[Demon Clown Mask]
[A clown mask imbued with demonic power.[
I tried putting on the mask first. I expected it to be a bit difficult since it was my first time, but as soon as I brought it to my face, the mask automatically adhered to my skin. Startled, I tried to remove it, and it came off immediately.
...So the claim about it being imbued with demonic power wasn't just talk.
Shaking off a lingering unease, I put the Clown Mask back on.
Once it was on, I realized this mask was no ordinary item. Normally, wearing a mask would feel stuffy and restrictive, but this one felt completely weightless. It was as if I wasn't wearing anything at all.
Even when I subtly rolled my eyes, my vision remained unobstructed by the mask.
"Indeed. The Demon Clown Mask."
I faced the mirror and opened my mouth. The Clown Mask's mouth section opened, revealing the inside of my mouth. When I closed my mouth, the mask's mouth section closed as well. It seemed I could even eat while wearing the mask.
The same applied to the eyes. When I closed my eyes, the eye areas of the Clown Mask closed as well.
Tap, tap. I tapped the mask with my fingertip, feeling its characteristic hardness.
"Incredible."
I reached out to grab the edge of the mask and tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge.
It won't come off because I don't want it to.
It seemed there was no risk of it coming off accidentally.
I gave the last wriggling strand of the red wig a tug. This wig completely concealed my hair. I grabbed a strand and pulled hard, but it wouldn't budge. Of course, there was no pain.
"Perfect."
I chuckled at my reflection in the mirror.
The clown's mouth stretched into a wide, grotesque grin.
Huh?
I changed clothes in a secluded spot and drove the stolen car to Noeul Fitness Club in Yeoksam-dong, parking right in front.
My face was hidden behind the Clown Mask with its red wig.
I gripped the Hwaryeon Flying Dagger in my gloved hand. Sheathed in its black scabbard, it looked like nothing more than a black rod. This was the Iris Blade's true purpose a blade designed for assassination.
"I changed my clothes where there were no CCTV cameras, and put on the mask at the right moment. I hacked a car off the street. When I escape, I can use my abilities and Inventory to avoid being tracked."
A chuckle escaped me.
In most dramas, movies, and comics, Hunters are assumed not to exist. If Hunters with such immense power existed, the story itself would become boring, as they could simply solve any problem with their overwhelming strength.
In reality, the vast majority of people are ordinary citizens, and settings without Hunters resonate better with them.
And that's incredibly fortunate for me. The absence of Hunters in this world means there's no one who can stop me.
"Let's give it a try."
People walking nearby glanced at me, some secretly snapping photos with their smartphones.
A man in an unbuttoned black suit, wearing a Clown Mask with a frizzy red wig. Most would assume it was for an event or cosplay.
I paid them little mind. Go ahead and take your pictures.
"Excuse me, could I take a photo with you? I want to post it on social media."
Someone approached me.
"Jo..."
I reflexively almost said "Fuck off," but then realized she was quite stunning.
"Fine. Here. Take your picture."
"Just tilt your head down a little."
Her face drew closer, a strong scent of fragrant cosmetics filling the air.
Click!
"Thank you."
"No. What? More importantly, post it on social media right now. By tomorrow, you'll be a social media star."
"Huh? Yes, but... the mask is incredibly high-quality. Did you make it yourself?"
"Yeah, something like that. Anyway, I've got things to do."
As a farewell, I gave her butt a playful smack. Even through her clothes, I could feel how firm and bouncy it was.
"Eek?!"
Whether she screamed or not, I strode toward the entrance of Noeul Fitness Club.
Noeul Fitness Club, operating on a strict membership basis, was actually a training ground for South Korean Vampire Hunters. Every staff member belonged to the Black Cross Society, and everyone who worked out here was a Vampire Hunter.
I deliberately kicked the automatically opening glass door with all my might.
Crash!
