Villain Hides His True Colors

Hongir was the illegitimate child of the Turbak tribe leader.

A product birthed by simply mixing with a human out of amusement.

For this reason, other tribesmen despised him for having the blood of livestock flowing through him.

And among them, the harshest persecution came from his half-brothers, Yifret and Devian.

Pak–!

“How dare you cheeky livestock call me hyung? Do you want me to boil you and eat you like the other livestock?”

“S-sorry…Yifret-nim.”

They would attack him in anger whenever he blurted out the word ‘hyung.’

Hongir could neither call his father abeoji nor his brothers hyung. 

He thought his life was no different from other humans waiting for the day to be slaughtered.

But even in those hellish days, there was a ray of hope…

“Proud wolves do not harm their cubs. If you don’t want to raise him, then I will.”

It was the younger brother of the tribe leader. The great warrior who protected the Turbak tribe, Yamachi.

He took Hongir with him, and began to pass on the Turbak’s innate body art.

“You’re still young. So until you become a real wolf who can hunt food with your own hands, I’ll take care of you myself.”

“Th-thank you!”

Fortunately, Hongir had a talent for body art, and he tried his best to accept Yamachi’s teachings.

As time went by, finally, he had become a strong man worthy of others’ recognition.

“I’m sure you know this well by now…Whirlwind Club Art relies solely on your senses and talent. Therefore, each individual has a clear limit of growth.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“Your limit is up to here. But don’t be too heartbroken. Even my master, the previous war chief, couldn’t learn the techniques in the second half.”

“I’ll devote myself to go further.”

Although Hongir couldn’t learn the second half of Whirlwind Club Art because of his half-body size, he was satisfied. 

He thought even with his current power, revenge would be possible.

Yamachi then asked him.

“Are you going to take revenge now?”

“…That’s right.”

“Huu…I won’t tell you to love the tribe. The cycle of revenge isn’t easy to break.”

“…”

“However, if you still have me in your eyes, I hope you can think of the tribe once more. To stop the invaders now, we need the help of strong warriors like you.”

Yamachi said and bowed his head deeply.

The savior who had saved his life was now lowering himself and asking him to save the tribe that he hated. Such a mighty warrior was throwing away his pride.

And…

When Hongir saw that, he was no longer confident in staying.

So that night, he headed to Earth as if he was running away without his master’s knowledge.

He tenaciously survived by adapting to the new world with his skills.

Frankly, even now, after a long time, he still didn’t have good memories of his tribe.

But whenever he recalled Yamachi’s request, he would feel a heavy debt in the back of his heart.

Even though the Turbak tribe was a shitty place…Nevertheless, I have to pay off my debt to master.

Hongir observed the child who had exterminated his tribesmen.

The boy could be seen turning into a wolf in his fight against the necromancer.

Boom–! Bang–!

A deep pit was dug out each time the mass made of corpses struck the ground.

Even a trained body would find it difficult to survive such an attack if hit directly.

Nevertheless, the boy wasn’t intimidated at all as he avoided the attacks like flowing water and bit the huge enemy.

Looking at it, Hongir was reminded of the wolves in his hometown who didn’t know the meaning of fear.

If nothing else, his courage is commendable.

Although the boy was still at an age where he didn’t have much combat experience, his actions were bold as if he was a veteran warrior.

But it’s going to be hard like this.

As time passed, the power gap continued to widen.

The necromancer’s size was growing larger, while the boy’s attacks were becoming less and less effective.

Hongir thought maybe his revenge would end blandly like this.

But at that moment, the boy suddenly killed his companion and began planting bombs on him.

And soon after, the revived zombie was absorbed into the mass of corpses, causing a huge explosion.

Watching the series of events, Hongir was speechless.

…Doing whatever it takes to win.

The boy’s actions just now weren’t that of a warrior but a hunter chasing the results.

The heart of a warrior and the mind of a hunter…

Hongir was originally worried about killing a child for something that wasn’t even a request…

However, looking at the boy now, such worries were cleanly erased from his mind.

The boy was already no longer a child. He was a wolf like himself.

I can kill him with peace of mind.

Crack–Crack–!

