The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Just like in the South, transferees had also infiltrated the vast lands of the Khan Empire.

Han Sang-im, a transferee who had come to the Adventurer Association of the medium-sized city of Sangyo, had been settled in Khan for a while.

Creak…

"…"

As soon as he opened the door and entered, the tense atmosphere of the association became immediately visible. No, this kind of atmosphere could be found anywhere these days.

The eyes of defeated soldiers. The eyes of deserters. Those dead eyes landed on Han Sang-im.

He deliberately ignored those gazes and checked the Association's community posts.

[ (New) [<How long did you live in Sangyo>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

Did something happen around here?

There aren't many Adventures, and the rewards are stingy.

- That's because the nearby cities we traded with have all collapsed.

- Huh? Is it because of the masked one again?

- Masked one? Lol. Anyway, whenever it appears, all the infrastructure gets destroyed. So, everything collapsing is inevitable.

- There used to be several large trade caravans and a major mercenary group here; that's why all transferees ended up gathering here.

- Where did they all go?

- They fled.

[ (New) [<Why do so many live in Sangyo>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: Honestly, one has to admit it.]

Khan is going down the drain.

No matter how it looks from the outside, you can clearly see everything rotting from within.

- No. It can't fall apart yet. I've paid my broker a lot to come here.

- How much did you pay?

- One Platinum Coin.

- What the hell, I paid two.

- Did you come from the South?

- No, from the North.

- But the North has always been more expensive, hahaha. Due to the federation cracking down on brokers, it's become even harder to cross.

- Really? Then maybe I wasn't overcharged.

- No, but you overshared, hahaha.

- Fuck.

[ (New) [<Sangyo Bastards are Boring>’s Post]

[Post Date: Just now]

[Title: It wasn't like this during my day…]

Sangyo used to be bustling, and all the nearby trade routes were thriving. Seriously, it wasn't too long ago… That damn masked bastard ruined everything. A lot of transferees have died because of that bastard. And among the Dragon's Flowers, how was she called? Seol Hong? Anyway, she was really popular, but I heard she also got taken down by the masked bastard.

- Ah, I heard it. There were rumors that the Dragon's Stone was a transferee, too. But he was also beaten by Yaksha.

- It seems quite a few transferees have become Dragon's Stones.

- Why?

- Because many got wiped out while fighting ghosts.

- Ah! But what do you think about the Adventure near Tae Yul? I heard they're gathering transferees to catch the Action Mask.

- Why does the masked bastard have so many nicknames? Hahaha. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it. I've never seen things going well for transferees. Most don't even go near that Adventure.

- Ah…

- That's so many are fleeing Khan. But honestly, every piece of news I hear about here or anywhere else is bad. It's hell everywhere.

- Damn… When I fell to Pandea, my heart swelled upon seeing the natural scenery. But who knew camping in that nature would become a daily thing…

- How sad…

Han Sang-im continued reading a few more posts before sitting in a corner of the Association.

"Damn it…"

"All you do is complain, but you never leave."

"Khan is so damn huge I get welcomed everywhere I go."

"You idiot…"

The transferees at the next table laughed among themselves.

Tss… Tss…

Foo…

Han Sang-im lit a cigarette and listened to the surrounding conversations.

"Khan used to be a great place to live, but now, it feels like a place you want to avoid. How long do we have to keep living like this? Oof… Is this world really going to make me draw out my sword?"

"Ghosts are way scarier than monsters… Have you ever seen one?"

"No, I've only heard rumors. They can even talk and mimic humans… But the worst thing about them is that they've crossed the line. They're too brutal."

"The people living in the cities conquered by them get impaled, and then the corpses…"

"I'm eating, so let's stop talking about things like that."

"Ah, okay."

Han Sang-im sank deeper into his chair and took another hit of his cigarette.

