Chapter 264: The Terror Live (3)
MkzsI am a peaceful person.n9bZbuB
k8TasQEven when the parasites of society invited me to join forces in the underworld, or when a rude customer spat phlegm onto my dish right in front of me, I tried to handle it calmly.pUa
f6sw“……”4RFi
lInas4bI tried.OZc
JEwBut when someone crosses the line, when someone is simply vile, I can’t tolerate it.L97y
NEt6vdyI want to follow the boss’s example and resolve things through words, but speaking the same language doesn’t mean we understand each other.B3yzG
Nbi1oOwThere are types who reject dialogue—usually the ones closest to crime.kEwBtI
zF9Just a moment ago, too.VdM6fy
yGyThey were blocking the hallway to the ballroom, so I asked them to move. But when they drew their weapons, their answer was clear.47N
Q0EyOII thought about leaving a few alive for questioning, but I gave up on that. Killing is easier than forgiving. In a situation where anything could be happening in the ballroom, I had no time to waste.HuORiVT
YKJl60So I killed them all.J0BCh8
mwV0w3I’m not sure how many there were.yru
4Sgt979I stopped counting after thirty.4e2Sp
AC1My upper lip was trembling.tLP
VigrThe metallic stench of blood was almost unbearable.VEn
vRA37Only then did I slowly turn around.gIcX20
cw89The mix of blood, brains, and fat had turned the floor into a mess.ISuX
hscI looked at it and thought I feel absolutely nothing. And that’s what scares me.yw8
UrUU0Even if they were enemies, was it really okay to kill them so relentlessly? Saying I have a short temper and no time—isn’t that just an excuse? Am I just trying to justify myself, convince myself that I’m not someone driven by darkness or impulse?kIWuL
34pWith those thoughts, I turned my head again. The massive ballroom doors loomed in front of my eyes. Gasping and occasional screams could be heard.0SFq9M
DcKJGd‘Now that I think about it, Karon and Shail said they came to protect Abel.’QbpOwxE
wmAZI trust their abilities. Even compared to other heroes at their level, they’re exceptional. They’ve likely prevented the worst.KLJbhgB
3sCe“…I hope I don’t have to kill anyone else today.”2qx1L6
fJg0e2iAnd I meant it. My hands were already soaked in blood. Even if it wasn’t how I truly felt, I wanted to believe it.v30Uchh
KeC4sICreak.PKz07xL
s6ouKUI opened the door. And at that instant, all the terrorists turned to look at me in unison. Beneath their masks, pale faces were visible.6zp
K190bFor a moment, a black shadow swept through my soul. Like a sudden storm, only a murderous impulse swirled in my mind.mN3n
p089OrMy heart pounded. I felt like a fighting dog about to be unleashed. But the rage rising in my throat didn’t come out. All thanks to the butterfly-shaped bowtie choking my neck.lkxZJ
jyzLjqI smiled.p3pI
hbIThanks to not having taken off this tie, I was still human. At least, that’s what I like to believe.AnK
UpwyS“I’ll leave one alive.”kIU6ADL
BhIzmSince I was at it, I decided to show a little mercy.rhT4hUL
YWeT“Just one.”JQFEcg
xVbuEnough not to be seen as a fool.MOj6TFX
M9zRgA***GzxLn
04dOnly two terrorists remained. Both were among the most skilled in their organization.8vhdUiL
cTVgb“That’s enough.”EIU
mViuWhen they began to wrestle, baring their teeth at each other, Kang Geom-Ma cut them off.eyU7f
v0j“If you keep that up, I’ll kill you both. Drop your weapons now.”xaet2
8Y1CiJuThey read the room and complied. In the next instant, as if rehearsed, they prostrated flat on the floor.0coExmJ
j9EJd“Thank you for sparing us.”zd6PKv2
YqINo response came. Kang Geom-Ma dragged a fallen chair over, placed it before them, and sat down.sml
5BL1Looking down on them, he spoke.6lNdQ
VjpyvyY“If your answers don’t match, one of you dies. Understood?”1ulJ
txfmIGIn other words, he was going to cross-check their stories. The terrorists swallowed hard.rd4lbv
EOBCVc“Yes.”RYxWPI
W3vN“Understood.”rw7Frw5
lbNYThey turned to glare at each other murderously. Even their first response didn’t match.m4wD