With the sound of bone twisting, a wolf arm sleeping in Hongir’s body was revealed.

He raised his arm that had become strangely bloated compared to its size.

The boy had returned to its human form after the battle and there was no sign of him being wary of his surroundings.

The ending is still bland.

Normally, the most dangerous moment for hunters is when the hunt is nearing its end.

His arm swelled up as if it was going to burst. The moment the muscles expanded to its limit, his arm was thrown in one motion like a slingshot. 

*First half 3rd style, ‘Piercing Wind.’

A long claw tore apart the air and across the horizon. The blade of wind cut through the boy’s body in an instant.

Swish–!

It’s over.

Hongir smiled lightly, certain of his success. But…

…How come he’s fine?

The boy stood as he was.

As Hongir wondered how it was possible, he immediately fired a second attack. However, the boy rolled on the ground as if he had expected it.

Swish–!

The attack brushed past the boy’s collar. It was another failure.

He saw the boy standing up and pulling out a sword as he heightened his senses. With the way things were going, it seemed that surprise attacks were no longer useful.

There’s no other choice.

Hongir slowly appeared.

“We meet again, boy.”

“…”

As if something precious had been stolen, the boy stared at him fiercely.

He took a step closer to the boy.

It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with someone face to face.

Every muscle in his body contracted with tension ahead of the battle. The blood of a warrior, which had long been forgotten, began to boil.

He could see the boy gripping his sword with wariness. And like how he was measuring the boy’s range of attack, he was certain the boy was doing the same.

This much should be perfect.

After reaching a reasonable distance from the boy, he stopped in front of him.

He could see children with shocked expressions around him. Everyone was looking his way with worried looks.

At a glance, he could feel that the children were worried for the boy.

Is that so…

Looking at it, he understood why the boy had suddenly attacked the Turbak Brotherhood.

The reason why he took action must have been to protect these children.

He recalled the terrible food culture of his hometown.

The tribesmen must have gone against the boy’s will in the process of seeking food ingredients.

Somehow, in the boy’s appearance, the image of his master who had worked hard for the weak seemed to overlap. He even thought it would be a waste to kill the boy for no reason.

However, he would never miss a target he had set his eyes on.

There will be no way for the boy to return alive today. This was also an opportunity for him to clear his old debt.

I’ll have to treat him as a warrior.

Straightening the hem of his coat, he told the boy.

“My name is Hongir. I came to kill you.”

“…”

But the boy just stared at him without answering.

He could feel a sharp killing intent of being split in two if he got even a little closer.

“Killing a young warrior like you is something I don’t want either. However, you have a debt that must be repaid.”

“…What’s that?”

“Do you remember the beast named Yifret, who you killed a few months ago? He’s my half-brother.”

“…”

“Looking back on your actions at the time, I’ll have to kill all the children here too.”

Hongir said as he observed the boy’s expression. There was no change. How was he not shaken when the people precious to him were threatened?

Does that mean he won’t reveal his weaknesses to his enemies? Such amazing calmness…

He held back his admiration that was about to leak out unknowingly. He continued.

“But! The cycle of revenge isn’t easy to break. So I’ll give you a chance first. If you obediently let go of your neck, I promise you I won’t touch these kids.”

“How can I believe that?”

“That’s…I’ll make a promise under my honor and my master’s name. I simply want to fulfill my promise.”

Hongir spoke sincerely to the young warrior. He wanted to give that much courtesy to him as a warrior.

Did his sincerity reach the boy?

***

[ Translator – Yasi ]

[ Proofreader – Karane ]

The boy, who had been still for a while, gently pushed the sword he had been holding into its sheath.

“Okay.”

With slow steps, the boy began to walk one step at a time.

As expected…

The more he saw the boy, the more he liked him. To the point where he thought it would be a waste to kill him.

For the lives of his cowardly and petty tribesmen, this child alone was more than worthy.

“N-no! Oppa! You can’t! I’d rather die!”

“N-Noah-nim! Y-you don’t have to care about us! Please!”

The children around Hongir and the boy rushed over. Seeing that, the boy coldly stared at the children.

“Hey. It’s annoying, so fuck off.”

