Chapter 71
“Ugh.”
Shadow Walker let out a groan filled with pain.
His ribs ached as though they were cracked, and his whole body twisted from the agony of his internal organs being shaken.
‘How… did the Shadow Empress get here…?’
He instantly knew who had struck him.
How could he not?
She was the ultimate assassin-type ranker, far beyond his level.
“…Ki Soyul?”
That was what he couldn’t understand.
She was never the type to get involved in conflicts.
A cold, self-centered being who only cared about her own growth.
The role model of all assassins.
‘And that Shadow Empress showed up at a workshop run by a mere B-rank Hunter?’
Shadow Walker slowly shook his head in disbelief.
‘Has something happened recently?’
Ever since he became a mercenary for the Ohsung Group, he’d been too busy wasting time in indulgence to keep up with the news.
“I’m disappointed, Shadow Walker. I thought you were a decent Hunter, but to think you’d stoop to something this filthy.”
Step. Step.
With her dagger dangling loosely, she walked toward him.
Her steps looked simple but had no openings at all.
“Guh.”
Enduring the pain, Shadow Walker picked up his blade and forced himself to stand.
He had to.
Otherwise, her dagger would pierce his heart in an instant.
He spoke through clenched teeth.
“Ki Soyul, how are you here…?”
“How, you ask? Is it that strange for me, a member of Dmir Workshop, to be here?”
“What?”
He was dumbfounded.
Since when was Ki Soyul with Dmir Workshop?
“When? Weren’t you originally with Parang?”
He was confused.
A ranker in the 300s could join any group in the world and be welcomed with open arms.
How could she possibly be with such a small, poor workshop?
“….”
Ptuh.
Shadow Walker spat out phlegm, streaked with red blood.
‘Shin Jongoh, that damned brat.’
Of course.
There was a reason he’d offered three hundred billion won so easily.
Regret flooded through him.
Had he known the Shadow Empress was there, he wouldn’t have come even for a trillion.
Life was worth more than money.
Swish.
Ki Soyul didn’t bother answering his question.
She simply lowered her stance slightly and raised her dark dagger.
“W-wait!”
Shadow Walker hurriedly raised his hand.
Ki Soyul replied coldly.
“What is it?”
“I’ve been rude. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Can’t we talk this out?”
“A misunderstanding…”
Ki Soyul let out a short laugh.
“Do you normally draw your weapon at night because of misunderstandings?”
“T-that’s because of Shin Jongoh, that bastard…!”
“Stop making excuses. You tried to take someone’s life. That alone is enough reason for you to die.”
Her voice grew icy.
Whoosh…
A chilling murderous aura flowed from her body.
‘This…’
Gulp.
Shadow Walker swallowed hard.
He didn’t know why, but the Shadow Empress before him was furious.
It was as if he had touched a dragon’s reverse scale—something no one could stop.
‘No choice, huh?’
There was no avoiding a fight now.
She was strong, but he was a ranker too!
Swish!
Lowering his posture, Shadow Walker vanished into the surrounding shadows.
At the same time, dark energy shot up from both sides and behind Ki Soyul.
A perfect ambush that unfolded in the blink of an eye!
It was the fastest he could possibly move.
“….”
But Ki Soyul didn’t move.
She neither panicked nor dodged.
Swish.
She simply flicked her dagger hand twice.
Clean. Efficient. Precise.
Slash! Slice!
The sound of something sharp cutting through flesh echoed through the air.
“Guh… kuh!”
The dummy aiming for her vital spot dispersed into nothing.
The real Shadow Walker clutched his shoulder, blood dripping down.
If he hadn’t twisted his body just in time, that blade would’ve cut his throat instead of his shoulder.
Tremble.
His body shook violently.
‘T-this is impossible…’
With just one exchange, he fully understood her level.
She was ranked 379th.
He was 720th.
He’d thought a gap of 341 ranks wasn’t much—but it was massive.
‘An assassin who doesn’t even hide in darkness is this strong?’
The difference was like striking a boulder with an egg.
Then—
Swish!
Ki Soyul’s figure vanished.
“Huh?”
Startled, Shadow Walker darted his gaze around.
‘Where? Right? Left? Behind? Above?’
But she was nowhere to be seen—
Thud!
A faint, wet slicing sound rang in his ear.
Then came a crushing pain in his chest.
“W-what…?”
He stared blankly at his heart.
“When… did she…?”
A dagger was embedded in it.
Her cold gaze met his.
It was a ghostly movement.
Crunch!
An unbearable wave of pain flooded him.
“Gaaaaah!”
He tried swinging his blade to drive her back—
But slash! stab!
She drew her dagger out, sidestepped, and plunged it into his heart again.
The time between withdrawing and stabbing was barely a second.
She murmured,
“Don’t feel too wronged. You’re just receiving exactly what you tried to do.”
“G-guh…”
He couldn’t speak anymore.
Blood bubbled in his throat, and strength drained from his body.
