“What do you mean by ‘deserve to be killed?’” asked Ramphil.

“You’re asking a philosophical question. We don’t have time for that,” said Zin as he shook his head.

“I’m asking because I don’t know what to think.” Ramphil was confused as he had never considered the difference between those who deserve to live and those who should be killed. He was desperate for some pointers.

“… How about you all develop the ability to think on your own? There could be many reasons,” Zin sighed then continued, “think about the negative impact she could have our mission, your feelings toward her, the loss of many innocent lives, your feelings toward the Heavenly Power Castle. It’s not that hard. Just think.”

“Then, we should kill her, for efficiency,” Ramphil answered matter-of-factly. There was no need to look any further as the possibility was right there. If the power of the Phantomvein could be awakened, then they should get rid of SoSeoLan and complete their mission.

“I… don’t know,” said Cho-yul slowly and with his head down. He spoke with a tremor in his voice, as if he was trying to control his emotions. “I’m afraid of my sister and I hate her… but I think she must have her reasons. I know too little about her to make a decision.”

Cho-yul had been trying to figure out the Group’s motivation, but he couldn’t come up with an answer. Therefore, he had to say no.

In Leona’s case, she had a dilemma.

“Um…”

“Yes, go on,” said Zin as he gazed at her with interest in what she had to say.

“Is the Group really that bad?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s just that… I’ve never actually seen anyone get killed or any city get destroyed by the Group.”

“Hmm…”

Since they had been avoiding the areas where the Reavers were, it was logical that they had not seen much bloodshed.

The Group had been trying to expand their territory by using their military-like force to take over places like the Heavenly Power Castle. Just recently, they had been drilling holes on the walls of the Heavenly Power Castle.

But, in the end, the castle didn’t suffer any damages, and the Reavers were the ones slaughtered by a powerful spell. And although the people of Weedle Point were afraid of the Group, there weren’t any actual reports of damages done by them.

The Group felt like a threat, but how much did they really know about the Group?

What had happened to their leader and why had Asura taken over? Why were they trying to expand their territory beyond the Eastern Lands?

They had no answer.

The fact that they didn’t know much was disturbing.

“Well… I tend to think that anyone who doesn’t value the life of others doesn’t deserve to live long,” said Leona. She liked to think in simple terms. However, she was also quite perceptive, so she looked straight at Zin and said, “but for you, isn’t the matter of killing a devil hunter super, duper serious?

“Yes.”

Killing a devil hunter with Phantomvein meant that a devil hunter would be completely erased from the universe forever. Therefore, in this case, what Zin was feeling had to be different from a wanderer, a reaver, and a monster.

A wrong decision could lead to another tower of regret. That was why he was having a serious discussion about this.

“I think we should try to figure out what they want first.”

If killing a devil hunter was a serious matter, then it needed a thorough investigation.

It was not the time to make a decision.

They needed to know more about the Group. All decisions should be made after they had all the facts.

Leona might have noticed a flash of fear in Zin. He knew too well how a wrong move could change the world and cause regret and suffering. Leona was the only one who somewhat understood Zin and was suggesting a course of action that was best for him.

“… Sometimes, you do things that make me feel uncomfortable,” Zin grumbled as he was not used to considerate acts by others.

“That’s my charm,” Leona responded as she giggled.

Does the Group’s leader just want to be crowned King?

Zin knew very well that that wasn’t the case. Whatever the great cause SoSeoLan believed in, he knew it would eventually lead them to danger.

Still, he couldn’t honestly say that she needed to be killed immediately.

“But in order to recover the power of Phantomvein, some devil must be killed,” said Ramphil.

“Just so that you know, I don’t want to give up my life. I’m not going to give it up even if you beg me,” Leona blurted, seemingly out of nowhere.

“We didn’t say anything.”

“I know. I just had to say it because I’m scared.”

Leona’s utter honesty made everyone laugh out loud.