Bm7Kang Geom-Ma sighed wearily. Behind him, Karon, Shail, Abel, and Ryozo had gathered.Ba1zfI
xAIkHe looked over his shoulder.iVEDE
PCYAll had minor wounds, nothing serious.Fof
M0KA relief.EA49
xJkRp“Been a while. First time since you became one of the Seven Stars.”pNH
5eg“Right. Karon, Shail… I said I’d stop by Switzerland, but I kept putting it off.”1c4OA4t
Rp1KNqJ“Just remembering us is enough, don’t worry.”RJqhsje
vqao78Kang Geom-Ma gave a brief smile.5xL
kUrL02J“I’m the one who should be grateful. If not for you two, the damage would’ve been much worse.”9Fo
4PaCKAfter that brief greeting, he looked away. Courtesies could wait.t3M
wXDtCFirst, he had to deal with the two sharing the same fate.pwX4YB
9JLKr“Take off those masks. They irritate me just by looking at them.”b47qg2E
wOQQ54N“Yes, sir.”tQcj
ECdPThey untied their masks. Their faces were shockingly ordinary. Nothing that said “terrorist.” The more normal, the better for infiltration.Nvh
NTFB31“Name.”6eLbwNn
ZuBXB““Ah, I’m…””DiXoPyh
Bqdfug“On second thought, never mind. Why would I want the names of criminals? The one on the left is Prisoner 1, the one on the right, Prisoner 2. Don’t get confused. When I call, answer fast.”QCjw
elH““……””u5KR
yTQVKQF“Answer.”MpDIK
5SMB4n3““Yes.””JE0UlOV
2nUEs9Kang Geom-Ma reclined comfortably in his chair. The prisoners couldn’t breathe.ocqsvgy
6QgFtX“What was the goal of infiltrating the academy?”jHyE0
ZVkt“We received orders from above.”LJPOzQU
NyOa9BTPrisoner 1 responded instantly.2u3CJPk
LIA1g“To take over the ballroom at the start of the dance.”xuTZr7M
wwMa78“And this ‘above’—was it the Villain Union? They were already destroyed by Auditore.”5044
U6q“That’s true. But since their fall, we’ve had direct contact from the Demon Kingdom.”7Xzob
ZLR3qyK“From whom?”EZB
wdMsFUn“That… we don’t know…”29lL82m
exrjw11“Then that’s it. If you don’t know who gave the order, you don’t know the real purpose of infiltrating the academy, do you?”SDTt
giDI““…No.””3vUv
X7mW“Right. I doubt grunts like you were told everything.”Y9O
i2K“We don’t know the details, but… the codename of the plan was ‘The Lion.’”P3j
hFuPrisoner 1 added hesitantly.8xYZoQ6
TrjwR“The Lion, huh?”r9ed
qYWKang Geom-Ma stroked his chin, thoughtful, and asked again.RCEjUb
rjND“Why take the ballroom?”3NR
yi6B24“Well…”h4w
riTih“To take hostages.”gaAdU
y2DiPrisoner 1 hesitated. Prisoner 2, on the other hand, raised his hand.6D6
9feyY“They thought Kang Geom-Ma was unstoppable by force. So the plan was to take students hostage. That was the mission of the squad in the ballroom.”kfBe6dk
KwhG9bHe said, rubbing his hands nervously. Kang Geom-Ma frowned.KHZm
JvvhZ“You say ‘hostages’ with some enthusiasm, Prisoner 2.”V2BioZU
1PE6nVq“S-sorry!”ZLWk9
vpx“No need to apologize. I’m not disappointed. I never had expectations of you to begin with.”hoH5
Nb9“……”xIKufdB
L8AJ2P“Rehabilitation? Remorse? Don’t make me laugh. If people leaving prison reformed, it wouldn’t be news. Most reoffend within three years.”REPW
YvzpQPrisoner 2’s face twisted. Kang Geom-Ma continued indifferently.4Z1
vo1“Then they say things like, ‘I couldn’t find a job,’ ‘society didn’t accept me,’ ‘I was denied a second chance.’ Lies. Excuses. You were trash from the start. Even when society extends a hand, you spit on it.”gXJoHYi
3tGcU“…I’ve committed an unforgivable sin.”BCQlIVi
N2fjmgN“See? And you still say crap like, ‘we just wanted hostages’? Aren’t you ashamed to gamble with the lives of underage students, you bastard?”0g9E
m0kKang Geom-Ma stood up. Then he leaned in, placing both hands on the prisoners’ shoulders.KyI372p
hEr“You know what I’m like, right?”Iwvv
oEPl“We were told you’re very strict.”oF1
LnCPrisoner 2 answered cautiously.GUL
u5VEI3“Strict? Please. You should’ve heard I’m insane.”rIUp
L0sIt was true. Prisoner 2 didn’t know how to reply. He could only listen to the younger man.CT8dLH
5vP70“Friends.”buPrpJs