The dark dagger seemed to carry some strange power—it didn’t just pierce his heart, it burst it.
Thud.
Blood dripped from his lips as his body fell limp.
A ranker’s end.
The world ranking shifted once again.
—
Shadow Walker was dead.
The once-mighty ranker’s breath had ceased.
And it took only three strikes.
“My lord…”
Sunny whispered softly.
“I’m sorry. I can’t believe I let that trash endanger you…”
“I need to train harder too. My body’s not keeping up the way I want.”
Eldrin agreed.
Their voices were filled with guilt.
“….”
It wasn’t their fault.
It was mine—because I was still only a B-rank.
Because I wasn’t a ranker yet, their growth had limits too.
They must’ve felt frustrated.
After all, their true strength far surpassed Ki Soyul’s.
‘You did well.’
Against a ranker, we managed to hold out with just a B-rank’s power thanks to them.
Their skill and experience made it possible.
“Donghoon.”
Ki Soyul approached me, carefully wiping her dagger with a disposable tissue.
She seemed… strangely exhilarated after that battle.
Even her fingertips holding the dagger trembled slightly.
“Are you alright? A second later and things could’ve gone bad.”
“Thank you for saving me, Shadow Empress. Thanks to you, I’m fine.”
I bowed my head.
It was sincere gratitude.
Once again, I owed her my life.
‘That dagger wasn’t wasted.’
I smiled in satisfaction.
[Honor your benefactor even more.]
It was the moment my creed shone through.
When my Blacksmith skill reached its peak someday, I’d make her an even better weapon.
A Dmir Workshop VIP should always remain a VIP.
That’s how a brand grows in value.
“By the way, what did you mean earlier about leaving Parang?”
Flinch.
She stiffened slightly when I asked.
Huh?
What’s with that reaction?
Now that I thought about it—she did say she was with Dmir Workshop.
“Well, actually…”
As she hesitated, Kim Jina came down from the third floor.
She seemed composed now, smiling with her usual confidence.
“Shadow Empress, I’ve heard a lot about you. Thank you for your help.”
“Oh, um… no problem. But who are you…?”
Ki Soyul scratched her cheek awkwardly.
They were meeting for the first time.
“Ahaha, I’m Kim Jina. I’ve just been appointed vice president of the workshop.”
“Kim Jina…? Oh!?”
Ki Soyul’s eyes widened.
“The Kim Jina from Hunter Bank?”
“You know me?”
“My brother mentioned you. He said you’re someone the guild desperately wanted to recruit… but how come you’re here?”
“It just sort of happened that way. Anyway, I’m honored Parang thought that highly of me.”
Kim Jina smiled gracefully, exuding quiet confidence.
Then Ki Soyul looked back at me.
“To be honest… after you announced your S-rank weapon, I figured something like this would happen. I was just a little late because I had things to sort out.”
“I see.”
“Donghoon.”
“Yes?”
“You’re a Hunter endorsed by our Five Stars of Seoul. That means it’s my duty to protect you.”
“….”
“Frankly, you’re still weak. I don’t mean as a person—but your hidden potential needs time to grow. The world’s dangerous, so you need protection for now.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
She wanted to join Dmir Workshop.
She even left Parang for it.
I was deeply grateful.
‘But…’
The old man had told me once—
–That woman who once challenged me… how long will you keep her by your side?
–You’re being protected by someone far stronger than you deserve.
That I couldn’t grow stronger while hiding behind someone else.
That even in a harsh world, I had to face it myself.
“…President? What are you thinking about so hard?”
As I pondered, Kim Jina frowned.
“You should be celebrating! The Shadow Empress herself wants to join us! Do you even realize who she is? She’s ranked 379th! Three. Hundred. Seventy. Nine!”
“Well, that’s true…”
“Oh, come on.”
She shook her head dramatically, then beamed up at Ki Soyul.
“Hehe, Shadow Empress!”
“Y-yes?”
Ki Soyul looked flustered.
“If you’re joining Dmir, we’d be thrilled! Come on! We can discuss the hiring details in the office! Coffee? Sweet latte? Or iced americano?”
Hmm.
I twitched as Kim Jina glared sharply at me.
Stay quiet.
If I didn’t want to kick away good fortune, I’d better keep my mouth shut.
‘Well…’
She was right.
The old man’s words came from care, but practically speaking, Ki Soyul’s presence was invaluable.
In moments like today’s, she could save us from disaster.
And she’d help the workshop grow stronger.
Most of all…
My heart wanted to accept her.
As I accepted that feeling, a faint laugh escaped me.
‘When have I ever done exactly as the old man said, anyway?’
I looked ahead again.
Ki Soyul was still silently watching me.
She wanted to hear my decision from my own lips.
Alright then.
“Shadow Empress.”
“Yes.”
One of my strengths was quick decision-making.
“Thank you for coming. I’m glad to have you. Welcome aboard.”
It was the moment Dmir Workshop gained its first ranker.