"I heard the Adventures coordinated with the Central Army are worth doing. Apparently, the rewards are unexpectedly high…"

"This place is on the verge of collapse, after all. This isn't the time to be picky. But even if we go, aren't transferees treated as mere cheerleaders at best?"

"If you're in the frontlines, you're just a shield. And if you're in a supporting role, let's be honest—there's not much difference between working with Adventurers or the Central Army."

"No, there is."

"What?"

"The Central Army won't betray you. Transferees stab each other in the back all the time."

"Ah… Right. My back has become flat because of all the backstabbing."

"You too?"

"Haha…"

Han Sang-im rubbed the back of his head.

"But this time, the Dragon's Flowers are very proactive."

"It's as if a building they're supposed to inherit has become flooded with water. So they should do something about it."

"I knew it since that Dragon War thing or something… As expected, life is a battlefield."

"But even now, the Empire's citizen's perception of Dragon's Flowers isn't too different from their ranking in the Dragon War."

"Is there actually a difference between them in terms of strength after all?"

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WHOOM…

"Hmm?"

"Hey… I spilled it. Stop shaking your leg."

"It wasn't me. I wasn't shaking my leg. My grandma used to hit me all the time, saying it brought bad luck."

"Then what was that just now…"

WHOOM…

This time, the entire building shook.

"Get out!"

"What's going on?!"

The people from the Association, along with the transferees, rushed outside the building.

"KYAA!"

"RUN!"

Han Sang-im looked toward the bustling streets of Sangyo. People were pouring out of their houses.

They scattered in all directions, fleeing wherever they could.

"…"

Not long after, Han Sang-im joined the crowd.

In an instant, Sangyo had turned into chaos.

BZZZ…

Because the one wearing the mask had appeared.

* * *

Dududu…

A group of soldiers were kicking up dust clouds as they rode forward. At the front was a man with a face covered in a thick, black beard who resembled a goblin.

It was Khan's General Sang Eul-ryong.

"Turn your horses now! We're heading straight to Sangyo!"

"Yes, sir!"

There were familiar faces among those riding beside him.

Tae Yul, his Dragon Stones', and other subordinates. Shin Yo and Jang Du were also there.

Tae Yul said to General Sang Eul-ryong as they rode side by side.

"General Sang! We need to regroup! Yaksha always fights like this…"

"Tae Yul, don't come forward."

"…"

"I have followed your advice until now out of my loyalty to the Dragon Emperor, but what has it gotten us so far?"

"That's…"

"Chasing Yaksha’s trail has led us to nothing but the countless corpses of the Empire’s citizens."

He wasn't wrong.

Yaksha was an elusive and unpredictable opponent. It never stayed in one place for long.

Even though General Sang now accompanied them, they always just arrived in time to find only Yaksha’s traces.

Both General Sang Eul-ryong and Tae Yul had long awaited the moment they could finally face Yaksha head-on. Now, that moment had arrived.

'But why now of all times…'

Before they heard the news from Sangyo, Tae Yul's forces, along with Eul-ryong’s, had already expended great effort in recapturing a city that had been taken over.

As a result, they suffered significant losses and had yet to regroup fully.

Given the current circumstances, facing Yaksha now was too dangerous.

"But General, right now isn't the time…"

"Tae Yul, answer me."

"Yes, sir."

"When do you think is the perfect moment to face Yaksha?"

"…"

The perfect moment…

Only now did Tae Yul realize he had been chasing such an illusion for some time.

'But… we won't be able to defeat the Yaksha unless we're in perfect condition…'

Without loosening his grip on the reins for even a moment, Eul-ryong asked another question.

"Let me ask you one more thing."

"Yes, sir."

"When that perfect moment you’ve been waiting for finally arrives, will there be any citizens of the Empire left alive?"

"…"

He couldn't answer either of the two questions—a tiger and a dog thought differently.

"Tae Yul, in my eyes, you're a remarkable man. Someone upright and worthy of respect. Perhaps you're the one who inherited the purest bloodline of the Dragon Emperor."