“Hey, hunter, you need to tell me one more thing.” Ramphil had another question.

“Speak.”

They had come upon SoSeoLan by accident. The suggestion to kill her had also been a spontaneous solution.

“Who was on the chopping block originally?”

Zin wasn’t wandering at random. He had had a clear goal in mind.

Not too long ago, Zin had said that Carltz, a member of Wargrave, was a devil hunter. And that his legacy was being passed down through his students, not by rank, but by inheriting the Darkborn.

That meant Zin’s target could be one of the current members of Wargrave.

“I see what you’re worried about. I did have a place in mind. But Wargrave wasn’t it.”

There was another target, but it was not someone Ramphil was worried about. Ramphil couldn’t allow Zin to kill a member of the Wargrave.

Even if the Wargrave were responsible for the White Witch, he was still a soldier. A devil hunter killing a member of the Wargrave couldn’t happen. Still, Ramphil had suddenly become curious.

If the devil hunter decided to, would it happen?

There was no way to know. Therefore, Ramphil kept his worry to himself.

“In a situation like this… if this is as serious a matter as you say, killing the one who should be killed would be a better way to go. Who is your original target? If that guy is worse and more dangerous than the Group’s leader, isn’t it better to kill that guy?”

“Hmm…”

If someone had to die, then it would be better to kill the one that would cause the most damage to the world. Deciding that was no easy task. The four here knew that thinking about it was a luxury, but they were discussing it anyway.

“I’ll be frank,” said Zin as if he had no choice. “Killing SoSeoLan would be easier than killing that guy.”

What he was saying was that even though SoSeoLan was a high-level sorcerer with numerous charms, the Godly Fighters and thousands of foot soldiers, she would be the easier target.

Realizing this, the team went blank. SoSeoLan was a formidable monster, yet the original target was worse than her. How could someone who was not even a Wargrave soldier be that dangerous?

“But… it’s true that the original target is worse than SoSeoLan. No one would disagree with that.”

Someone everyone believed should die. A devil hunter who should be killed without any hesitation. With a grim face, Zin continued, “Do you know much about BH?”

“The Betrayer’s Hut? Isn’t that the land of the outcasts?”

“Yes… that is the land where the outcasts roam. The place where no one dares to enter, and a place so atrocious that even monsters cannot survive.”

It was a land where only outcasts could survive.

“If a drug user turns into a monster, he’s an outcast. If a hunter turns into a monster, he’s called a Vagabond. Then…”

The story was slowly taking shape.

“If a devil hunter turns into a monster, what is he?”

No one spoke.

“I’m not sure what to call him, but he is in BH.”

The Hut Keeper, the King of the Outcasts, the Nightmarish Tyrant. He had many names, and there were numerous rumors and terrorizing stories. No one knew of his existence, and no one cared to see him anymore.

But to Zin, what he represented was simple: a devil hunter who had turned into a monster.

Is he a devil or worse than a devil?

“He definitely deserves to be killed more than SoSeoLan,” said Zin with a bitter smile.

“What did he hunt?” asked Ramphil.

“He was a Vampire Hunter,” answered Zin.

“A hunter turns into the most vicious monster…” Cho-yul started to mumble

the phrase people always say when talking about Vagabonds. He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he was going to say.

Then, what about a devil hunter?

Wouldn’t a hunter who turned into a monster while hunting the devil become the most gruesome and hellish monster?

Even though it seemed perfectly logical, the fact that they hadn’t known that a devil hunter could turn into a monster left them speechless.

Should they hunt the one that’s more difficult but feels right? Or should they hunt the one that’s relatively easy but they might regret killing? It wasn’t an easy choice.

“First, we need to find out what the Group wants,” said Ramphil. They were back to square one. After all that talk, the conclusion was still that they needed to learn more about the Group. They needed to find out SoSeoLan’s end goal.

There was one more thing to discuss. Should they wait for the Group at the castle or should they leave in search of them? The Group had already expressed their intention to take over the castle by force.

