Chapter 408

“A suicide squad.”

The moment those words left Jin Taekyung’s mouth, Wu Heixing forgot his rising anger and nearly shouted.

You crazy bangzi¹ bastard!

A suicide squad.

Wasn’t that exactly what it meant—to charge in prepared to die?

Even if they somehow broke through the monster army without knowing its exact numbers, the real monster—the Arch Lich—would be waiting behind it. The mere thought made Wu Heixing’s hair stand on end.

This… this is insane.

Wu Heixing didn’t care how many casualties they suffered.

China was a Great Nation with a population of over a billion, after all. Even if a hundred thousand or a million people vanished, they would amount to no more than a handful.

In fact, if that damn bangzi¹ took the vanguard of the suicide squad and died a glorious death, Wu Heixing would happily raise both hands in celebration.

But…

“Let’s gather our very best and take out the head.”

That meant Wu Heixing himself would be included in the suicide squad. And he had no intention of taking even the slightest risk.

“Cut that ridiculous bullshit—”

Unable to hold back any longer, Wu Heixing shot to his feet and opened his mouth.

“Oh, that’s an excellent idea.”

“……!”

Wu Heixing stared wide-eyed, unable to continue.

He had never imagined that Lee Jungryong would side with Jin Taekyung.

Not just anyone, but Lee Jungryong himself.

“W-What did you just say?”

“I said it was an excellent idea.”

Lee Jungryong continued with a gentle smile.

“We need to end this battle as quickly as possible. The Arch Lich is likely creating new undead even now. If the S-rank Hunters lead the advance and destroy it, the monster army—made up mostly of undead—will collapse, reducing our casualties.”

“M-Mr. Lee.”

“I imagine you agree with me. Just like everyone else here. Isn’t that right, Mr. Wu?”

“Everyone else? What are you talking about?”

Only then did Wu Heixing look around in confusion.

Not only Wei Fenghu and the other high-ranking Chinese generals, but also Faye Chen, Magic Johnson, and even Prince Felix were nodding slightly as they exchanged opinions.

“Hmm. Certainly…”

“Even if we reinforce our forces, the Arch Lich will do the same. The longer we drag this out, the larger the battle will become.”

“What if we select A-rank Hunters and other veterans, deploy them to one side, and have the S-rank Hunters lead the breakthrough?”

“It would be dangerous, but the plan has a real chance of success.”

“No matter how powerful a Named Monster the Arch Lich may be, we should have a good chance if the S-rank Hunters attack it together.”

Wu Heixing’s face went white as the conversation reached his ears.

Have these people lost their minds?

They were actually looking favorably upon this insane operation. They must have all gone mad.

Even Lee Jungryong, whom Wu Heixing had trusted, had sided with Jin Taekyung for some reason.

Desperate to avoid being included in the suicide squad, Wu Heixing hurriedly turned toward Jin Taekyung.

“W-Wait! If all the S-rank Hunters leave, wouldn’t that create a massive hole in our forces?”

“Gasp.”

Jin Taekyung sucked in a startled breath and looked at Wu Heixing in surprise.

“Wow. You do use your brain once in a while.”

“……”

“You’re right. We should probably leave a few people behind.”

That damn bangzi¹.

But this was no time to get angry. Wu Heixing suppressed his surging fury and continued.

“R-Right. So, to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, I—”

Jin Taekyung abruptly cut him off and turned toward Magic Johnson.

“It seems like you should stay behind. What do you think, Johnson?”

“Me?”

What kind of situation was this? Wu Heixing desperately tried to intervene.

“M-Magic Johnson? Wouldn’t it be better to have at least one mage come with us?”

“Of course that would be good. It would—but…”

Jin Taekyung gave Wu Heixing a pleasant smile.

“What about the rear?”

“Huh?”

“What happens if the Arch Lich teleports behind our lines and attacks us from the rear? Are you going to stop it?”

“……”

“No matter how powerful the Arch Lich is, it won’t be able to pull something like that if a grand mage stays behind to interfere with its magic. And Magic Johnson’s wide-area magic could turn the tide of the battle.”

Every word made perfect sense. Wu Heixing’s mouth snapped shut, and Jin Taekyung clicked his tongue.

“Think before you run your mouth. Stop watching those ‘watch your rear’ GIFs on the internet and start thinking about the rear in an actual war.”

