《The Hunter鈥檚 Gonna Lay Low》


 Chapter 4

    The world was turned upside down on an ordinary day eleven years ago when thunder rumbled as if the sky was falling.


    People awoke to the unusually loud thunder and looked up in unison to see a giant ck hole in the sky. As if waiting for a crowd to gather or for everyone to wake up, the thunder stopped when they looked up.


    Out of the ck hole poured monsters the likes of which had never been seen before.


    The rift sucked in everything around it in an instant, and the monsters crawled out of the open dungeon entrance like a swarm of ants. In their sudden invasion of life, they tore down buildings and smashed the ground. Countless people were injured, missing, and dead. Humanity''s weapons, the products of scientific civilization, were useless against these monsters.


    People despaired in the face of an insurmountable supernatural phenomenon. They thought the earth would be destroyed by nuclear war, not by monsters from a fantasy novel! Mankind was helpless in the face of this sudden catastrophe.


    But there was no such thing as doom without action, for there was a being that stopped the destruction....


    A mysterious white window that looked like a status bar in a game, known as the System.


    The System appeared before some people and awakened unknown powers. Those who came in contact with the System awakened with new powers and began to fight back against the monsters. The first generation of humans awakened, and it was the signal for humanity to fight back. This was the moment when the beings that wouldter be called the Raiders appeared.


    Humanity was an adaptive species; they quickly began to rebuild their shattered civilizations and adapt to the new era. Leading the way was the United States, followed, surprisingly, by South Korea. South Korea was one of the few countries whose government and security were not paralyzed on Rift Day, and it was safe to say that this was due to theet-like arrival of J, an S-ss Awakener.


    The only information released was his hunter name, "J," and his gender. With his name, face, age, and everything else hidden, the mysterious Hunter J made a spectacr entrance with a white scarf covering his face and sliced the Grade 2 monster Sasquatch in half. He went on to save countless lives by diving into crevices and dungeons, a hero of the ages, Captain Korea himself.


    [J ripped a Sasquatch (physical)]


    Later, aftermunications were restored, J became a worldwide celebrity when someone uploaded a video to YouTube that was viewed billions of times. Although J was only the size of a dot in the video and could barely be seen, the sight of a ck dot tearing apart a monster the size of a building was mesmerizing.


    It was a heroic act from the information andmunication powerhouse of South Korea, where even if the world was ending and monsters were doing sword dances, the cell phone camera was still alive. The world seemed to calm down a bit with J''s performance.


    But the hard-won peace was short-lived.


    Three yearster, a Grade 5 rift opened in the waters off the west coast of Korea, and despite the efforts of the Awakening Bureau and nearby hunters, all contact was lost, and the rift continued to feed greedily on time. It was predicted that if left unchecked, the mushroom heat would engulf the inds of the West Sea and even Incheon.


    After the government raised the danger level of the West Sea Rift from ss 5 to ss 1, the decision was made.


    "We will send S-ss Hunter J, 14 more A-ss Hunters, and 30 more B-ss Hunters to prevent the rift from expanding."


    The sent fighters entered the rift to the cheers of the people. Soon after they entered, the rift gradually stopped expanding, and a monthter, it waspletely destroyed. The people cheered and waited for the heroes to return, but they never did.


    Three monthster, after an investigation, the Awakening Bureau concluded that they had been consumed by the rift. They officially announced their deaths and delivered the unfortunate news. The government erected a monument to honor the hunters for their bravery in entering the rift. J''s name was ced at the top of the monument.


    Eight yearster.


    Eleven years after the first rift, the government was actively researching the use of monster carcasses and dungeon byproducts as alternative resources, so naturally the guilds shifted their focus from wiping out dungeons once and for all to picking a main draw and closing the rift. If they were lucky, they might get a byproduct that they could process and use.


    ?The Great Hunter Age reced the Fifth Industrial Revolution. The Metaverse bites! The center of the modern age was none other than the hunters.


    Korea was a country where hero movie series had long been popr, so it was no wonder that hunters, who fought like heroes right before your eyes without CG, exploded in poprity. Their poprity was at an all-time high.


    Not only did they get birthday posters like idols, but they were also showered with love by the advertising industry, and there were so many movies and dramas starring hunters that people lost count. There were even hunters who were models and did double jobs, like Honeybee.


    The world was full of people who admired hunters and dreamed of awakening. A world where more than 80% of kids said they wanted to be a hunter, where dungeon slime ASMR videos were trending, and where a leisurely hunter was broadcasting the opening of a package with an A-ss longsword. This was the Korea of today.


    Is this... true?


    But to me, a man from eight years ago still adjusting to life in the present age of the Great Hunter, it was all just... a lie. As I stared at the books disyed in the bestseller section of the bookstore, I frowned.


    1st ce, [Hunter is New to Hunting, Too].


    2nd ce, [Noryangjin Hunter Civil Service Academy''s Star Instructor''s Secrets to Finishing the Exam in Half a Year!]


    3rd ce, [I''m a hunter because I''m sick].


    .


    .


    .


    What the hell did it mean to be a hunter because you''re sick? If you''re sick, you''re a patient. I made a shuddering face and shifted my gaze to the bottom of the list. My expression crumpled even more when I saw the titles of the books further down. They put ''hunter'' on everything that doesn''t need it... That''s prettyme.


    ?I looked away, pretending not to see, and my eyes met something again, this time a poster of a mild-mannered man in a suit giving me a thumbs-up while holding up a thumbs-up sign.


    Hotline 777 for Awakened registration inquiries, 555 to report unregistered Awakened and Awakened crimes!


    Even as I tore my eyes away from the bestseller list, my scowl refused to lift.


    Nine years ago, when the Dungeons and Fissures were rtively stable, the government, gued by crimesmitted by Awakened with nothing better to do, was considering the creation of a government agency to manage the Awakened. Just then, news reached the ears of the officials that a student at the police academy had awakened as an S-ss Awakened.


    This was a heaven-sent opportunity. Seizing the opportunity, the government immediately established the Awakening Bureau and pushed the newly awakened police academy student into the Bureau with special privileges.


    He was the man on the poster, Hunter Jungbin, an S-ss official.


    I had also met Jungbin a few times when I was J. We didn''t have a personal rtionship, but we still exchanged pleasantries. At that time, we were the only two S-ss Hunters in the entire country, so there was a certain closeness between us.


    How did you end up like this?


    What the hell has happened to you in thest eight years? There was even a hint of bitterness in my eyes.


    To add to the lie, Jungbin showed his face in all the existing public service announcements. As far as I was concerned, he was an official, so it was easy to recognize him.


    Just yesterday he was promoting smoking cessation in a TVmercial, the 33-3 brushing rule in a busmercial I saw the other day, and here he was promoting Awakening registration. He was probably the most recognizable hunter in Korea.@@novelbin@@


    As I was mourning the loss of a former colleague, a young girl with her hair in a ponytail walked by with a star-shaped name tag pinned to the zipper of her backpack.


    Park Haeun, second grade, Saetbyul Elementary School. The phone number and address of Haejang-guk House were clearly written underneath the crooked but tightly pressed handwriting.


    "Uncle, I chose all the books."


    When I saw her uncle''s name, I naturally turned my head in her direction. Of course, we weren''t really uncle and nephew; Haeun was Grandmother''s only granddaughter, and my entire family had died on the day of the rift.


    But at some point, Haeun started calling me uncle, and I never corrected her. Just like my rtionship with my aunt in the past.


    "What did you choose?"


    "This."


    [What? The Day of the Rift]


    (Note: The "What?" here is written in English on the Raw.)


    The cover of theic book Haeun gave me showed some cute glorified monsters and a masked young man. It was a children''s educational manga series that I was familiar with.


    The world could have ended, but these educational books were still being published. The face of the young man in the drawing appeared before my inwardly admiring eyes. Aside from the ck hair and the white scarf, the mask over that face was all too familiar. He must be...


    Isn''t this a vition of my right of publicity?


    ...because it was a mask I had worn for many years to hide my identity when I was J.

 Chapter 5

    ?ck hair, a white scarf. The only mask you couldn''t fail to recognize.


    Isn''t this copyright infringement?


    This was clearly a likeness of Hunter J. Should I call it likeness copyright infringement or mask copyright infringement? Weren''t they using a dead man''s name too freely?


    In fact, it wasn''t the only ce where J appeared. I didn''t know if everyone thought it was okay to use J because he was dead, or if it was just a good way to exin the post-Rift era, but J was a character who appeared in all kinds of media after Jungbin.


    I didn''t think much of it when it came out in ces like broadcast, but I was strangely excited to see it in print. As a memento of my S-ss awakening and as a royalty, the foundation should have made me one of their own. Disturbed, I cleared my throat and motioned for Haeun to go to the cash register.


    "Thirty thousand won."


    That''s the price for two bowls of Haejang-guk.


    After clumsily pulling the money out of my wallet and paying, I walked out of the bookstore with a book in one hand and Haeun''s hand in the other.


    Since the day of the rupture, prices had skyrocketed. The haejang-guk sold at the grandmother''s shop used to cost 7,000 won, but the price rose to 15,000 won due to the increase in the cost of raw materials, which was also very cheappared to nearby prices. ....People with a lot of money.


    "Uncle."


    "Yes?"


    The call interrupted my thoughts. Haeun pointed to my other hand.


    "I''ll hold the book."


    The book was too small for a child to hold, but I obediently held it out. Haeun let go of my hand and clutched the book with both arms. She was overjoyed to have gotten what she wanted.


    "Where do we go now?" she asked.


    "We''re not going anywhere," I answered immediately. "Uncle will take you home and then we''ll go to the store to buy dinner."


    "Huh. That''s not fun." Haeun pursed her lips. She looked like she wanted to go to the store with me, but I shrugged as if I had no choice.


    "I can''t, I have a lot to prepare for dinner. I''ll buy you some ice cream and you can eat it with your grandma."


    "Ugh."


    I patted the back of her head, which nodded reluctantly, and walked beside her. I couldn''t help but notice how cute Haeun was walking beside me, so I put a hand on her small shoulder.


    Cha Ui-jae, a part-time worker at Haejang-guk House, not Hunter J, had to make a bowl of Haejang-guk for the hunters again today. A typical day at Haejang-guk House goes like this:


    At 6 a.m., the shop opens, and hunters who have been out all night on their fifth round of drinkse in for their sixth round, or hunters who are hungover and disheveled from their night shift cling to the door like kos and then trickle in to take their seats. Most of the customers at this hour are literally zombies. The order:


    "Friend."


    "Yes. Two haejang-guk."


    That''s how I used to do it... I''m even thinking about starting a third career as a zombie interpreter.


    After the zombies have finished eating and are staggering around, the normal customerse in. Most of theme for breakfast before work, and even though they''re tired, they''re still polite.


    Then there''s lunch, from 11:30 to 2:00. This is the best time for sales. The customers whoe at this time are obviously hunters, so theye and go like the ebb and flow of the tide.


    At this time, some hunters would rush out of the restaurant to eat their haejang-guk when an emergency call came in. Whenever this happened, the hunters around them would look at the back of their heads in unison. The unfortunate hunter who had to leave the rabbit-like seafood soup behind could be himself tomorrow...


    At the end of the stormy lunch break, I would hang a sign on the door saying it was time to prepare the ingredients. The break was a must for trading with the ravenous hunters. This was the time to pick up Haeun from school, wash the overdue dishes, and prepare the ingredients for the evening.


    Finally, it''s dinner time, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Lunchtime is also busy, but Haejang-guk House is much busier in the evening. Other than that, it''s not much different from the previous hours, but it''s usually not a hassle to deal with the hunters trying to sell you just one more bottle of soju.


    I sighed as I watched them hide their empty bottles so they could have one more. The repertoire was all the same, and the only trick was to get it into your inventory. What''s the psychology of ordering soju when you can''t even get drunk since you''re Awakeners anyway?


    "Whoo...."


    And now, 22:20. After chasing away thest customer who refused to leave with a stainless steeldle, the restaurant returned to its usual bustle. After clearing the tables, I stretched my back and let out a long sigh. You worked hard today...


    After wiping the table, sweeping the floor, and washing the dishes, I grabbed the basket of whole garlic from the corner of the kitchen and sat down at the table next to the counter. Having spent most of my time in a single room attached to Haejang-guk House that doubled as a storeroom, the preparations for closing and opening had be second nature to me.


    Rustle, rustle. As I skillfully peeled the garlic, I suddenly thought:


    This life isn''t so bad.


    A life where you don''t have to run around answering the bureau''s calls, where you don''t have to wrestle monsters, where you can just sit still and chop garlic. I didn''t have that luxury back then. Maybe this was the life I always wanted....


    In the midst of this rtively peaceful life, I had recently be concerned about the health of Grandma''s legs. Her mobility had been deteriorating for the past month, and she had been doing most of the work in the shop. She should go to the hospital and have it checked out, but what if she needed surgery?


    I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn''t easy to take a day off when the business was so busy, and it was even harder to raise the money for the surgery. J. lived a good life without worrying about money, but not me. After I decided to live a quiet life, I donated all my money to the West Sea Rift Foundation. Even with the monthly donations, it wasn''t enough to pay for the surgery.


    I frowned and peeled a clove of garlic, thinking, "If all else fails, I could sneak around the dungeon... and sell something.


    Most by-products from the dungeons fetched a decent price, so it might help pay for the operation. While I was thinking about where and how to drill, the phone on the counter rang at this hour for some reason. I held the receiver to my ear and continued chopping garlic.


    "Yes, this is Haejang-guk House."


    We often got calls asking if we could deliver to the restaurant, so as usual, I was about to reply that we were closed and didn''t usually deliver and hang up. But the unexpected voice that followed stopped me.


    -What should we do, Ui-jae?


    "Grandma?"


    It was Grandmother. The slight tremble at the end of her voice was unsettling. I held my breath, waiting for the next words. After a while, Grandma''s voice came from the other side of the receiver.


    -Haeun is gone.


    "What? Haeun is gone?"


    I panicked and quickly put down the receiver. The old woman had a hard time calming down.


    -Haeun is nowhere to be found, what should we do? I don''t know when she left without mice or birds knowing. The world is so scary these days, and she went out alone. ....


    I looked at my watch. 10:20 p.m. It was toote for a child in the lower grades of elementary school to be out alone. Bad thoughts popped into my head, but I pushed them away.


    "I''ll call the police first, and I''ll go out and look for her, but for now, just rest. I''m sure everything will be fine."


    I put down the knife and the garlic and spoke deliberately brightly. Grandma asked worriedly,


    -Aigo, Yaya.... Is it really okay?


    "It''s fine, don''t worry too much."


    -Carefully. Haeun couldn''t have gone that far, could she? You shouldn''t havee sote either, okay?


    "Okay. I''ll call youter."


    After I hung up, I remembered Haeun''s happy face when she bought the book. Unlike my voice earlier, I was stiff as I prepared to leave. I had said that everything would be fine, but I was also reassuring myself.@@novelbin@@


    Wearing a mask, I walked out of the store. Then I locked the door and hung a red closing sign. The night air was quite chilly.

 Chapter 6

    I swung the stainless steeldle I''d brought with me when I went outside. It was definitely more durable than a green leek, so it wasn''t a bad thing to have on hand just in case. As I continued to swing thedle, I tried to think of ces it could have gone.


    I had to find Park Haeun and bring her home before it was toote. I closed my eyes with determination.


    <Tracker''s eyes!>


    Two pupils glowed blue under my reopened eyelids. Thendscape before me became as simple as lines and nes, like the structural diagram of a building, and soon I could see inside the building. Tracker''s Eyes was a skill that allowed you to see someone''s unique glow and was often useful when searching for someone, like now.


    Instead of people, white lights rose and fell in the air like candles. A child''s light was only slightly smaller than average. I scanned the area with all my attention, but there seemed to be no sign of Haeun in the area.


    At that moment, I expanded the range of my skill a bit more.


    I got it!


    An intense purple me blinded me. It was the brightest andrgest me I''d ever seen in my life, burning with a ferocity that threatened to engulf the surrounding area.


    A me?


    I stopped for a moment. I walked quickly towards the me.


    The only beings that could appear in the form of mes, not just light, were the Awakened, including the Hunters. Even though the area around here was known to be full of hunters, a me that burned so brightly that it glowed in a tangible way couldn''t be an ordinary person. It was sharp and huge, more like a monster than a normal hunter.


    So I had to find out for myself. Was it just a skilled hunter or a threat? If it was thetter... Haeun might be in danger. I tightened my grip on the pan.


    The mes were burning in an alleyway not far from Haejang-guk''s. Smack, smack, smack... as the distance from the me grew, the dull thudding of footsteps and muffled groans grew louder. Someone was beating the crap out of someone.


    I finally reached the end of the alley, bathed in moonlight.


    In the midst of the raging purple mes, arge figure dressed in a sackcloth robe was mercilessly kicking someone cowering on the ground. The vicious aura emanating from it pierced his skin.


    At the same time, my keen intuition shed. I could instinctively feel it. The size of the me,parable to a monster, along with the sense of imposing power, shaping the surroundings with its mere presence. The figure in front of me...


    was an S-ss like me.


    The figure that had kicked the man whipped its head in my direction. I hastily turned off my ability and stepped back, the blurred figure now clearly visible without the mes.


    It was a man wearing a gas mask covering his face and ck tech gear. His leather shoes were stained with blood. He was dressed like a hunter in every sense of the word. After a long moment of silence with his gaze fixed, the gas-masked man pointed a ck-gloved hand at the garment.


    "You."


    "......."


    I stood, unmoved by the voice calling to me. The gas mask man said in anguid voice, "I''ve seen it all, an apron like CherX."


    "......."


    I took a step back into the shadows and the gas mask man said, "And adle. Don''t even think about running."


    I hid the hand holding thedle behind my back. You have good eyes, I''ll have to start wearing a JinX apron tomorrow.


    Just then, the man who had fallen wriggled and moved, and the man in the gas mask kicked him in the stomach again. His head was still facing me.


    "Ugh!"


    "This motherfucker gets all excited when he sees an opening and crawls out again..."


    The gas-masked man muttered in an irritated tone, continuing to stomp on his stomach and re at me.


    "Normal person?"


    "Yeah. I workte..."


    The next words were dry, if only out of politeness. After a moment of silence, the gas masked man added a question.


    ?"Then what are you doing outside with adle at this hour?"


    "I''m looking for my niece, she wasn''t home." I replied in a deliberately soft voice, waving my hand, palm down, around my waist. "Have you seen a girl about this high? She''s a grade-schooler with her hair in a single bun."


    The man in the gas mask shrugged at my shameless question. "I don''t know."


    "Okay, can I go now?"


    "Wait. I''ll ask him."


    The foot that had been stomping on the man dropped for a moment, only to kick him in the side again. The man just groaned as if he was already unconscious.


    "Sorry. This asshole doesn''t know anything. His brain is drugged."


    The man in the gas mask didn''t sound very sorry either; at this point I think he just wanted to apologize and give the man another punch. Being more concerned about finding my niece than the fact that some all-ck thug was beating people up, I shook my head.


    "Thanks for the trouble, I''ll go."


    "Wait."


    I turned and started to walk out of the alley, but the gas masked man grabbed me. After staring at my face for a long moment, the gas mask man tilted his head. His voice was slow and his movements seemed sluggish.


    "This is strange."


    "......."


    "Have we met somewhere before?"


    "No."


