“It's unfortunate that control has become harder... but our Baron has such clear weaknesses.”

Maybe I’m used to hearing this now. Even hearing that doesn’t really make me angry. Besides, it’s not like I hear it clearly. Thump thump thump thump—!

The pounding of my heart fills my eardrums. My vision blurred, soaked with blood and sweat. Skin burning as if roasted by fire.

“Krhhhhh...”

I laughed foolishly, focusing only on these sensations. It wasn’t laughter from amusement—it was just laughter that came out.

“That’s what Pebrosk wrote in his book. They say warriors laugh when they’re in pain...”

Parmel Harbae’s words made Ibaekho tilt his head.

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

“How would I know?” Ibaekho sneered, spitting blood-tinged saliva.

“Anyway, that means our Baron is dying from exhaustion, right?”

The resolve in Ibaekho’s eyes said he’d never back down. That was bad news for me.

Damn, I feel like I won’t even have the strength to stand soon...

“Krhhhhh...”

Well, what can I do? I’ll try as long as I can. Sometimes you need guts to charge forward, even knowing the outcome.

“Hey, old man. Ready?”

“Aah, it’s over.”

“Then let’s start wrapping this up.”

I didn’t know what preparation he meant, but it seemed he’d come up with some secret trump card without me knowing. Swish—!

A huge magic circle formed around Parmel Harbae where he stood. It was obviously serious.

For the first time in a long while, a faint weak feeling arose. ‘If I can’t block it, I better dodge immediately...’ I forced my eyes open and looked ahead.

Crack! Like a watermelon bursting, the magic circle on the ground lost its glow. What the hell was going on?

I quickly shifted my gaze and saw two things.

“...!”

Parmel Harbae flying through the air as if struck by something. And...

「Amelia Rainwails cast [Asura’s Fang].」

What? How is she here? Was I hallucinating from exhaustion? Just then Amelia spoke, looking at Ibaekho, not me.

“Leader, should we just kill all of these guys?”

I blankly nodded.

“Yeah.”

I nodded without realizing it, but it would be a lie to say I wasn’t surprised.

Amelia Rainwails. My real ally who should have been inside the walls. I was worried sick since she hadn’t returned and barely spoke for months...

While glad, I wondered how she got here. ‘Maybe she came looking for me because I didn’t come back...’

Yeah, if it was Amelia, she probably did. I trusted her more than anyone in that regard.

“Kill them? You alone against all of us?”

Ibaekho, pretending to be surprised by Amelia’s appearance, quickly regained composure and sneered.

“Aures! You protect the old man! I’ll handle this one!”

“Got it!”

Leg Auress ran toward Parmel Harbae on Ibaekho’s order. Amelia just smirked watching them.

“I don’t think I ever said that.”

“......”

“Alone.”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes turned toward the cave entrance hidden by the teleportation magic circle. Suddenly—! A flash of light shot from the dark cave.

It wasn’t a normal iron arrow, but light—specifically ‘Spirit Arrows’ fired with elemental power. Whoosh! No need to check who it was.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia cast [Burst].」

The arrow flew too fast to follow with the eyes, aimed at the groggy Parmel Harbae. Thud.

Aures rushed to shield the arrow desperately. Then—KA-BOOM!

The arrow exploded, tearing into the flesh of his left arm. Bits of flesh and blood scattered as if exploding from inside.

“So the elf’s here too?”

It was like time paused. Everyone stopped moving. Step by step, my allies slowly appeared from the cave entrance.

“Velbev Ruin Genesis...”

Erwen’s eyes burned with malice.

“Byorooooon!! Should we just wipe all these bastards out?”

Ainar was totally hyped up.

“Calm down. They’re not easy opponents.”

Bersil wore a tense expression... and Misha gave a worried look at the wounded Auyan. ‘Auyan’s here too.’ And the members didn’t stop there.

“That one’s nowhere to be seen. I heard there’s a skilled archer.”

“This is outside the walls...”

“But thank goodness. We found our missing leader as soon as we came out.”

“Yes. It seemed like an urgent situation too.”

Not just the founding members of Anabada Clan, but elite recent recruits like James Carra, Sven Parav, Meland Kaislan, and Lilis Marone who joined through the Ice Rock expedition.

‘Looking at it this way, our clan really has grown a lot...’

Enough in numbers to completely turn the tide. While a sense of relief bloomed deep inside, irritation filled Ibaekho’s eyes.

“...They came in a whole mob?”

I recognized it immediately. Experienced explorers do this naturally as breathing. Just as Ibaekho said before.

“Yulben Havelion.”

To confirm ‘that thing’ more clearly, I called out the opportunist’s name who stayed in the bystander position.

“...Yes?”

Maybe because he’s a mage, why does he look so dazed? The situation had changed 180 degrees.

“You’re just gonna stay there?”

“......”

“You might get hit and die.”

“Ah... yes...!”

Hearing Ibaekho’s exact words again, GM snapped to attention and rushed over. ‘This guy is really funny.’