A determined voice as if intentionally trying to lose the children’s affection. Did the boy’s heartfelt feeling contained in his words reach the kids?

“Heuk…Y-you can’t. Noah-oppa.”

“Noah-nim…”

The children backed down awkwardly while shedding tears. Soon, the boy finally sat proudly in front of Hongir.

And even at this moment before his death, the boy was smiling brightly as if he had finished everything he had to do.

What a waste…What a waste…

He also wanted to sit down and have a conversation with this wonderful boy that transcended age and race, but that could no longer be achieved.

“…I’ll try my best to give you a comfortable death.”

Crack–Crack–!

Hongir’s arm began to expand again. Bending his arm back to its limit, he asked the boy.

“Is there any final word you want to say?”

The boy whispered back in a small voice.

“Fire…”

“Fire?”

It was the name of a God people on Earth believed in. At the last moment, even this bold soul looked to God?

Suddenly, something began to roll down the ground. Black and round metal spheres.

Hongir simply watched because he couldn’t figure out the situation.

Th-that’s…

At that moment, the boy raised both arms and shouted loudly.

“Fire in the hole!”

“?!”

Booom–!

And soon, a series of explosions hit the bodies of the two.

* * * * * * * * * *

I used explosives and transformed my body into gas to immediately widen the distance.

Fortunately, I was able to avoid becoming naked thanks to the wolf set’s option of transforming to fit.

I quickly observed where the kill stealer was.

It was hard to confirm his death because of the thick dust, but I was certain he was still alive.

Did he say his name was Hongir?

I had felt it from the time I met him in the evening, but his level was definitely unusual.

Although it looked like he hadn’t crossed the A-Rank barrier, from my years of experience, I could sense that he was a veteran warrior at the Master level.

I immediately took out an RPG-7 from my inventory and fired it at where the smoke was rising.

Boom–!

For a split second I could see his silhouette when the warhead exploded. Sure enough, he was still alive.

Next, I pulled out a rifle and a direct line of fire was created. In addition, the children who were far away began to give fire support even though I hadn’t asked them to.

Dududududu–!

Roaring noises resonated everywhere and the smell of gunpowder blanketed the surroundings.

By the time I replaced the cartridge three times, Hongir could be seen walking out of thick smoke.

I thought a surprise attack would work…but it seemed general firearms won’t work.

Hongir calmly shook off the dust.

There were only small scratches here and there, with no significant wound to be found.

“Yeah…That’s right. I had forgotten for a moment that you are a warrior and a hunter. I guess I fell into sentiment without realizing it.”

Shriik–!

Hongir grabbed the hem of his ragged coat and roughly ripped it off.

His bursting muscles and numerous engraved scars were revealed in the sun.

He was a freak.

Even if mana could protect the body, I never imagined it would be that tough.

Some of the guys I had dealt with in the second round were also dangerous, but frankly, my intuition had told me each time that it was worth a try.

But right now…

All I could think of was that it was dangerous.

I didn’t expect I would be attacked after having used up Wolf Hour.

If I exclude my items and only consider my abilities, then at the very best I was at the peak of D-Rank.

And if it was a Challenge, I would have been sure that I had a way, but no message came to mind about him.

“Then let’s play properly since it’s been a while. Boy!”

Crack–Crack–!

His arm swelled up violently again.

I wasn’t able to see the moment the attack flew in earlier, but I thought I could roughly guess what kind of skill it was.

It was impossible to see and avoid.

My only option was to predict the trajectory of the attack based on the direction of his arm.

Finally, his arm, which had tilted to its limits, fell in the short moment before I even realized it.

I rolled on the ground to avoid the invisible attack.

But…

Swish–

“Keuk!”

A long cut appeared on my side as the flesh opened.

Fortunately, my organs weren’t damaged. However, blood was flowing endlessly through the open skin that looked like gills.

“Keukeu…That’s a common mistake. People think they can predict the direction of my attack if they look at my arm.”

He gave a mocking laugh and lifted back his arm again.

Crack–Crack–

The sound of joints and muscles twisting could be heard from all the way over here.

This was…dangerous.

I thought I had understood his attack method, but there seemed to be another variable. As long as that was the case, I didn’t have a proper way to deal with it.

