Magic Monopoly: Reborn as the Sole Magic Tower Master-Chapter 243: Episode

Alvarez gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. "Take that bastard’s eyes, nose, and mouth, and bring them to me in separate bags!"

"Yes, sir!"

The men in black suits who had been standing by ripped off their jackets and drew their Hunting Devices. The blades glowed with a fluorescent light, like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Hmm. Yusin scratched the tip of his eyebrow. Modern equipment wasn’t usually so flashy, designed to avoid attracting monsters’ attention. This stuff must be ancient.

"Get him!"

The burly enforcers charged in unison. Dropping into a low stance, Yusin shot forward like a spear and drove his knee into one man’s head.

CRACK!

Blood erupted from the man’s nose like a fountain.

The other men dug their heels in, skidding to a halt as Yusin landed gracefully past them.

"You son of a bitch!"

They all rushed him from behind. Yusin straightened up and turned to face them. His right Deva’s Eye instantly read the trajectory of the first man’s sword. Yusin’s body flowed like water, moving in so close he was practically inside the man’s guard. A fist blurred forward, too fast to leave an afterimage, and slammed into the man’s face, sending him flying over a hundred meters.

Without pausing, Yusin spun 180 degrees and kicked another enforcer in the face.

’Got him!’ one of the men thought, swinging his sword down from behind. But just as the blade began its descent, an indescribable impact shattered his knee, and his legs buckled beneath him.

<Wind Sagittarius>

Yusin stomped on the crippled man’s head, then grabbed the arm of another who was swinging his sword from the side, yanking him forward.

He was too stunned to speak.

The attacker, seeing his comrade suddenly pulled in front of him, desperately tried to stop his swing. In that split second, two of Yusin’s fingers shot past the human shield’s neck and jabbed into the man’s eyes.

"ARGHHH!"

Yusin retracted his arm and drove his elbow down onto the arm he was still holding.

CRUNCH!

The limb bent in a direction it was never meant to go.

"Guh! Gaaahhh!"

Alvarez’s jaw hung open as he watched the carnage. All seven of his men were Awakened, yet this one man was dominating them. It was as if time was moving faster for Yusin alone, allowing him to toy with the men swinging their Hunting Devices.

WHAM!

Yusin kicked the last man he’d brought to his knees in the chin, then lowered his leg. In the blink of an eye, all seven were writhing on the ground. He immediately scanned for the next threat.

’More snipers, huh?’

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three bullets flew in from different directions. They spun uselessly against a blue barrier that materialized in front of him. Yusin let out an unimpressed laugh.

—Bullet trajectory calculated. Sniper locations acquired.

Ea’s voice echoed in his head as crosshairs appeared in his vision, marking each sniper’s hiding spot.

Yusin summoned three Rapid Arrows, then deployed four Acceleration Circles in front of them using a "combo cast." The arrows quivered in midair, waiting to be released like they were nocked on an invisible bowstring.

’Now.’

"Fire."

With a harsh sonic boom, the Rapid Arrows shot forward.

A moment later, faint popping sounds echoed from the distance. Ea reported that all three targets were down.

Yusin planted his hands on his hips and turned back to Alvarez.

"So, what now?"

"Grrr...!"

Alvarez ground his teeth and glanced behind him.

All he had left were four unawakened men armed with guns. Every security system and autonomous weapon in the mansion had been disabled by the tornado.

There was no way a few ordinary gunmen could defeat this young hunter.

Reaching his conclusion, Alvarez schooled his features into a confident smile. He then clapped three times with a deliberate show of dignity.

"Impressive, hunter from Korea! But I truly cannot understand it. Why would someone like you work for a pathetic organization like the Alliance?"

"...Huh?"

Yusin blinked.

"How long do you plan to let them exploit you for peanuts? We would never let your family starve. I guarantee you ten times whatever miserable salary you’re getting now, no questions asked. How about it? If you join us—"

"You know something?" Yusin interrupted, conjuring more Rapid Arrows into the air. "I already make a shit-ton of money, you bastard."

Golden arrows streaked out, dropping the remaining gunmen in an instant. Only Alvarez was left standing.

"Grrr...!"

Alvarez bolted without a backward glance. Yusin fired four Golem Balls from his sleeve, dropping them to the ground before stepping onto the magic circle that formed at his feet.