"…"

"You're a tiger. Perhaps that's why you seek for the perfect moment to hunt for your prey."

Without looking back at Tae Yul, General Sang Eul-ryong continued, "However, there's one thing you mustn't forget. I, Eul-ryong, am not fighting to win."

Only then did he turn to look at Tae Yul.

"I'm fighting to protect."

Tae Yul knew about Eul-ryong very well.

He knew he was born on the streets. His origins were humble. He had to overcome all sorts of obstacles to rise to his current position.

"I was born without parents. The women of the streets took turns to nurse me."

"…"

"I was always invited to dinners so I wouldn't go hungry. I was given a place to sleep as well. Some might say I'm a man who grew up without knowing the warmth of a home or family. But that's not true."

Dududu…

"While counting the stars, I thought: they are my family, and Khan is my home. I wasn't born a tiger—I was more like a dog. I became a warrior because it was the only thing I knew how to do, but also because I wanted to protect my family. That resolve hasn't changed even now."

Eul-ryong bit his lip and said.

"I, Eul-ryong, am a guardian dog. The kind of dog that will run through fire and water to attack anyone who threatens its master. Even so, do you intend to stop me?"

Tae Yul bowed his head and said.

"General Sang, do as you wish."

The Empire's citizens had to be protected.

It wasn't that he didn't know that.

Having to protect something could either be a source of strength or, conversely, a weakness.

In the current situation… it was undoubtedly a weakness.

But he couldn't stop him.

Shin Yo approached General Sang and said.

"General Sang, we…"

"Shin Yo, stop. I think General Sang is right."

Tae Yul looked at Shin Yo.

Another city had been ravaged by Yaksha. There were bloodstains and corpses marked the streets, and sorrow lay everywhere.

Even the most resolute Dragon's Flowers couldn't help but be shaken upon seeing such a scene unfold every day.

Shin Yo wanted to share the news she heard from her master in the Celestial World with everyone, but she had been strictly told not to mention it, so she had no choice but to observe the situation silently.

"General Sang. Please… save the Empire's citizens…"

"If you guys help me, it should be doable."

"There's no question about that."

"Hahaha! Let's go. Whether it's Yaksha or just a ghost, I'll cut it down with one strike!"

General Sang was stronger than Jang Du, Shin Yo's Dragon Stone. The reason the Empire had not fallen to external threats despite the ghost's assaults was thanks to the Generals and warriors holding the frontlines.

Although he was anxious, Tae Yul gathered his resolve and made his decision.

There wouldn’t be another opportunity like this, where someone as strong as General Sang was on their side to face Yaksha.

So, this time, they would find out for sure—just how strong Yaksha truly was.

And whether it was possible to stop it.

If they couldn't stop it…

'There's no way that will happen…'

It would be Khan's first defeat.

'No. I, Tae Yul, won't stand by and let that happen.'

* * *

It hadn't been long since Sangyo had descended into chaos. Most people tried to escape the city and succeeded.

"Kyahaha!"

"Chase them! Let's taste some meat!"

Of course, just because they managed to escape the city didn't mean they had evaded the ghosts’.

"KYAA!"

"G-get away!"

"Run!"

Oof… Oof…

No matter how fast an ordinary person could run, they would never be able to outrun a ghost.

Crunch…

"AAAHHH!"

"Ah… How delicious!"

"NO!"

Crunch… Crunch…

"Hahaha… What are you doing? Why don't you escape? Soon, you're going to…"

Thud—!

"…"

Suddenly, the eyes of the chewing ghost became blank—an arrow had been stuck in its temple.

"KYAA!"

Dududu!

A cavalry unit emerged from the bushes, galloping across the field. It was Eul-ryong and Tae Yul's group.

There was a longbow in Tae Yul's hand, signaling that it was probably him who had just killed the ghost.

"Kill every last one of them! These are vile creatures targeting the Empire's citizens!"

"Yes, sir!"

Thud—!