    "Really?"


    I stared at the gas masked man questioningly. There was no way I would forget someone wearing a gas mask so visibly. I assumed that this gas mask man was a newly awakened hunter while I was in the rift.


    After studying me for a moment, the gas-masked man raised an index finger to the corner of his mouth. "Don''t tell anyone what you just saw," he said, "and keep your mouth shut." Yes, getting involved with the police or the Bureau wouldplicate things.


    I nodded willingly, not knowing what it was like to beat people up in the back alleys without being seen. There was nothing to say, so I could just pretend I hadn''t seen them. The man with the gas mask waved me away.


    That was it.


    Gigigik... Kkigik...


    Kwaak!


    ?Sharp spikes protruded from the crouching man''s back and flew towards me in a sh. I was not surprised by the violent lunge. Instead, I calmly stepped aside, readjusted my scoop, strengthened my arm, and...


    aang!


    I hit the thorn in perfect position!


    Maybe I should have been a baseball yer. I didn''t know what a home run was, but I''m pretty sure it was a triple. Inwardly, I beamed with pride, clenched and unclenched my hand a few times, and then looked at the gas-masked man impassively. I clutched the thorn I''d caught in my hand.


    "......."


    "......."


    You... caught it?


    Under the circumstances, it seemed so. A hunter''s guiding principle was to protect civilians, and I was, by definition, a civilian, out in the middle of the night with a trowel looking for my niece, and even if I''d just swung at a thorn with a trowel, I deserved protection, and it was the gas-masked man who''d attacked.


    A cold sweat ran down my back. The awkward silence continued.


    "......."


    "......"


    Fuck.


    What civilian in this world would take a swing at a thorn that was reaching for him like a madman? I wanted to punch myself in the face for not being able to y the role of the good citizen cowering in fear of the thorn.


    Of course, it wasn''t possible for me to jump out of here, so I''ll just have to stun the gas mask man. How hard should I hit him on the head to make him lose his memory and be done with it? He should be able to take it a little harder.


    The weapon I was holding was a scoop, so it was hard to gauge its strength. Judging by the way my bare hands gripped the spikes that had just changed direction so abruptly, the gas mask man was no match for me, and I was stuck like a malfunctioning robot, deep in thought.


    Meanwhile, the Gas Mask Man shoved his gloves into his pockets and slowly crossed his arms, seemingly waiting for a reaction, so I came to my senses and turned to face him.


    Ha....


    Life is like X....


    Now that it is, it''s a frontal attack, no, a frontal escape. I stared into space, then bowed politely.


    ?"...I''d better go, I have to find my niece in a hurry."


    The flight from reality began.


    "Hey-"


    But the gas-masked man didn''t back down easily. On the contrary, he leaned closer, his voice rising.


    Don''t talk to me anymore. I took two steps back, but the gas mask man, who was now almost in front of me, took a step forward and towered over me,pletely covering me with a shadow as long as he was tall. The voice that came through the bars of the gas mask was a deepugh.


    "What''s your name?"


    "No name."


    "Aha...I take it you haven''t chosen a hunter name yet?"


    "Nope. I just don''t have a name."


    "Well, do you want me to give you a name then?"


    "Do you run a shop?"@@novelbin@@


    "Trying to set one up temporarily."


    It was a conversation like a swamp, where the more you try to get out, the more it grabs you. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink. I had no choice but to end this conversation somehow. I took a deep breath to calm my voice.

 Chapter 7

    "I really have to go, there''s an elementary school student wandering around outside at this hour. Aren''t you concerned about a child wandering the streets alone at this time of night?"


    It was a heartbreaking moment that could have been a public service announcement.


    Though I couldn''t read his mind, I prayed to myself as I looked at the man in the gas mask.


    "That''s right, I am."


    But despite my desperate prayers, the gas mask man''s voice was still rxed, and it sounded like he was telling me that the n wasn''t working. After shaking his head a few times, the gas mask man pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, typed something into it, and waved it in front of me.


    "My guys are going to find the kid, so can you wait?"


    But I was quick enough to take the next step this time. I shook my head and said firmly, "No, I refuse. I''m going to call the police, I''m going to ask people nearby for help."


    "Okay... Then I''ll call the Awakening Bureau."


    "Why would you call the Bureau?"


    "Because the hunters can use their powers to find the child faster than the police. Do you like Jungbin? He''lle if I call him. Do you want me to call him?"


    I was at a loss for words at the gas mask''s direct answer and then red at him.


    Are you serious?


    Seriously?


    After quickly reading each other''s eyes, I was drained of energy and could no longer fight back. I raised my hands slightly as if I understood.


    A hunter who specialized in tracking would have an easier time finding them than the police, as the man with the gas mask said. But that wasn''t the only reason why I took a step back, because this guy''s offer to call Jungbin didn''t sound like an empty gesture.


    Judging from the way he''d beaten up some people, the gas mask man must have been registered in the Awakening Bureau''s database as a person of interest. I''m sure thew-abiding Jungbin would rush here as soon as he heard about him, which would only make things worse.


    Just from our short conversation, I''ve decided that this bastard in front of me is not to be messed with.


    Haa... I sighed deeply and nervously ran a hand through my hair. The clock was ticking, and it seemed like the conversation would never end if they kept talking like this.


    "What do you want from me?"


    The gas-masked man chuckled slightly at how I''d phrased my question, dropped the deference and asked bluntly. He leaned a little closer and whispered softly.


    ?"I only have two questions."


    "..." I tilted my head as if to encourage him.


    "First question. Choose."


    The man in the gas mask showed a V-shape with straight hands. Thanks to the moonlight, his hand was clearly visible in the darkness. The tips of his pointed fingers were stained ck.


    Not wanting to prolong the silence, he spoke first, despite the unevenness of his gas mask.


    "First, the pan is an S-ss weapon, unknown to the world. Is that true?"


    The 6,900 wondle''s elevated status, it''s crazy....


    I can''t believe you put thedle up like that just because it got rid of that thorn. The gas mask man was more naive than I thought, or was he just an idiot? I was too tired to think about it and didn''t answer as I walked away.


    When there was no answer for a long time, the gas-masked man sighed deeply, slowly folded his index finger and turned his wrist halfway so that the back of his hand was visible. He asked, his face still calm, his middle finger pressed tightly together.


    "Second, you''re an unregistered Awakener. What about this?"


    "Cheap..."


    Did all hunters eat rice rolls like that these days? I looked at his impossibly long middle finger and made a face of amusement.


    Eight years ago, when I was on active duty, such a mutiny was unthinkable. No matter when this guy woke up, he couldn''t be older than me. Of course, I''m the first S-ss Awakener in Korea!


    I wouldn''t have thrown away the Confucian ideas that have been around for hundreds of years since the time of the Great Hunter. Just as I was about to interrupt the junior''s rant about his arrogance, the gas mask interjected with augh.


    "Well... that doesn''t look like an S-ss weapon, so it must be unregistered, right?"


    "I''m not unregistered."@@novelbin@@


    I wasn''t technically unregistered, since I was registered as an awakener anyway. Maybe I''d been dered missing or dead and had my record expunged, but I''d been registered eight years ago, so there was nothing to pierce my conscience with. But the gas-masked man snorted as if he''d had enough of the bullshit.


    "If you''re going to bullshit me, at least do it with some sincerity..."


    "I am serious."


    Before I could finish my sentence, the man in the gas mask shed out of sight. And the very next moment-


    Boom!


    I parried a blow from behind with mydle. Behind the lens of his gas mask, his violet eyes shed. Even after the attack was blocked, the gasmasked man did not withdraw his hand, but clutched thedle tightly. With a snap, the dented pan crumpled under the force.


    Chiiik-


    A momentter, thedle in the Gas Mask Man''s hand began to melt. The acrid smell of burning metal stung my nostrils.


    Is this a corrosion or dposition ability?


    Drip, drip, drip, dark liquid dripped onto the floor, turning it a frighteningly dark color wherever it touched. I had seen this before, recently; the fangs of the basilisk, the master of the Western Rift, had melted everything it touched.


    Poison.


    Poison that could even rival the venom of a basilisk. I thought the man with the gas mask was just a young hunter...


    I frowned as I felt the face behind the gas mask smirk. He took a step back, dusting his hands, not sure if he''d gotten the answer he was looking for.


    "An ordinarydle."


    "..."


    "And you, you''re an unregistered awakener blocking my attacks..."


    "How many times have I told you that I''m not unregistered?"


    "That''s it."


    A violet glow formed behind the round lenses of the gas mask.


    "There''s no way I wouldn''t know a person like you."


    Why did it feel so strangely repulsive when it could have been said as apliment? I thought as I returned the steady gaze, and it didn''t take me long to figure it out.


    You bastard, you''ve been short with your words ever since.


    This behavior was extremely annoying to the ears of me, the former J, now Cha Ui-jae, who had basically lived the life of a hunter with nothing but the utmost respect. There were ups and downs with cold water. I stiffened and raised my eyes.


    "Hey."


    "Huh?"


    "How old are you?"


    Shaking his head at the out of the blue question, the gas mask soon killed the momentum from earlier and answered innocently, "Twenty-four."


    Twenty-four? Twenty-four? I leaned even more heavily to the side and crossed my legs.


    "Wow, this kid has been talking down to me from the beginning."


    "You look about my age."


    "Hey, I''ve eaten five thousand more bowls of rice than you."


    Of course, I still couldn''t believe that I was twenty-eight and not twenty, but I hadn''t actually eaten five thousand more bowls of rice! At my age I should have used it more effectively. Right now, the only thing I had over the Gas Mask Man was the eight years I''d gained in the past.


    The Gas Mask Man shook his head again at the sudden snide remark. It was a childish thing to do with a scary gas mask, because it was so cute.


    "Aha... so?"


    "You speak informally."


    "I see..."


    The gas mask man smiled briefly and bowed slightly to me. Behind the lens, his eyes narrowed and he whispered, "Shall I speak formally?"


    The gas-masked man had a strange aura about him, perhaps because he had just beaten a man. If I hadn''t had the experience of fighting monsters while working as a hunter, I might have been a little intimidated.


    But I was a veteran hunter on the verge of exhaustion from rolling and rolling. The soft way he spoke and the subtle way he lifted his gas mask was enough to make me think he was tired. Of course, I wasn''t big enough to be talked down to by someone four years younger than me.


    I had the body of a twenty year old, but the mind of a two hundred and eighty year old. Maybe 280 was a better age for my bratty temper.


    Whether he knew it or not, he added, running his fingertips over the ck surface of his gas mask, "I''m sorry, it''s been a while since I showed any respect.


    Was this what prostration looked like? Even though I heard the respect I wanted, I felt rather ufortable. I felt like a grandfather with a grandson who wouldn''t listen to me and bowed twice when I asked him to bow once.


    I tried to calm down and remind myself.


    I was amoner now. A normal person. Not Hunter J. He was a precious hunter and I was amoner. Amoner who needed his help to find Haeun quickly. When I remembered the purpose ofing out today, my head felt cold.


    -Haeun is nowhere to be found, Uyano. I don''t know when she went out without the mice and birds knowing. The world is scary as hell these days, but she went out alone...


    But couldn''t I have found Haeun with the time I took to wrestle with that guy? As my mind wandered to this point, cracks began to appear in my self-hypnosis. I could feel something stirring inside me, threatening to rise.


    I wasn''t J anymore, but a good and ordinary person...


    "Even twins separated by a minute can tell each other apart!"


    Finally, my bully pulpit exploded.

 Chapter 10

    Ask anyone to name the most famous guilds in the hunter powerhouse that is South Korea, and they''ll probably name three without hesitation.


    First, Pado.


    Second, Samra.


    And third, Seowon.


    First and foremost, the Samra Guild was the first officially recognized guild in South Korea. Led by guild leader Song Joheon, who himself went from A to S rank and proved that it was possible to rise to the level of Awakening, it formed a heavy axis of the Korean huntermunity based on the solid foundation it had umted over a long period of time.


    The Seowon Guild was famous for another reason. The guild''s main building housed a huge library that was connected to other areas. They were a group that sought knowledge rather than money or fame, and their focus was on research rather than actualbat.@@novelbin@@


    And finally, the Pado Guild. The Pado Guild didn''t need much exnation. Two words were enough to sum it up.


    An elite few, and Lee Sayoung.


    One side of the Pado Guild''s spacious conference room was lined with windows, offering a sweeping view of the city. Bae Wonwoo, the deputy guild leader of the Pado Guild, entered the room with a tablet in front of him and knocked on the door to get their attention.


    "Alright, I''m going to do a quick headcount... Does anyone know why we''re four people short?"


    He set up the chairs for the exact number of participants, but there were four empty seats. He hadn''t received any RSVPs. As Bae Wonwoo scratched his head, a woman with dyed red hair tied in a half-bun raised her hand.


    "Vice leader~ you''re in the treatment room, it must have been a day."


    "Huh? For what? You haven''t even entered the dungeon."


    The red-haired woman, Kang Jisoo, shrugged in response to his question.


    "I don''t know, they were beaten up somewhere."


    "What? Some asshole beat up our kids and you let it happen?"


    "Oh, of course, we wanted to beat him up too, but the guild leader told us to leave him alone."


    Bae Wonwoo''s gaze flickered over to Lee Sayoung, who was sitting at the head of the table, fiddling with something in his hands, seemingly uninterested in the previous conversation, and tilted his head as if he felt his gaze.


    "Why?"


    "Nothing... You''re telling me to leave the kids alone when they''ve just been beaten up by some asshole? That''s not the code of our guild."


    ?"Leave it alone. It''s the guild leader''s order," Lee Sayoung said slowly, his voice still gruff. Bae Wonwoo narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look at where Sayoung''s attention was now. What he was holding in his hand... It seemed to be a crumpled business card.


    "What do you have in your hand?"


    "A letter."


    "A letter? Who gave it to you?"


    "You have a lot of questions..."


    With a jerk of his head, Sayoung jerked his chin in the direction of where the guild members were sitting.


    "Let''s start the meeting."


    "Uh... Jisoo, I want you to tell the injured about the meeting."


    "Aish, you always make me do that."


    Kang Jisoo grumbled, but Bae Wonwoo said nothing more, stepped up to the podium and grabbed the microphone. He cleared his throat and began.


    "Okay, I''m going to call this quarter''s dungeon bidding meeting to order. Everyone, turn on your tablets and open the files the support office sent you."


    The meeting began with a few dungeon-rted materials, but it was over sooner than expected. Everyone''s opinions were focused on one dungeon. Bae Wonwoo stood at the podium, fixed the microphone, and announced the results of the meeting.


    "Well... If there are no furtherments, I will decide that the dungeon bid for the fourth quarter will be the Jongno 3-ga Underground Dungeon. Does anyone have any objections?"


    "None!"


    "Good~ Jongno 3-ga is easy to get to, and the materials inside are good."


    "Is that where they get the materials for the Resurrection Potion? Why did the government release the suppliers?"


    "I guess they''re broke or something. I''m sure the bids are outrageously high."


    After it became known that dungeons and their byproducts were worth money, hunters who had closed their dungeons after getting drunk went a step further and left useful dungeons behind.


    They began periodically exploring the interiors of dungeons that had been cleared of monsters and collecting by-products to make money. In addition, the government and the Awakening Bureau studied the unimed dungeons and selected the most useful ones to auction off.


    Normally, the Guild Leader and Deputy Guild Leader would have discussed and participated in the auction, but this quarter''s auction had a particrly high number of valuable dungeons, making it difficult to decide. That''s why Bae Wonwoo called today''s meeting to hear everyone''s opinions. It ended on a high note.


    "This is the end of the meeting..."


    "Wait."


    Lee Sayoung, who had been quietly listening throughout the meeting, raised her hand, catching the attention of the guild members who were clearing their seats, expecting the meeting to end soon. Bae Wonwoo, who was about to end the meeting, also blinked.


    ?"What is it, Sayoung?"


    "If you have something to say..."


    "What''s going on?"


    Curious eyes turned to Lee Sayoung in unison. Was there something he didn''t like, or was he trying to steal another guild''s bid for more dungeons?


    But the words that came out of his mouth were unexpected.


    "Have you ever seen a man wearing a soju-branded apron around here?"


    "A soju-branded apron? Out of the blue?"


    "Yes. ck. And he carries adle this big."


    "Adle?"


    "It''s curly and... the hair was ck... No, it was gray."


    "He has curly ck hair...no, it was gray?"


    Lee Sayoung made a circle with his hands. Bae Wonwoo, the Pado Guild''s reliable shield and deputy guild leader, looked around as if to ask what the hell was going on. But it didn''t help that everyone else just looked at him in confusion.


    ''Hey, don''t any of you know?


    If the deputy guild leader doesn''t know, then who does?


    These thoughts seemed toe out of nowhere.


    Bae Wonwoo scratched his cheek and asked, trying to think as hard as he could, "Where... did you see the soju promotion?"


    Bae Wonwoo was an honest and reliable tanker, but he didn''t have the intelligence of a sniper. His reasoning waspletely wed, but the other guild members didn''t know what to expect, so they agreed with him.


    "Ah~ Guild Leader, where did you go to buy groceries?"


    "No, if he went to the grocery store, it would have been on social media by now."


    "That''s another one."


    "Isn''t he kind of a weird person to wear an apron in the first ce?"


    "Well, if he works in a restaurant, maybe not."


    "Why would the Guildmaster be looking for a restaurant worker?"


    "I don''t know. Or maybe he had a good meal and forgot to take off his apron."


    "Don''t the bosses usually tell you to take off your apron when you pay the bill?"


    "That doesn''t help."


    After listening to the guild members'' opinions one by one, Lee Sayoung made a cold assessment.


    "No, who was talking about the man in the apron out of the blue while we were talking about the offer?"


    ?Bae Wonwoo mmed the podium in frustration. The wooden podium was dented in the shape of his fist. The head of the General Affairs Team seized the moment to adjust his sses, and the lenses popped and sparkled.


    "Deputy Guild Leader, I''m sending you an invoice to rece the podium."


    "Oh, shit. Can you give me a break?"


    In a sh, Sayoung stood up from his seat amidst the chaos in the hall. He twirled his sesame seeds a few times and slipped the crumpled business card into his pocket. When he saw Bae Wonwoo pleading with the head of the General Affairs Team, he waved his hand to end the meeting.


    "Okay, meeting over. Go eat."


    "Hey, Sayoung, don''t skip your lunch again!"


    There was an affectionate nagging in the back of his mind, but Lee Sayoung was the first to leave the conference room without answering, and Wonwoo, who had been watching him, let out a long sigh. Kang Jisoo shrugged.


    "Is the leader skipping meals for a day or two? Let''s just eat."


    "Ehh... Yes, let''s eat haejang-guk."


    "Ah! I want some haejang-guk. If you eat it again today, I won''t eat with the deputy leader."


    "Would you like toe with me? I''ll buy it for you."


    "Unfortunately, I can''t. I''ll eat at the cafeteria. You go alone."


    As Kang Jisoo quickly ran out of the meeting room without a chance to catch her, Bae Wonwoo had onest hope and cautiously asked the rest of the group.


    "Anyone else want toe with me?"


    The moment he said that, the hunters were out of the room in a sh. They weren''t even that fast when running away from a rank 2 monster!


    "Isn''t everyone taking Pado''s loyalty too lightly?"