“A siege warfare is out of the question,” said Zin.

If the Reavers start to drill again, then the Heavenly Power Castle would literally be destroyed in broad daylight. However, since SoSeoLan wants the castle to be her foothold, that would be her last choice. Any strategies involving spells would be neutralized by Asura.

And that wasn’t the only problem.

“If they bring high-powered weapons, then they can blast the castle with high-angle guns and get in.”

The Heavenly Power Castle was situated high up, but the Group could reach the castle and rain down bullets. The castle, on the other hand, had no such weaponry. In fact, both the location and the weapons favored the Group, and the castle was nothing but a sitting duck.

Even if they decided to join the fight against SoSeoLan, defeat seemed certain.

The discussion was long, but what was obvious was that fighting should be avoided at all costs. No one disagreed with that.

They had seen many villages get destroyed and they were under no obligation to put their lives in danger.

They had no reason to give up their lives at the Heavenly Power Castle.

Yet, no one felt great about having to flee. Everyone seemed to understand what needed to be done, so Zin didn’t say the decision out loud.

That would make them feel even worse.

“I’ll go and say goodbye. You guys wait for me by the castle wall.”

Feeling uneasy, the team stood up to leave.

—–

When the shamanic ritual came to a close, and darkness started to descend on the village, Zin stood in front of the lord. The lord did not want Zin to stay and fight. He knew that if the Master Hunter were to die there, killing the White Witch would be more difficult. Considering that, Zin really should not remain at the castle to fight.

The lord was going dissuade him if Zin’s decision was to fight. Nothing needed to be said, however. Exchanged glances were enough.

“Yeongmun.”

“Yes, Master Hunter.”

“Keep in mind that surrendering is an option,” said Zin.

“…”

The lord did not reply.

“Having lived this long, I’ve come to realize…”

The Heavenly Power Castle would lose, so not fighting was a wise choice.

“… that only the living can make things happen.”

No matter how much humiliation and degradation one had to endure, one needed to stay alive. Even an honorable death would have no meaning. Once a person was dead, they were gone.

Then, that would be the end.

“I’m not sure if they would leave us alone.”

Even if they surrendered, the probability of those cannibals leaving them alone was low. The Reavers had suffered a big loss previously from a group of evil spirits. Since they had been seeking revenge ever since, it wasn’t likely that they would let them live once they surrendered the castle.

“Asura knows the value of the Heavenly Power Clan even if the Reavers don’t.”

The Heavenly Power Clan, with their deep knowledge of sorcery and high intelligence, was a valuable asset that shouldn’t be wasted.

Since it was going to be a difficult fight, a fight they would surely lose, not fighting was a good strategy. You have to endure the disgrace of going against tradition and befriending the enemy.

The lord smiled bitterly, “How difficult it all is.”

“It always is.”

Suffering humiliation and disgrace was not easy. Choosing to stay alive despite that was not easy. But, only the living could make things happen at a later time.

“I’ll go now.”

“Take care, master hunter.”

Zin turned around and walked away.

Yeongmun couldn’t move an inch. It was as if he had been nailed down to the ground.

He contemplated for a long time on what would be the best course of action to follow when total defeat was certain.

Since becoming the lord, he had never been as tormented as he was now.

At the prospect of seeing the end of his clan during his leadership, he sighed in grief and said, “I’ve lived too long…”

Yeongmun suddenly felt his old age.

As he thought of Zin, who must have lived in that harsh, heavy-burdened world at least three times longer than him, he felt his throat tighten.

How much hardship and suffering had he endured?

Yeongmun felt the heaviness of time on his shoulders and couldn’t imagine what Zin must have had to live through.

Zin must have felt horrible for having to leave the Castle behind.

‘At the end of this long struggle, what is there for you?’

For what was he enduring all of that?

Yeongmun couldn’t know.

The Master Hunter had left.