The Seven Association is an organization renowned for its intelligence gathering. Through sustained cooperation with the national police, they are treated as a semi-public enterprise among Resolvers.
But they don’t just gather intel; they maintain field teams that wield force when necessary. However, such units typically move in organized groups, meaning they wouldn’t simply wander into a back alley—which means...
"Get out of the way!!!"
In the back alleys, the territory belongs to the Infected. The non-Infected won’t set foot here, and there are no CCTVs—making it the perfect place to slash to our heart’s content.
Ugh... Uuugh...
"If you’re going to vomit, do it now. It only gets bloodier from here."
Of course, Ji-hyeon isn’t used to the sight of blood...
Ugh... Uugh... just a moment...
"Why are you...?"
"Where do you think you are, you brats? Clucking so damn loud!"
"Shit, here they come again!"
Too bad I have no intention of holding back. I fill my blade with calculated rage and unleash an upward slash—
Shing!
I sever the torso of the hobo leader with surgical precision. Amid the spurting entrails, the black sheen of crystals reveals that the corpse was afflicted with Oripathy.
"Let’s move. If this thing ruptures, we’ll all end up as severe Oripathy cases~"
I kick the rolling lower half aside; the other thugs have long since fled.
"You... who the hell are you?"
"Me? Just an aspiring Resolver."
Aspiring? This is pro level already.
Ji-hyeon’s parents are both Resolvers, so she had visited the Seven Association many times. She recognized that blade instantly. Whether it was an Arts technique or a master smith's craft, it outclassed even seventh-tier Resolvers. Even the strongest recruit they’d ever lured in couldn’t parry that sword. She was certain of it.
"Are you coming? Or are you going to puke again?"
"N-now go!!"
For now, she was just grateful that the blade wasn’t aimed at her.
"It’s real. It’s behind the scrapyard..."
Even though a high wall blocked our path.
"Hey, how are we going to get him up there...?"
"I know... should we carry him?"
"I really don’t want to piggyback a guy..."
Those two monsters simply stepped on the wall’s tiny crevices and scaled the nine-meter barrier as if it were a staircase.
"Wait... ah! This might work!"
A heavy chain used to secure cars in the scrapyard. Could it be...?
"Sorry. If it hurts, you have to tell us right away."
"Wait, Hese? No, right?"
"Alright, here we go—heave!"
I hear the chain rattling above, and my body is suddenly hoisted up, crashing onto the top of the wall.
"How was that? You got fished, buddy."
"I... I hate you guys..."
"Fair enough. Then let’s go rescue the Sua you’re so fond of!"
"What? N-no!!"
"No arguing, kid. Count yourself lucky."
"You’re the same age..."
"GPS said it was around here... the signal faded and died right here."
"Looks like the battery’s dead."
The last spot it showed was the container stacks visible from our position.
"Sigh... this is going to be a bitch."
We split roles: Sinclair and Ji-hyeon would search the containers while I created chaos to draw attention—and the boss’s blade.
"You sure you can handle it alone...?"
"I'll be fine. You should be more worried about tagging along with me."
"What the—who are you guys!"
"Aaa! I’m sorry!!"
This one’s not right in the head either...
Forcing myself to ignore the bisected corpse, I focused on finding Sua. Otherwise, I’d go insane.
"Everyone, come in!!"
Meanwhile, I wreaked havoc where the crowd was densest.
I ambushed from above, severing a large man's spine. The clean slice rang out with a sharp chkkk! as crimson splashed over a mahjong table. Before they could regroup, I lunged, driving my blade into another's forehead.
We need to finish this before the Association arrives and get out.
We were fugitives. Falling into the clutches of the Seven Association would be fatal.
"What is that monster?"
"Don’t chicken out! The target’s alone!!"
Aren't you underestimating me just because I’m alone?
I used precise technique to rupture two more from within. The thick metallic tang of blood was disturbingly fragrant and repulsive all at once.
"If it coats your nostrils like this, you’ll know if it’s sweet or foul."
Right. I slashed anything in my path. The boss would have to show himself eventually.
"Fuck, just shoot anything! Shoot!!"
