Kang Yoo-sik suddenly tapped his knee.
“Can’t help you, my knee hurts.”
Damn him, making up excuses.
First, I took my ax out of the thug’s chest, then I used my feet and kicked the spear, from the other thug, into my remaining hand. Once I had both weapons, I threw them at Kang Dong-taek. Not even a gold medal Olympic athlete could throw as well as I could, yet Kang Dong-taek managed to avoid it.
Impressive, but terrifying.
Initially, Kang Dong-taek was near the shed with a window, but he quickly approached, moving from side to side, I didn’t even have time to recover my weapons.
I heard someone whisper into Seo Su-myung’s ear.
“Being able to move like that, Dong-taek must’ve eaten at least four purple beads.”
“He’s finally making his move.”
Kang Dong-taek moved his fist, and in response, I extended my knife.
I only need one hit!
The blade was poisoned. If I paralyze him and take him hostage, I can make my escape.
Kang Dong-taek swiftly clenched his fist and pulled a knife.
“You really annoy me.”
Our knives clashed violently.
Clang!
My knife bent back backward.
He must’ve eaten more than six blue marbles.
He hit my knife again, and it flew into the air, I stand corrected,
He didn’t eat six; he ate more than 8!
In terms of both strength and ability, Dong-taek had the advantage. I decided to take a more defensive approach. I turned my back and ran.
“You cowardly bastard!”
Kang Dong-taek screamed at me.
“Stop that coward. Don’t let him get away!.”
As I ran, I pulled the dagger stuck in my belt; it’s the only weapon I have left.
“Move!”
I wielded my dagger while glaring at the thugs in my way. One of them dodged my blade and tried to punch me.
Bam.
He got me right in the chin.
He must’ve ingested a purple bead; I thought while falling. That was one powerful hit.
If this were before I was summoned, that hit would’ve fatal, but as my strength and stamina improved, I became more durable, and I was able to stay conscious. I opened my eyes and observed my opponent; he was moving side to side like a boxer.
I anticipated his movements, and when I noticed him about to use his right hook, I lifted my dagger and cut his wrist. His fleshed showed, and blood began to drip.
I got him.
I laughed while running away, I almost got away, but then a large man tackled me to the ground. I tried to stand up, but he clung to my feet. The guy with the cut wrist kicked my side. In addition to that, five or six people surrounded me. I curled my body and protected my head using my arms. There were too many thugs.
“uhhhhhh.”
While I was laying down, I saw Kang Dong-taek’s shoes approaching, I lifted my head and saw a sword in his hand. He held the sword faced down. I knew he was going to kill me. I smiled and tried to make small talk.
“I like your shoes. Is it made in Italy?”
I tried to reach for my dagger slowly.
“No, it’s made in France.”
The moment he replied, I stabbed his foot.
“Argh, You asshole!”
Kang Dong-taek tried stabbing me back in retaliation.
I should have applied more poison to the dagger.
Park Min-ji screamed,
“No!”
The sword was going to strike the back of my neck, but I felt nothing. Kang Dong-taek pushed the sword, but it did not go down. Something invisible was blocking the sword.
“What’s happening?!”
Kang Dong-taek looked agitated.
“Help me kill this bitch!”
Thugs poked, cut, and struck me with spears, knives, and axes, but they were all stopped.
Fung, Fung, Fung.
It was making a weird sound.
People crossing the river noticed what was happening and became curious, little by little, they began approaching us.
I screamed in joy.
“It’s an angel’s shield!”
Kang Dong-taek jumped in shock.
“cut the crap, bullshit!”
From a distance, I heard someone scream,
“Do something! I’m getting tired!”
Everyone’s switched their attention to the source of the sound. It was Park Min-ji, her face was pale.
No way, Minji Park …?
Dong-taek Kang realized who was controlling the shield. He commanded his men to attack her while still pushing the sword down.
“Get that bitch!”
Park Min-ji was frightened because six members of the East Taipei organization started rushing towards her.