If this continued, I would be eaten little by little and would eventually fall at some point. The alarms were going off in my head.

The moment I had such thoughts, a message came to mind.

[ level of understanding has increased. ]

And just in time, he swung his arm again.

Then, something vague which I hadn’t seen earlier caught my eyes.

I immediately flung my body.

Swish–

Again, a wound appeared on my shoulder. But this time, it was shallower than before.

“Hooo, you have a good sense.”

[ level of understanding has increased. ]

Again, the effect of Heavenly Body was activated. Now I was starting to roughly understand what kind of martial art he was using.

“Then…Let’s end it here.”

His arm began to swell up again. But this time, two consecutive attacks flew in.

I could clearly see it now. A long crescent-shaped blade extending from his claws.

And I could sense where the blades were headed. I rolled on the ground to avoid the attacks.

The blades that passed by me grew in size and split the hill made of garbage.

Piles of garbage that had been piled up neatly lost its balance and began to collapse.

Boom–!

“What’s this? It can’t be…Can you see my attacks?”

Through the noise of trash falling, I could hear his confused voice. I ignored him and ran in a straight line.

“Hoho, really. I guess you thought my close combat would be weak.”

Extending his steel claws, he shrank for a moment before stretching out his arms and flying towards me.

[ level of understanding has increased. ]

It was the first half 2nd style, Cyclone.

His body, which was flying in a straight line, suddenly rotated, creating a vortex.

However, I, who had already grasped his attack, turned into gas and surrendered my body to the flow of the wind.

Keuk!

I felt a tearing pain all over my body from his attack that was infused with mana.

If it wasn’t for me being in a gas state, my body might have already turned into something like liquid inside a blender.

I endured the pain and seeped into his airway.

*Drain Life

My wounds began to quickly heal.

“Keuk!”

Hongir grabbed his neck and groaned painfully. Then, a message I hadn’t seen in a very long time appeared in my mind.

[ Discovered genetic information that can be absorbed. Do you want to absorb the gene? ]

Honestly, this wasn’t in the plan, but now whatever it was, it was enough if I could hurt him.

Absorb.

[ Beast genetic value has increased. ]

[ Beast genetic value has increased. ]

[ Beast genetic value has increased. ]

.

.

.

The Beast genes, which were dormant inside me, quickly flowed along my body.

If I could persist like this…

The moment I thought as such, he suddenly began to breathe heavily.

“Shuuup! Huu~!”

Like a wolf from a fairy tale, he exhaled strongly with his mouth.

[ level of understanding has increased. ]

I flew away like a kite with its string cut. Garbage scattered everywhere and the surrounding area turned into a mess. I lifted myself up off the ground.

“Huu…I thought I was going to suffocate to death.”

Hongir walked toward me with a slightly flustered look.

“I didn’t know you’ve been hiding that kind of trick…That was your only chance. But now that I’ve figured out all of your tricks, let’s really end it now.”

His long claws were pulled out again.

At that moment,

Ding–!

[ level of understanding has increased. ]

[ You’ve reached a certain level of understanding. ]

[ While the battle continues, you can imitate the skill based on your understanding. ]

Yes!

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for had come.

Hongir twisted his body and charged toward me like before. The violent gust of wind threatened to grind my body into pieces.

Meanwhile, I quickly transformed into a dire wolf. Then, I faced him who was quickly approaching.

And…

*Second Half 1st style, ‘Lightning Storm.’

My front foot, which stretched out like lightning, struck his body.

Boom–!

“Kuaaak!!” 

With a thunderous roar, he quickly flew away like a cannonball.

The pile of garbage that collided with him immediately collapsed as if it had been bombarded.

Boom–!

Soon, among the collapsed piles of garbage, his face popped out. In that state, he struggled to climb up through the garbage.

Blood was dripping from his broken claws, and on his head, a cup of noodles that had been thrown away by someone was falling down his head.

He muttered with a vacant look.

“You…How can you…I’ve devoted my whole life…”

I smiled brightly at him.

“Ah, that’s not how you use Whirlwind Club Art.”

As expected, games are the most enjoyable when you deceive.