wPHMV7Both turned pale. Kang Geom-Ma removed his hands from their shoulders and patted their necks.2hP0FoM
khN“On the way here, I killed everyone who tried to stop me. I could’ve spared them, but I didn’t. Then I told myself they deserved it, to avoid guilt. Do I regret it? No. And that’s the problem.”oAeU
41ivosHe said bitterly.PBr
ntod“Until now, I tried to deny I was crazy. But not anymore. I admit it. My hands don’t shake when I kill, not even criminals. I won’t change, but if I at least acknowledge the problem, I can be careful. That’s why I said I’d let one of you live. I don’t know if it was the right choice. Maybe I’m just poisoning society. But even if this choice is rotten, I still wanted to make it. What do you think?”KA2YF
AWkI“If you spare me, I swear I’ll never do something like this again. I’ll try not to live in a way that would shame you, Sir Heavenly Sword.”h6vX
6BEcb0Prisoner 2 cried, his face twisted with remorse.iRT
XexKang Geom-Ma stared at him in silence, then turned to Prisoner 1.bB24Xj
APY“And you, what do you say?”UAy
v0A“……”XjW
285avfAfter a pause.VCnK
6ICgNY“…Honestly, I don’t think I can.”rFc36
jFENhMHis answer was different.pdj
I35Pjjp“I got here by stealing. I don’t know where to start changing. Sometimes I think it’s better to just die right here.”4j1O7g
mulPrisoner 2 silently rejoiced. What an idiot, turning down his chance.S9o
CkbaJ1“Two people hear the same thing and feel differently.”KOi
Z8s4Kang Geom-Ma smiled faintly and released Prisoner 1. But not Prisoner 2.N7MoW
s1o1CUc“S-Sir Heavenly Sword…?”C9xPh
iSYpIgnoring his confusion, Kang Geom-Ma looked at Prisoner 1.mAO
8cx“What’s your name?”ykbeW
TaN“Lee Jae-yeon.”kg6W
GOiGdAnd in that moment, Prisoner 2 convulsed. The killing intent running from the nape of his neck down froze his heart. He died instantly.Huf
DCC“Jae-yeon.”5j6A
9AoKang Geom-Ma stood.BQD
npF2“Yes, Sir Heavenly Sword.”Mpu
dUJtj“Just because I spared you doesn’t mean society will. Bear your crimes like scars. And if someday your old organization finds you and kills you, consider it your punishment. Only by living as a sinner will you understand why your life was a mistake. That’s the duty this academy leaves you.”74Tf
NiEJae-yeon parted his lips, then bowed his head until it hit the ground.1VmzpX
A7QNF“Please, allow me to serve you, Sir Heavenly Sword.”M9rrsZn
OGS2Wxh“No, idiot. Criminals have a hard time finding work. And why would I look after an ugly guy like you? No way.”UO0
9KJL“…What if I were a woman?”uWA9
e0dag“Still no. Don’t you get it, or are you stupid? Go. The more you talk, the more I regret letting you live.”GRr
6bb“Yes, sir.”jToVy
6Fqt4NJae-yeon left in a hurry. Just before leaving, he bowed deeply.oPK
Rcc9Un“My apologies to the companions of the Sir whom I injured.”KPDHl
RFvThat was his farewell. Only then did Kang Geom-Ma look at the others.VokB
CsBEveryone stared at him, stunned. He scratched his brow awkwardly.VZRb
EKBu67G“Was it a mistake to let him live?”hTZnjH
x8pEDxuKaron broke the silence. Then he burst into laughter.cx46BK
SZnAk“Not at all. On the contrary, I admire you even more, Sir Heavenly Sword.”jnW
2CEWkQk“It’s not that big a deal. Anyway, can everyone keep going?”HySwf
cxZBZV“If it’s for you, we’ll find strength where there is none.”f7x
QUwFShail nodded firmly.pBJzM
PL3“And hearing that has renewed our spirit.”8f0pp
A9D9PaNKang Geom-Ma shrugged at their energy, then inhaled deeply. The blood-scented air cleared his lungs. He felt free.1QK4xNz
lTuAdmitting one’s faults is the first step toward growth. So long as one only tries to hide them, there’s no progress. Civilization is born from human shame.FVkG
j86And then, Kang Geom-Ma said.suT5
Bkxr1“We need to find Leon.”WoZ1
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaThat boy got lucky today. Because its the first time Kang geom spare someone.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaGood 👍