Dong-taek reached down to pull out the dagger stuck in his foot, but I blocked his hand. I noticed the shield surrounding my body was slowly disappearing, by the time I managed to take the dagger, the shield was gone entirely.
The gangster’s friend, Hoekal, held Min-ji’s neck. Suddenly a gust of wind blew, and Kim Byung-woo appeared next to Park Min-ji.
He reached out and grabbed the thug’s neck with one hand, he held a knife in his other hand, but he didn’t even need to use it.
Crack.
The thug’s neck was broken, and everyone saw his head droop. At that moment, my attackers stopped moving.
Silence fell, and all that could be heard was the wind.
I crawled away from Dong-taek, and towards Byung-woo, this time, no one tried to stop me.
“Did you see that?”
Choi Yu-mi’s voice broke the silence. All the members of her gang nodded.
No one has ever witnessed something like that, not even me.
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head, but Kim Byung-woo refused my thanks.
“Why are you thanking me?”
“Because you saved me.”
He replied in a stern voice,
“I didn’t save you.”
If he wasn’t trying to save me then…
I looked at Min-ji
Was he trying to save his sister?
Park Min-ji looked confused.
“me…? Why…?”
She wanted to ask many questions, but she couldn’t talk well because she was afraid of Byung-woo. Min-ji kept stuttering, then Kang Dong-taek started limping towards us.
Dong-taek looked at the dead body, then at Kim Byung-woo. The members of Dong-taek’s group firmly stood behind their boss.
“Are you intervening in our fight?”
“No.”
“Then move.”
Byung-woo Kim was not intimidated. Kang Dong-taek clenched his teeth and raised his sword, but he paused when Byung-woo started moving.
Kim Byung-woo passed him and reached out to Park Min-ji.
“Would you come with me?”
Park Min-ji was still confused. I didn’t know what to say to her, but then a thought came into my head.
“Black marbles!”
Park Min-ji couldn’t speak to Kim Byeong-woo, so I decided to speak up instead.
“What are you talking about? the black marbles empowered my sister?”
I got up and imitated her.
“You can make a force field.”
“Ah.”
Park Min-ji couldn’t think straight, so she just looked down at her hands and clenched her fist, then she looked at Kim Byung-woo and asked with a clear voice.
“Is this making sense to you?”
Kim Byung-woo replied.
“Sure.”
Then Dong-taek suddenly interrupted the conversation,
“Do all black marbles give you this ability?”
Having a shield means Kang Dong-taek will keep you alive since he could benefit from it.
Everyone was waiting for Byung-woo’s answer, I was worried he’d say we were lying, but luckily he pulled through.
“The black marble gives unique special abilities. It varies from person to person.”
He then pointed to Park Min-ji.
“So your sister, Park Minji…”
“The shield is rare. It’s a precious ability.”
Oh, Kim Byun-woo helped us since Min-ji’s ability was unique.
“Are there any useless abilities that come out?”
“If you’re unlucky.”
“For example?”
“Having quick growing hair, improved digestion so you could eat more…”
He stopped talking and looked at me.
“Have you eaten a black bead?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Okay? That’s it?
I tried to ask a question, but he turned and looked at Park Min-ji.
“Please answer. Will you come with me?”
Park Min-ji replied,
“Will you protect us?”
“Us? Who else?”
“Me and him.”
I was thrilled when she pointed at me.
“Chun-sam.”
“I won’t protect Chun-sam.”
My face fell.
“why?”
She asked.
“I don’t need him. I don’t want to waste my abilities and time on someone I don’t need. Time is gold.”
“Why can’t you help Chun-sam in exchange for accompanying you?”
“I don’t want to fight the thugs.”
“You don’t think you can win?”
“I already told you, I don’t want to waste my strength and time.”
Kim Byung-woo was annoyed.
He took a long breath and pointed around.
“There are about 100 people left. How many do you think can go home?”
“About seventy?”
“There twenty plus more.”