    In the end, Bae Wonwoo had to make his way to Haejang-guk House alone. The long-established restaurant he frequented every day had a good reputation, but that wasn''t the only reason he wanted to visit.


    First of all, news travels fastest where people gather! I''ll talk to the hunters there, gather information, and make some friends! The Deputy Guild Leader of Pado''s had these deeper intentions, and he made his presence known at the restaurant every lunchtime. The added bonus was the satisfaction of seeing his signature on the worn wallpaper of Haejang-guk House.


    Second, Haejang-guk House maintained the old prices as much as possible even when prices were going crazy, the food was delicious, and the portions were generous. Who knows if there was anything left after the sale. The owner''s grandmother always greeted him when he visited. Haejang-guk House was the only ce in the changed world that had retained its pre-scission appearance.


    Just a few months ago, a strange young man in his early twenties suddenly appeared in the shop.


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!


    If you want to buy me a coffee /santos_28

 Chapter 11

    From what he had heard, the young man was the eighth cousin of the second son-inw of the nephew of the grandmother who owned the Haejang-guk house. While searching for rtives who had survived the loss of their families due to the rift, he finally met his grandmother. He said he had no ce to go, so he spent his time helping in his grandmother''s shop, his only remaining blood rtive in the world.


    Wonwoo listened only half-heartedly to the young man''s sad and epic story. The story of how he lost his family and survived on his own was not part of the story.


    But they all praised him as an unprecedented disy of filial piety. Nowadays, all the young people would go to Noryangjin to prepare for the Hunter''s Civil Service Examination or to join the Non-Awakened Division of the Hunter''s Guild, and no one would work in a shabby haejang-guk house, even if it was a family-run restaurant!


    Therefore, the hunters, including Bae Wonwoo, looked at the young man who had suddenly appeared in a very favorable light. In fact, they thought that it was too much for an old woman to run a business by herself. The young man, who was healthy and strong, was so good at his job that he was able to sell a few pots.


    He looked like he''d been working in a Haejang-guk house for 30 years.


    By all ounts, this must have been his first time working in a haejang-guk house, but the young man''s serving skills were unusually good. The tables were definitely turning faster since he started working, and the grandmother didn''t scold him to stop eating! For hunters who eat fast and eat a lot, his arrival was good news.


    Buttely, the young man seemed to be running the store by himself. When asked, he said that his grandmother''s legs weren''t feeling well. It was a pity.


    "Wee."


    The young man bowed his head in greeting, and Bae Wonwoo returned the greeting with a friendly smile before scanning the empty seats. The only empty seat was across from a lone customer in a two-seater, but fortunately the owner of that seat was a hunter who knew Wonwoo. He was just as regr as Bae Wonwoo, seeing him at least once every two days, so they had built up quite a bit of familiarity.


    Wonwoo asked nicely, "Can I sit here for a while?"


    "Sure. You made it in time before the long wait."


    ?"Of course."


    Bae Wonwoo, who had joined the group with a casual greeting, scanned his surroundings for a moment. In order to gather the information the guild leader wanted, he asked into thin air.


    "By the way... where do you wear a soju apron these days?"


    His voice was slightly squeaky, but as far as Bae Wonwoo was concerned, it rhymed quite naturally. The hunter sitting across from him narrowed his eyes and asked back, "What, a soju apron all of a sudden?"


    "Uh, hmm, I was just wondering," he blurted out, and the tables around them chimed in with their ownments.


    "Don''t you usually wear one when you go to a restaurant to keep the food from sttering on your clothes?"


    "Right."


    "Yeah. They''re everywhere, hung on the wall for us to wear."


    "I went to the chicken ribs in front of the Madok Guild the other day, and they were there too. I hear it''s a Hunte-certified restaurant, and it''s really good."


    "Wow. I went there once and the wait was so long, I just gave up."@@novelbin@@


    "If you go there on a Friday night, there''s a whole group from Madok eating there."


    As Wonwoo watched the hunters talking about food, he felt proud of himself inside. When he turned his head to look around, he saw a ck apron hanging on a grid of hangers on the wall.


    Yes, that one. As Wonwoo''s eyes lit up with joy, the young man walked over with the kimchi and kkakdugi and ced them on the table. Then, from the front pocket of his apron, he pulled out a pen and a new bill...


    ...an apron!


    Bae Wonwoo felt a sh in his head: the busy part-time worker of the shop always wore an apron. The young man''s apron had arge CherX logo on the chest.


    A soju brand apron?


    "A Haejang-guk, right? Do you want a lot of chili?"


    Bae Won-woo forgot to answer and just stared at the young man as if he was fascinated by something.


    The first time he saw him, he thought, "What kind of actor is in Haejang-guk''s house? At first nce, one would be surprised to see such a pretty and handsome person in such a shabby ce, with his sharp, nonchnt face, clear ck eyes, and neat ck hair. Bae Wonwoo''s eyes suddenly narrowed.


    What?


    The part-timer''s hair was originally... Under the fluorescent light, the rounded top of his head looked much brighter than his ck hair today.


    ''If you have gray hair...''


    Gee... that''s pretty close to the description Lee Sayoung gave, isn''t it? He said it was ck or gray, with confusingly curly hair, and gray hair isn''t evenmon!


    "Customer?"


    This is a Haejang-guk house... Shouldn''t there be adle? Wonwoo looked around uncertainly.


    "Customer."


    "Hunter Bae-nim?"


    Bae Wonwoo came to his senses only after a hunter called out to him. Two pairs of eyes stared at him in disbelief. Bae Wonwoo smiled and nodded.


    "Uh, yeah, that''s right. Lots of Cheongyang pepper."


    "Okay. Wait a minute."


    The young man clicked his pen and turned to head for the kitchen. Bae Wonwoo, who had been staring after him, soon shook his head. There''s no way Lee Sayoung would be looking for a part-time worker at Haejang-guk House. He''s sure they''ve never even crossed paths.


    ...But maybe?


    Bae Wonwoo kept looking in the direction of the kitchen where the young man had gone, trying to guess the possibilities. But after a while -


    "Haejang-guk is ready."


    The lingering doubt in his mind melted away in front of the hot Haejang-guk. Bae Wonwoo smiled broadly, emptied the pot of haejang-guk to the bottom as if washing dishes, and called out, "One more bowl!


    *Please be polite and respectful!


    *Posts that do not follow the rules may be deleted without notice.


    Subject: [Anonymous] What''s with the guild atmosphere today?


    I can barely breathe.


    Comment (12)


    Why?


    Is it 240?


    ?I''mte for work today.


    If I knew, I wouldn''t have posted this.


    ?I just saw him and he looks pissed off? His face is rotten??????


    He always wears a gas mask. How can you tell from his facial expressions?


    ?It is so obvious.


    ?What do you think?


    It is 240 again...


    (TL/N: 240 is Lee Sayoung, they made it 240 so it wouldn''t be obvious, like a code name. 2 - i ; 4 - sa ; 0 - gong ; whenbined, it sounds like Lee Sayoung)


    ?Mr. 240 will be going down to the 11th floor conference room soon. Be careful not to cross paths.


    ?Thank you, secretary anonymous!


    Subject: [Anonymous] Mr. 240, when you''re not feeling well, the temperature of the building itself seems to drop about 3 degrees.


    Can''t you just work from home on bad days?


    It''s so cold.


    Comments (7)


    ?That''s why I bought a heating artifact at the Hunter Market ??? It''s hot.


    ???? Do I really need a detox artifact and a heating artifact... Life as a Pado Guild member is hard.


    If you have them, let''s get some tools;


    On days like this, we need to provide hot packs. That''s guild welfare.


    ?Mr. 240, you don''t even have an ice ability, so how do you lower the ambient temperature?


    I guess it''s a skill or talent. Nobody knows the real reason.


    ?I guess you get those skills when you''re S-rank oo


    A week after the dungeon bidding meeting, Lee Sayoung was in such a bad mood that the whole guild was noisy.


    ?His mood was like a gyroscope hanging from the top in a vertical plunge. Although his face was hidden by the gas mask, it was impossible not to feel the terrifying aura around him.


    Something was happening that would make no sense to Lee Sayoung''smon sense, or to anyone else who knew anything about Korean hunters.


    South Korea was one of the few countries in the world that had an excellent database of its citizens'' personal information. When the gates first opened and the Awakened began to appear, the country quickly established the Awakening Bureau and created the concept of "government hunters" who were subordinate to the state, and it only took a few years to systematically manage the information of every Awakened.


    It was because he trusted this database that he let that suspicious ''Hyung'' go so easily. From the moment he met him to the moment they parted, he was sure that he was at least an A-ss hunter. No matter how much he hid, it was impossible to hide all of his abilities from an S-rank hunter.


    Hunters who hid their abilities could easily live with a B-rank, so it was likely that his Hyung was also a B-rank outwardly.


    Anyone with a B-rank ability or higher would definitely be registered in the awakening database. Thinking so, Sayoung instructed Minki to search the Awakeners Database and report back to him. He had no doubt that Minki was capable of doing so.


    But a few dayster, after sneaking around for a while, the news came like a bolt of lightning.


    "I was captured by Jungbin.


    This was the worst news of all, and out of habit, he rubbed the crumpled business card with his fingertips.


    "You specialize in stealth, and you''re ranked 33rd, right?"


    "Yes, that''s right."


    "Then why the hell do you get caught?"


    "Because Jungbin is ranked third, and he''s an S-ss... Oh no."


    Minki swallowed what he wanted to say, but it was toote.


    Sayoung sneered sarcastically. "I''m number one and I''m an S-ss. You''re afraid of Jungbin, but not of me."


    "No, Guild Leader, I''m damn afraid."


    "What did Jungbin say?"


    "That''s... the thing," Seo Min-ki muttered darkly.


    "He told you to go to the Awakening Bureau yourself. He said he needs to meet with you..."


    "Shit."


    That was the reason why Sayoung interrupted his work today to pay a personal visit to the Awakening Bureau. He listened to Jungbin''s bitter words from the side, letting them drift in one ear and out the other, and searched the Awakener database. The whole time he was searching, Jung-bin was chattering away:


    "Lee-shi, the Awakeners database should not be used for selfish purposes.


    "Are you listening? Look, I said no.


    "Hunter Lee, can you at least pretend to listen to people?"


    And on and on, but he didn''t stop searching.


    "If he''s not registered here, that means there''s at least one unregistered B-rated person walking the streets, aren''t you going to check it out?"


    When Sayoung said this, even Jungbin, who looked like a big man, shut up.


    He was ready to break down like that, and he did break down, searching everywhere he could, but there wasn''t a single piece of information.


    There was no ''Hyung'' in the Awakener database, the pride of Korea!


    He checked three times, including all F-ranks, just in case, but he didn''t see the face he had seen that day. He wondered if it was a photo ID, so he went through the photos again in reverse order.


    ?Two men were shocked for the same reason.


    Unregistered hunters exist in South Korea?

 Chapter 12

    South Korea''s awakeningws were strict, especially when it came to awakening registration.


    If you didn''t go to the center and register as an Awakened within a month of your awakening, you were fined at least a billion units. So while there may have been some Awakened Beings who hid their rank and power when they registered, there were no Awakened Beings who didn''t register at all. Korea was such a country.


    Lost in thought, Jungbin rubbed his chin.


    "Lee-ssi, are you sure that the Awakened is a B-rank or higher?"


    "Yes."


    "How can you be so sure?"


    "He blocked my attack."


    "Your attack?"


    Sayoung nodded and Jungbin was quickly convinced. "If that''s the case, then he''s definitely a B or higher."


    ?"He even hit a spike that suddenly protruded from the addict''s body."


    "That''s not to be expected from someone who''s just awakened, so he must be quitefortable with his abilities."


    Sayoung nodded again as he was inclined to agree. Then he added briefly, "With a scoop."


    "What? With adle?"


    It wasn''t fashionable to wear an apron like CherX. Lee Sayoung expected his "hyung" to be a part-timer or the son of a shopkeeper somewhere. He said he was older than him, but he still looked like he was in his early 20s. He couldn''t afford to pay the fine, so why should he risk all kinds of penalties and not even register?


    The sequence of facts made no sense to him. He hadn''t been this irritated when his ''Hyung''s'' captors had returned on a stretcher, business cards in hand. He was confident he''d find him soon enough, and his ability to take out four elite guild members in one fell swoop proved it.


    -If you touch her, you''ll lose.


    For the tenth time in a day, Sayoung looked at the jagged handwriting on the crumpled business card. At this point, his patience was wearing thin. Finally, he turned on the microphone that connected him to the secretary''s office.


    "Tell Hunter Very Small Miracle toe to the guild leader''s office. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. No, just announce it on the air."


    -Hunter Very Small Miracle, real name Hunter Seo Minki, please report to the guild leader''s office immediately. I repeat, Hunter Very Small Miracle, real name Hunter Seo Minki, real name Hunter Seo Minki...


    Forty minutes before he left for the day, Sayoung summoned Minki to the guild leader''s office.


    After a while, Very Small Miracle, real name Seo Minki, opened the door of the guild leader''s office with a haggard face and dark circles hanging down to his chin. He bowed his head grimly.


    "You called for me."


    "Why does your face look like that?"


    "Did you call me here to harass me?"


    At his words, Lee Sayoung turned a naturally virtuous face.


    "Harass you. Are you busy?"


    "Even if I was busy, you would still call me."


    "I know."


    It was a matter of course. In fact, Seo Minki was also guilty of a crime, so whenever the guild members asked, "Why do you have to nt 240? With a sigh, he murmured, "I can do all that, except for getting into the government databases."


    "Mmm, good." Lee Sayoungughed, as rxed as a recently fed cat.


    "The girl I told you to findst time. What was her name?"


    "You mean Park Haeun, second grade, second ss, Saetbyul Elementary School?"


    "Yes, her."


    Sayoung looked at the business card on the table and clutched it with both hands.


    "I think I told you to look into her family connections as well..."


    Oh my God. Minkii''s face went pale. He''d been so focused on cracking the Awakeners database that he''d forgotten. He hadn''t even managed to crack it, so he hadn''t done anything.


    When Minki started to tremble, Sayoung continued coldly.


    "Investigate now."


    "Yes, I''ll go right away."


    After Minki stormed out, Sayoung grabbed the business card again. A momentter, the cell phone screen that had been lying behind his hand fiddling with the crumpled paper flickered to life, revealing an iing call.


    [Seowon Guild Nam Woojin]


    After recognizing the caller, Sayoung pressed the call button.


    "What."


    -Jungbin called to say that they had collected the bodies of the addicts. He said that there was a report.


    "..."


    ?-First, I brought it here because it''s pretty interesting... I thought you shoulde and see for yourself.


    Sayoung looked at his watch. He threw the crumpled business card into his inventory and stood up.


    "Wait for me, I''ll be right there."


    At 2:40 p.m. on the same day, the Haejang-guk house, with a sign saying that the ingredients were being prepared, was having the most rxing time of the day. Haeun, who had been sitting at the green table for 20 minutes without being able to turn the first page of her study guide, rolled her eyes and looked up. She pointed her hand at my head.


    "Uncle, your hair is lighter on the inside."


    "Huh? Really?"


    "Yes. I think you should dye it."


    I looked at Haeun''s workbook. In the space for the answer to question one, instead of the correct answer, there was a picture of two earthworms sitting side by side on a leaf. I set my jaw in a serious line.


    "I''m really curious, but is the answer to question one earthworms?"


    "Yes. And Uncle, you''re not looking in the mirror, so I''m telling you on purpose. You should dye your hair."


    "Okay. Thanks for reminding me. I''m going to look in the mirror and I want you to do question one again."


    "Tsk, okay."


    Haeun pouted and went back to scribbling in her notebook. I got up from my seat and stood in front of the mirror on the wall, lifting my hair to look into it. I wondered if the fluorescent light was making me look bad, but the ash-colored hair I''d covered with ck showed through at the roots. Shaking, I tugged at the ends of my hair.


    How long has it been since I colored it and it''s already losing color.


    My hair had been ashen since the moment I''d escaped from the rift. I periodically dyed it ck to make it less noticeable, but whether due to my hair''s resilience or some other unknown reason, it would return to its ashen color as soon as I dyed it.


    The cost of hair color is no joke.


    My hair didn''t hold color very well, I had to use two or three tubes of dye per color, and my coloring cycles were short. I wondered if I dyed my hair more often than celebrities who tried to change their image by changing their hair color.


    Today, I nned to have a rtively rxing afternoon, as I had a lot of materials ready to go. Speaking of which, let''s re-dye the roots. I untied the straps of my apron.


    "Haeun, I''m going to dye my hair. I''ve put up a sign, so don''t open the door if anyonees."


    "Even if it''s on the door?"


    asionally, hunters would hang around the door asking for a bowl of haejang-guk, even though I''d put up a sign while I was preparing the ingredients. Most of them had just finished a dungeon run and their eyes were zed over.


    I nodded firmly. "Yes. Even if they hold out, we can''t open it. If you think it''s too much, call Uncle right away. Do your best to answer the questions. Promise."


    "Yes. Promise."


    Haeun replied as if she was listening, but she didn''t look at me. Judging from the movement of the pencil, it looked like she was drawing, not writing. It looked like she was creating problems instead of solving them... Iughed and hung my apron on the wall.


    I got two squid ink hair dyes from the side room attached to Haejang-guk and went to the restroom attached to the shop.


    <Unique Trait, Dexterous Hands (S+) is activated>.


    My stic-gloved hands moved nimbly as I applied the dye to every inch of my hair. My innate trait, "Skilled Hands," was a trait that allowed me to perform tasks skillfully and meticulously, even if they were new to me.


    In addition to being able to use a weapon skillfully for the first time, this trait allowed me to boil a pot of haejang-guk for the first time like a craftsman who had been making haejang-guk for 30 years. Skilled Hands also enabled me to run a haejang-guk house by myself without the help of my grandmother.


    These were the best qualities that everyone coveted, but I only used them to dye my hair faster and cleaner. It was a sight that would make others cry.


    I put theb down and looked at myself in the mirror. I smiled with pride as I saw my hair color evenly applied. Perfect.


    If I can''t work at Haejang-guk House... I''ll work as a hairdresser.


    A pleasant snort escaped my lips as I realized my new career path after hunting countless monsters. Whatever it was, there were plenty of ways to make a living without being a hunter, thanks to my great features. I took off my hair dye-stained gloves and checked the time on my phone; I had to stay in the dye for the next 30 minutes.


    As I put the dye away and grabbed the bathroom doorknob, my phone vibrated twice.


    Haeun: Uncle


    Haeun: There''s a strange person at the door.


    A strange person?


    Haeun was the granddaughter of Haejang-guk House, a hunter-certified restaurant. She grew up seeing all kinds of hunters, so her threshold for weirdness was high, and she didn''t call people weird unless they were really weird.


    In other words, if Haeun said it was a strange person... it meant he wasn''t a person withmon sense. I stiffened. A strange aura hovered nearby.


    <Silent footsteps!>


    After using the skill to dispel the aura, I carefully opened the door and poked my head out to see the entrance to Haejang-guk House.


    A ragged man stood at the door with his head bowed low. His shoulders were slumped and his body was visibly shaking, mumbling unintelligible words and biting his nails. From time to time, the man banged his head against the ss.


    The man''s appearance was... strangely familiar. I frowned and searched my memory. Where had I seen him before? That ragged breathing, that inhuman aura.


    "Sorry. This asshole doesn''t know anything. His brain is drugged."@@novelbin@@


    Ah.


