Chapter 126 (2/2)

Regardless….

“If, like you say, we sacrifice….”

Seol Jihu spoke calmly and didn't stop punching.

“The 32 people….”

Her nose was smashed in, causing blood to spurt out.

“Only 30 out of the 78 people can leave.”

Her cheekbones sunk in….

“And the remaining 48 will have to fight again…. And what?”

And fresh blood flowed out from her burst lips.

“I'll find out in the morning?”

A straight filled with rage shot out. It smashed her mouth, and three or four teeth trickled down.

“The f.u.c.k is that supposed to mean?”

Seeing her lowered head, Seol Jihu struck her head. Basler once again fell to the ground.

It seemed she hadn't lost her consciousness as she staggered up. However, she tripped over her own feet and fell on her b.u.t.t once again.

“Auu… auuuu….”

Basler's comrades, who thought she was simply playing around, realized the gravity of the situation. They exchanged quick glances with each other.

“Oi! That's enou—”

“Mhm, that's enough out of you too.”

Hearing an interfering voice from a close distance, the man who was taking out his weapon froze. He could feel someone wrapping their arm around his neck.

When he creaked his head back, he saw a neatly dressed man biting down on a cigarette.

“Don't think you interfering in a one on one fight is cheating?”

Before he noticed, the members of the Triads had all gathered behind him.

“Don't you agree, friend?”

Hao Win winked at the man he had his arm around and puffed out a smoke. The man furrowed his brows.

“But he's going too f—”

“Hah?”

At that moment, something black tore through the white smoke and stopped right in front of his face.

“What was that?”

Hugo had shoved his face with his hand over his ear. Crack. When he heard the man grit his teeth, he nodded his head and exclaimed.

“Aha! You want to get beaten up?”

Hic! The man hiccuped. Hugo and the Triads were both famous for their cruelty.

“Ka, Kazuki!”

He called Ayase Kazuki, who usually held a moderate position.

“Hm?”

But when he saw Kazuki loading his crossbow with bolts, he couldn't help but close his mouth shut.

As a result, Seol Jihu was able to do what had to be done without any interference.

“Get up.”

“Huaaa….”

An airy sound came out. Because Seol Jihu had repeatedly struck her face, her hair was disheveled and her face was plastered with blood.

“Get up. I don't want to hear you making excuses later, like you tripped or something.”

“Keu… Keuhuhu….”

“Not getting up?”

Seol Jihu stomped forward and s.n.a.t.c.hed her ponytail up.

“Auuuu!”

After forcefully picking her up by her hair, he lightly pushed her body. Snake Eyes bobbed back and forth before she took a few steps back.

This time, it wasn't to distance herself for battle. It was out of complete fear.

Thwack!

“Kuk—”

When he struck the back of her neck, a breath-severing sound came out. Basler no longer remembered how many times she had fallen.

“Get up.”

Her knocked down body twitched. When the youth's footsteps got close, her arms and legs flailed in desperation.

Basler swam through the gra.s.s field before barely managing to flip herself over and hugging Seol Jihu's ankle.

“Sph… spware me….”

Because of her broken teeth, the sound of a flute rang out with her words.

“I'm sowwy…. I'm sowwy… spware me….”

With her eyes dyed from bluish-red bruises, she begged for her life while reeking of blood.

Seol Jihu spoke calmly, “Get up.”

Hearing his cold voice, Basler grimaced. Tears of blood continued to fall from her eyes.

“I'ww… I'ww do ash you shay… sho… pweash….”

“Barw! I'ww barw! Wan! Wan, wan! Wan, wan, wan!”

She even barked for real.

Seol Jihu was about to pick her up by her collar when a conspicuous light caught his attention.

'Her color…!'

When he checked her color in Stage 1, she had been yellow – Attention Required. It remained the same until now when it suddenly began to change.

From yellow to colorless.

This wasn't the first time someone's color changed. He had seen Teresa's color change from colorless to gold.

However, this was the first time he was seeing a color of danger change.

Looking down with a fixed gaze, Seol Jihu squatted down. He raised her chin with his index finger until they met eyes.

Seeing the eyes completely succ.u.mbed to fear, he could guess why the color changed.