“……!”

Ignoring Wu Heixing, who had frozen like a statue, Jin Taekyung asked Magic Johnson,

“What do you think?”

“You’re right, Jin. So I’m the only one staying behind?”

Defense Minister Wei Fenghu, who had been silently observing the situation, suddenly spoke.

“The Arch Lich must have held a large number of high-level monsters in reserve for the final battle. Far more than the number of A-rank Hunters on our side. We will need at least two more S-rank Hunters to maintain an evenly matched battlefield.”

It wasn’t over yet. Two spots still remained.

Finding a glimmer of hope, Wu Heixing cleared his throat.

“Then I suppose I have no choice but to stay—”

“If the others have no objections, I would first like to exclude Prince Felix.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot explain the details. There is a complicated issue involved.”

Felix was not merely an S-rank Hunter. He was a member of the royal family and practically a symbol of the United Kingdom. Nor was he some insignificant member of a distant branch. He was third in line to the throne.

Everyone present understood that the “complicated issue” Wei Fenghu could not explain was a diplomatic problem with the United Kingdom.

“Well, his father is the King of the United Kingdom, so I suppose that’s possible. Then the prince is out.”

At Jin Taekyung’s words, Prince Felix spoke with an uncomfortable expression.

“I hope you understand that this is not my choice. However, I have been bound to the royal family since birth, and I cannot disobey my royal father’s command—”

“It’s fine. I don’t care. I’d actually prefer it this way, since it would leave a bad taste in my mouth if the United Kingdom’s fourth in line to the throne got hurt during the operation I proposed.”

“Third! And show proper respect when speaking to me.”

“Oh, right. Congratulations on the bronze medal. Then, does anyone object to His Highness Prince Felix, that living hotbed of entrenched privilege, sitting this one out thanks to his connections?”

Wu Heixing started to raise his hand without thinking, only to stop when Faye Chen and Lee Jungryong answered.

“I don’t mind.”

“I agree.”

Jin Taekyung nodded and fixed Wu Heixing with a long stare.

“What about you?”

“M-Me?”

“When the only guy left asks that, what am I supposed to tell him? Tinky Winky, Dipsy, or Po. Pick one.”

There was no way out.

Magic Johnson and Prince Felix were foreigners, and both had legitimate reasons to remain behind. Even Faye Chen and Lee Jungryong had agreed.

Wu Heixing squeezed his eyes shut, opened them again, and muttered,

“…Agreed.”

“Answer properly. If you say it like that, how the hell am I supposed to know whether you mean agreement or Donguibogam?² Are you Heo Jun?”

“I… agree.”

“Okay.”

It happened at Quick Attack³ speed.

One spot still remained, but Wu Heixing felt a sense of foreboding.

And it didn’t take long for that foreboding to become certainty.

“I would like Faye Chen to fill the final position.”

But what had thrown Wu Heixing into confusion was that it wasn’t Jin Taekyung who had blocked his last escape route.

It was Lee Jungryong.

What in the world is that old man thinking?

Wu Heixing vividly remembered the conversation he had shared with Lee Jungryong on the day Jin Taekyung had trampled him into the ground.

He clearly suggested that we join forces. And now he’s stabbing me in the back like this?

Faye Chen glanced at Wu Heixing as he ground his teeth, then tipped back her liquor glass.

“Well, Mr. Lee, I’m not the sort who enjoys danger. But wouldn’t our odds of success be higher if we left that brat behind instead of me?”

“No, Faye Chen. You will do more to reduce casualties by remaining behind.”

“You don’t know that kid. Just looking at him makes even someone who never had any patriotism develop some.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be here.”

His tone was calm but filled with certainty.

Only Lee Jungryong could say such a thing with such confidence.

The old hero’s gaze, carrying an assurance no one present could deny, settled on one person.

“And Jin Taekyung. You’ll be there too, won’t you?”

His eyes were deep and unreadable.

Jin Taekyung silently met Lee Jungryong’s gaze before answering.

“Our dear Vice Guild Master certainly has a talent for making the obvious sound complicated.”

“May I take that to mean you will also be joining the suicide squad?”

“Of course.”

“Brave. Heroic, even. In that case, I’ll yield the vanguard to you.”