    ?That strange gas mask, the same one that attacked me with spikes the day I met Lee Sayoung! The moment I realized it, I rushed out of the bathroom and shouted, "Park Haeun, lock the door as soon as Uncle leaves!"


    Without hesitating, I rushed out the door and gave him a flying kick in the face.


    The kicknded right in the man''s face, knocking him to the ground and burying him in a pile of garbage. I grabbed the broom from the doorway and stalked toward the man. The man was struggling to get up, but he was still giggling. The man''sughter showed no signs of stopping, even as blood trickled from his crushed face. Blood soaked the pay-as-you-go bag.


    "Ugh... Heh, heh, heh... Hic!"


    "Shut up, shit. She can hear you."


    I looked back at the Haejang-guk house. Fortunately, I was out of sight unless I opened the door. Haeun was a fragile child, so she''ll hide well inside, but she might hear us, so we have to be as quiet as possible... No.


    It would be faster to just break his neck.


    I reached out and grabbed the man''s neck. The man''s body jerked violently, but all I could see was a bloody face and neck. Theughing man immediately stopped moving.


    And then...


    Swaaak!


    ck thorns, piercing through the man''s body, rained down on the prosthetic.

 Chapter 13

    In an instant, the ck thorns stretched out and rained down on him. Ignoring the thorns that threatened to overwhelm him, Ui-aje nonchntly twisted the man''s neck.


    He could clearly feel the bones of the man''s neck snap in his grip, and then the man''s head snapped in a strange direction. His body went limp as thest of the light faded from his ssy eyes.


    "This is thest straw."


    Ui-jae muttered in an annoyed voice and inspected his body. His clothes were torn in ces, but there was not a single scratch on his body. Some of the thorns that had tried to dig in had even bent outwards. After dusting off his bloodied hands, he stood and shook his head.


    What is it? I thought they only came out at night.


    If they were crawling around in broad daylight, their presence would surely be noticed. There was no way the normal hunters wouldn''t talk about them as well.


    But I''ve never heard of anything like them.


    Suddenly, the image of a gas mask shed through his mind. Ui-jae chuckled and murmured,


    "I thought it meant not telling people about their existence..."


    What if it meant not letting anyone know they existed? Controlling information to maintain confidentiality was amon urrence, so he wasn''t surprised, but ....@@novelbin@@


    Ui-jae frowned. If that was the case, why did the gas mask let him go? It would have been easier to kill him without having to keep him alive.


    At that moment, he heard small movements and gaspsing from the Haejang-guk house. Ha-eun must have noticed how quiet it had be outside, because she approached the door. Ui-jae hid the man''s body in the trash just in case, then ran to the door and knocked with the back of his hand.


    "Ha-eun, it''s your uncle, can you open the door?"


    He deliberately put his face close to the ss and waved his hand, and the lock came off with a small flourish. Ha-eun sat down, hugging her backpack and shivering slightly. After seeing him, her legs seemed to rx.


    He bent down and squatted to her eye level.


    "It''s okay. There''s no one here anymore. They''re gone."


    "Gone?"


    Her tear-filled eyes turned to Ui-jae. Seeing the tear-stained face, he bit the inside of his mouth.


    Did I kill him too kindly?


    Ha-eun threw down her school bag and grabbed Ui-jae''s hand. The bandaged hand he had once held covered her tiny hand.


    The girly in bed, her whole body wrapped in bandages, unable to speak. The only way she couldmunicate was by snapping her fingers. When she moved her fingers, Ui-jae stroked her head or held her hand.


    Shit...


    His stomach rumbled. Ui-jae lowered his eyes, pulled Ha-eun into a hug and patted her back with his left hand.


    "It''s okay."


    "...."


    "It''s all right now. You were scared, weren''t you?"


    Ha-eun sobbed instead of answering. Ui-jae tilted his head back, wondering if the dye in his hair had touched her skin, and spoke softly.


    "Uncle will tell the others. It won''t happen again."


    "Yes..."


    After patting her back for a while, she seemed to calm down a bit. Ha-eun mumbled through her nose.


    "Tell Jung-bin and Honeybee about this."


    ...That''s going to be a little difficult since they''ve never been to Haejang-guk''s house. But he couldn''t just coldly refuse, even if he couldn''t appease the surprised girl, so he changed the subject with a trembling voice.


    "Can I wash off my hair dye first?"


    "Sure... It''s actually kind of smelly."


    "Make sure you say it smells like hair dye. If anyone else hears it, they''ll misunderstand."


    Ha-eun giggled. Ui-jae let out a short sigh and wondered what to do with the body in the dumpster. He also thought about the regrs of the Haejang-guk house who would arrive in an hour.


    Bodies that ordinary people couldn''t get rid of. The ones who would have to hide their identities.


    I will have to ask a hunter to do that.


    From now on, it was time to pretend to be a normal person.


    A skinny man wearing a gas mask entered the pristine lobby of the Seowon Guild. The security guards did not stop him, as if the gas mask was some kind of identification. A boy in a white robe standing in front of the central staircase spotted the gas mask man and trotted over.


    "Hello, Lee-ssi."


    Sa-young looked down at the child with indifferent eyes.


    "Nam Woo-jin."


    "He''s in the operating room. Let me show you."


    The child went into the corridor to the right and Sa-young followed. The corridors of the Seowon Guild were asplex as abyrinth and tangled like an anthill.


    After walking for a while, he came to a massive iron gate with a red ''in use''mp above it. The child cautiously opened the door and stepped aside.


    "Sir, Lee Sa-young is here."


    The room looked more like a scientist''sboratory than an operating room. Books and documents lined the walls, surgical instruments and medical equipment cluttered the room, and arge operating table sat in the middle of the room.


    The man sitting in the chair, his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He had a green surgical suit, a white gown, white hair, white eyes, and silver-rimmed sses. It was an unusual appearance even in the hunter era when all colors of hair and eyes were covered. Sa-young shook her head and greeted her roughly.


    "Nam Woo-jin."


    Nam Woo-jin, South Korea''s sixth-ranked hunter and the country''s only A-ranked healer, stood up.


    "I heard you''ve been busytely, so I thought I''d have to wait three hours. You''re early."


    ?"I know. I''m in a hurry, so get to it."


    "Sure."


    Standing in front of the operating table, Woo-jin pulled back the white cloth that covered the bulging tabletop. It revealed the body of a man, his face drenched in blood and mangled, ck thorns sprouting from every inch of his twisted body. It was what they called an ''addict''. Sa-young muttered indifferently.


    "He''s in terrible shape."


    "Jung-bin said he was in this state when they found him. He was hit with such force that his face was crushed."


    "That''s not enough to kill him."


    "No. The immediate cause of death is a broken neck. Someone broke his neck."


    There was a hand-shaped mark on his neck. Sa-young''s eyes lit up at the sight of the wound.


    "This..."


    ?"Yes. Grab it with your bare hands, all at once."


    Nam Woo-jin made a gesture of grabbing something in the air and twisting it.


    Their bodies are very strong when they''re drugged, and their bodies begin to mutate. No amount of force would be able to break their bones and subdue them. Sa-young looked at the corpse and straightened his upper body.


    "Who is the reporter?"


    "Yang Hye-jin. A-rank hunter of the Rift Management Agency."


    The name sounded familiar. Sa-young tapped the operating table with his fingertips.


    "Did she handle it?"


    "No. I don''t know who it was. There was a first finder. A part-timer at Haejang-guk House found it while taking out the trash... and found it."


    Woo-jin looked at the body with all the ck spikes sticking out.


    "He found it. He must have been very scared."


    "......."


    "Well, it''s quite surprising to the average person. He was shaking and trembling, and then he asked Yang Hye-jin, who came to eat at Haejang-guk House, to call the police."


    "Haejang-guk House?"


    "Yes. I heard it''s a good restaurant... .... I haven''t been there, so I don''t know the details."


    When he said Haejang-guk house, I could only think of a ce where Bae Won-woo was always going to work like he was obsessed with something. Sa-young frowned. The fingertips on the operating table slowly slowed down.


    "Where exactly was he found?"


    "That''s kind of interesting. Boy."


    "Yes, sir."


    The child waiting by his side handed him a tablet with a map on it. He zoomed in on the map on the screen.


    "Does this ce look familiar? It''s the separate collection dump near the alley where the addict was foundst time."


    "......."


    ?"We need to see if there''s a new supply in the area. Take note."


    True to Woo-jin''s word, the ce was in the same alley where Sa-young had met his ''hyung''. Could it be a coincidence?


    "Oh, and there''s something else unusual... .... Check this out."


    Woo-jin pointed with his medical gloved hand to several ck thorns that protruded viciously from the corpse. Of the many thorns protruding from the body, several protruding from the stomach and heart were bent as if they had been hit by something solid.


    He tilted his head slightly and fixed his gaze on the twisted tips of the thorns. A strange sense of rity came over him.


    "I''ve never seen thorns bent like that before. It looks like they''ve been hit by something very hard... Have you ever seen one?"


    I have.


    The thorns ''Hyung'' bent with thedle had looked like this... He''d thought about it so many times that he knew it immediately. The corners of his mouth, which had hardened, drew an arc.


    When he searched the databases and found no trace, he nearly choked on his medication. After a while, he had the intention to kick his ass as soon as he found him, but when he did, he couldn''t help butugh. Woo-jin clenched his jaw and muttered.


    "You look like you know something."


    "Yeah."


    Sa-young smiled with satisfaction.


    "I finally caught the tail."

 Chapter 15

    There are days in life when you wake up in the morning and feel like crap from the moment you open your eyes. Today was one of those days for Ui-jae.


    We all have those days when we wake up and think, ''I shouldn''t be so lucky...'' You wake up to the sound of sparrows and the warmth of the sunshine. The kind of day where you roll out of bed as soon as you wake up and cry at the front door because you bought new shoes and forgot to tie your shoces, even though you''re already runningte. The day you fall backwards and break your nose.


    Cha Ui-jae hadn''t felt such an ominous premonition in a long time. He took out his cell phone and called his AI assistant.


    "Nexby, search for today''s horoscope."


    -Search for today''s horoscope.


    His AI assistant began to recite Cha Ui-jae''s horoscope in a t voice.


    -Even a falling leaf can hurt you, so you must be careful and cautious in everything you do. There are dangers around every corner that threaten you. Don''t take anything for granted, and check carefully.


    "Is this a horoscope or a murder warning?"


    Contrary to Ui-jae''s desire to lighten the mood, Nexby continued to deliver a chilling horoscope.


    -You''d better be careful and keep a low profile today, there''s a chance of a sweet encounter in the afternoon, so why don''t you go out for a while?


    It''s a long story, but to sum it up in one line: "Your horoscope is crap today.


    On days when my S-rank intuition and divination were spot on, I usually got away with it. This is going to be a wild day. I''ll have to be careful. .... Ui-jae stood up, stretched and made a mental note to himself.


    But there was something Ui-jae had overlooked... No matter how careful and prepared you are, fate will always find you.


    Like the disastrous arrival of Lee Sa-young at the shop today!


    "Hello, Hyung."


    The deep, rxed voice was familiar. Maybe it was because the first meeting with him had been so intense.


    Ui-jae stiffened and held the teapot. He didn''t want to believe his ears, but there was no way that his S-rank hearing couldn''t have recognized the man. Besides, the physical sight matched the image in his mind perfectly.


    A gas masked figure, one head taller than the others, stood stiffly with his hands in his pockets and looked in this direction.


    "I received Hyung''s letter."


    "......."


    "Yes.... You''re wearing a different apron today."


    "......."


    "It looks good on you."


    The eyes that met through the lenses of the gas mask were as excited as a cat with a toy in front of it.


    It wasn''t just Ui-jae who was shocked by Sa-young''s arrival. The moment the man in the gas mask opened the door and walked in. As if the whole shop had been cursed with a slowdown, everyone''s heads slowly turned towards the door.


    And then, as if someone had hit the pause button, everyone''s faces went cold. The hunters were known for their assertiveness, but for this moment, they were silent.


    Why did youe out...?


    Then someone spoke like a sigh.


    "Shit..."


    ''Why did you suddenlye to a shabby ce?


    ''Is he the type to eat outside? Doesn''t he ever eat outside? Isn''t he the one who never shows up in crowded ces?


    ''Yes, he eats outside sometimes, but why is he here!


    Is your life a bit boring? Why did youe to such a shabby ce? There are many other expensive and good restaurants.


    If an electronic thermometer could measure the temperature of the hunters'' burning eyes, it would have been well over 100 degrees. If you held a pot of water in the air, it would have boiled over and melted the pot.


    And in the middle of it all was Cha Ui-jae, who was more horrified than anyone else, but managed to keep a straight face.


    [Trait Pokerface (B) is active].


    Fortunately, he had a trait that helped him control his facial expressions. He was never more grateful than he was today. Leaving the expression management to the trait, he quickly scanned his surroundings to find the source of the problem. And just in time, a figure caught his eye....


    "T, that table over there... Shall we sit down? Haha."


    It was Bae Won-woo who came into the shop when the Haejang-guk was almost over. He looked around with a face that had done something irreversible, like a man who spilled mtang on a white carpet. As soon as Bae Won-woo appeared, the hunters'' piercing eyes went straight to him.


    For the hunters, it was as if a poisonous meteorite had fallen into the restaurant where they were having a good meal!


    He walked straight to the center of the Haejang-guk, ignoring the hunters ring at him and Bae Won-woo''s bitter face. There was a hunter in the middle of the restaurant who had just finished eating three bowls of Haejang-guk and got up from his seat, and when he backed away with a yelp, Lee Sa-young sat down as if it was his reserved seat.


    Ui-jae, furrowing his brow at the appearance of a lunatic who deserved to be thrown out with adle, said.


    "Sir, I haven''t cleared the table yet, so if you want to sit somewhere else, you can..."


    "No."


    Lee Sa-young replied nonchntly, crossing his long legs and folding his hands in hisp.


    "Please take your time, I like this seat, I can see the TV."


    "Oh yeah..."


    I don''t want you watching that little brown tube TV.


    ?The customer is king," he reminded himself and calmed down. If there was a scuffle, he wouldn''t be surprised if the whole street was blown up, let alone the shop.


    To show displeasure here would be to dig one''s own grave and open the coffin. Moreover, a part-time worker at Haejang-guk House who knows Lee Sa-young is suspicious from the start!


    Cha Ui-jae had no choice but to clear the table where Lee Sa-young was sitting and took out a pen and a bill from his apron pocket. Lee Sa-young, who was staring at him, asked innocently.


    "Do you have a menu here?"


    Bae Won-woo looked at him frustrated. I told you before you came in, you bastard. There''s only one dish, haejang-guk....


    Ui-jae replied briefly.


    "Haejang-guk."


    "Is that all you have?"


    "Yes. Just haejang-guk."


    "Hey man, I told you they only sell one kind of soup here."


    The smaller Bae Won-woo interjected as if to stop him, but Sa-young looked around the shop and continued.


    "Is one haejang-guk enough for you?"


    "Yes."


    "Oh, you also sell gonggeotbap and soju, but that''s not a meal."


    "If you want toin about side dishes, please leave."


    "Oh, ahaha, we''ll just have two bowls of haejang-guk, please."


    Bae Won-woo interrupted, his voice a little louder than before. Ui-jae took a deep breath and swiped a 2 across the bill. He stared at Bae Won-woo for three seconds without saying a word.


    Bae Won-woo. A regr customer with a sign in the shop. He came in almost every day for lunch and dinner and was one of the regrs who emptied at least three pots every time he came in. He didn''t want to me anyone for the gas mask and the unwee reunion, but for a moment he wanted to point the arrow at him.


    Feeling Ui-jae''s icy gaze, Bae Won-woo quickly looked away and focused on the table. He swallowed the cold water unnecessarily.


    Think of me as a regr.


    Ui-jae went to the kitchen and wished he could hit the watering can. He knew it wouldn''t make any difference, but he couldn''t help but feel a surge of irritation in view of the big bomb that had suddenly exploded.


    Phew, the water''s already spilled.


    After escaping the rift and falling into the future eight yearster, he has developed a knack for resignation. Staring at Bae Won-woo won''t make Lee Sa-young disappear and he''s still a paying customer whether he likes it or not. Ui-jae calms down with this thought.


    Okay, that''s it. After the mind control was finished, Ui-jae put the two bowls on the stove. He hoped that the bastard would behave, at least for the short time he cooked the Haejang-guk.


    After a while, a deserted haejang-guk house greeted the good part-timer Cha Ui-jae.


    To be precise, the tables around Lee Sa-young were empty in a circle. There was a crumpled bill on the table where the customer had left, and some people were pacing in front of the cash register, waiting for Ui-jae to pay.


    In the midst of all this chaos, only Lee Sa-young sat in silence.@@novelbin@@


    Shit, what kind of typhoon eye are you?


    Panicked, Ui-jae looked out the door with his bowl of Haejang-guk. In the distance, he could see the backs of the customers who had just inhaled haejang-guk scurrying away.


    "Hey!"


    "It was delicious-!!!"


    Ui-jae, who had ced the haejang-guk on a tray, ran after them, but the hunters replied in a loud voice and they disappeared. It was so fast, it was like running away from a monster in a dungeon.


    Staring at the empty alley in disbelief, he looked away. Outside the shop door, the hunters stood like barnacles against the wall, waiting for an opening.


    Inside the shop. He pointed to an empty seat.


    "It''s empty,e in. We''ll sort you out in a minute."


    But one by one they threw their hands in the air.


    ?"It''s okay, I''m not really hungry."


    Rumbled.


    I don''t think your stomach thinks so. But line number one was determined. He clenched his fists and shouted desperately.


    "I can wait a little longer!"


    Sure you can.... While Ui-jae was looking at line number two, a hunter standing in line two angrily pulled out his cell phone and put it to his ear. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke in a squeaky voice as if he was reading from a Korean book.


    "Oh, right! Team leader, that was until today! Look at my head, I forgot! Yes, I''ll be there soon!"


    He even had the nerve to finish with a rap, having spoken in a stato earlier.


    The second hunter gestured to block the loudspeaker and whispered to Ui-jae.


    ?"Oh no, I''m in line! I''m afraid I have to do your errand first and then eat... I''ve been in a bit of a hurrytely. I''m fine, please let everyone else in first."


    However, the phone number was not entered on the screen of the cell phone that had been turned on by activating the proximity sensor, but the wallpaper was still visible. If you''re going to y a trick, at least try to dial the number ..... Ui-jae looked at the waiting number with cold eyes.


    The hunter standing third was expressionless, so he seemed to be quite calm in this situation. Then I can take this customer. When Ui-jae stared at him with this thought, the hunter opened his mouth.


    "If that bastard leaves, can you call me? I''ll give you my number, 010..."


    Cancelled. Not calm at all.


    As the unprecedented denial of entry unfolded, the suspicion that had been brewing in his mind turned into certainty. Surely that bastard had somehow managed to track him down with thedle and apron he''d seen that night. After failing to fill a customer''s order for the first time since he started working at Haejang-guk, Ui-jae went back into the shop, grabbed the boiling pot, and headed to Lee Sa-young''s table.


    I can call 112 to report a disturbance, but what if it''s a hunter who''s causing the trouble? Can I call the Awakening Management Bureau and they''ll catch him?


    "Sir."


    Ui0jae mmed a steaming pot of haejang-guk onto the table.


