Hood’s group gradually started capturing people. It wasn’t long before their game of hide-and-seek seemed to be coming to an end.
“Let go of me! Release me!”
“Please, I beg you, I was wrong. Please spare my life.”
Some squad members resisted a bit, while other students abandoned their pride. Though their approaches were different, the result was the same: they were all captured.
The students had tried to attack, but they were no match at all, nor did they have any talented individuals who could buy more time.
“…Hmph.”
Kim Seyun snorted in an attempt not to be intimidated.
Already unsure about her skills against this opponent, now hostages were added to the mix. The little hope she had seemed to be slipping away.
‘But we did manage to buy some time, right? Why aren’t the police coming? Where are the platoon leaders?’
Kim Seyun’s eyes flickered slightly.
At this point, even Kim Seyun couldn’t see a way out. She didn’t even have the strength to look for an escape; she felt like collapsing right there.
Kim Iljeong, who was entertaining the hostages, tilted his head in confusion.
“Comrades, why is everyone coming through the main entrance? Didn’t you go up the back staircase?”
The Hoods were supposed to emerge from the staircase at the back door. However, they were all entering confidently through the main entrance.
One of the Hoods saluted Kim Iljeong.
“Long live the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea! Long live our leader, Comrade!”
“Enough, just tell me the reason quickly.”
“We split our great battle soldiers into two groups. One drove the South Korean scum towards the windows, and the other went around outside the windows to capture them all. Those who haven’t returned are searching to make sure no South Korean scum are left.”
“Huh. So you caught the hostages who just jumped out. Impressive.”
“Wait! That, that can’t be right!”
Kim Seyun shouted loudly towards the North Korean comrades.
If they had moved so openly outside, even stray dogs passing by would have noticed. Besides, even if we ignore the claims of jumping off buildings, it’s impossible that no help has come.
“Huh? Beauty? Why has your face suddenly gone pale?”
“Could it be! Could it be that other places are also under simultaneous attack?!”
“Don’t be so distressed. We’ve just isolated this place temporarily with an Edeya.”
“Ah…”
“Huh! We have an Edeya specialized in concealment on our side. The reinforcements you so desperately await will never come.”
On Pest’s side, there was an Edeya that hindered human perception and communication methods. Unaware passersby were still strolling in front of what appeared to be an intact bank headquarters.
‘Ugh.’
It didn’t matter how much the mirror-like building entrance had crumbled or whether the Hoods were kidnapping people and jumping out.
No police, not even a hint. Even the teachers weren’t anywhere nearby.
‘How, how can we…’
Kim Seyun’s expression unwittingly turned to despair.
“Hehe. You should blame your sloppy South Korean comrades, dear leader.”
No matter how high her grade and combat abilities were, Kim Seyun was still just a young student. Once she started to be overwhelmed, her mind couldn’t come up with any alternatives.
Reality does not recognize chivalrous spirits. Ideal situations like one-on-one confrontations are rare.
‘Damn it.’
A formidable enemy, numerous captured colleagues, and reinforcements that would never come.
The light contained in the Sain Chamsa Sword began to dim, reflecting Kim Seyun’s confused state of mind.
‘But, what about Lee Sunghwa and the trainee?’
Most of the people who were on the first floor, including the employees, had been dragged here. But oddly, those two were still nowhere to be seen.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”
“Huh?”
A bank employee, looking quite fierce, suddenly bolted. Pest left him alone, seemingly finding the situation amusing.
The employee rushed to a broken information desk and frantically picked up the phone.
“Hello! Hello! We’re being held captive!”
“Comrade of the South Korean Bank Economy, didn’t you hear the explanation earlier?”
“Hello! The North Koreans have invaded! Can’t you hear me?!”
Silence.
The direct line to other security companies, personal cell phones, even the emergency button to call the police.
None of the communication devices emitted even a common dial tone.
“Why…?”
“Heh. Bank Economy comrade?”
“Ah, Kim Iljeong…”
The sound of dragging echoed as Kim Iljeong dragged his great sword towards the desk. Standing over the shattered desk, he saw the bank employee trembling in fear.
“I mentioned we have an Edeya that specializes in concealment, comrade.”
“Kim Iljeong, why would you bother with a mere private bank?”
“Don’t belittle your workplace like that. There’s no high or low in any job. This is the foundation of the greatest ideology, communism.”
“If they find out you’re here, our national army won’t sit idly by!”
“That lot? Those rotten old guards? Hahahaha!”
Kim Iljeong laughed as much as he could bear, slowly lifting his great sword.
“Please, no…!”
“You know, don’t you? At this point, a harsh example is necessary. So don’t be too sad.”
“Stop! You North Korean aggressor!”
Kim Seyun shouted with all her might, unable to rush forward due to the Hoods glaring at her.
“Huh? Did you just say ‘North Korean aggressor’? Oh, really.”
“Don’t attack that person. Fight me instead.”
“Calling out Kim Iljeong for the first time, huh… Beauty, do you even know what ‘North Korean aggressor’ means?”