“Was this really necessary to get you to understand?”

“Why couldn't you have just listened when I spoke nicely?”

“It's not like I told you to go die alone.”

“It was so that everyone could live.”

Basler was trembling intensely and barely managing to look at him in the eye. But when she heard the calmness in his voice, gooseb.u.mps suddenly shot up on her body. She couldn't believe she was looking at the same youth she saw in Stage 1.

“Let's be honest. You knew it too.”

He most certainly wasn't speaking to just Audrey Basler. Seeing Snake Eyes nodding her head crazily, Seol Jihu stood up.

“Let me add one more condition.”

He looked back at the majority faction and wiped the sweat on his forehead. Because of the blood and flesh covering his hand, a line of blood was drawn across his forehead.

“Audrey Basler and her five teammates. We will consider them as part of the minority faction when we're forming the teams.”

He was basically saying he would split up Snake Eyes and her team so they wouldn't have any other intentions.

“Also….” Seol Jihu continued, “If anyone has a better idea, I'm open to discussion.”

He was telling them to speak out now if they had any problems.

Suddenly, a m.u.f.fled cackle rang out. Oh Rahee had her head dropped with her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders shook for a while before she finally got up. She walked toward the youth with light steps before scrutinizing him from top to bottom.

When she kept staring at him, Seol Jihu opened his mouth first.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, no, it's not about that.”

Hnnng. With a long hum, Oh Rahee shrugged.

“I want to be in the first team that enters the Plaza of the Dissonant Wish. Is that okay?”

Looking at Audrey Basler, who was shaking like a bug, she burst into laughter.

“I'm sure you've heard of the saying that the first b.u.t.ton has to be fastened right. In exchange for going in first, I'll make sure to bring them all out.”

Seol Jihuh took a deep breath. With her statement, the conference had come to a decision. With Oh Rahee, one of the strongest members of the majority faction agreeing, the scale had been tipped in his favor.

“We can decide during the team conference.”

She seemed to completely agree with all his conditions. And as long as she didn't violate any rule, Seol Jihu had no qualms with letting her go first.

“Should I take her?” Oh Rahee asked as she glanced at Snake Eyes. She seemed to be saying she would keep an eye on her. Surely, it was a sign of goodwill.

“No.”

However, Seol Jihu shook his head. Trusting Basler just because her color changed was a foolish thing to do.

“We will take Audrey Basler.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Chohong!”

Chohong raised her hand as if she had been waiting for this moment. She quickly approached them while dragging her intimidating Thorn of Steel on the gra.s.s field.

“Please.”

“Yeah, yeah. I just gotta take care of her until the end of the Banquet, right?”

As Seol Jihu had already asked for help, she agreed right away. She picked up her mace and rested it on her shoulder before glaring at Basler who was still on the ground.

“The f.u.c.k are you glaring at me for? Drop your eyes.”

Seeing Snake Eyes bite her lips, Chohong let out a chuckle before suddenly turning serious.

“Oi.”

“Drop your eyes, f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h. You want me to blow your head off?”

The crazies often recognized each other. Feeling Chohong's chilling, madness-drenched aura, Basler gulped hard.

Soon, she lowered her gaze along with her head.

Chohong grinned.

“Look forward to it. I'll personally take care of you until the Banquet ends.”

Chohong dragged Audrey Basler's sagging body away. Having watched the scene play from beginning to end with keen interest, Oh Rahee asked with a meaningful smile.

“What's your last name?”

“…Didn't I tell you?”

“You only told me your given name. So? Kim Seol? Yi Seol?”

Seol Jihu's eyes spun at the abrupt question. He then let out a long sigh before opening his mouth.

“No.”

“Seol is my last name.”

“My name is….”

After picking up the Ice Spear, Seol Jihu took a look around his surroundings. Most people had not gotten up from their seats.

Another thing that changed was the atmosphere.

Kazuki with a calm face, the 32 minority members with fl.u.s.tered expressions as if they didn't think Seol Jihu would go this far, and the 78 majority with tired looks.

“My name is…”

Facing the numerous gazes that were all pointing towards him….

“Jihu.”

The youth smiled lightheartedly.

“I'm Seol Jihu.”