<Gaia>

A wall of earth surged up in front of the fleeing Alvarez.

"Ack!"

He gasped and tried to bolt in another direction, but a golem’s arm shot out from the wall, clamping down on his shoulder. Another pair of arms immediately followed, seizing both of his legs.

"And that’s a wrap for today."

Yusin strode toward him. Alvarez’s face flushed beet red as he shouted.

"You little shit! You think you can walk away from this? I’m a drug lord!"

"I’ve heard that line more times than I can count doing this work, and I’m still standing."

Yusin spread his fingers. Wind Port activated, and a fallen underling’s gun snapped neatly into his hand.

Click.

He leveled the barrel right at Alvarez’s face.

"I might be a god-awful shot, but from this range, I can’t miss."

"W-wait, wait!" Alvarez panicked, death suddenly staring him in the face. "What do you want? Money? Women? Fame? I’ll give you anything! Just spare me! Let me live!"

Yusin let out a short snort and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot was loud enough to make his ears ring. Alvarez’s body went rigid. The bullet had buried itself in the wall right next to his eye.

"Hieee!"

A strangled scream burst from Alvarez’s mouth as his body convulsed. Yusin’s gaze dropped to the man’s pants, which were now soaked through.

"Damn, I missed. Told you, guns aren’t my thing."

Grinning, Yusin stepped in, grabbed Alvarez by the collar, and yanked him off the wall. Then he pointed a finger at the ground.

<Iron Cancer>

The magic circle on the floor crackled as crude steel surged up, binding Alvarez’s arms tight.

"Quit the stupid ideas and come quietly."

Alvarez nodded blankly, completely dazed.

That single gunshot had snapped something inside him.

"Samia... ah, no."

Yusin reflexively started to ask Samia to open a warp, then stopped himself.

’I need to conserve the Tower’s mana.’

He glanced over his shoulder.

"You can drive, right?"

* * *

They were on their way back to Ghost Corps headquarters.

Yusin lounged in the passenger seat with his head resting against the back, while Alvarez gripped the steering wheel.

A wave of misery washed over him. He was a dead man the moment he was handed over to the Ghost Corps, and yet here he was, personally chauffeuring himself to his own execution.

"Don’t even think about it."

At the quiet warning, Alvarez flinched and straightened his back, keeping his eyes fixed on the road.

For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to resist this man. He couldn’t forget the look in Yusin’s eyes when the gun was pointed at his head. It had been pure, bone-deep terror.

Meanwhile, Yusin let out a long yawn.

’I’m beat.’

Most of the route was rough, unpaved road, which made the trip even more exhausting. On top of that, his schedule had been brutal. He had been holed up in the mana mine practicing combo casting, and the moment he entered Mexico to persuade Marie, it had been one battle after another.

Eventually, after tossing and turning in his seat a few times, Yusin’s eyes slowly drifted shut.

Alvarez’s eyes widened.

Alvarez, who had been sneaking glances at him, cheered inwardly.

’This is my chance!’

Several plans flashed through his mind. He could keep driving straight to one of his hideouts, but that monster looked like he could crush any force they threw at him. The best option was to stop the car here, slip out quietly, and run.

Alvarez gradually eased off the gas, slowing the car as smoothly as he could until it rolled to a complete stop. Yusin was still asleep.

’Just you wait. I’ll never forget this humiliation!’

He carefully cracked the door open and slid one leg out.

"That’s actually a pretty good call."

Alvarez jolted so hard his shoulders jumped. Moving like a wooden puppet, he slowly turned his head.

Yusin was sitting there with his arms crossed, smiling.

’...It’s over. I’m really done for now.’

’Just get me to the Ghost Corps alive,’ Alvarez prayed. ’That’s all I ask.’

Just then, Yusin spoke.

"How’d you know I was hungry? Since I’m in Mexico, I’ve gotta try the tacos at least once."

"...Huh?"

Alvarez followed his gaze and saw a taco stand right next to where they had parked.

To Alvarez, the humble stand looked like a divine reprieve.

"Uh, what can I get you? We’ve got beef, pork, fish, shrimp, and beef tripe!"

"What do you recommend?"