He acted all innocent with Auril Gavis and clingy to Ibaekho before. Completely a sly fox. ‘Well, it’s natural for him.’

Actually, neither I nor Ibaekho are really GM’s allies.

To put it simply, GM clinging here and there doesn’t make me feel betrayed...

“...I’m sorry.”

“Enough, get lost already.”

“Yes...”

Ibaekho didn’t stop GM. Or rather, he didn’t dare to.

“Wow, with this lineup... we could probably go toe-to-toe with Orculus.”

He tried to sound casual, but I could ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) clearly see that Ibaekho was deeply unsettled by this unexpected turn.

‘Well, no wonder.’ Parmel Harbae, who was knocked away by Amelia’s kick, couldn’t even keep his balance.

“......”

Leg Auress had lost an arm. The healer Jaina barely had MP left...

“We need to heal them soon...”

“I’m fine. Don’t provoke them.”

“......”

Cornered like this, no one dared even think about healing.

“Hahaha... this is getting difficult...”

“......”

“Baron, shall we call it a draw...?”

What the hell is this crazy guy saying? I chuckled dumbfounded and lowered my gaze toward one of Ibaekho’s limbs.

“Neutering, right?”

“Um... Baron?”

“Well, with this hammer, we’ll manage somehow.”

“How about trying to resolve it by talking first...?”

Ignoring whatever she said, I stepped forward. Ibaekho clicked his tongue and sighed as if the earth might collapse.

“Hah... why does nothing ever go my way? How do they show up at this timing?”

Honestly, I’d be annoyed too. This was outside the walls, after all. I admit I was lucky. But...

‘Looking at him, it doesn’t seem like just luck.’ Watching Ibaekho’s team’s internal state, I thought—

If Ibaekho were in my situation, would any allies have come to look for him outside the walls? ‘Probably none.’

Thinking that, this moment no longer felt like mere luck. I couldn’t stress this enough.

“Byoooooorn!! When the hell is the fight starting!?”

Zero and one are different.*** Ibaekho’s team, now cornered. I don’t think I can take down Ibaekho here either.

‘If he decided to run, I’d never catch him.’ But still, this is a chance.

Leg Auress, Jaina Flyer, and the others Ibaekho raised and trained. Putting them aside for now.

“My sister’s enemy...”

I took another step, and Ibaekho grinned low and spoke.

“Haha, Baron? Stop coming closer, let’s talk for a bit.”

Step.

“No, I’m not listening. I’m not even curious anymore about what you did with that old man.”

Step.

“Oh, really... okay! Settlement money! Normally you settle with money at times like this, right? How much do you want? I’ll meet you halfway!”

Step.

“...Do we really have to see blood between us? Huh?”

Step. Ignoring him, I kept walking, and Ibaekho’s expression stiffened. Step. He no longer spoke with each step I took.

Step. Only when I stood before him, he muttered quietly, as if his previous posture was all a lie.

“Baron.”

“......”

“Are you really planning to go all the way with me?”

In his most familiar threatening tone, Ibaekho spoke.

“Whether you want to or not, the rest will die.”

No detailed explanation was given, but it was clear what he meant. [Star’s Demise], Ibaekho’s strongest ultimate.

He planned to use it like a modern nuclear weapon. A kind of chicken game?

If he took everyone down, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’m not alone here.

“......”

At a loss for words, Ibaekho curled his lips into a vicious smile.

“I knew it. What a weak heart you have. Doesn’t suit your looks.”

Ibaekho repeated this several times but my weak spot and trigger couldn’t be fixed. Step. He took a step toward me as he said it.

“Baron, I’ll give you just one piece of advice.”

I don’t know why everyone’s so eager to advise me.

“A man with something to lose can never beat me.”

Ibaekho looked me in the eyes honestly.

“I can give up everything.”

“......”

“For the one thing I desperately want.”

If it were someone else, I might have said something. But since it was Ibaekho, I couldn’t say a word. He would really do it.

Parmel Harbae, Jaina, Leg Auress — none of them would flinch if others died for their goals. So...

“......!”

Fearlessly stepping right in front of the powerhouse, I reached out and grabbed his collar. Squeezing tight—! Despite being grabbed, Ibaekho looked calm.

He seemed to truly believe I couldn’t hurt him here...

“Try.”

“......?”

“Try anything.”

Ibaekho frowned, not understanding my words. What’s there not to understand about what I just said? This guy clearly misunderstands me.

Losing something precious is naturally scary and painful. Just thinking about it squeezes your chest and drives you mad. But that’s why—CRACK!

I pulled his collar closer and headbutted him.

The chilling sound echoed far, but Ibaekho didn’t even groan, instead asking back.

“...What do you mean?”

Huh, does he really not get it? How dumb must he think I am? CRACK! Getting a little annoyed, I headbutted him again.

“...Are you seriously saying ‘try me’?”

No, I already said that before. CRACK!!! A much more chilling sound, blood dripping from Ibaekho’s forehead.

“Even if all your precious comrades die, you don’t care at all?”