    "Here are the two bowls of Haejang-guk you ordered.


    And even after it was served, he stood still and did not move. No matter how conceptual you are, you won''t eat with a gas mask on. Ui-jae stared at Lee Sa-young with a suspicious expression and asked to see the shameless stranger.


    A ck-gloved hand went to his face and he slowly took off his gas mask and put it on the table. His violet eyes shone sharply from under his slightly disheveled fringe. He''d been watching him the whole time, too, and their gazes locked immediately.


    "You''re going to cut my face off."


    Somehow he couldn''t take his eyes off him. Just like the night he first met him in the alley.

 Chapter 16

    "You''re going to cut off my face."


    Lee Sa-young saidzily, his jaw clenched. A voice from inside the gas mask slipped past his lips. His ck hair and soothing purple eyes matched his voice. Thick, long eyshes cast shadows whenever he blinked.


    From the bridge of his nose to the small mole at the lower left of his full lips. All in all, it was an aesthetic look with thin lines that looked as if they had been painted with a brush. It was delicate and morous, but there was a certainnguor to it.


    Strangely enough, Ui-jae understood why Sa-young wore a gas mask. It seemed to him that showing his face everywhere would cause a lot of trouble.


    It''s true that he didn''t like Lee Sa-young in many ways, but this guy''s face looked objective. He should say that it attracts attention in a different sense than the gas mask, but the difference is that when he wore it, he was just an idiot who shouldn''t be dealt with, and when he took it off, he became an idiot who deserved to be dealt with.


    A few of the remaining hunters looked at him, but he didn''t seem particrly ufortable. He was used to being the center of attention. Instead, the hunters followed his gaze and averted their eyes as if on the lookout for something.


    After clearing the area without saying a word, Lee Sa-young picked up the spoon. At the same time, Ui-jae also stood up after finishing his business. What would he say after eating the Haejang-guk? It was time to slow down and listen. Bae Won-woo asked if he could scratch his itch.


    "How is it? Is it good?"


    "The soup is hot."


    "He just cooked it, so of course it''s hot, you nut. The vor, the vor."


    "The meat is tender."


    "Right? The meat here separates from the bone very easily."


    "Yeah, well. That''s good."


    Lee Sa-young gave a small nod. It was a sour response, but he hadn''t heard him say it was tasteless, and he felt a little relieved.


    While he was washing the backlog of dishes in the kitchen, he looked over at Hall. Sa-young was quietly eating his meal without much trouble, unlike the way he had argued before ordering. As the two sat in the eye of the storm, there was a brief moment of peace in the Haejang-guk house while they ate.


    When Ui-jae had almost finished washing the dishes, Sa-young was the first to get up. Soon after, Bae Won-woo stood at the counter and called to Ui-jae.


    "Part-time, the bill please!"


    "Yes, wait a minute-"


    Ui-jae took off his rubber gloves and roughly wiped the moisture from his hands on his pants a few times. On the table he''d seen on his way to the counter, there were two pots on top of each other, one empty to the brim and the other with some soup left. He was surprised that Bae Won-woo had only eaten one bowl, since he hadn''t ordered more.


    ?"Thirty thousand won."


    Sa-young handed over two 50,000 won bills. He''s bragging about his money, Ui-jae thought and grabbed one of the bills. When he took out 20,000 won in change, Sa-young looked even more surprised.


    "I paid for the food."


    "Yes?"


    "Didn''t I tell you my name?"


    "You did."


    "Didn''t you look it up..."


    Slightly blinking, Sa-young said in an admiring tone.


    "Hyung, you really don''t know me."


    Then he opened his mouth a little wider to show his tongue. It wasn''t the usual crimson color, but a dark tongue that went all the way to the root. Seeing where his eyes were going, he bit the tip of his tongue with his front teeth.


    "I have a poisonous mouth."


    "Wait a minute, damn it.


    "I don''t often eat outside."


    Somehow the area around him was empty! Ui-jae looked back at the table where Lee Sa-young and Bae Won-woo were eating. I thought he was safe because he wore gloves, but he''s a poisonous snake with a poisonous mouth. That''s why you should read the article and not just the headline. There was a reason he was wearing a gas mask.


    Sa-young smiled wryly.


    "Yes... We need to get to know each other."


    "No, you crazy bastard.


    ?"I''lle back another time."


    Ui-jae''s next words came out of his mouth.


    "Don''te back."


    "Then tell me your name."


    "Don''te back."


    Ui-jae looked at Bae Won-woo. Won-woo understood the meaning of his words and gently pressed his palm against Lee Sa-young''s back. But the number one hunter in Korea was not to be denied. As he struggled to push back, Lee Sa-young suddenly said.


    "Hair."


    "Huh?"


    "It''s ck, did you dye it?"


    Crazy, how did he know that? Luckily, his poker face was still on. Ui-jae replied shamelessly.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "I think it was a little gray back then."


    "Howe the guy with the gas mask has such good eyes?


    It was a good thing Ha-eun had reminded me that it was time to dye his hair. Maybe I should buy her one of those slime toys she''s always wanted,'' Ui-jae thought.


    "You must be mistaken. Why would a healthy person have gray hair?"


    As if Ui-jae''s rebuttal wasn''t worth answering, Lee Sa-young said.


    "And eyes."


    "What?"


    "They''re ck."


    "Koreans have ck eyes."@@novelbin@@


    ?"That''s strange."


    Lee Sa-young put his gas mask back on and looked through the lens.


    "It was blue when I saw it."


    A shiver ran down Ui-jae''s spine. Had he seen it in that fleeting moment, before the pursuer''s eyes had switched off?


    Oh, he is so tricky.


    Just as Ui-jae''s mouth hardened, the purple eyes narrowed and Sa-young retreated.


    "Well... That''s it for today. Bye, Hyung."


    "Goodbye, sir."


    "Why don''t you call me Sa-young?"


    "Please go away."


    Sa-young let out a smallugh and disappeared. Bae Won-woo scratched his head in confusion and left the Haejang-guk with a grunt. After the storm, the Haejang-guk house was deserted. Ui-jae looked at the two five thousand won bills on the counter and muttered.


    "What a bastard..."


    "Pado Guild Blinds


    ¡ùPlease use with good manners!


    Posts that do not follow the rules may be deleted without notice.


    Subject: [Anonymous] I''ve been eating at Haejang-guk House almost every daytely.


    Is this normal?


    I suspect that our team leader is being bullied at work...


    Haejangguk is delicious... It''s delicious, but...


    Since I eat it every day...


    Comment (14)


    -Is this the deputy guild leader''s team??????????


    ?Yes......


    -Originally, the deputy guild leader liked the Haejang-guk?????, now you''re bringing him on the team?


    The guild leader has paid 5 million won in advance for Haejang-guk''s house.


    ????


    Yes?


    The guild leader, not the deputy guild leader???????


    Five hundred?


    Yes, he wanted to pay 15,000,000 won up front, but there was a part-time job and a vice guild leader, so he only paid 5,000,000 won.


    Why don''t you pay 10 million won in advance for a beef restaurant?


    ?Why Haejang-guk House?


    ?I don''t know... That''s why I always eat Haejang-guk... It''s nice to save money on food...


    ?240 is a free spirit, but this is new, so it''s ridiculous.


    ?Yup


    <Knowledge ON>


    Q. [Question] My business was interrupted by a hunter.


    Hi, I work in a small shop. If a hunter interferes with my business, where should I report it? I''m torn between the police and the Awakening Management Bureau.


    A. [Adopt questioner]


    ording to the Awakening Special Law, incidents involving Awakenders should be reported to the Awakening Management Bureau. Even if you call the police, the case will be referred to the Awakening Management Bureau, which will take longer to process. Report it to the Bureau from the beginning.


    I''m not sure what kind of business interruption you''re experiencing, but... is this a problem with an abusive hunter? You can also take advantage of the bad publicity surrounding abusive hunters by posting anonymously on the marketce. If the hunter is a member of a guild, the guild''s legal team will contact them to try to resolve the matter, but I''m not sure about unregistered hunters... If you know any journalists, try to get an interview.


    ?Q+. [Additional question from the questioner]


    If I report to the office, will the office huntere directly?


    ?A+. [Additional answer from the questioner]


    Usually an investigator is sent first, but if the hunter is a well-known hunter and the evidence is strong, the bureau wille directly.


    A. To whom? ?? There are still some bullies? Just give me the first name of the hunter and I''ll get rid of them ??


    A. Next time theye, I''ll record it and post it on the Inte to get justice~


    Comment (5)


    -If they''re a high-level hunter, they''ll notice that you''re recording with a regr machine because they''re good at hearing and quick-witted. Break the machine? Not even a job. If you want to record, you''ll have to use a dungeon reward item or a recorder with a mana stone.


    ?Easier said than done ** ?????????? How does a normal person get dungeon rewards and mana stone recorders?


    It is easy to get if you have hunter connections and money.


    ?It''s easy if you use Haentaeinma


    A. I''m Park Chul-min, a reporter for Hanmin Ilbo. If you are interested in an interview, please send an email to the address below. We will guarantee your anonymity.

 Chapter 17

    It is after business hours and the restaurant is empty. Ui-jae sits on a neatly wiped table and stares intently at his cell phone. A thread of Knowledge ON questions and answers with multiple answers andments appears on the screen.


    "If the hunter is a known hunter and the evidence is strong, the Bureau wille directly."


    Ui-jae slumped down on the table. Damn it, the Korean officials worked too hard. If he reported Lee Sa-young for obstructing business, he wouldn''t be surprised if the director of the Awakening Management Bureau himself showed up.


    His face crumpled into a grimace and he stroked the screen with his fingertips. The ramblings under the kind words he''d just read were mostly unrealistic. What? You want me to tell you his first name? I''m sorry, but that bastard could cut Korea in half if he wanted to.


    That''s what you get for being number one. His every move is met with a constant battle between detractors and defenders. Ui-jae has been through this before. No matter how bad he was, he wasn''t going to start a volcanic eruption on the inte just to make it easier for himself.


    Mana stone recorders were too expensive, and interviews were something you couldn''t do without going crazy. As he scrolled down, he involuntarily hit his head on the table. The sound startled him and he checked the table, but luckily it wasn''t cracked. After rubbing his forehead furiously with his hand, he put his cell phone back down.


    I''m stuck... ....''


    Cha Ui-jae''s anguish is not for any other reason...


    It''s all because of a nasty bastard who burst into the quiet life of a part-time Haejang-guk house.


    Haejang-guk House had a reputation as a restaurant for hunters, so there were many people who paid in advance. There were many hunters who didn''t bother to carry their cards, and it was not umon for them to run out of the restaurant without paying, let alone putting down their spoons.


    When Ui-jae first learned the trade, he was given the responsibility of taking care of the prepayment books, so prepayment was no big deal, but Ui-jae swears that Sa-young was the first crazy person toe in and offer to pay 15 million won in advance since the shop opened. No, you mean 15 million is your dog''s name?


    In the end, Cha Ui-jae red at Bae Won-woo, who came in with a useless hunchback and lost what little life he had left.


    Stop this crazy bastard.


    That''s what he meant.


    But Bae Won-woo, who jumped about 0.5 cm from the spot, stopped Lee Sa-young with sharp eyes like an updated artificial intelligence.


    "Hurry up and pay and go back to the guild. You said you were really busy."


    "I''m not really busy."


    "You said you had to go to the office. Weren''t you supposed to meet with Jung-bin?"


    "We can postpone it."


    Lee Sa-young was nonchnt in the face of a meeting with the government, something most people would never want to do in their lives. Bae Won-woo didn''t think it would work, so he changed tactics and spoke selflessly.


    ?"Hey, exchange my armor for the 15 million yuan in advance. I heard there''s an auction for Hongye Castle equipment in Songdo."


    "How can you buy equipment for only 15 million? Are you a beggar?"


    Wow... What a bastard.


    Every word that came out of that hateful mouth was art. It was clear that not only Ui-jae, but all the hunters who heard the conversation on the spot thought the same. May Lee Sa-young''s card melt like a precious 6,900 won trophy that died heroically that night... That''s when Ui-jae thought about it and refused to pick up the card in front of him.


    Bae Won-woo held out his right hand and shouted bravely.


    "Five hundred!"


    "Huh?"


    "Just five million. I''lle to thepany dinner with my team members often. Fifteen million is too much."


    "Hmm."


    "If it''s fifteen million, you''ll have to eat heajang-guk three times a day for 333 days!"


    I''m sure I can eat enough, you''re already doing it, thought Lee Sa-young, who looked at Bae Won-woo in disbelief, then looked at Ui-jae. When their eyes met, Ui-jae smiled a cold, socially awkward part-time smile. Pay quickly and get lost. Something like that.


    After pretending to think for a moment, Sa-young soon nodded.


    "Well, okay..."


    He put the card into the calctor, locked eyes with Ui-jae and added.


    "Let me know when it runs out and I''ll pay you again in advance."


    Please fuck off.


    As if to pay for ruining the day''s business, Lee Sa-young paid back the five million won advance and left the restaurant more easily than he expected. It was a boring goodbyepared to the intense meeting. He waited all night in the next room with adle, just in case. If he saw a single hair on his head, he would kill him.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, he didn''t have the misfortune to return in the middle of the night. Instead,


    "Yeah, it''s hot."


    "Sorry, what?"


    "The Haejang-guk is hot."


    "Yes, it is."


    From that day on, they starteding and eating haejang-guk as if it was a stamp of attendance!


    Ignoring what Bae Won-woo was whispering through clenched teeth, Lee Sa-young pulled a set of disposable cutlery out of thin air while listening to Ui-jae''s equally clenched teeth. That bastard started carrying around his own personal cutlery, saying that he couldn''t waste money on cutlery from the prepaid amount. I guess he couldn''t take it anymore? Bastard. Do you have any inventory left?


    Okay, let''s just say I gave in a hundred times and had a spare pair of disposable cutlery. You could have vored your haejang-guk with it, you know.


    But I couldn''t stand the fact that the tables around him would empty whenever Lee Sa-young appeared. The hunters, famous for their unnecessarily strong egos and their refusal to listen to anyone else, practiced distancing themselves so diligently when no one asked them to! Ui-jaeughed in disbelief.


    Fuck, this should be an obvious business interruption.


    The pride of Haejang-guk House was its high turnover rate and low prices, but when Lee Sa-young showed up, it was a disaster. Not only did the turnover rate plummet, but so did sales. So far, thanks to the heavy Haejang-guk maniacs... At this rate, he was about to lose even his regr customers.


    Thanks to this, Ui-jae had recently looked up a lot of things on the portal site, such as the Hunter Crime Reporting Act and the Awakener Special Act, and finally came to a conclusion.


    In order to solve this... I either have to be a hunter again, or I have to have money!@@novelbin@@


    I know this is a bit radical, but Ui-jae had his reasons.


    In order to make Lee Sa-young''s behavior public, he needed hard evidence. Vague testimonies are not enough, as they could backfire by using Korea''s number one hunter of smearing him.


    The most obvious way to do this is to release a recording of his atrocities. However, as a KnowledgeON respondent said, an ordinary recorder can''t even "sue" an S-ss hunter with the evidence he has gathered. An S-ss hunter can easily detect and destroy recorders and cameras.


    This means you''ll need an indestructible, dungeon byproduct, or undetectable recorder... Actually, these items are hard toe by,


    Bargains.


    I didn''t realize this when I was Hunter J, but dungeon byproduct items are incredibly expensive. Cha Ui-jae, a part-time worker in a modest Haejang-guk house, couldn''t buy them even if he saved his entire life!


    He didn''t ask for much in sry, just a small portion of the shop''s profits, which was more than enough for his needs. He has nowhere to go but home and a few clean clothes and a pair of sneakers to keep him going, and he wouldn''t have to worry about any of this if Lee Sa-young hadn''te into his life in the second act.


    ...Should I register as a hunter?


    All he has to do is go to the Awakening Center, have my powers measured, and get a rating... What if the data on J that he doesn''t know about remains intact? What if he somehow manages to get to the center, but loses control of his powers? What if he hits the weakest possible blow and the meter still shatters?


    At that moment, quiet life crosses the Jordan River. The only good thing was that there was no Awakening Management Bureau when he awakened, and when he went through the registration process afterwards, he was given the J privilege, so he didn''t have to fake an ID.


    "If it wasn''t for that bastard Lee Sa-young..."


    Lately, Ui-jae had vaguely understood why the other hunters didn''t want to go near him. He was a snake. A snake that slithers around its prey and slowly tightens its grip.


    He could have ckmailed him outright about what happened that night, but instead, he kepting back to the shop, subtly pressuring him. For some reason, Lee Sa-young hasn''t asked Ui-jae''s name since his first visit to the Haejang-guk house. He doesn''t know if he already knows his identity or not.


    His current behavior was like sticking a finger into still water. Even if it''s not a big blow, it''s enough to stir up the water. Even if it wasn''t a big hit, there was something unpleasant about being reminded of it all the time...


    It''s unpleasant.


    He felt like an animal whose territory had been vited. Staring into space with a frown on his face, he suddenly reached into his inventory.


    The inventory was filled with empty potion bottles. All of them had been used in the Incheon Rift. The ck longsword from the rift, the Fang of the Basilisk. Ui-jae stared at the Fang of the Basilisk, then turned his attention elsewhere. Something glittered between the rows of potion bottles.


    A golden gem the size of half a thumb.


    It was a mana stone.


    In the past, he didn''t have anywhere to use it or sell it, so he kept it in his inventory or somewhere in the corner of his house, but nowadays there are a lot of magic stones around. From what the regrs at Haejang-guk House said, there seemed to be quite a lot of equipment for processing magic stones.


    "Should I sell one?"


    If he sells this, he can probably buy a pretty good recorder, right?


    Ui-jae secretly took out a magic stone from his inventory and started polishing it with his apron.

 Chapter 18

    However, mana stones weren''t something that just anyone could sell if they wanted to.


    Mana Stones were primarily traded at hunter markets, which required a hunter registration card to enter and were not open to the general public. The inte huntermunity also seemed to be a ce to trade, but it also required a registration card.


    It''s not even open to the general public.


    I thought about putting a grill on my face and selling it to the regrs at the Haejangguk, but I knew someone, somewhere would say something. And they''d ask me.


    No, you''re not a hunter, where the hell did you get that mana stone?


    If an ordinary person had a mana stone that pure, I honestly felt that they would ask me, too. There are so many things to take care of. The lives of ordinary people were so hard.


    Should I say that an ordinary person gave it to me to help my family''s finances?


    Ui-jae shook his head. Because the regrs at Haejang-guk House are now more of amunity than just customers. Even if there was only one person among the ten thousand who had touched theirpels, they knew each other across two bridges, and if they snooped on each other''s backs, it would quickly be clear that no one had given this to a mere part-timer.


    In the end, there was only one option left for Cha Ui-jae.


    Tomato Market, a local secondhand app.


    Tomato Market, which existed before Rift Day, helped survivors share information and stay alive while waiting for rescue when the world copsed after Rift Day. People who didn''t know their neighbors used Tomato Market to feel the warmth of neighborhood.


    It was very helpful in rescuing survivors. ....''


    If I put the mana stone on Tomato Market, will it sell? I had to find out first. He immediately opened the Tomato Market app and tried to log in, but his old ount had gone dormant and seemed to have been deleted. No wonder, it had been eight years. He pressed the login button.