"It’s not hitting! Not a scratch! What the hell is that!!"
The scrapyard terrain worked entirely in my favor.
Huh? Why is that in the building...?
Thud!
As expected, the car doors tore off under the impact. I wove between wrecks, sometimes diving inside to dodge the arrows.
"There it is! There!"
In a world where Originium tech is commercialized, there was even a liquefied Originium engine unit here.
"Alright, let’s hook this here... and run."
I tied the chain to the car’s front bumper, gripped the other end, and sprinted toward the opposite structure.
[Hidden Tiger in the Forest Stance]
Crouching and then exploding upward, I sliced through three men with impossible speed. Whether it was E.G.O or just physics, when velocity is high enough, you can cleave through three adults even without raw power.
Clang!!
One of them smashed a dagger through a window and jumped inside.
"Hup! Nice ambush, eh?"
A blade flew at me from behind—this was a heavy-blade type fighting with brute force. Had I not slipped the steel, I would have been in danger.
He followed up with a flurry. It looked like he handled dual blades.
But he leaves too many openings.
When there are gaps between swords, whether it’s one blade or a hundred, they are wasted.
"Alright, opening!"
"Ha! I was waiting for this moment!"
"...! Damn!"
This guy—a Pidia, I think? His tail whipped like a baseball bat, the blow so heavy I had to step back.
"Tch! And he still blocked that?"
"Sure did. And thanks for the assist, you idiot."
I never intended to fight here. I picked up the loose chains, fed them into the car-hauling machinery, and locked them in.
This scrapyard might only exist on paper, but this machine was in here somewhere...
Rrmm... rrrmm... BOOM!!
"Fuck, what is that? Get clear!!"
Cough, cough... this can’t be... Right? It can’t..."
"Clear out! It’s Originium dust!!"
"That crazy bastard!!!"
Yeah. It’s the scrapyard edition of Oripathy.
"Then maybe I’ll cut up some snakes?"
Native sword art—[Grass-Clearing Snake-Search Stance].
It cleaves grass to find snakes. There was no grass here, but there were definitely snakes.
"Damn it!"
He barely blocked with his dual blades, but the E.G.O in my sword—pure impatience craving an end—made me careless.
Did my blade stop...?
No. He deflected my sword with a diagonal downward cut, like slicing grass. I was completely unguarded—and to a swordsman, that means...?
Thud!
"Goodbye."
My heart was pierced, blood gushing. I felt as if I had been doused in ketchup.
"Then maybe I should climb up too? If I head outside, I’ll get Oripathy for sure."
I’ll pass. I’m only twelve.
"Huh? What’s this?"
I saw forces gathering near the containers—not a simple pursuit, but coordinated as if ordered.
"Alright, let’s move~"
The Magpie’s blade continued to cut.
"On such a beautiful moonlit night, wouldn’t playing Go alone be lonely?"
A man played Go alone in a quiet room. A Moonlit Beauty appeared without a sound.
The sweet aroma of liquor, her ethereal hair and long blue tail, horns like a Pidia—this beauty sat before the head of the sword world.
"Are you Behemoth?"
They greeted each other as old acquaintances.
"I see... you look burdened."
A cup was placed on the Go board, filled with liquor, and passed to the lady’s lips. It was a portrait of serenity.
"Burden, you say... yes. It seems a great war is approaching."
"A war... does humanity still cling to that foolishness? It’s sorrowful—my wine might have to flow as tears."
"I do not wish for a lake here. Please hold back."
"Shall I? So, why did you call me?"
"...I have found the child to deliver this necklace to."
In Meursault’s hand rested a small, exquisite locket. The emerald gem flickered as if alive.
"Oh... a child worthy of it, you say?"
"Yes. I ask you to discern that child in advance. The realm of dreams is your specialty."
"Hmm... very well. For the request of an old friend’s successor."
"Then, I entrust this to you, First Daughter of Shae."
With those words, she vanished as if she had never existed. When Meursault closed and opened his eyes—
"...the moon is bright."
He realized he had only been asleep for a moment.
The cup remained on the Go board.
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