, are we letting him go? This could disrupt our plan.”
To Rauf’s concern, Kasion replied.
“Letting him go? Get it right. He’s letting us go. Even you felt the skill gap, didn’t you?”
“But…”
“Our target is Evan Lafard. Since it’s come to this, we eliminate him quickly and collect the bounty. That sum is enough for all three of us to retire, isn’t it?”
Anton’s unexpected appearance disrupted their plan.
“He could’ve captured us but let us go, so he won’t easily spill this. We’ll have enough time to disappear.”
Kasion didn’t know Anton’s true intentions.
Yet, he didn’t think Anton was lying.
Or rather, he wanted to believe that.
“We head to the Academy now.”
“Got it.”
Evan had already left for the island, but the net around him was tightening.
***
“Ugh.”
Jack lay sprawled on a bed.
He tossed and turned, muttering in his sleep.
“Ugh.”
He’d slept soundly even on a rocking ship.
Suddenly, a loud noise shook the entire vessel.
—Boom!
Jack, still tossing, fell off the bed.
Even under the influence of sleeping drugs, he couldn’t help but wake.
“What, what?”
Wiping drool from his mouth, I forced my heavy eyes open and looked around.
“What’s this? Where am I?”
Normally, I’d think this to myself, but in my disoriented state, the words slipped out.
That’s how confused I was.
I was certain I’d been feasting on delicacies at a banquet.
I couldn’t recall falling asleep, and this wasn’t my room.
‘Why’s it shaking? Am I on a ship?’
Steadying my swaying body, I opened the door to find a narrow corridor.
In the corridor, I saw comrades with the same bewildered expressions.
“What’s going on?”
No one answered Elliott’s question.
Instead, the ship shook violently again, as if responding.
“Ugh!”
“Hold on tight!”
The students in the corridor grabbed walls or each other to stay upright.
“Jaina! Don’t you know anything?”
“Yeah, you don’t know either?”
In times like this, asking the highest-ranking person might help.
But Jaina was just as clueless, having been dragged here too.
“I don’t know. Urp!”
She was the worst off, battling seasickness.
Jack, relatively composed, took charge.
“Let’s get out of this corridor first! We can’t stay here with all this shaking!”
“Right!”
“There! That must be the entrance!”
Together, we moved toward the door at the corridor’s end.
As we neared, the sound of clashing metal and unintelligible shouts grew louder.
—Clang! Clang!
The rocking ship and noises from outside amplified our anxiety.
“I’ll go first!”
In our shared fear, I mustered courage, opened the door, and rushed out.
An unimaginable sight unfolded before us.
“Gasp!”
The deck was swarming with skeletons battling instructors and sailors.
—Clang! Clang!
“Reform the line! Protect each other’s backs!”
A battered ship was latched onto ours, with skeletons crossing over.
Jack and the students behind him stood speechless at the horrific scene.
“What is this…”
“Mommy!”
Frozen in shock, we couldn’t move as several skeletons approached, raising rusted pirate swords.
“Kak! Kak!”
I gripped my senses, channeling Qi to face the skeletons.
But then, someone swung in on a rope, swiftly kicking the skeletons away.
—Crack!
Landing simultaneously was Evan.
Grinning as if enjoying himself, he looked at the shattered skeletons.
“Hahaha! You guys okay? Standing there, you’ll die without knowing it. Get inside, lock the door, or fight.”
The students were dumbfounded by Evan’s arrival.
“Young Master! Where are we? What’s happening?”
Still unable to grasp reality, Jack and the others watched as Evan pointed to the deck.
“Where? It’s hell.”
With that, he swung back onto the ghost ship with the rope’s momentum.