Chapter 97: Death

“Why are you acting so tough when you’re not even strong? Say it again. Who’s killing who?”

Lee Hyun-seung’s voice cut through the air, sending a chill down No. 27’s spine.

• Tremble.

No. 27 tried desperately to move, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t escape Lee Hyun-seung’s grip.

• Crunch.

Lee Hyun-seung pressed No. 27’s head harder against the wall. It felt like a massive boulder had pinned him down, leaving him completely immobile under the suffocating pressure.

“I’ll… kill you…”

Despite the severe damage he’d taken, No. 27 glared at Lee Hyun-seung with venom in his eyes, muttering his threat through gritted teeth.

Lee Hyun-seung stared back at him in silence, holding his head firmly.

Then, in a cold and menacing tone, he responded.

“You’re going to kill me? Well, I guess there’s no other choice, then.”

Swish.

With one hand still gripping No. 27’s head, Lee Hyun-seung pulled out his handgun with the other. His finger rested on the trigger.

Watching the scene unfold, No. 27 sneered.

“Do you really think you can kill someone in this situation? You? A mere academy student? Don’t make me laugh.

Bluffing only works if it’s believable. Go ahead, pull the trigger. The moment you kill me, you’ll live the rest of your

life as a murderer. Do you even have the guts for that?”

No. 27 thought he knew how things would play out. Killing someone wasn’t easy. Even for him, the most grueling part of his training had been becoming desensitized to taking a life.

When a person takes a life, doubts creep in—Is this really okay? Should I go through with this? They question

themselves hundreds, even thousands of times before making the final decision. And even then, the guilt and

aftermath linger like scars.

‘There’s no way a 20-year-old academy student can handle that.’

He laughed inwardly at the absurdity of the situation. The students at this academy were nothing but sheltered flowers, inexperienced and untested. They hadn’t even stepped foot in a proper dungeon, let alone killed a monster. To think such naive kids would dare talk about life and death—it was laughable.

“Stop pretending. And trust me, you’re going to regret this. If you don’t kill me now, I’ll keep coming for you. You’ll die regretting your foolish bravado just to save some random girl—”

Before No. 27 could finish his sentence:

• Bang!

The deafening sound of a gunshot rang out.

• Clatter.

The bullet grazed No. 27’s cheek, drawing blood.

• Throb.

A searing pain shot through his face, unlike anything he’d experienced before. No. 27 had been shot at countless times, but bullets fired by gunslingers never felt this excruciating.

He had underestimated Lee Hyun-seung.

“Argh… Aaaghhh…”

The agony on his cheek was unbearable, as though a dozen needles were stabbing him repeatedly, only for someone to pour salt into the wounds afterward.

Lee Hyun-seung looked down at the writhing No. 27 with a cold gaze.

“Does it hurt? Sorry about that. I meant to kill you outright, but you kept squirming, so I missed. I’ll make sure the next shot is painless.”

• Flinch.

No. 27 fought through the pain and forced himself to meet Lee Hyun-seung’s eyes.

Lee Hyun-seung’s expression was calm, and he spoke again, locking eyes with him.

“Do I still look like I’m bluffing to you?”

His eyes were empty, void of any emotion. Normally, when someone intends to kill, their gaze is filled with malice, hostility, or even bloodlust. But in Lee Hyun-seung’s eyes, there was nothing.

‘Ah…’

No. 27 finally understood.

What he mistook for a lack of conviction wasn’t emptiness—it was something far more terrifying.

“Contempt…”

It was a look as if he were gazing at a filthy insect.

People don’t feel guilty when they kill bugs. When they kill a mosquito sucking their blood or a cockroach that just

crawled out of the bathroom, they don’t feel sad or regretful. Lee Hyun-seung’s eyes and actions were exactly like

someone squashing a filthy pest.

27’s pupils began to tremble. Once the pupil started shaking, it moved uncontrollably, as if an earthquake had struck.

He’s going to die. There’s no doubt about it. This man has no fear when it comes to killing someone. No, he might even be more skilled at it than anyone else. He had been arrogant. He had underestimated him because he was just a student. It was a clear mistake.

“J-just wait… Ah… No… J-just wait a moment…”

27 begged pitifully for his life.

“I was forced to do this damn thing, you see? Didn’t you see earlier? I was told to just play with this woman, regardless of whether she’s a target or not…”

At that moment, 27 pointed at Seo Hyun-ji and shouted.

“That… that b*tch looked at me like she liked me! Didn’t she? Answer me. Didn’t you look at me like that? No? Answer me, you damn b*tch!”

“Ahhh-!”