The glass door shattered, its fragments scattering across the floor like glittering shards. I stepped over the debris and entered. The receptionist, who had been watching the counter, startled and looked up at me with wide eyes. She immediately grabbed the office phone and spoke urgently into the receiver.
"Noeul Fitness is under attack! We need backup immediately! Hurry!"
She was likely calling the Black Cross Society headquarters or the Vampire Hunters training upstairs.
"Hello. You're quite the beauty yourself. But I'm afraid..."
The receptionist, her face etched with panic, was indeed quite pretty. That was no surprise; she was a minor actress from the original drama. If I had the time, I'd love to get her number, but unfortunately, I had a mission to complete.
As I approached, she pulled something from her drawer: a revolver. Not surprising; handguns are the standard weapon for Vampire Hunters.
"I'm a bit busy right now."
[Youngcheon Ryu Practical Combat Manual: Dawnlight.]
The blade, drawn from its sheath, sliced through the air, leaving a crimson arc as it severed the clerk's head. Her blood splattered across my body.
Dawnlight's drawback is its lengthy windup, but when swung properly, it's a lightning-fast strike that even Hunters struggle to react to.
"Aaaaaah!"
"M-murder!"
"Aaaaaah!"
Screams erupted from behind me. The people who had been watching me kick down the glass door to see what I was doing were now fleeing in terror from the murder I had committed. Yet some, remarkably bold, were filming the scene with their smartphones.
Modern people, honestly.
I stepped over the headless corpse of the female employee and headed upstairs to the second floor of Fitness. I considered taking the elevator but decided to use the stairs instead.
The second floor housed the sauna and locker rooms, separated into men's and women's sections.
I naturally gravitated toward the women's side.
It's just instinct.
But when I opened the door, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. There wasn't a single woman inside. Come to think of it, most Vampire Hunters were men.
"Tch."
Clicking my tongue, I opened the door to the men's locker room next to the women's.
My gaze locked with a burly man who was in the process of taking off his shirt.
"Fuck. A man's body? How fucking lame."
I advanced toward him.
The man didn't panic. With practiced movements, he swiftly drew a revolver from his bag and aimed it at me.
"Who the hell are you?! A vampire?! Take off that mask!"
"If I were going to take it off, I wouldn't have worn it in the first place."
"Don't come any closer! These are silver bullets! If you're a vampire, you know what silver bullets can do!"
I didn't stop.
"Why don't you just shoot?"
"You bastard!"
Bang!
I twisted my body slightly. The bullet was aimed at my shoulder they probably wanted to capture me alive for interrogation.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I dodged the bullets with practiced movements, actively utilizing techniques from the Youngcheon Ryu Practical Combat Manual.
Unless they were shooting from outside my field of vision, there was no way they could hit me head-on.
Bang! Ting!
I deflected the final bullet with a swing of my blade, sending it ricocheting sideways.
"Oh, it actually worked."
I dodged the bullet on a whim, thinking, No way this will work, but it did. For the record, my sword remained unscathed.
This blade was forged from the scales of a Red Dragon, an SS-Rank monster. It would be an insult to its name to be scratched by a mere silver bullet.
"D-damn it...!"
The man immediately turned and fled.
"Didn't anyone teach you never to show your back in a fight?" I shouted, sprinting after him and swinging my sword. The blade cleanly severed his torso from his legs, blood and entrails spilling onto the floor.
Avoiding the gore, I stepped into the bathhouse.
Three naked men charged at me through the thick steam.
They must have been lying in ambush after hearing the gunshot.
They're trying to take my sword. They're underestimating me.
If I hadn't known Youngcheon Ryu, I might have fallen for it. But not anymore.
Youngcheon Ryu Practical Combat Manual: Streamline.
My sword flowed through the air, effortlessly slicing through the men.
The blade painted the air with their blood, the crimson lines unbroken until each man lay still, a corpse.
Streamline was a combat technique perfect for facing multiple opponents.
When my sword finally stilled, three men lay in pieces around me. My body was drenched in their blood, as if I'd taken a shower in it.
