How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 22 (Part 2):

A body and face that seemed utterly unsuited for fighting.

Yet, his eyes burned with a ferocity that piqued even Yujin’s interest.

“Let go of her, you bastard!”

His voice was young, too.

High schooler at best? Maybe even just a middle schooler.

His stance was sloppy, and the punch didn’t seem particularly powerful.

But…

‘It’s precise.’

Instinct, luck, or skill—whatever it was.

The kid’s fist pierced through an opening, aiming straight for Yujin’s jaw.

‘Was there a guy like this?’

His movement was surprising.

But the power wasn’t enough to warrant dodging; Yujin could take it head-on without issue.

Still, he didn’t hesitate to release the Sword Empress’s neck.

*Thud-.*

With a light tap on the ground, he stepped back.

*Whooom-!*

The metal gauntlet grazed past his jaw, missing by a hair’s breadth.

‘Hmm.’

Yujin studied the kid’s face.

Definitely unfamiliar.

That meant one of two things.

Either the kid died before reaching the Tower’s upper floors…

‘Or I’ve never seen him before.’

A gauntlet-wearing, fist-swinging, fight-crazed talent Yujin had never encountered came to mind.

‘Could it be the War Demon?’

He was nothing like the image Yujin had conjured.

He’d pictured a wild-haired, muscle-bound beast.

“What? Just a damn kid.”

Yujin tilted his head.

“Jihoo, run! If he catches you, you’re dead!”

The now-free Sword Empress shouted.

“Who’s killing who…?”

*Swish-!*

Frowning, Yujin tried to retort, but another reddish blade sliced through the air.

A clean, precise cut with no wasted movement.

If it had been anyone else, they’d have been decapitated without even realizing how they died.

For a sword swung in such a fleeting moment to be this refined…

Yujin was once again satisfied with his choice to pursue the Sword Empress.

Stepping back to create distance, he looked at the kid with an intrigued expression.

“Who are you?”

He vaguely recalled hearing the name Jihoo, but that alone wasn’t enough to know.

He didn’t even know the War Demon’s real name.

“Sis, you okay?”

No answer came.

The kid just helped the Sword Empress up.

Even then, he didn’t let his guard down against Yujin.

Despite his frail, small frame, his eyes were as fierce as a beast’s.

“Hmm.”

After a moment’s thought, Yujin nodded.

Whether this kid was the War Demon or not didn’t matter.

Talent like that was worth nurturing.

“Hey, you two.”

No more pleasantries.

He’d originally planned to build rapport, act kindly, and slowly win them over…

“I’ll train you both. Follow me.”

But that plan was out the window, so he’d just train them by force.

“Don’t give me that bullshit! Who’d follow a psycho like you?!”

The Sword Empress, pale as a ghost, spat out curses.

The kid, instead of answering, raised his fists.

“A rejection, huh?”

Yujin’s lips curled into a smile.

Stained with the dried blood of a Red Goblin, it was reminiscent of the Joker.

“Obviously!”

She even shuddered, as if imagining something horrific.

“Murderer! Psychopath! Crazy bastard! Who’d team up with a guy who swings his sword at people out of nowhere?!”

Guess that’s why first impressions matter.

Thanks to one action in Terra, Yujin had been branded a crazed, indiscriminate serial killer in her eyes.

“We’re not hanging out with criminals, so get lost!”

Her intent to strike if he came closer was palpable.

The sharp aura she exuded was impressive, even if it was directed at him.

“It’s a misunderstanding. But at this point, I don’t feel like explaining, nor do I need to.”

Yujin raised 『Black Wing [A]』, a gift he’d prepared for the Sword Empress.

“I’m in a bit of a bad mood, so let’s talk later. A bit of hardship should clear up the misunderstanding.”

He didn’t draw his sword.

Their current skill levels couldn’t possibly handle his blade.

“…What?”

The Sword Empress, confused, asked.

Yujin showed one last bit of kindness.

“Let’s pay the price for making me go through this. It’ll hurt a bit, but it’s your own fault, so don’t feel wronged.”

His smile deepened.

* * *

It was a misunderstanding.

She’d misunderstood him all along.

Ishia screamed internally with all her might.

If she didn’t, she felt like she’d really die.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud-!*

“Gaaaah!”

Where and how was she even getting hit?

She couldn’t see it.

All she knew was a black flash, followed by excruciating pain coursing through her entire body.

“If! I! Went! This! Far! You! Should! Listen!”

She didn’t understand what he meant.

But she had to.

She didn’t want to hurt anymore.

The same went for Park Jihoo.

Normally, once his eyes went wild, he’d charge in recklessly, no matter the odds…

‘P-please, spare me.’

In the face of overwhelming violence, madness or rage meant nothing.

The fury that had fueled him in the tutorial floor and Terra was nowhere to be found.

A crazier bastard’s club was the cure for a crazy bastard.

Trapped in what felt like an endless hell, the two groaned incessantly.

“What’s that? Giving up? Not even trying to block? Then you’ll get hit more.”

Their despair faded, replaced by survival instincts kicking in.

‘I-I have to block!’

The thought that they might actually die spurred the Sword Empress and the War Demon to move instinctively.

Unbeknownst to them, this was Yujin’s first lesson.

A bit rough, sure, but a lesson nonetheless.

Dangun

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