Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 152

The Three Kings’ Disciple (153)

152

“Dok-hwa.”

Seo Ha-neul’s eyes widened at the cold voice.

Even though she had lived in isolation, she couldn’t not know the name Dok-hwa.

“She’s a princess of the Dang family.”

The Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans, the pillars of the Silver Union.

The Dang family held a special position even among the Five Great Clans.

Dok-hwa was a title referring to one of the two successors of the Dang family.

“That eccentric was Dank’s protector.”

“……!”

The shadow looked down at the flustered Seo Ha-neul and sneered.

“Why, did you think Dank was safe from the Silver Union just because he was great?”

The voice was clearly mocking.

“Did you think Ro-woon’s maneuvering was so skillful that the Silver Union left Dank alone?”

Of course, that was partly true.

Many called Ro-woon’s actions maneuvering or politics, but it wasn’t that complicated.

Ro-woon had the power to attract people.

Those who had received his favor.

Among them were quite a few high-ranking martial artists of the Silver Union.

That was why.

“Dank had protectors. You probably didn’t grasp all their identities, but now they’re revealing themselves.”

The shadow’s smile deepened at the unexpected gain.

“…….”

Seo Ha-neul could only bow her head, unable to say anything.

“Good. Draw more of Dok-hwa’s attention. It would be even better if she fell deeper for Ro-woon.”

Smirk.

The smile that had formed on the shadow’s lips slowly faded, replaced by a chilling aura.

“Wait for the right time.”

The shadow got up.

“When the time comes, we can use Dok-hwa’s anger as we please.”

The shadow, now standing, looked at Seo Ha-neul as if something displeased him.

And then.

“Ugh!”

He stomped on Seo Ha-neul’s right hand.

“How arrogant. Know your place. How dare you….”

The shadow’s voice was filled with clear mockery and contempt.

“Are you jealous of Dok-hwa?”

Thump!

Seo Ha-neul trembled, startled that her feelings had been exposed.

“Don’t worry.”

The shadow said.

“When all of this is over, I’ll throw Ro-woon’s corpse to you.”

And the shadow turned away.

“Thank you.”

Seo Ha-neul quietly replied.

***

“Try this.”

She was like a leech, always by Ro-woon’s side.

People’s eyes widened at her appearance.

“Aaaah. It’s good for you.”

Sharp eyes, a high nose.

Her face was reminiscent of a cat.

Her ebony hair was long, reaching her waist, and the curves of her body were clearly visible through her thin clothes.

“What are you doing?”

Ro-woon’s annoyed words were met with Ahn Do-bin’s reply.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Then, Ahn Do-bin spoke with a troubled expression.

“I know how much you’ve suffered.”

She clearly knew that Ro-woon had died in the Mount Hua corpse disposal site.

Information about Mount Hua was not something just anyone could know, yet she knew about it, even if it was incorrect.

That meant she also knew what Ro-woon had gone through there.

“Your body must be in bad shape.”

A pill in Ahn Do-bin’s hand.

“It’s effective even for players.”

Ahn Do-bin casually offered Ro-woon a pill.

No one could have guessed that it was a special pill made by the Dang family.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing that Ro-woon still didn’t open his mouth, Ahn Do-bin spoke bitterly.

“I wanted to help.”

She had been a guest member of Dank.

But she hadn’t returned to Dank, and in the meantime, Dank had been dismantled in a miserable state.

“I had my reasons.”

But it wasn’t that she had done it on purpose.

There was a reason why she couldn’t return.

Knowing everything, she couldn’t help.

“It’s late, but I’ll do my best now.”

She said.

-I’m more important to the Silver Union than you think.

A voice only Ro-woon could hear.

It was telepathy.

-Just my being by your side will prevent the Silver Union from acting recklessly.

Even while saying words that exuded great confidence, Ahn Do-bin had a matter-of-fact expression.

-Even those who are trying to use Ro-woon right now.

At those words, Ro-woon stared at her.

-It’s not just a simple coincidence that you, who was thought to be dead, could return like this. Mount Hua is not that kind of place.

She didn’t even expect an answer, as if she knew everything.

-My existence itself will be a burden to them. I promise.

Now, she no longer spoke through telepathy.

“I’ll get you out of hell.”

Seeing that, Seo Ha-neul, who had been watching everything, clenched her fist tightly.

“…….”

A surge of emotion.

‘To feel this emotion again.’

Seo Ha-neul smiled bitterly, her face hidden from view.

She had felt this terrible emotion countless times in the past.

The feeling that her own light was completely extinguished, overshadowed by something that shone brighter than her.

She had done things she shouldn’t have done to overcome that maddening sense of defeat, but she had to feel the same emotion again.

‘Is this my punishment?’

It was cruel.

She would rather endure physical pain.

The feeling of her heart being constricted was more painful than any torture.

Swoosh.

At that moment, a gaze was cast towards Seo Ha-neul.

Flustered.

Ahn Do-bin’s gaze.

The woman who had been by Ro-woon’s side slowly approached Seo Ha-neul.

“You’re Ha-neul, right?”

“……!”

Seo Ha-neul’s eyes widened at the voice.

“You knew me. My appearance is different from the past, but there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you.”

“You….”

“I don’t know why you’re here.”

Ro-woon, the murderer of his comrades.

When he was framed with that accusation, Seo Ha-neul was also reported to have died.

To Ahn Do-bin, who knew the general situation, Seo Ha-neul was one of the traitors who had betrayed Ro-woon and Dank.

