NPLLD 15

Chapter : 15

Korea Martial Arts Association (3)

Time: 15:34.

Weee-ooo—Weee-ooo—

A loud siren echoed as Seoyul and the rescue team pulled Awakened ones out of the gate after a failed dungeon raid.

“One! Two! One! Two!”

The rescued hunters had nearly drowned in a water-filled terrain, and the rescue division immediately began CPR.

Seoyul placed his hands together, fingers lightly interlaced over the back of the other hand. His arms were straight, aligned to apply force, and he shifted his body weight into the compression.

His palms pressed firmly against the center of the patient’s chest, maintaining a steady rhythm.

Even now, Seoyul calmly chanted the Clear Mirror State, keeping his mind steady.

“Hunter-nim, I’m sorry, but that person—”

A medical staff member nearby tried to stop him, looking troubled.

Anyone could see the patient looked beyond saving.

But Seoyul could perceive it clearly through his synesthetic perception.

His heart was still faintly moving…

COUGH!

Under Seoyul’s continuous compressions, the heart began beating again. The unconscious hunter suddenly coughed up water and regained breathing.

“H-how…?”

“Please transfer him! Next!”

Leaving aftercare to the medical staff, Seoyul quickly moved on—

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

An emergency radio call blared.

Seoyul frowned.

What now?

“Emergency call! Emergency call! A 2-star boss monster, Steel Blood Orc, being illegally transported by the Overcross Guild has escaped! Immediate response required! Incident location: Korea Martial Arts Association! Any available teams respond immediately!”

“Those bastards!”

This time, it was serious.

Seoyul burned with anger at Overcross’s reckless negligence—but even more troubling was the location.

“It’s heading toward the Martial Arts Association,” he said.

At that, Lee Han laughed bitterly.

“Hah! Of all places, it goes straight to where an S-rank hunter is? That’s suicide.”

But Seoyul’s expression was grave.

“Master is currently on a raid. Most A-rank hunters are also absent.”

“…What?! Then what the hell are we supposed to do?!”

The situation was already chaotic from rescue operations. Now this disaster struck on top of it.

After a moment of silence, Seoyul spoke.

“…I’ll go.”

“Are you insane? Even you can’t handle a Steel Blood Orc chieftain!”

“Evacuate the association members first. That’s enough.”

“No, I said that’s not—why are you so stubborn? Do you think we’re the only rescue team here?”

“We have to go, even if it’s risky.”

“….”

Seoyul’s tone was unwavering.

“Our bodies aren’t made of steel.”

“I was saved by people like that. I’m sure they knew it was reckless too, but they still came for me.”

“…I’ll send backup as fast as I can. Don’t do anything reckless until then.”

In the end, Lee Han gave in once again.

Seoyul bowed slightly, then turned and grabbed the radio.

“This is Rescue Division Chief Seoyul. I’m heading to the Martial Arts Association.”

The moment he kicked off the asphalt—

CRACK! KWAANG!

The ground shattered beneath him, and Seoyul shot forward like a bullet.

“…What the hell is that kid?”

Lee Han stared in disbelief, then asked Kim Seong-ho:

“Over the past two months… what’s our rescue success rate?”

“…It’s 100%.”

Kim Seong-ho blinked in confusion as he said it.

Normally, the national rescue success rate was around 72%.

Too many variables led to casualties or failed recoveries.

But 100% over two months was practically impossible.

“…No way.”

Lee Han realized something.

Maybe all of this success… was because of Seoyul.

Meanwhile, at the Korea Martial Arts Association.

Most members were Awakened hunters, so daytime was usually calm.

Today, however, most A-rank hunters—including Kang Taesan—were out on raids.

The ones left behind were mostly B-rank hunters.

Among them, Jang Geunsoo swung his sword through training, focused.

“My arm is still shaking…”

His injured arm still trembled, but his sword path remained sharp and precise.

“Master! Daeho stole my yogurt again!”

“Hey! Stop snitching all the time!”

Two children approached him—Kang Daeho and Kang Seulgi, twin grandchildren of Kang Taesan.

Though young, they were also Awakened and trained at the association.

“Daeho, if you steal food again I’ll confiscate your phone.”

“My grandpa said food tastes better when stolen!”

“Quiet!”

“Ehehe.”

As the twins bickered, Jang Geunsoo sighed.

Taking care of kids is harder than raids.

Then—

Koo-woong… Koo-woong…

A faint tremor grew louder.

It was coming straight toward them.

“Run! Run away!”

“W-what is that?!”

“Ahh!”

Fear spread among the members.

The twins froze in terror.

“You two, get back.”

“M-master… it’s scary…”

“Run! Don’t look back!”

At his shout, the children turned and ran.

And then—

BOOM!

The gates exploded.

A monster covered in red metal appeared.

Steel Blood Orc.

“…S-Steel… Blood Orc!”

Jang Geunsoo’s face stiffened.

Then, seeing the children behind him, he rushed forward without hesitation.

“AAAAAAGH!”

The orc roared back and charged.

The common belief that orcs were mindless monsters was wrong.

Orcs valued honor as warriors. They were not simple beasts but proud fighters.

And Steel Blood Orcs were among the highest-tier of their kind.

Their blood hardened into steel upon injury.

Wounds became weapons. Anyone pierced by it would be poisoned and die in agony.

The one attacking the association was named Karzak.

A chieftain among Steel Blood Orcs.

Danger rating: 3-star.

Far beyond what a B-rank hunter could handle.

And indeed—

CRACK! KWAANG!

Jang Geunsoo was being thrown back helplessly.

His sword had already broken.

The orc, however, was completely uninjured.

Krrr…

More blood. It needed more blood.

The warrior’s creed demanded it.

Then—

The orc noticed the trembling twins.

It smiled.

Jang Geunsoo’s heart dropped.

It turned toward them.

“Don’t you touch them, you bastard!”

Time slowed.

Is this… my life flashing before my eyes?

He had no weapon left.

This was suicide.

The orc’s fist hardened into a steel-like knuckle.

It swung—

SHHK!

A spear suddenly pierced its arm.

“GRAAAAHH!”

A second later, Seoyul appeared and kicked the orc’s face, slamming it to the ground.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine, senior.”

“Good job protecting the kids.”

Tears welled up in Jang Geunsoo’s eyes.

“Take the kids and evacuate. I’ll handle this.”

Seoyul pulled his spear out.

The orc’s body grew even more crimson.

It was getting stronger.

“…It gets stronger the more it’s injured!” Jang Geunsoo shouted.

“Call me hyung,” Seoyul replied casually.

“Is that important right now?!”

“Yeah. Also—what you just saw is a secret.”

At that moment—

[Sphere has been generated.]

[Would you like to enter the dungeon?]

Between Seoyul and Karzak, a Sphere opened.

Both vanished instantly.

“…What just happened?”

Before anyone could understand, Jang Geunsoo collapsed to one knee, bleeding heavily.

“Master!”

“Master!”

The twins cried as they clung to him.