Seo Hyun-ji screamed as she watched 27 crawl toward her. Fear and the terror of death consumed her. Thoughts of what might happen to her flooded her mind, and an ominous sense of dread took over. At that moment.

Bang!

“Huh…?”

The sound of a gunshot came from behind.

Drip

Blood began to flow from 27’s head.

“H-huh…?”

The man absently touched his head where the blood was flowing, trying to feel it. But eventually, the strength left his hands.

As the strength left his hands, words failed him, and his vision began to blur.

Damn it…

Only then did the man realize that Lee Hyun-seung had fired a bullet into his head.

Thud

27 collapsed, lifeless.

Step

Step

Step

Lee Hyun-seung approached the fallen man and placed his hand on his carotid artery to check for signs of life. Just in case he would suddenly spring up and launch a surprise attack, causing a disaster.

“He’s dead. What a trashy bastard.”

Fortunately, the man was no longer alive. With the death confirmed, there was no need to waste another bullet for a finishing shot.

Swipe

Lee Hyun-seung, suddenly reminded of the girl in front of him, turned his gaze toward her.

“Heeek…”

Seo Hyun-ji looked at him with fearful eyes. Lee Hyun-seung, watching her, thought to himself.

‘Seo Hyun-ji, a researcher at the Magical Research Institute.’

She wasn’t significant in Broad Academy Online, but he knew the basic information about her.

“You don’t have to be afraid. I simply saved you.”

It was strange to say that after just killing someone, but Lee Hyun-seung lowered his gun and walked slowly toward Seo Hyun-ji. At first, she was wary, but as Lee Hyun-seung came closer, disarmed and calm, she began to relax.

“Th… thank you so much. I… I was just so shocked and… I was rude to my lifesaver…”

Seo Hyun-ji bent down in deep gratitude, thanking him multiple times for saving her.

“It was nothing. They were weak anyway.”

“Y-You’re weak? That’s not true. They were incredibly strong…”

As she spoke, Seo Hyun-ji noticed something odd. Lee Hyun-seung was still just a student at Broad Academy.

According to the information she had gathered, he had only awakened a few months ago. As for 27, she wasn’t sure

of his exact affiliation, but he was likely a member of a criminal group. Moreover, anyone bold enough to carry out

such a terror attack had to belong to a mid-tier or higher criminal organization.

Members of mid-tier or higher organizations would have proven their strength to some extent. But for someone who had only awakened a few months ago, a student no less, to overpower and kill such a person so decisively? It was an absurdity.

Of course, this wasn’t the time to be thinking about such things.

“W-well, if it weren’t for you, Lee Hyun-seung, I have no idea what that man might have done to me. Really… really… I’m truly, deeply grateful.”

Pause

Lee Hyun-seung, listening to her words, gave Seo Hyun-ji a brief glance before extending his hand.

Swipe

“Why… the hand…?”

Seo Hyun-ji, though puzzled, took his hand. It was rough but warm, a large palm. Despite his gentle-looking face, the hands showed clear signs of having endured hardships and training.

‘It’s so warm… somehow, it feels reassuring.’

As Seo Hyun-ji held his hand, the fear and confusion that had filled her mind moments ago melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of calm.

Lee Hyun-seung, noticing her reaction, asked with a confused expression.

“What are you doing?”

“Wh-what?!… Weren’t you asking me to hold your hand?”

“No.”

Then Lee Hyun-seung suddenly pulled her in close, removing a small device from the back of her elbow.

Seo Hyun-ji stared blankly at the device.

“This is…?”

“It seems like we have a big problem.”

Earlier, when 27 had gotten close to Seo Hyun-ji, he had secretly attached a device to her.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

The location-tracking artifact emitted faint flashes of light.

Crack!

Lee Hyun-seung crushed the location-tracking artifact with his hand.

“I guess you didn’t realize this was attached because you were too tense.”

Seo Hyun-ji stared numbly at the broken artifact, overwhelmed with guilt for making such an amateur mistake.

Zzzt

Then, from the communication artifact next to 27’s body, a sound began to emanate.

“27, the location you shared has been disconnected. Reinforcements are on the way. Repeat, reinforcements are en route. If you’re still alive, report the situation.”

Lee Hyun-seung approached the communication artifact.

He picked it up and spoke into it.

“27 is dead. And you’re all going to die too. Come here, you insect-like bastards.”

Seo Hyun-ji’s expression turned pale as she watched him.

“J-just a moment… isn’t this… too dangerous…?”

Seo Hyun-ji trembled violently, clinging to Lee Hyun-seung. She feared that others might pop up from around them at any moment.

Crack!

Lee Hyun-seung crushed the communication artifact, then spoke to Seo Hyun-ji.

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”