"If it’s your first time, you can’t go wrong with the soy-sauce grilled beef tacos! They come on a thin tortilla made from a mix of corn and wheat flour, with assorted veggies and refried beans!"

"Then I’ll have that."

"Yes, sir, right away!"

Alvarez hurriedly jumped out of the car and headed for the street stand.

The taco vendor had been lazily swatting at flies, but when he saw Alvarez, he nearly had a heart attack.

’Oh hell! Wh-why is the drug lord here?’

For Alvarez to show up in person! Was it because he had been late with his protection money? Would the man himself really come over something like that?

"Hey."

Alvarez slipped a hand into his pocket with a grim expression.

The vendor hastily ducked his head, ready to dive for cover. The guy was definitely about to pull a gun—

"Two suadero tacos. Make one extra spicy with salsa."

Alvarez dropped a few coins onto the counter.

"...Sir?" the vendor asked, dumbfounded.

When Alvarez glared, the man snapped to attention with a quick, "Y-yes, sir!" and started cooking.

Watching the meat sizzle on the grill, Alvarez let out a deep, heavy sigh.

’So this is the last taco I’ll ever eat.’

* * *

"Oh, this is good."

The street tacos were stuffed with big chunks of meat and plenty of vegetables. They had looked small, but just one was surprisingly filling. The flavor reminded him of jangjorim, a familiar Korean soy-braised beef.

As Yusin enjoyed the first traditional Mexican taco of his life, Alvarez, back behind the wheel, spoke up.

"H-hunter, sir. We’re almost there. Just ten more minutes."

"Already? That was fast."

Yusin had been quietly watching the scenery roll by when his pupils suddenly dilated.

Beyond the road, smoke was rising from several spots in the town where Ghost Corps headquarters was located.

Something was wrong. The damage from the cartel attack should have been cleaned up by now.

"Step on it! Faster!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Alvarez stomped on the gas, and the car surged forward.

Soon, the smoke rising from the town was clearly visible. The sounds of battle were everywhere—screams and the clash of weapons.

Yusin narrowed his eyes, his glare fixed on Alvarez.

"You son of a..."

"N-no, no, no, it wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t!"

The Ghost Corps was under attack.

The most likely culprit was one of Alvarez’s own cartels, launching a surprise raid to rescue him.

"Stop here."

Yusin had him pull into a nearby empty lot. Both of them got out of the car. Yusin raised a finger.

"I’ll go take a look. You wait here."

"Y-yes, sir!"

<Iron Cancer>

Rebar shot out from the car’s frame, wrapping around Alvarez and pinning him tightly to the vehicle.

"Isn’t this a bit much—mmph!"

"You really think I’d just let you go? If you don’t want to die, stay put."

After gagging Alvarez as well, Yusin immediately activated his Wing Golem and shot into the air.

’What the hell is going on?’

Ghost Corps hunters were fighting all over town. There were far more of them than when he had first arrived, which meant the Spirit King, Marie, must have returned from stopping the catastrophe.

And their opponents were not cartel members.

’...The Lion Fleet!’

There was no doubt. Those tight, diver-like hunter suits all belonged to the Lion Fleet.

A war had broken out between Ghost Corps and the Lion Fleet.

’What are they doing here?’

He couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Yusin pushed his Wing Golem to maximum speed and headed for Ghost Corps headquarters. The fighting there was just as fierce.

He spotted Marquez, Ghost Corps’ second-in-command, locked in a grueling sword clash with a Lion Fleet hunter. Blood stained his thigh; the wound looked serious.

“Marquez!”

Yusin dove from the sky at top speed and drove his heel into the Lion Fleet hunter’s head. The man’s body flew backward, smashing through a wall.

“You okay?”

“Haa... haah... Thank you for the rescue... ngh!” Marquez staggered, driving his sword into the ground for support as he dropped to one knee.

“Explain! Why is the Lion Fleet fighting Ghost Corps?”

“I have no idea. The moment Lady Marie returned to base, the Lion Fleet attacked us! A unilateral surprise assault, without even a declaration of war!”

“Where’s the Spirit King?”

“...She’s fighting Admiral Sham.”

At those words, Yusin immediately activated Devastar and slammed his foot into the ground.

He shot into the sky like a launched projectile, then pushed his Wing Golem to its top speed.