“Great. Does that mean I get to leave behind a famous quote like Louis Armstrong? Something like, ‘This is one small step for a man, but for monsters, it’s the Heavenly Demon’s Reign.’”

“That’s rather crude for a quote destined for the history books. And you have the name wrong. It wasn’t Louis Armstrong. It was Neil Armstrong.”

“You’re certainly well educated. Still, your academic credentials have nothing on the length of my tissue roll.⁴”

The people around them developed pounding headaches trying to follow Jin Taekyung’s answers, while Wu Heixing fell into despair.

Until barely a month ago, he had been enjoying a lavish yacht party surrounded by dozens of beautiful women.

Now he had been assigned to a suicide squad prepared to die.

And then, in the very next moment—

—Do you think I betrayed you?

“……!”

—Accept it. I promise there will be no danger.

As the Sound Transmission pierced his ears, Wu Heixing slowly raised his head.

Lee Jungryong was looking at him with a gentle smile as he continued speaking.

“He’ll carry out his assigned duty well. I guarantee it.”

Jin Taekyung slowly tapped the armrest of his chair as he replied,

“I’m looking forward to seeing just how brilliantly he carries out his duty.”

The rather lengthy meeting came to an end.

The suicide squad would be led by S-rank Hunters, with high-level A-rank Hunters and veteran B-rank Hunters making up the rest. The command staff would be working around the clock to select its members.

The Skeleton Warlord had remained silent throughout the meeting. But the moment we returned to the tent assigned to me on the Western Front, it solemnly declared,

“This commander will sit out this battle.”

“Yeah, fuck off.”

“At least ask why, you treacherous human.”

“Fine. Why?”

“As the commander of an undead army, this commander is reluctant to fight his own kind.”

I answered with a dumbfounded expression.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Who’s been sucking the energy out of his own kind to nourish himself this whole time?”

“…Oh.”

“Let’s be honest. If you said you just didn’t want to go because you were scared of the Arch Lich, would I curse at you?”

“You would.”

“You son of a—… Oh.”

The Skeleton Warlord’s distrust of me deepened even further as it spoke.

“In any case, this commander no longer wishes to take part in this war. Honor the promise you made that day.”

“The promise I made that day?”

“Have you ever seen such a treacherous human? Didn’t you promise that, in exchange for protecting two humans, you would grant any request I made?”

“Oh.”

It had been a while since I’d been left speechless.

I had definitely made that promise. Normally, I would have brushed it off by pretending to have amnesia, but this time I couldn’t ignore it in good conscience.

“Fine. What’s your wish?”

The Skeleton Warlord shouted as though it had been waiting for the question.

“Give me freedom!”

“Freedom?”

“That is correct. You, treacherous human, have insulted and abused this commander all this time! No fewer than 408 times!”

“…Did you come from an animal rights group or something?”

“Honor your promise! This commander shall finally find freedom!”

Freedom.

My head was already cluttered with thoughts of Lee Jungryong, so a wish like that hadn’t even occurred to me.

After thinking for a moment, I answered.

“Fine. I’ll give you freedom.”

“Ooh! Ooooooh!”

“Goodbye, then.”

“Huh?”

Without hesitation, I pulled the Skeleton Warlord’s skull from my Inventory and threw it outside the tent.

Into the middle of the thousands of Hunters swarming around outside.

Clack!

The sound of it hitting something rang out, and the area around the tent erupted into chaos. Shouts came from every direction, followed by the thunderous roar of exploding magic.

“Monster! Monster attack!”

“Kill it!”

Boom! Kaboom!

How much time passed?

Five minutes? Ten?

Rustle, rustle.

The bottom edge of the tent suddenly began to shift. Then a black, glossy skull rolled in and stopped at my feet.

“Oh, look who it is.”

“……”

“What brings the Skeleton Warlord, proud owner of a free spirit, here?”

“You… human…”

A red glow flickered pitifully within the skull’s empty eye sockets.

Was I imagining it, or was an undead actually whimpering?

The Skeleton Warlord continued in a tearful voice.

“Can I… take back my wish?”

“Oh, of course.”

I continued in the chipper tone of a customer-service representative.

“But you know wish coupons can’t be exchanged or refunded, right?”

“……”

“Come here, Golgoli.”

Hop.

The Skeleton Warlord feebly jumped into my arms.