A human firing arrows from horseback was a formidable force on a battlefield.

"Agh!"

"Cough!"

The arrows struck true, finding the ghosts’ vital points.

"It's Tae Yul! It's Mr. Tae Yul!"

"We're saved!"

The Empire's citizens rushed toward the cavalry, careful not to get in their way.

"Join with that group!"

"That's the best option!"

On the other hand, the transferees turned back to support the cavalry. The tide of the battle shifted in an instant.

Slash—!

Slash—!

General Sang's martial prowess was amazing.

"Cough…"

"Ugh…"

The sight of Eul-ryong charging forward and swinging his massive spear looked as if a heavenly deity had descended to Earth.

"R-run!"

Even the ghosts felt fear upon facing someone stronger than them.

The ghosts fled in terror from General Sang.

"Stop right there!"

But just at that moment.

Dududu… Paf—!

The ghosts scattered to the sides as if the Red Sea had parted.

"General Sang! You've gone too deep!"

"Follow me!"

Eul-ryong tore through the ghosts' ranks. Soon, he realized why they had scattered.

"…"

"So you're Yaksha…"

Yaksha was standing in the middle, quietly staring at Eul-ryong. Or was he? It was hard to tell if it was looking at him or somewhere else, as nothing could be seen beyond the mask.

Whoosh—!

Eul-ryong lifted his spear above his head and spun it around in circles.

[Eul-ryong used Heaven Shaking Thunder.]

[Damage dealt is based on how much the spear spins and how much distance is covered.]

[Has a chance of dealing additional Lightning Attribute damage.]

"You bastard!"

CLANG—!

With a thunderous sound, Eul-ryong's spear clashed against Yaksha's sword.

BZZT…

A strange wave traveled up the shaft of his spear.

Paf—!

Sensing something ominous, Eul-ryong quickly pulled back the spear.

He circled around Yaksha on his horse and retreated for the moment.

"You foul creature. I will condemn you and hold you accountable for the harm you've caused to the Empire…"

At that moment.

Wriggle…

Thud…

"General Sang!"

"No!"

Eul-ryong fell from the horse.

"M-my strength… Is draining…"

What made Yaksha terrifying was its ability to drain the strength of its opponents, no matter how strong they were. Although some might have countermeasures against it, Eul-ryong was unfortunately not one of those people.

Swoosh…

Yaksha raised its sword.

"Save General Sang!"

"Jang Du!"

Tae Yul's subordinates, like Jang Du, rushed forward at full speed, but someone appeared before them.

Crack…

Swoosh…

They were Yaksha's allies—Yagwanggwi and Maegu.

"No one can get close to Yaksha."

"O-okay…"

Just as Yaksha's sword was about to pierce Eul-ryong's heart.

Tss…

The smell of something burning filled the air.

Flames rose between Yagwanggwi and Maegu.

"What?!"

Feeling a sense of bewilderment, they turned their heads simultaneously.

CLANG—!

A mysterious-looking knight was clashing swords with Yaksha.

Everyone watching—Tae Yul, Shin Yo, Yagwanggwi and Maegu—was shocked.

Thud…

Yaksha was on the back foot for the first time.

Maegu had her mouth wide open, "This can't be…"

Step…

Step…

Three cloaked figures took advantage of the situation to join the fight.

Swoosh—!

They pulled back their hoods.

Tae Yul and Shin Yo's eyes widened in surprise.

No, everyone in the area froze.

"Seol Hong… Is that really you?"

Seol Hong smiled.

"Long time no see, Elder Brother."

Pang—!

The thunderous sound shifted everyone's attention back to Yaksha.

Jang Du stammered.

"Th-that means… Could that person be…"

Yaksha's mask twitched. The mask wore a sorrowful expression.

The tip of Seol's lip curled upward, "Yaksha, I was late because I needed to make some preparations."

Fwoosh—!

Flames erupted across the field.

"I'm going to save you now."