“You’re exactly the kind of passive aggressors it refers to…”
Thud.
“Aaargh!”
Kim Iljeong’s great sword severed the employee’s upper and lower body.
“No, no. You don’t understand, beauty. If you did, you wouldn’t dare speak such words in front of Kim Iljeong.”
“My legs… my legs…!”
“……”
Kim Seyun felt that no matter how much she struggled, it was impossible to overcome the situation. She was completely overwhelmed by sheer malice.
Crack.
The bank employee, already bisected, now had his upper body and head separated as well.
“Damn it…”
The light in the Sain Chamsa Sword had completely vanished. All sense of willpower to fight was extinguished.
Having finished with the employee, Kim Iljeong slowly lifted his great sword again.
“Beauty, I’ll cut off all your limbs and carry them around in a bag for you. You should feel honored to be my third official wife.”
Just as the predatory shark teeth of his sword were about to target Kim Seyun, an out-of-place sound echoed across the first floor.
“Oops. I didn’t mean to draw attention this way.”
“Huh? And who might you be?”
Lee Sunghwa, descending from the back staircase, accidentally stepped on concrete gravel. The first floor was so badly damaged that even a single footstep was hard to hide.
“Ah, hello. Haha.”
“My apologies, leader. I’ll capture him immediately.”
“Hold on a moment.”
Kim Iljeong raised his hand to stop the Hoods from rushing out.
Lee Sunghwa’s sudden appearance inadvertently led to Kim Seyun being rescued.
‘Seojung High’s first aid team member, Lee Sunghwa…?’
‘Wow. Jinsung, this is beyond what you described.’
Lee Sunghwa, exchanging glances with Kim Seyun, scanned the situation on the first floor.
Kim Seyun, the only real force they had, had lost the light in her eyes and sword, while several employees had lost their lives.
Black blood crusts now sat where the security guards had initially been attacked, indicating that much time had passed without any rescue arriving.
Interested in Lee Sunghwa, Kim Iljeong regained his smile.
“Young South Korean comrade, please introduce yourself.”
“Ahaha. I’m a second-year student and member of the first aid team at Seojung High School.”
“Huh? And so? Why did you boldly appear from the back?”
“Uh, well, the money that Pest wants is probably on the fifth floor.”
“There’s no way the cash vault is in such an ambiguous place.”
“It’s where my friend gathered it.”
“Your… friend?”
Kim Iljeong rested his great sword on the ground and tilted his head in curiosity.
One of the Hoods quickly went in front of Kim Iljeong and knelt down.
“Leader! Let me! I’ll go and check it out!”
“Now that I think about it… where are the rest of the comrades? Weren’t half of them out searching?”
“Please give me this opportunity, leader!”
Kim Iljeong liked to be obeyed exactly as he commanded. Whether the results turned out positive or negative, his way of dealing with them remained the same.
“Go ahead, comrade. I am short of hands, so remind me one more time. Capture all the South Korean bank money and those escaped scums.”
“Thank you, leader!”
“All other comrades, go as well. Failure, or any other outcome, will not be forgiven.”
“Long live the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea!”
The Hoods, having knelt one by one before Kim Iljeong, disappeared from view at full speed.
“And you, the South Korean comrade from upstairs?”
“Ha, haha. Yes…”
“Do you need to come down here, or should I go up?”
“Ahaha. I guess it would be much, much, much better for me to go down.”
“Huh. A smart friend, I like it.”
Lee Sunghwa, watching the Hoods leave, slowly moved his feet.
The situation was sheer despair. Seeing the hostages only heightened this feeling.
“South Korean comrades, since it’s a bit boring, why don’t we have some exciting fun?”
Kim Iljeong made a one-sided suggestion to the hostages.
The hostages, either trembling, resigned, or silent in their own positions, quietly lent their eyes and ears.
Enjoying their reactions, Kim Iljeong continued solemnly.
“Comrades, see that goblin beauty over there? Just bring one of her limbs, and I’ll definitely spare that comrade’s life. Including the torso, maybe about five of you will survive.”
“…….”
Kim Seyun quietly lowered her gaze.
“Did you know that beauty’s Edeya? Even if her limbs are severed, she won’t die easily, so don’t worry.”
“We have to attack Kim Seyun’s…”
“Can we really do it?”
“It’s not about whether we can! Are you crazy?! She’s been fighting for us all this time!”
The hesitation wasn’t just among the students; even the members of the same squad quietly wavered. Even the adults reduced their words, carefully gauging the situation.
“Isn’t there a wall clock around here? I need to start timing the seconds.”
Kim Iljeong exaggeratedly searched for a clock.
The predatory power had always protected them, but now it made their own insignificant lives seem more precious.
Even the weakest group can breed madness when gathered together. For Kim Iljeong’s game, devoid of any guarantees, everyone, sunk in despair, was compelled to stand up.
Lee Sunghwa, walking towards the hostages, stopped beside Kim Seyun.
“Hey, Seyun.”
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