    [Please enter a nickname]


    What should he enter? He tried Garlic, Haejang-guk, Seonji, Bones, and so on, but they were all nicknames used by someone else. When ''Haejang-guk1234'' was rejected, he stopped a bit annoyed and typed in a random alphabet.


    [EZ]


    [Wee to the Tomato Market, EZ, turn on your GPS and register your area!]


    After sessfully registering, Ui-jae logged in and tried to navigate the app.


    When he checked the app, he saw that there was a new category for hunters! Of course, the items being traded were things like Hunter Civil Service Examination question books and merchandise from famous hunters, which seemed a little different from the purpose of the app.


    Will it sell if I list it for 80 million won?


    He doesn''t know if it''s easy to get a deal for a few million won, but... If it doesn''t sell, he''ll sell it to a regr. He''ll give them as high a price as they want, and if he begs him to keep it a secret, they''ll at least be loyal enough to keep their mouths shut, right?


    Ui-jae ced the newspaper reverently on the green table and tilted it so that the golden, glittering kes were clearly visible.


    Click.


    Click.


    He took pictures from different angles and then chose the best ones to write about the tomato market.


    Title: Mana Stone for sale


    Seller: EZ


    Price: 80.000.000 won


    Highly pure mana stone with no impurities.


    Negotiable, so please chat.


    He was worried that he had overpriced it, so as ast conscience, he added the phrase "negotiable, so please chat" and felt a little better.


    If this sells, we can buy Ha-eun and Grandma a winter coat and pay for her operation. I''ll even buy a newdle.


    It was a perfect n. It was the moment when Ui-jae had a sweet dream and posted a message on the tomato market in a good mood.


    Ting


    Ting


    Ting


    Ting


    Suddenly, his phone started shaking as if he''d been thrown out into minus 30 degrees. He hasn''t even finished the contract yet, what''s going on? The incessant vibrations made him worry that his phone was broken and he quickly checked it,


    I''m not sure if it''s a scam or not, but I''m sure it''s not a scam.


    Piling in Majang-dong: **Hey, I''m reporting the scam to the bureau??If it''s not a scam, could you please answer the chat? Would you do me a favor?


    XLevel : Direct trade


    Good Neighbor : Scam ** Legend


    Pupatpongkurri : Where are you? I''lle to you, just give me your address and I''ll take the money and go right there??????????????????? ??????


    Pu Pad Pong Curry: Whereareyou?I''llgowhereyouarejustgivemyouraddressIcangostraightwiththemoneyI''llputyouontheredcarpetwiththemoneyIgiveyou


    (TL/N: yeah, it''s like that on the raw, probably typing so fast that he doesn''t have time to space out. The word, in sentence: "Where are you? I''ll go where you are, just give me your address. I can go right with the money. I''ll put you on the red carpet with the money I give you.")


    White: You put out a decoy to meet me and kidnap me, right?


    I''ll put in a good word for you: What?


    Haing: Is there another mana stone like this?


    Mackerel : Address


    :


    :


    I was confronted with a tomato market chat notification that was piling up like crazy in real time....


    It took me less than 30 seconds to unlock and check my phone before I realized what was going on: a red +99 speech bubble over a cuddly tomato icon.


    Fuck.


    The new messages that kept piling up seemed to be whispering to him, ''Yes, you''re fucked. It had been a long time since he had broken out in a cold sweat. Maybe this hadn''t been a wise choice. No, he must have done the dumbest thing ever!


    Did he price it too low? Are mana stones more expensive than he thought? Of course, he didn''t just randomly raise his prices, and he made sure to swim through the sea of information before listing his mana stone on the Tomato Market. However, when he clicked on the mana stone price thread, a window popped up asking him to verify his hunter status, which he did on a whim and added a few thousand more.


    It said it had risen iparably in the past, but how much more had it jumped...


    Ui-jae let his phone vibrate, sped his hands in prayer and closed his eyes. He needed a moment to disconnect from reality.


    Life is so hard.


    His life couldn''t have turned out like this, since the system had chewed him up and spit him out eight yearster in South Korea, but ording to thew of karma, you have to finish what you start. He quickly collected his thoughts and concluded.


    Let''s just run.


    ?Finally, he chewed through all the chats and decided to leave. Ignoring the chat notifications that kept popping up, he went to his profile and hit cancel.


    [Is this a breakup? I''m so sorry].


    At this point, the chat was still pouring in. Ui-jae prayed fervently that Tomato Market would stop stalking him. But Tomato Market sagged and pathetically clung to the crotch of Ui-jae''s bar. It was tighter than the sucker of a third-rate giant octopus he''d sliced up in the South Seas about nine years ago.


    [I wonder why EZ wants to delete his ount?]


    No matter how urgent it is, this is the least I can do, so he calmly checked two boxes.


    [¡ÌPeople use my posts too much]


    [¡ÌI met a rude user]


    [¡ÌOther: I''m new here and they swear, these ** people]


    Unsubscribe. Delete the application.


    Afterpleting all the procedures with speed and precision, Ui-jae sat back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling in a daze.


    That was pretty fast, wasn''t it?


    But life, once twisted, doesn''t flow as easily as he thought it would...


    HunterNet, the anonymousmunity of hunters that Cha Ui-jae could not ess. It burned hotter than hell with an anonymous post.


    Title: [Anonymous] Single Bungle Tomato Market...JPEG


    (Photo)


    Yesterday, an A+ level magic stone was posted for sale on the tomato market, but it was removed in 2 minutes?????


    Comments (99+)


    -Tomato market is the future


    -Freakin'' brilliant


    -Wow... What the hell do I have to do to get an A+ magic stone? I''ve been eating well, but it''s a B grade.


    You need to kill at least one level 2 dungeon boss monster. However, if the mana stone is as pure and pristine as the photo, it could be from a level 1 monster.@@novelbin@@


    So the person who posted this is a high-level Hunter?


    Yes. Maybe one of the rankers posted it.


    -Tomato Market is a direct trade, so they don''t have to pay market fees and taxes?????


    ?Did they put it in the tomato market to avoid taxes? Strong readingprehension


    ?It''s only 8,000 for something like that;; It''s a low price.


    Didn''t they put it without the two zeros?


    ?I think this is the most reliable.


    -?You can tell it''s an A+ mana stone just by looking at the picture?


    Is it a fake photo or something?


    If it''s certified by Hong Ye-sung, it''s approved.


    Didn''t he burn weapons in Jirisan Artisan Vige after breaking off his rtionship with the world?


    He was trying to escape to Seoul. Jung-bin went to Jirisan himself and caught him.


    ?** ???? ???? ???? ????


    There is no more extreme job than Jung-bin''s.


    Subject: [Anonymous] Hong Yehsung''s Inkblot Post??????


    xxYeahsungH EZ, I don''t know who you are, but let''s make a deal #Jiri Mountain #I want to hit it #Seoul #TomatoMarket #Master''s Road #WhiteCheck #Price #Without posting this #Without posting on HunterMarket #The next production equipment is a long emergency escape button


    604k Likes


    jungVin80 Why isn''t my wifi working?


    Comments (99+)


    -Jungbin''s words are so scary


    -It seems like you''re making devices to break the connection with the world.


    ?Hong Ye-sung has a lot of money? He''ll give you a nk check.


    Of course. If he makes an S-ss weapon and sells it, he''ll make billions.


    ?Friend... He''s the only S-rank manufacturer in the world...


    ?He''ll be even richer if the auction is held in Songdo this time~


    The chirping of a magpie nesting in a pine tree echoed through the silent mountains. A man sitting on the floor of the main hall, scrolling through Inte posts, turned off his cell phone and gazed at the surrounding scenery.


    A quiet hanok on the ridge below Banya Peak in Jirisan. The only thing a little out of the ordinary was that the stone walls and pine trees surrounding the house were covered with gold bracelets and amulets. In the middle of the yard, which was probably two or three times the size of most people''s front yards, was a huge kiln.


    And next to it,


    was a man lying on the ground in a white fleece.

 Chapter 19

    A soft-spoken man in a suit, flipping through his cell phone, Jung-bin, a civil servant, sat cross-legged on the floor of the great hall, watching a dirt-floor demonstration by the world''s only S-rank producer.


    "I want that mana stone!"


    "Mm- Hong Ye-sung didn''t see anything."


    "Aaaaah, I want that one."


    iling his limbs on the floor, he looked like a kid in the toy section of a supermarket. Jung-bin raised his hand, and an Awakening Management Bureau employee standing at the entrance to the hanok walked over and bowed. Jung-bin whispered softly.


    "Since when did Jiangyin Vige have such good Wi-Fi, Yesung-ssi, didn''t you disconnect it when you moved in this time?"


    "Of course I did, but... Le Sayoung-ssi said he had themunication lines and Wi-Fi wired for me, and in return, he entrusted me with making gloves."


    ?"Oh, he''s really not helpful. I''ll just hang up as soon as I''m done here."


    "Yes, I understand, and I''m guessing that you probably got this information from the ranked chat. The gem was all over the channels."


    "I''m asking you all to cooperate, it''s hical anyway."


    Even as Jung-bin clicked his tongue and gave a short sigh, Hong Ye-sung repeated the same words like a broken recorder.


    "I want to go to Seoul. Give me the mana stone."


    "You are the one who asked to be imprisoned in Jirisan. Sir, you can''t leave until you finish your weapons."


    The man dressed in white rolled around in the dirt. It was Hong Ye-sung, the seventh and only S-rank producer in South Korea.


    ?Six years ago, a gate opened in the middle of the Korean National University of Arts campus. It was evening, so there weren''t many students on campus, but the problem was a group of fourth-year art students stuck in the studio preparing for their final project. They were at a crossroads.


    Failure or life?


    Most, of course, chose life. They were too young and too wronged to die that way. The Gate was a natural disaster, and the professor would have to give them extenuating circumstances! The students grabbed hammers and saws and hid in the corners as best they could.


    But there was only one. Hong Ye-sung, a fourth-year ceramics student.


    He sat in his workshop whether the gate was open or not. Even as the monsters crawled out of the gate, climbed up the outside walls of the building, smashed through the windows, and entered the workshop, Ye-sung was still making pottery.


    And then he woke up. To an S-rank producer.


    The government kept his awakening episode secret at first. The moment it was announced that this humble college student had awakened as an S-rank producer after opening gates and monsters and making pottery, there would be a lot of Hongye Castle wannabes who would stretch out and not evacuate when the gates burst. It was a story that had to be sealed for the safety of the people.


    After all, Hong Ye-sung, who was the top product of the ceramics department and was responsible for increasing the enrollment of ceramics students throughout the country, was the first S-rank producer to appear in the world after the day of the rift. Not only that, but he also had an extraordinary attribute.


    [Talent: Deadline Finisher (L)


    Your work will be more efficient and faster as the deadline approaches.


    (If you finish crafting while this talent is active, you will receive an additional 50% quality increase.)]


    The government and its officials burst into apuse when they saw Hong Ye-sung''s awakening data. They''re a rare S-rank producer with L-ss characteristics, and he''s the kind of talent that will make Korea''s hunters much morepetitive in the future.


    However, the moment his existence and characteristics became known to the world, overseas headhunters rushed to Korea to recruit him. The more countries and organizations wanted him, the more anxious the South Korean government became. They were anxious to have Hong Ye-sung sit down in Korea somehow.


    People prayed with all their hearts. The radical opinions on the Inte were nothing out of the ordinary - take away his passport, tear up his passport, ban him from leaving the country - and the media kept talking about the value he could create. It was a normal day.


    When headhunters knocked on his hotel door at night, Hong Ye-sung shouted, "F**k you, I''m Korean!" and asked the South Korean government for protection. And he had another request in addition to government protection.


    "When my work deadlinees, no matter what I say, lock me up somewhere in the mountains with good water, good air, good regrity and no contact with the outside world."


    It was "confinement.


    The government, which wanted to lock him up in a secret ce to prevent him from leaving the country, almost died ofughter at his request.


    "What? Ugh, that''s too good, no, hmmmm. Why?"


    "Well, because I actually have one more characteristic?"


    Did he say that there is no perfect person in the world? Hong Ye-sung also had a deadly ability control tool.


    [Trait: Slug (L)


    Makes you procrastinate. (A lot.)]


    Instead of nerfing S-rank creators, the system did its own bncing patch with talents. The talent that procrastinates and barely manages to make one before the deadline. A madman who controls his talent with a trait. A manifestation of cramming that only res up when the deadlinees.@@novelbin@@


    The South Korean government has designated some regr good mountains in the country forzy people, so that Hong Ye-sung can go there when the timees. Last time it was Seoraksan,st time it was Gyeryongsan, and this time it was Jirisan Jangin Vige.


    Jung-bin clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. He looked at the huddled mass on the floor and said.


    "I canceled my pact with Lee Sa-young today and came to get Hong Ye-sung, you know?"


    "Excuse me, official."


    Instead of answering, Hong Ye-sung called out to Jung-bin, his voice a little calmer than the whiny one from earlier.


    "If you make a weapon out of this mana stone, you''ll get at least an S+, I can tell just by looking at the picture."


    "Oh?"


    Jung-bin raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. Up until now, the highest grade of equipment Hong Ye-sung had made was S-grade. He had said that he could only make higher grade items if he had both the materials and the skill, so the prospect of an S+ grade weapon made Jung-bin''s heart skip a beat.


    Jung-bin had also learned about the unidentified mana stone seller when he took the helicopter to Jirisan Mountain. Specifically, there was a madman who had ced a brilliant mana stone in the Tomato Market.


    It had to be a shoddy sale somewhere, but since Hong Ye-sung, a man of exceptional judgment, was doing it, it had to be of high quality. And even though they only had a picture, the stone looked pretty good to Jung-bin''s eyes. It was also a type that had never been seen in the country before.


    But where did ite from?


    Extortion from someone? Smuggled from abroad? While Jung-bin was going through his theories, something shed through his mind. Why had Lee Sa-Young stormed into the Awakening Management Bureau not so long ago and turned the Awakening database upside down? He had said that there were skilled unregistered yers on the loose.


    Jung-bin scrambled out of his seat and crouched down next to Hong Ye-sung, who was flopping on the floor like a freshly caught fish.


    "Hong Ye-sung."


    "Aaah, give me the mana stone. Bring the mana stone and talk to me."


    Where were the slightly clearer eyes from before? Jung-bin gently nudged Hong Ye-sung, who had returned to the mental age of a five-year-old.


    "Listen to me first, this mana stone is very good, right?"


    "Yes, it is supetive, with no impurities or monster aura mixed in, ah, give me the mana stone!"


    "There must be a limited number of people who can obtain such a mana stone, right?"


    "Even if I can''t, I''m at least in the top 100 rank."


    "Higher ranked hunters don''t usually trade like this and cover their tracks like a newbie, right?"


    "Of course. There''s the ck market, there''s the hunter market, and then there''s the tomato market, what''s the point of posting on the tomato market, you idiot?"


    After saying that bluntly, Hong Ye-sung started to rant again.


    "Ah,e to think of it, it''s ridiculous... .... I''m in Jirisan Mountain, so I can''t see the Seoul Tomato Market! Yuck! Next time, lock me up in Mt. Bukhansan!"


    "Yes, yes, I''ll tell the director that the next exile will be in Bukhansan Mountain, and..."


    Jung-bin stood up and patted his knees.


    "That mana stone, I''ll see if I can find it."


    "Really?"


    Hong Ye-sung''s head snapped up at Jung-bin''s crisp words. He looked like a Pomeranian that had been out for a walk and done thirty drifts in the dirt, his white fleece caked with dirt and his eyes shining with clear madness.


    "Yeah."


    Jung-bin smiled that one hundred percent trustworthy smile he was used to in public service announcements, and there was a strange confidence in his voice.


    "It''s like digging for gems and finding a gold mine."

 Chapter 20

    Why do my ears itch so much?


    Ui-jae stood in front of the stove, boiling haejang-guk, and rubbed his ears in frustration.


    For some reason, the Pado Guild led by Bae Won-woo and Lee Sa-young hadn''te for lunch today, so the haejang-guk was just as full as before. Bright smiles appeared on the faces of the hunters for the first time in a long time. Ui-jae had also forgotten about the heartbreaking failure at the tomato market and was enjoying a rtively carefree day. But...


    "Did you see the post on the hunter yesterday?"


    A small whisper from a young hunter caused a stir in the shop.


    "Yes, I heard that there was a madman in the Tomato Market who posted eight thousand A+ gems for sale, causing an uproar in the guild."


    The word ''madman'' rang in his ears.


    Crazy.


    ?The other hunter, who looked ufortable but couldn''t possibly know that, expertly separated the meat from the bones and replied.


    "Isn''t that a fishing pole? Maybe it''s a picture from the Inte."


    "Hey, Hong Ye-sung is offering a free gun to anyone who can find the person."


    "Really?"


    "Yep. Check out Hong Ye-sung''s inheart."


    "Wow, shit. It''s real. Hey, find him."


    The hand holding the tongs to move the position of the stove slightly stopped. He''d been paying attention to the hunter worldtely, and he''d picked up on the three letters of Hong Ye-sung''s name and the fact that he was an S-rank producer. The hunters who came to Haejang-guk House wanted to buy his equipment.


    But Hong Ye-sung had a bounty on his head? ...Why?


    Before he could collect his thoughts, the hunters'' conversation continued.


    "Ace, I should have bought this. How many billions is it worth to buy it for eight grand and sell it back?"


    "I''m downloading Tomato Market as soon as I see this."


    "Me too."


    "I wish EZ would make another post, please."


    "But he deleted it, and it looks like he quit."


    "You make fun of people? They give and take, tell them to rejoin now."


    In fact, when Ui-jae was active as J, he never traded dungeon by-products himself. Because he hid his identity, his aunt handled all the trading of dungeon items, and since there were no hunter markets or crafters, it was rare for him to buy equipment with money.


    With a history like that, it''s not surprising that he didn''t know the price of mana stones.


    The government paid hunters for every fissure and dungeon they entered, but J didn''t do much with the money. He bought the asional potion, but more for himself than for survivors who needed first aid in the rift.


    And today, those traces of him had be a giant snowball, hurtling furiously toward the house.


    So much gossip for a single misced item?


    Ui-jae was really stunned. He wished everyone would just stop and let him live his quiet life, but the huntermunity was closer than he thought, news traveled fast and moved very organically, and the Haejang-guk house was a great ce to gather and spread information.


    "Tomato market...."


    "How Much...."


    "Magic Stone...."


    "Haejang-guk is good...."


    "In this neighborhood...."


    "What kind of madness...."


    "Strength...."


    "I want to buy a Michelin-starred Haejang-guk..."


    The rumors about the mysterious stone continued. Although some falsehoods were mixed in.


    "Uncle, your face is strange."


    "My face? Why?"


    ?"A little... like this."


    Ha-eun pushed her chin up with both hands. Does this mean that my jaw is a bit sharp? Ui-jae rubbed his jawbone unnecessarily andughed.


    "It''s just because I haven''t slept muchtely. It''s okay."


    "Uncle never sleeps."


    "So it''s the same as usual. I''m just a little tired. Ha-eun, do you have anything for your ss?"


    "For tomorrow... Cardboard and y."


    "I see you have an art ss."


    "Yes, I''ll be making pottery with y, just like Hong Ye-sung."


    Shit. At the name that came out of nowhere, Ui-jae almost bit his tongue for a moment.


