Chapter 26: The Dragon King Squadron Reunites with Dragon Red

There’s no qualification for you to speak of chivalry. Originally, I am an ‘archer.’ A warrior who fights with a bow as the main weapon. And you, engaging in close combat with everything you’ve got, are nothing but a vile rat.

“What, what did you say…!”

Pegasus’s face turns red.

“Is this the chivalry of the Grand Empire’s commander, who doesn’t even give an archer the chance to shoot?”

“Ugh, you! How dare you insult me like that! Shut your mouth! I am a great knight! Try shooting your arrow! I’ll knock it away with my spear without dodging!”

Pegasus roars, throwing a tantrum.

“I’ll prove it to you. It’s not that you lose to me because you can’t shoot your bow!”

“Oh? You won’t take it back, right?”

“In the name of the Galactic Empire!”

He took the bait.

I distanced myself from him. Ten meters.

“White of the Plague.”

[L■■SAL■EDO]

A light sphere forms in my hand. The brilliant light unfolds into an arc, forming a bow. A sharp arrow is engraved. There is no string.

The target is Pegasus. I aim precisely. I release it.

Pew—!

The light shoots out, colliding with his spear. A massive spark erupts.

“Ughhh!!”

Pegasus strengthens his grip on his spear. The light arrow competes against it. Will it bounce off, or will it pierce through? In that tense moment—

I’m not interested in watching it to the end.

“You?!”

As soon as I shoot the arrow, I rush toward Pegasus, closing the distance. I jump right next to him. The light arrow still fighting with his spear. I grab it once again.

“Prejudices. That’s your flaw, Pegasus.”

“W-what did you say?!”

The next moment.

The arrow he was competing with is nowhere to be seen, and his spear is entangled with the bow’s shaft, aimed directly at Pegasus’s brain.

“This light is neither an arrow nor a bow.”

I whispered softly as I fired the next arrow straight at his head.

“It’s the plague.”

Pew—

Swoosh—

A void emerges from Pegasus’s skull. His skull twists, being sucked into the void. Soon, his brain disappears.

Blood fountains from the neck of his headless body.

Here it comes.

-!!!

Pegasus’s body turns red, thrashing about in a berserk fury.

A berserk state.

Just before death, a high-ranking monster delivers its final strike in this last, desperate moment.

A deadly spear is thrust toward me.

I create another void and twist its trajectory.

Even so, it’s still an overwhelming force. The wind pressure and force alone are enough to—

Boom—!!

My body is shot back, crashing into the ground.

Boom!

Thankfully, his attack doesn’t continue, and the giant half-human, half-horse corpse collapses.

[Pegasus, the Commander of the Knights, Defeated!]

[Stats have increased!]

[Achievement Unlocked!] Great

[Solo Play: Galactic Empire Commander]

[The Villain Organization Vengeance’s rank has risen!]

[Villains now hold you in respect!]

[The likelihood of recruiting stronger villains as subordinates has increased!]

“Phew.”

I let out a sigh of relief as the light in my palm is returned. I get back up.

The bow, now both a weapon and a tool for creating void spaces, is my ability to control the White of the Plague.

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t use any other methods.’

It went smoothly.

The problem is the situation with the Red Dragon’s resurrection, which occurred sooner than expected.

I need to accelerate the plan.

‘I have to meet Emperor Raktor right away.’

That was my conclusion.

At that moment, a voice called out to me.

“Mr. Lee…”

I turned my head.

At the front stood Kang Yerin, Ji Sehwa, Shin Yookyung, and Choi Minseo.

The silence was broken by Kang Yerin’s shaky voice.

The four of them were all focused on my face.

I relaxed my facial muscles and lightly raised the corner of my mouth.

I could feel their skepticism as they watched me.

I slowly raised my right fist in front of me.

It was the same fighting stance we often used during training in the Yongwangjeondae. A pose where we would punch each other’s fists to encourage one another.

“Of…!”

As soon as they saw my stance, the expressions on their faces brightened.

Little by little, the four of them approached, preparing to collide their fists with mine.

I slowly twisted my fist in the opposite direction.

Up became down, and down became up.

And then—

“좆까.”

I raised my middle finger.

It felt like time had frozen, and the four of them were stuck in place.

I had intended to hold back my words, but listening to their nonsense, I couldn’t help but feel a rise in anger.

Ironically, as I listened to them babbling, I realized again how human I could be. My veins seemed to bulge, ready to burst out of my skin. My heart was pounding.

Breaking the silence was Shin Yoo-kyung.

“I understand you’re angry. You’ve always had a lot of anger…” she said.

“Understand? Did your school teach you to kill emotions along with your intelligence?”

“What did you say?”

“Have you ever died?”

At my question, Shin Yoo-kyung fell silent.

“You think I have a lot of anger? Hah. There’s only one saint in all of human history who died after killing themselves and forgiving their enemy. That’s why they’re called a saint. Do you think I’m that saint?”

“Now that I think about it, the reason we went off track… It was because of Somi… from that time…”

“The ones who know that well.”

Hearing her name from Kang Yerin’s mouth made it feel like her throat would pop out.

“If you mocked me after seeing me like that, fine.”

I clenched my fist and glared at the four of them.

“How dare you insult Somi?”

They must’ve felt the intense killing intent.

All four of them were trembling.

Unable to hold back, Choi Min-seo began to cry.

I could also see that Shin Yoo-kyung’s lower body was slowly getting wet as she became more vulnerable to fear.

“Well, thanks to you guys, I had some time to reflect on myself. You four are definitely the most talented heroes I’ve chosen after careful consideration.”

I looked down at them.

“But my judgment of character was trash. That’s why I chose my current companions more carefully. They’re not

only more capable than you, but also have better personalities.”

“Co, companions…? You mean new companions?”

“Yeah. They might lack knowledge or culture, but they’re much more honest and cheerful. They’re also incredibly

loyal, and more kind than I expected, which is honestly shocking. Above all, they know how to greet properly.”

“Greetings…?”

“Yeah, greetings.”

I crossed my arms.

“You four. When you met me, after all the nonsense and empty words, wasn’t the first greeting supposed to be ‘I’m sorry’?”

No one answered.

“Wasn’t it?”

“…I was, trying to say something.”

Kang Yerin mumbled.

“They said thank you.”

“That’s…”

“Think about the situation! Even now, I don’t know if what you’re saying is true! Suddenly, a person who was dead

appeared, saying they took down the executives. You think my personality has changed, but how are you asking for

an apology immediately?!”

Ji Se-hwa shouted.

Well, for him, that wasn’t bad at all.

At least, no curses were involved.

In fact, he was trying to persuade me.

As someone who knew Ji Se-hwa well, I could see how much he had toned it down.

Well.

I didn’t care at all.

“I don’t have the time, nor the desire, to consider your side. I don’t care for apologies, honor, or any of that shit anymore. There’s nothing left to give you, nor anything to receive.”

I declared.

“So just get lost. Don’t ever show your face in front of me again.”

Choi Min-seo started crying out loud.

“…I want to apologize.”

“I don’t need it.”

I waved Kang Yerin off.

“Don’t you want to give us a chance to talk?”

“Let me see. Am I being too cold?”

At those words, the four of them focused on me.

I turned to Ji Se-hwa and said,

“Since Ji Se-hwa’s left arm is already gone, I’ll accept an apology from the first person who cuts off his right arm. First come, first served.”