“But if Ro-woon accepted you, there must be a reason.”

Clench.

“So, let’s work together now.”

Seo Ha-neul lowered her head.

“This time, let’s protect Dank and Ro-woon.”

Even after a long time had passed, Seo Ha-neul couldn’t say anything.

* * *

“Dank! Dank!”

Dank’s power was rapidly rising.

It wouldn’t have been possible if they had made a name for themselves from the start.

“Ro-woon! Ro-woon!”

But it was possible because Dank and Ro-woon were in the process of regaining their past glory.

There were already many who followed Dank.

“Waaaaah-!”

Moreover, the existence of Ro-woon was even more special.

A being that had once been lost.

That being had returned.

With the same appearance as in the past, with the same will as back then.

Even so, this speed was unusual, but there was a reason why it was possible.

‘Gyeonggi Province.’

The hottest power zone in South Korea right now.

Moreover, this place was not centered around the main forces of the current player guilds, but was a gathering place for players who had been marginalized and ignored.

There were hardly any among them who did not admire Dank.

“Dank-!”

Dank’s followers from the past.

They had already established themselves in Gyeonggi Province and were welcoming Dank.

“As expected of Dank.”

Ahn Do-bin smiled, seemingly satisfied.

This sight wasn’t exactly pleasant, but Dank deserved this kind of treatment.

Wasn’t she also drawn to this sight and came to Korea?

“…….”

But Ro-woon, who was at the center of it all, had a blank expression.

Ahn Do-bin smiled bitterly at that sight.

‘I’ll protect you.’

She hadn’t been able to protect him in the past, so this time she was determined.

That was why she was by his side, even revealing her face.

Even if a large wave of concern were to come crashing down, she would be the breakwater.

And Seo Ha-neul, who was following behind.

Crunch.

She nervously bit her fingernails.

The call she had received a few days ago.

-The time has come.

The end of this dreamlike time was approaching.

‘What’s going to happen?’

Seo Ha-neul had asked that, but.

-That’s none of your concern.

She couldn’t get an answer.

She had some idea of how they would use the resurrected Dank and Ro-woon.

-However, I’ll tell you one thing.

The voice from that time was unforgettable.

-A great chaos will come because of Dank.

As a result, Dank would be more infamous than in the past.

“……….”

Seo Ha-neul fiddled with something in her pocket.

She would be the starting point.

It was something she couldn’t refuse or reject.

“Let’s go in.”

As if being chased by something, Seo Ha-neul led Dank and Ro-woon to the gate they had to attack this time.

“Please come back safely!”

Voices filled with anticipation were heard from all directions.

It seemed that even more people than usual had gathered to watch Dank’s gate entry today.

At least thousands of people.

Crunch.

Once again, Seo Ha-neul bit her lip and threw herself into the gate.

* * *

“It was good after a long time.”

It was Ahn Do-bin’s voice.

At first, she couldn’t participate in Dank’s gate raids, but this time she was allowed to participate.

-It’s an order.

Seo Ha-neul had conveyed the message, and Ro-woon had accepted it.

As a result, they were on the battlefield together for the first time in a long time.

“It was different from the past….”

Ahn Do-bin said with a regretful tone.

She already had a rough idea of Dank’s true nature.

The new members of Dank were not close friends with deep bonds like the Dank of the past.

‘Martial artists.’

They were martial artists who were disguising themselves as Dank’s members under someone’s orders.

They were the ones who mostly carried out the gate raids.

Also, they seemed to know Ahn Do-bin’s identity and fought as if they were protecting her.

“As expected….”

Such things didn’t matter.

“Your body wasn’t normal.”

Ahn Do-bin only looked at Ro-woon.

Ro-woon, who had always been at the forefront of battles in the past.

But now, Ro-woon was not at the front.

‘He must have lost his player core.’

She had heard the story.

Ro-woon didn’t have the player’s magic power.

His movements were also similar to those of ordinary people.

“Wait, just a moment….”

At that moment, Seo Ha-neul spoke with a nervous tone.

The gate raid was almost over, and all that was left was to destroy the gate’s core.

“I’ll go take a look around.”

“Where to?”

“There’s something I need to check up ahead….”

“Do you really have to?”

Seo Ha-neul flinched as if startled by Ahn Do-bin’s words.

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

At the clumsy excuse, Ahn Do-bin said.

“Shall I come with you?”

In the past, she had disguised herself as a man, but now she was her original gender.

It was common for women to go to the bathroom together.

“How can you do that? I still see you as the old Ahn Do-bin.”

“Really? Then it’s a chance to get to know the new Ahn Do-bin.”

Ahn Do-bin was about to get up.

“Leave her alone.”

At that moment, Ro-woon’s voice was heard.

“Don’t bother people unnecessarily.”

“……….”

Seo Ha-neul closed her mouth.

“Go ahead.”

Only after Ahn Do-bin’s permission was given did Seo Ha-neul move.

The foot she had casually extended.

As Ro-woon and Ahn Do-bin moved away.

Shudder.

Her legs were trembling like aspen leaves.

Thud, thud.

Even so, Seo Ha-neul somehow moved forward.

And finally, she was able to reach her destination.

Woo-oong!

The gate’s core, left alone after everything was cleared.

Looking at its radiant light, Seo Ha-neul reached into her pocket.

“Don’t do it.”

Suddenly, Ahn Do-bin’s voice was heard from behind.

“I said, don’t do it.”

Seo Ha-neul, with her hand still in her pocket, looked at her with a cold glare.