    After hearing that Hong Ye-sung had put a bounty on the gem, Ui-jae was the first to follow Hong Ye-sung''s ount on Inktagram. Knowing what that crazy bastard - who was a different kind of crazy bastard than Sa-young - was doing would make it easier to deal with him.


    Hong Ye-sung didn''t usually post often, but since the mana stone incident, he had been posting at least once a day, and today, along with a photo of an egg lying in a nest in a chicken coop, he wrote, "I''m sorry to hear about your loss.


    xxYeahsungH golden round mana stone...... #daily munication #egg #manastone #magic #miss #missyou #waitingforyou


    532k likes


    Honeybeezx Shouldn''t we send this guy to counseling? I think he''s got some kind of mental pollution or something @jung Vin80 @SEOWON_GUILD


    Ui-jae strongly agreed with Honeybee''s opinion. Even in his eyes, Hong Ye-sung seemed to have lost his mind. Hunters nowadays had some kind of messed up brain structure.


    After cing the rabbit-shaped apple in front of Ha-eun, Ui-jae grabbed two scallions and a cutting board and sat down at the next table. Worried that he hadn''t been able to visit his grandmothertely due to the busy shop, he nudged Ha-eun.


    "How''s your grandma''s leg?"


    "Well, it''s limp."


    "Okay... I have to take her to the hospital."@@novelbin@@


    "Do you have to operate on my grandma?"


    "That''s for the doctor to decide."


    "I hope she doesn''t need an operation."


    Ha-eun clenched her jaw and made a grunting, painful sound. Ui-jae was tempted to make the same sound, but used a leek instead.


    Even after the mana stone from the tomato market, the situation was more or less settled, the Haejang-guk house was still buzzing with mana stones for a while. The only time it seemed to calm down was when Hong Ye-sung kept adding firewood to the inferno.


    The influence of the only S-rank producer was very strong. If Le Sa-young caused a typhoon in Haejang-guk House, Hong Ye-sung would cause an earthquake all the way from Jishan to here, and the effects of the earthquake would spread far and wide...


    Another S-rank was invited to Haejang-guk House.


    "This ce has a nice atmosphere."


    The voice sounded vaguely familiar. The same tone he had heard in the public announcement after the drama this morning.


    Ui-jae deliberately turned his head slower than usual. It was an instinctive escape from reality, but it only took his mind somewhere else for about three seconds and then brought it back, and it didn''t make the handsome man in the doorway disappear.


    He''s tall, with wheat-colored hair, slightly droopy eyes, a neat suit, and a civil service badge around his neck. The man with the gentle smile is Jung-bin, who has mastered the art of public service announcements in Korea.


    Why are you... why are you here?


    For a moment, Ui-jae wondered if he had turned himself in to the Awakening Management Bureau. When he made eye contact with her, he bowed politely.


    "Hello."


    "Wee. Are you alone?"


    It''s okay, Jung-bin doesn''t know the real Ui-jae, he only knows the masked J. Ui-jaeposed himself and stood up.


    [Trait Poker Face (B) is activated]


    "Yes, I''m alone."


    ?"Have a seat here. You can order from the menu on the wall."


    Jung-bin meekly took the seat designated by Ui-jae and studied the menu on the wall. The hunters sitting around him started to talk.


    "Crazy..."


    "I''m Jung-bin."


    "Did someone do something to get caught? What kind of guy is he? Turn yourself in quickly."


    "Oh, I''m not here to enforce thew. I''m here for dinner. I''m in the neighborhood on business."


    Jung-bin smiled wryly and extended his hand. But the hunters, who had already sat down near him in a daze, had their heads buried in their pots and were gulping down their seafood soup as if it were water.


    The behavior was somehow familiar. Even from outside the sliding door, I could feel them snooping around inside. At this point, Ui-jae could clearly see the future: soon there would be a Jung-bin zone after Lee Sa-young''s zone.


    ?In other words, business was closed for the day.


    There weren''t enough hunters from the guild, and now a government hunter was interfering with the business, so where do I report this? Ui-jae didn''t know why this kind of ordeal was happening again and again in the peaceful Haejang-guk house and he wanted to grab someone and yell at him.


    "..."


    But before he had time toin, a second wave of unwanted visitors rushed into the shop.


    The footsteps were so quiet that they could hardly be heard. A fiery aura that stunned him, but he could feel it. A ck figure approaching the shop.


    Everything pointed to only one person.


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!


    If you want to buy me a coffee /santos_28

 Chapter 23

    "I want my Hyung."


    Their eyes locked and Ui-jae forced the corners of his mouth to smile awkwardly.


    What? An unknown person? No one knows of his existence? Ui-jae thought back to the learning cartoons with masked caricatures of himself and the documentaries he''d seen one day. No one was as famous as me, you bastard....


    "Someone who is good but belongs nowhere. And someone who is not known to the public. Better if no one knows about it."


    "......."


    "You''re picky, aren''t you?"


    Sa-young walked silently, slowly circling around Ui-jae''s side. It was like a snake slithering through the bushes.


    "I was about to give up on finding the right person, but then you came along."


    "......."


    ?"Like fate."


    "Are you a fatalist?"


    "I never believed in that X stuff, but I guess I''ll start believing now."


    Meanwhile, Sa-young was standing right behind Ui-jae. He bent slightly at the waist.


    "I did some research on you."


    A ck finger curled around Ui-jae''s shoulder. The owner of the finger whispered quietly.


    "The high school you attended was washed away by the rift, as was your home, and I can''t find anything.... Your parents died the day of the rift, and you have no other rtives, so there''s nothing to dig up. If you worked somewhere, you''d have a contract, but there''s no contract, no bank records, and your cell phone was only activated a few months ago, and I can''t find any records before that."


    "......."


    "You''re not really rted to the owner''s grandmother or her nephew, are you? You''re strangers."


    Ui-jae was silent. Sa-young continued unperturbed.


    "There was really nothing."


    It''s obvious. During his time as J, Ui-jae was J, not Cha Ui-jae. No wonder there was no trace of the ''Cha Ui-jae'' Sa-young was looking for. He sighed heavily.


    "Originally, I wanted to be a good scout and give you whatever you wanted, but..."


    "....."


    "Right now, it seems like this shop is the only thing on your mind."


    Thezy voice leaned a little closer to his ear. Ui-jae held his breath for a moment.


    "Do you want something?"


    What do I want?


    ?There is no one in this world who doesn''t want something.


    Even now, when he closes his eyes, he can still hear the desperate screams and cries. Hands clinging to his feet for dear life, the smell of blood in his nostrils, his head jerking up at unexpected moments. He can remember the gnarly sensation of digging through the corpse, trying to find every scrap of flesh and bone.


    If he could, he''d pull out the bodies left in the crevices, abandoned as they were. He''d hide here as if he''de back alive and run away, but he meant it. He wanted to send them back where they belonged. He wanted to fulfill thest duty of a survivor. The ce was... so lonely. Too lonely.


    But he knew it was impossible.


    So all he could say was that he wanted nothing.


    "Nothing."


    "Really?"


    When Ui-jae answered briefly, Sa-young blinked slowly and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.


    "Then let me show you one."


    He pulled a tablet out of thin air and ced it in front of him. On the screen was a photo of a bespectacled, sensitive-looking man. Sa-young reached over his shoulder as if he wanted to wrap his arms around Ui-jae from behind and slowly turned the photo to the side. The man with gray hair pulled back in a long ponytail was wearing a doctor''s coat.


    "Do you recognize Nam Woo-jin? He''s an A-rank."


    He remembered seeing him when he looked up at Lee Sa-young.


    Nam Woo-jin, the sixth-ranked librarian in the Republic of Korea. Head of the Seowon Guild. The only A-rank healer in the Republic of Korea. Before his awakening, he was an orthopedic surgeon at a university hospital, raising the question of whether his pre-awakening talents affected his awakening ability...


    He nodded his head as if he had a vague memory of him, and Sa-young smiled.


    "The owner''s grandmother''s leg, why doesn''t she go to Nam Woo-jin for treatment?"


    "What?"


    "I heard she had a bad leg."


    From the ability to float two centimeters in ce to the ability to lift an entire building. Since the day of the rift, there have been as many different abilities as there have been Awakenings, but Awakenings with the ability to heal others have been very rare. During Cha Ui-jae''s time, there was only one B-rank Awakened in the United States.


    And the only A-rank healer in Korea was a person most people would never meet. Ui-jaeughed in disbelief.


    "An A-ss healer treating amoner? Say something that makes sense."


    "We have a cooperative rtionship with the Seowon Guild, so I can ask them to heal a person, and he was an orthopedic surgeon before his awakening, so he can do general medicine."


    "......."


    "How about that?"


    It was a terribly sweet deal. But Cha Ui-jae was not young enough to be intoxicated by the sweetness and not look around. All these deals and conditions were peripheral, not essential.


    "Lee Sa-young."


    "Yes, Hyung."


    "Why are you doing this to me?"


    "......."


    Ui-jae turned his head to meet Sa-young''s violet eyes, studying his face as if he were watching him. Instead of looking away, Ui-jae lifted the corner of his mouth and smiled.


    "Why do you have to strip a person down to their bare bones to examine them, find a weakness and hit them, and then dangle a carrot in front of them?"


    "......."


    "If I refuse you here, it will be known all over town that I''m an Awakened."


    "......."


    "What do you really want?"


    "What...?"


    Sa-young swept his cold, unsmiling eyes over Ui-jae''s face. The answer came out rather quickly for someone who had been twisting and turning all this time.


    "I considered that possibility."


    "......."


    "But simply threatening you is not the way to go..."


    "......."


    "I decided you weren''t the kind of person it would work on."


    "Good judgment, then."


    ?"Thanks for thepliment. Anyway, to answer your question."


    There was a short silence. Sa-young asked in a low voice.


    "The guy you hit with thedle, do you remember?"


    Of course he remembers. When Ui-jae nodded, Sa-young rubbed his index finger across the screen of the tablet and spoke.


    "A few years ago, a suspicious drug started making the rounds."


    "....."


    "Of course, normal drugs or narcotics don''t have much effect on the Awakened, but that drug........ had some strange reactions."


    "Like what?"


    "Increased aggression, addiction. And..."


    A long finger brought up another photo on the screen. A grotesquely twisted body, with jet-ck spikes protruding from every inch of it, like a dried-up tree... and something that had once been human. It looked like something he''d seen before.


    "Body mutations."


    Suddenly, he remembered Lee Sa-young''s words from the day they first met.


    Sorry. This bastard doesn''t know anything. His brain is fried.


    The man Lee Sa-young was beating was a drug addict, and the creature in the photo was more monster than human. As he studied the unnaturally twisted body in the photo, he muttered.


    "Just one pill and this is what happens?"


    "That''s what bothers me."


    As if in response, Sa-young mumbled and turned off the tablet screen.


    "Anyway, I''m looking for the people who spray these drugs."


    "......."


    "Me and my guildmates have already sold our faces too far... If we dig a little deeper, we''ll get our tails cut off."


    The Pado Guild was a small group, but each of its hunters was famous. Their small numbers meant that their every move was bound to be noticed. A fatal handicap when the target of your pursuit or reconnaissance was an Awakened.


    "You can''t just throw anybody in there, they''re either going to kill you or they''re going to be crawling around on the same stuff."


    Someone who''s good but doesn''t belong anywhere. And someone who''s not in the public eye. Better if nobody knows about it.


    If you''re going after someone who''s naturally stealthy, you have to be stealthy as well. Also, the opponent is an Awakened with increased aggression, so someone with the skills to fight an Awakened and win must step forward.


    As for Cha Ui-jae, there was a good reason for Lee Sa-young''s demands, and he was the one who fit the bill. But...


    "But why?"


    "Huh?"


    ?"Why are you looking for her?"


    Why on earth would Lee Sa-young want to find her?


    For the Awakened? No. To protect Korea, no. To protect the general poption, no.


    From what he''s seen so far, he''s not the kind of person who would go after them for a cause. Even though they''d only known each other for a short time, he could tell instinctively.


    He''s a man driven solely by his own standards. No amount of pride in being number one in South Korea, no amount of ountability, and no amount of specialws for awakened people with the primary goal of protecting the public would motivate him.


    "......"


    After a moment of silence, he raised his index finger to his lips.


    "More than that is a secret."


    "Hey."


    "I''ll tell you when Hyung is ready to ept the deal."


    "......."


    "By the way, the drug story is confidential, so don''t tell anyone or Jung-bin wille here again."


    You bastard, didn''t you just handcuff me because I told you a secret? Ui-jae''s expression turned cold. On the other hand, a smile returned to Sa-young''s face.


    He put the tablet back into his inventory and lightly patted the shoulder of the man who had been so close to him earlier. Heughed out loud, unperturbed by the p. He stood up and waved his hand in annoyance.


    "Go quickly. I have to close."


    "Yes."


    Lee Sa-young put on his gas mask. He suddenly held out his hand. What, are you saying let''s shake hands? Looking at him with suspicious eyes, the fingertips of the ck gloves were flicked.


    ?"Cell phone."


    "Why?"


    "Take my number."@@novelbin@@


    "I don''t need it."


    "My number is expensive."


    "I''ll sell your number to the tomato market."


    "Then you''ll see me a lot."


    Sa-youngughed at my non-threatening threats. Still, he didn''t want to take his hand back, so Ui-jae finally handed over his phone. He figured that even if he refused the deal, he should have ast resort, just in case.


    Sa-young quickly punched in the number and left the store without a second thought. Alone, Ui-jae turned on his contacts application.


    His contacts originally only had two numbers saved. His grandmother''s and Ha-eun''s home phone number and Ha-eun''s cell phone number, because there was no need to save any other numbers.


    But now it was different. A new name was added under his only contact.


    [Sa-young]

 Chapter 24

    Lee Sa-young didn''te back to the shop for a few days, even though he had offered to trade and had given him his number. In the meantime, Ui-jae hadn''t deleted his number. Neither did he sell it to the tomato market. Instead, he kept his number and thought about it more and more.


    Because ording to Lee Sa-young''s ominous prophecy, strange characters have been flocking to the store like carp stalking their prey.


    For example, ....


    "Yes, this is Haejang-guk House."


    -Hello, I''m Kim So-young, a writer from MBB station, can I call you?


    "Sorry, we don''t deliver."


    -I''m not ordering anything, I''m just calling to ask if you want to be on the show. Our show is called Live One Today, which airs weekdays at 7pm, and we have a restaurant feature segment...


    "I''m not going on the show."


    -Promoting your restaurant as a hunting destination will help your business...


    "No thanks, I''ve got a lot of customers, so I''m going to hang up now."


    He gets calls like this once a day,


    "Sir."


    "What?"


    "Turn off the camera in your pocket."@@novelbin@@


    "What? No, tell me where the camera is. Did you see that? Ha, that''s ridiculous."


    "It''s illegal to film without permission."


    "Hey, man! I can hear the camera rolling. He''s ignoring the hunters'' ears."


    "Why are you filming me eating Haejang-guk? What is he?"


    "Crazy, he''s a cyber wrecker who made a forced controversy and posted it on YouTube!"


    "What!"


    "Shit, we''ll see!"


    "If we don''t catch him, he''ll hook up with two of the people here and make a big deal out of it."


    "What the hell are you sitting around for, go get that bastard!"


    "Don''t take my Haejang-guk. I''ll get that bastard before the soup gets cold."


    "I have a warming artifact. Your seafood soup will be fine."


    "Lee Wonho-ssi...!"


    "Kang Doo-chil-ssi...!"


    "Looks like they''re going to have a fight."


    Not to mention that such incidents are not umon...


    xxYeahsungH i...o f ten...


    shed tea r s...


    I feel that I can''t hold back my tears...


    because my heart is p a i n e d....


    If I do... the fact that I can shed tears...


    is a good thing...


    #daily #blog #manastone #waitingforanswer #tears #sad #crying #can''tconcentratework


    Like 874k


    -Don''t cry YS ????


    -(crying emoticon)


    -Yesung-ssi, my brother is looking for the mana stone, so just wait for me. If you cry, my heart will break too ? ?;;


    -Jung-bin, please confiscate Hong Yesung''s Instagram.


    -Yesung, I love you, but this kind of post is a little overwhelming.


    Hong Yesung''s emotional Instagram posts with tearful selfies,


    It''s really delicious^^ -Hunter Jungbin


    After being confronted with Jung-bin''s autographed paper sticking out of the registered mail that suddenly arrived, I lost the will to care.


    Ui-jae thought about selling it to the tomato market, but he didn''t want to be subjected to message terrorism again, so he kept it on the wall. Ha-eun liked it, so it worked out in the end.


    Recently, ordinary people with gun cameras have also started to hang around the store, presumably to take pictures of the Named Hunter. The quiet life was starting to get a little annoying, with more and more things to do with the wider world.


    12:24 p.m. Ui-jae swept the front of the shop with a broom in his short free time and made a face. He could feel a camera filming him from a distance. Unfortunately, he had no electrical skills, so he couldn''t sabotage the camera from a distance. He could throw a broom and hit the camera, but ....


    Should I throw it?


    "Part-timer! Please give us more kimchi!"


    "Yes."


    I am a weak ordinary person. An ordinary person can''t break a camera with a broom. I am an ordinary person....


    Fortunately, the timely call pushed the bad thoughts out of his mind. Reminding himself that he''s just an ordinary person working at Haejang-guk House, Ui-jae returned to the tutu shop. All of this couldn''t have happened because of a single mana stone.


    An incredibly rare Mana Stone showing up at the local tomato market should be a cause for concern among hunters. Some madman has listed an A+ gem at a low price, and they''ll be scouring the area to find the owner. They''ll also eat the famous Haejang-guk, which is a favorite among hunters.


    But a restaurant where Korea''s proud number one hunter, Lee Sa-young, and the country''s official hunter, Jung-bin, ate haejang-guk side by side? That''s a big deal.


    It''s no wonder that the house gets all the attention from that moment on. The timing was right, too, because after Jung-bin''s visit, the first cyber wreckers and cannon cameras appeared around the house.


    I think Jung-bin and Lee Sa-young are the problem....''.


    At that moment, Ui-jae heard Jung-bin''s voice on the TV giving tips on how to prevent water pipes from freezing and took out the kimchi jar.


    Buaang-


    "Argh!"


    "Crazy!"


    "Help!"


    A loud exhaust note and a tearful scream shattered the silence of the alley. Ui-jae looked out the door. He''d convinced himself that he could handle being surprised by anything by now, but the sight of a sleek ck motorcycle crashing through the door was still refreshing.


    The hunters in line at the front of the restaurant clung to the wall to avoid the motorcycle, and the hunters eating haejang-guk stuck their heads out to see what was going on.


    A ck leather rider''s jacket, dark navy blue jeans, and ck boots. Someone with a helmet pushed down stood in front of the shop''s sliding door. The rider''s jacket paused for a moment, as if scanning the shop, then roughly removed the helmet. Bright golden hair, pulled back in a high ponytail, fell in soft waves.


    The hunters, who had been watching the Jacket''s behavior with bated breath, gasped.


    "L, Longevity Wasp...!"


    "What''s Longevity Wasp doing here?"


    "Some bastard said Longevity Wasp. Do you want to be killed?"


    "Hic, sorry!"


    Not bothering to hide her ferocious momentum, she mmed open the sliding door and burst into the shop. A blonde with high ponytails and the nickname Longevity Wasp. This was someone he''d seen before when he was looking for information on Lee Sa-young.