"Tsk."
I kicked the head of the man in front of me for no reason. It splashed into the large hot tub, turning the once-clear water crimson.
I scanned the bathhouse one last time.
No one left.
I stepped out of the bath.
The beverage refrigerator caught my eye. I grabbed a banana milk and poured it down my throat.
"Banana milk tastes especially good after a bath."
I carelessly tossed the empty carton aside. Since I drank directly from the container without touching my lips, there was no chance of DNA detection.
Third floor. I arrived at the gym, lined with exercise equipment.
A wide grin spread across my face. Before me stood over twenty Vampire Hunters, each brandishing weapons and staring at me.
"Have you ever seen such a lunatic?"
"Is he a True Ancestor?"
"What's with that ridiculous Clown Mask?"
"Don't kill him. He might be connected to the bus bombing."
"We should cut off his limbs, capture him, and interrogate him. Make him reveal how he found this place and who he's working for."
Twenty-three men and women.
A lot of them. But I wasn't afraid at all. On the contrary, they should be the ones trembling.
I smirked, twisting my lips.
"Looks like they're going all out."
I moved first. With over half the enemies armed with pistols, I needed a decent shield. Their own comrade would do nicely.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out, but not a single bullet even grazed me. I dodged the bullets with ease, using exercise equipment as shields against the unavoidable ones.
"Stop shooting! We'll get hit! Just get close and fight!"
"Wouldn't it be better to just keep shooting?"
I scoffed at them. The only reason I couldn't rampage freely was because of their guns.
My physique might surpass that of ordinary people, but I'm not bulletproof. My body is still made of flesh and blood.
I swung my blade at the first fool who dared to approach me.
He seems confident with that dagger... but he's in for a rude awakening.
Their movements were fast by human standards, but posed no threat to me.
"Avoid one-on-one combat! He's no ordinary fighter! Surround him and cut off his escape!"
Someone shouted loudly, and the Vampire Hunters began to move with newfound order. I glanced at the middle-aged man issuing the commands.
Im Bujeon. So he's here. I never expected to kill a team leader-level opponent here. Lucky me.
Im Bujeon was one of the most skilled Vampire Hunters, renowned not only for his combat prowess but also for his sharp intellect. Eliminating him now would be a strategic advantage.
The Vampire Hunters closed in, forming a tight circle around me. Swords, spears, blunt weapons, and pistols all pointed my way.
"...Hey, Clown. Let me ask you something. Why did you pull off such a reckless stunt?"
Im Bujeon's eyes gleamed intensely as he questioned me, a well-maintained hand axe held in his right hand.
"You're obstructing my plans, so I'm going to eliminate you."
"...We're obstructing you? Are you planning to turn the Republic of Korea into a vampire nation?"
"A vampire nation... Not a bad idea."
That's impossible. Even if vampires tried, they'd only end up as another mafia organization in Korea. If you want to create a vampire nation, you'd be better off heading to West Asia.
"Your actions are nothing more than a declaration of war against us... no, against Korea itself. Because of your reckless behavior, countless Korean vampires will die in the days to come."
"Ah, that's a bit inconvenient. But it can't be helped. I'll just have to kill you all more aggressively."
[Acceleration activated. Duration: 10 minutes.]
I moved, charging toward the nearest woman with my blade raised.
"...!"
The woman swung her twin swords. Reacting to my accelerated movements was impressive, but to me, who was using Acceleration, she was too slow.
I plunged my sword into her chest, piercing her heart, then grabbed her neck with one hand and hurled her at the man beside her.
Exploiting the man's hesitation to coldly shove aside his comrade's corpse, I impaled his throat, killing him instantly.
In less than ten seconds, two were dead.
I didn't stop there, continuing to swing my blade. I slaughtered them one by one, starting with the closest. Their attacks barely grazed my collar.
"Damn it! Just kill him! He's not the kind you can capture alive! Fire!"