    -Ranked #5 in South Korea, A-Rank Hunter. Real name Yoo Chae-hyun. Her hunter name is Honeybee, but many people call her Longevity Wasp because of her fighting style and personality.


    ...But why would a fifth-ranked huntere to such a shabby Haejang-guk house? To eat Haejang-guk? As if to mock Ui-jae''s idea, Honeybee shouted at the top of her lungs.


    "Lee Sa-young,e out!"


    Okay, it''s him again. Another hunter sign for the wall.


    Ui-jae''s expression immediately turned cold.


    Honeybee noticed his gaze and looked back at him. Her eyes scanned him up and down as if searching while he held a kimchi container, and when she realized that he was an ordinary person, her voice became rtively friendly.


    "Is there a problem?"


    As far as he was concerned, there were already plenty of problems. This wasn''t one of those cute little things that could be passed off as a problem.


    The motorcycle parked out front! The shamelessness of the person who came in shouting ''Lee Sae-young! The arrogance of the person who blocked the door! The harshness of the person who made the waiting customers stick to the wall like chewing gum!!!!! And finally, the ominous premonition of a honeybee zone!!!!!! Everything was a problem.


    Jung-bin panicked because he hadn''t seen anyone he knew for a long time, but in reality, dealing with these hunters was easy for Ui-jae. He spoke as blindly and innocently as he had when he had called the Rift Management Agency.


    ?"Oh, wait."


    "......."


    [Trait Pokerface (B) activated]


    "You''re Honeybee, right?"


    At this point, he''s in the normal cosy meta.


    The more powerful and famous hunters care about their reputation, so it''s a good idea to be kind and gentle with the general public. Ui-jae even uses a special move that hunters wouldn''t say even if they were dead to prove that he''s just an ordinary good citizen.


    "Wow, I''m a big fan."


    Hearing the fan''sment, Honeybee quickly changed her posture like a bee. She untied her hair and swept her long blonde locks out of her face, striking her signature CF pose, her locks fluttering in the heater breeze.


    "Change your color!"


    (TL/N: this part is written in English on the raw)


    "Like this?


    Ui-jae paused for a moment, but soon regained hisposure. He even cheered, tapping the surface of the kimchi container like a drum.

 Chapter 26

    "It''s a gift. Put mine up."


    "......"


    "Well, it''s fan service, not that I didn''t appreciate the free food."


    Honeybee ran a hand through her bouncy hair. She was obviously d to see her fan.


    If there had been a sharp-eyed person next to her, they would have made fun of her for being a freak, but unfortunately or fortunately, the only person next to her was Bae Won-woo, who had a mind as white as a sheet of paper, and he was genuinely impressed.


    "Oh~ part-timer, were you a fan of Honeybee?"


    "Yes."


    "Hey,e here more often. He''s a fan."


    Shut up.


    "Well, I''m too busy, but maybe I''lle back."


    Don''t evere back.


    Honeybee and Bae Won-woo left the shop together. Ui-jae stared nkly at the ceiling with an autograph poster by his side.


    I will be rich if I sell autographs.


    However, Ui-jae''s Tomato Market ount was sealed, so Honeybee''s autographed poster could not be sold and was ced next to Jung-bin''s autographed poster. Later that afternoon, Ha-eun spotted Honeybee''s poster when she came home from school and rushed over to it.


    "Uncle, what is this?"


    "It''s a poster of Honeybee."


    "Really?"


    Her voice sounded a little...has she grown? Ui-jae, who was organizing the groceries, looked at Ha-eun with a puzzled face. Ha-eun clung to the wall as if she wanted to press her cheek against the poster.


    "Did Honeybeee and go? Today?"


    Her voice was more of a scream now.


    "Yep. She signed it herself."


    "I, I..."


    Ha-Eun, who was so close to the poster that her cheek rubbed against it, began to sob.


    "Huh?"


    "Uncle, I..."


    "Why, what''s wrong?"


    "I miss Honeybee!"


    "Shit.


    He cursed her to nevere back, but she had to break the curse after a few hours.


    "Sa-young, have you been skipping meals again?"


    Thump, thump, thump. It was the deputy guild leader Bae Won-woo, who mmed the door to the guild leader''s office with heavy footsteps. Lee Sa-young frowned, but it was hidden by his eye patch.


    He was sprawled out on the couch in the guild leader''s office, wearing a ck eye patch and ear plugs. Bae Won-woo, who was nearby, began nagging him out of habit.


    "Humans live from food," he said, "and I thought you were eating welltely, but why are you suddenly not eating again?"


    It wasn''t the first time Sa-young''s mouth was short. Bae Won-woo clicks his tongue and soon he''s standing in front of him with a tablet. He doesn''t seem to care if he has earplugs in or not.


    For him, earplugs were just something to muffle the sound. That''s what an S-Rank Awakener is.


    "The Awakening Management Bureau has sent word that they will be activating the emergency response system on the day of the rankings, and they need your help."


    "......"


    Sa-young lifted her foot instead of answering.


    "Okay."


    Bae Won-woo flipped the screen.


    "The Jongno 3-ga dungeon will be ours. If the vanguard clears it first, the researchers will go in afterwards and investigate the dungeon''s resources."


    Snap.


    "Also, the Seowon Guild has requested a day to visit."


    Snap.


    "That''s it for the immediate agenda... Oh, and I''m going to shoot amercial."


    "......."


    He doesn''t know who leaked this, but it wasn''t worth answering, so Sa-young stopped shaking, but Bae Won-woo persisted.


    "The part-time worker at Haejang-guk House is also a Honeybee fan. I thought he wasn''t interested in Hunter at all. I guess he can''t ignore the publicity."


    "What?"


    Sa-young pushed up one side of his eye patch.


    "Say it again."


    "What, he can''t ignore the publicity?"


    "No, before that."


    "I''m going to do amercial?"


    "Shit. .... Are you doing this on purpose?"


    "No, I''m not."


    "I thought you said something about part-time."


    "Oh, part-timer? I heard he''s a big Honeybee fan."


    "What?"


    There was only one part-timer in the world that Bae Won-woo would meet. A part-time worker at Haejang-guk House.


    "Honeybee personally signed the poster and gave it to him. I want to imitate that kind of fan service.


    Bae Won-woo started talking excitedly about the desirable hunter''s stance. Sa-young was lost in thought, still clutching the eye-patch he''d pushed up carelessly. As it turned out, Cha Ui-jae had a different attitude towards him and Jung-bin. He''s also a fan of Honeybee?


    Jung-bin and Honeybee have something inmon....


    Amercial star.


    Heh, Sa-young chuckled to himself. Apparently, Cha Ui-jae had some kind of bizarre taste that only people with high name recognition liked.


    He roughly removed his eye patch and gestured at Bae Won-woo, who was babbling about his rosy future after 365 Ways to Be a Cool Hunter and how his poprity had exploded and he was now number five in the rankings.


    "Stop being delusional and get the head of PR."


    "Wow, Sa-young, are you really going to let me do amercial?"


    "Quickly."


    In the evening, when the store was rtively empty, Ui-jae was at the counter of Haejang-guk House, sorting the books. Today, the number of unlucky hunters who threw their bills and ran away was still small, so it was easy to count.


    Then two texts arrive on his cell phone.


    Sa-young: CBS


    Sa-young: Turn it on


    He hadn''te to Haejang-guk''s for a while and hadn''t contacted him. Sa-young told him to turn on CBS, but he didn''t even have to change the channel. A popr weekend soap opera on CBS had just finished, so it was already on. Ui-jae squinted at the TV.


    -Change the color. CyC.


    He hopes he didn''t call me to watch amercial for Honeybee. What was next? Ui-jae tried to remember the schedule.


    ?The logo of the dyepany disappeared, revealing a beautiful single-family house with arge yard. A harmonious familyughed at their retriever running around the yard.


    Hahaha, ho-ho-ho, woof woof.


    And in the background...


    A gas mask.


    Gas mask?


    The ballpoint pen that was writing down the amount in my notebook by hand stopped. Cha Ui-jae opened his mouth involuntarily and focused on the screen.


    Ding!


    That was the sound of a hunter watching TV in front of the water cooler missing his ss.


    Hunters are sensitive to sound. Your eyes instinctively went to the source of the loud noise, first seeing the hunter who dropped the ss, then the hunter''s embarrassed face, and naturally following his gaze.


    And then I saw ''it''.


    "Crazy...."


    A hunter lost the spoon in his hand. Another spat out water like an actor in a soap opera spitting out orange juice. One hunter began to chant a prayer while drawing a sacred symbol. The whole Haejang-guk house was shocked and horrified.


    White writing appeared on the waist of the gas mask that appeared like the Grim Reaper in front of the family.


    Pado Guild Leader Lee Sa-young


    Dressed in a neat suit, the gas mask extended his left hand and formed a V with the index and middle fingers of his right hand, ovepping his left palm. It was hard to see, though, because he wore ck gloves on both hands.


    A deep voice spoke mechanically.


    -For awakening registration inquiries, call the Bureau''s hotline at 777, and to report unregistered awakenings and awakening crimes, call 555.


    The Korean Awakening Management Bureau is always at your service.


    Ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho, 555.


    A harmonious family and a gas mask spread their hands and wave from side to side. The music fades out together as the screen goes dark. There is silence. A professional narrator recites the precautions as fast as a rap.


    -Failure to report within one month of awakening without a specific reason will result in a fine of up to 100 million. Upon awakening, please visit your local awakening registration center for inspection. Public Service Announcement Council.


    Everyone in the store was speechless for a long time. Even after themercial ended, no one spoke. It was as if a collective curse of silence had fallen upon us. When the next program began, the hunters began to breathe heavily, one after the other. One hunter even pulled a potion out of thin air and emptied it in one swift motion.@@novelbin@@


    "Wow..."


    "Huh. Heuck. C, crazy. What did I see?"


    "I thought I had a Confusion debuff."


    "Me too."


    "Is that right?"


    "I think I''ve lost my mind."


    "Lee Sa-young is crazy. Now he''s doing mental attacks."


    "I can''t do that. I''ll buy a device to strengthen my mind."


    "Will thismercial be on every time I watch TV?"


    "I''m starting a digital detox today...."


    "Shh, Shield Guy."


    The stunned looks shifted to a single person. It was Shield Guy, sitting like a mountain with his back to the television, silently scarfing down his Haejang-guk. Indeed, it was the best tanker in Korea, whose mere presence drew everyone''s attention. Hunter, sitting at the same table, asked cautiously,


    "This... What is this?"


    Shield Guy, Bae Won-woo said grimly,


    "This is a public service announcement."


    "What?"


    "When you awaken, don''t forget to register as an awakened... Something like that."


    "Is that what it said?


    Ui-jae, who had listened to their conversation, almost lost the pen he was holding this time. Wasn''t that a threat that the gas mask woulde and kill you if you didn''t register as an Awakener?


    "No, I mean, why would he suddenly do a public service announcement? He rejects everything."


    The hunter was not alone in his suspicions, and he began to offer his own theories.


    "It''s almost time for this year''s rankings. Isn''t he just trying to get to number one?"


    "Even if he wasn''t, he would still be number one."


    "Does Jung-bin have a weakness for him?"


    "No way."


    "What...?"


    Bae Won-woo pursed his lips as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he couldn''t say anything and stuck his face back into the pot.


    Bae Won-woo, the loyal man of that era, the guy among guys, was speechless.


    That Lee Sa-young personally contacted the Korea Broadcasting and Advertising Corporation to ask for a public service announcement. The tragedy is that the government officials who were happy to hear that Lee Sa-young was the first to contact them, and the PR team who were excited that our guild leader was finally making amercial, were left speechless when they saw the results.


    "If this gets out, the Pado Guild is doomed."


    "......."


    "If you do this, don''t makemercials for the rest of your life! Why?"


    The head of the PR team was furious with Bae Won-woo. But Bae Won-woo was helpless...


    He decided to remain silent instead of giving a full exnation. He scooped up arge spoonful of haejang-guk and shoved it into his mouth. The heat of the Cheongyang chili blurred his vision. Bae Won snorted with a wistful look in his eyes.


    ''Sa-young, I kept my loyalty...''


    Ui-jae, who had been staring at the TV screen in a daze, was awakened by the vibration of his cell phone.


    Saeyoung: Spring?


    A shameless text message had arrived. He was stunned and didn''t know what to say.


    Saeyoung : Hyung


    Saeyoung : I heard you like people who makemercials.


    Saeyoung : ^^


    "What are you talking about, crazy..."


    Ui-jae... He doesn''t know who spread the rumor but he decided to kill him if he was caught.

 Chapter 27

    It¡¯s 11:48 p.m.in the office of the Awakening Management Bureau''s Field Response Team 1. The spacious office was brightly lit despite thete hour.


    "Team Leader, would you like a snack?"


    "Oh, sure. Just an energy bar, please."


    Jung-bin, a conscientious government employee, was on duty today. It wasn''t like he had any overtime or urgent work to do, but it was the usual thing at this time of the year.


    -Well, it''s only a matter of minutes, we''ll be able to see the new rankings in 12 minutes! I''m really curious to see how the system would have ranked them.


    Today was the day that every hunter looked forward to, the ranking update. Jung-bin chewed a few times on his front teeth as he put one hand in his pocket and held an empty paper cup in the other.


    Once a year, the system ranked all the Awakened based on their skills and performance. This year, both new and established hunters waited for their rankings to be updated.


    The new rankings are a testament to their abilities and can mean the difference between joining a new guild or receiving a new advertisement.


    However, it was not umon for hunters to go on a rampage if they didn''t get the rank they wanted, so the Awakening Management Bureau went into emergency mode around this time. The two on-screen announcers pointed to the data and said,


    -It is unclear how the system calctes the rankings, but we know that it takes into ount not only the rank but also the hunter''s activity throughout the year.


    -A-rank hunters can be ranked higher than S-rank hunters, and it''s all thanks to them. Last year, there were a lot of hunters who came out of nowhere, and I think this year''s rankings might be quite vtile.


    -Nevertheless, the experts predicted that there won''t be much change in the top 20. Let''s take a look at the predicted rankings.


    Lee Sa-young (S)


    The Gospel of Matthew - Mok Tae-oh (S)


    Jung-bin (S)


    GyuGyu - Ban Gyu-min (S)


    Honeybee - Yoo Chae-hyun (A)


    Doctor - Nam Woo-jin (A)


    I am a Craftsman ? Hong Ye-sung (S)


    Ham Seok-jeong (A)


    Song Jo-heon (S)


    Shield Guy- Bae Won-woo (A)


    :


    :


    -Oh, the predicted ranking... It''s no different from the current ranking, so you don''t expect it to change at all?


    -Yes, that''s right, because it''s been the same for the past two years.


    It is a familiar face.


    "Team leader, take this."


    "Oh, thanks."


    Jung-bin and his teammate stood side by side in front of the monitor and started eating an energy bar. After checking the predicted rankings, the teammate asked,


    "Do you think your ranking will stay the same?"


    "Well... yes."


    In thest two years, the ranking has not changed up to 10th. The higher the hunter, the more active he is, and the more influential his natural skill will be. Therefore, as the panelists say, the ranking will not change again this year.


    It''s in the middle tier that the real generational change will happen. That''s what they all thought, and Jung-bin agreed.


    "If Honeybee gets an S-rank weapon, I don''t know, but for now, I think I''ll stay in the same position this year."


    He had just finished folding the note into an empty wrapper when he was satisfied.


    Bang, a firecracker exploded in the air. Jung-bin looked up in surprise at the bright white window that had suddenly opened.


    [Ranking changes!]


    [Do you want to see it now?]


    A sound he had not heard in nearly two years. It was a sound that could only be heard when there was a ranking change. Jung-bin''s face cracked slightly as he checked his rank.


    He was ranked fourth. He had been number two when J was around, and after J''s death, he had briefly moved up to number one, but with the arrival of Lee Sa-young, he had be number two again. He was also nervous about the ''second ce for 10,000 years'' form, but with the arrival of another S-rank, Matthew, he went down a notch.


    And now it''s back to number four. There are only two things that can change the ranking.


    A new number one or two is born,


    The old number one or two dies.


    Either way, it was going to be a big deal, and soon enough, Jung-bin... He was faced with a third, unexpected situation.


    [Location: South Korea


    J


    Lee Sa-young ¨‹1


    The Gospel of Matthew ¨‹1


    Jung-bin ¨‹1


    GyuGyu ¨‹1


    Honeybee ¨‹1


    Doctor ¨‹1


    I am a handyman ¨‹1


    Ham Seok-jeong ¨‹1


    Song Jo-heon ¨‹1


    Shield Guy ¨‹1]


    ?One by one, the predicted rankings fell, and the number one spot went to...


    The name everyone knew, J.


    It''s been eight years since that day, but his name is still heard everywhere. In documentaries about the Incheon Rift, in history books about Rift Day, in childish inte threads arguing about who was the strongest in the world.


    He died in a rift eight years ago. That''s what they said. No one had ever seen his body, but the rift had closed, and his name had disappeared from the hunter rankings. Besides, once a rift is closed, it cannot be reopened, so no one suspected his death.


    But now J has suddenly appeared in the rankings.


    What does that mean...@@novelbin@@


    -What? No, what is this?


    -Wait a minute, the top spot is now ....


    -Has the ranking changed?


    -Is it J?


    J is alive.


    And he''s probably still in the Incheon Rift.


    Worst case scenario... the Incheon Rift might have reappeared.


    The smile disappeared from Jung-bin''s face. His teammate stuttered as he checked the rankings.


    "Te, team leader."


    He grabbed his suit jacket from the chair and headed for the door. His teammates scrambled after him.


    "No, team leader! What the...? Did I see that right?"


    "How many people do you have avable to move in immediately?"


    "Uh, not counting the ones on the ground... About ten in all."


    ?"Tell them to move all but the minimum number of people to Incheon, and keep everyone else on standby."


    "Incheon?"


    "Yes. To the Incheon Rift."


    "Understood!"


    "The director will give you instructions on how to deal with the media. Those of you who remain, respond ording to the instructions. ...."


    Jung-bin''s pager buzzed before he could finish his instructions. He hesitated slightly, checked his understanding with a nce, and pressed the receive button.


    [Director Ham Seok-jeong]


    A soft voice of a middle-aged woman flowed through the speaker.


    -Team leader Jung-bin.


    "Yes, sir."


    -There is a lot of work untilte at night. Have you seen the rankings?


    "I have, and I''m leaving for Incheon right now."


    -Yes. I suppose you know what to do.


    "Yes. We''ll check to see if the West Sea Rift has reopened, and then search the immediate area for J and the other hunters, keeping their survival in mind."


    -If J isn''t in the west. And if the rift hasn''t reopened....


    There was a brief silence. The director of the Awakeners, Ham Seok-jeong, said firmly.


    -You must find them.


    "Yes."


    -By any means necessary.


    ?Incheon, in front of the memorial.


    Jung-bin brushed his hair from his face as he jumped out of the helicopter. His destination was the memorial.


    There was a person standing in front of the memorial with a clear view of the sea. It wasn''t hard to recognize him from a distance as he stood a head taller than everyone else. Jung-bin took a moment to catch his breath and walked over to the ck figure.


    "Lee Sa-young."


    "......."


    With his hands in his pockets, Lee Sa-young stared at the top of the monument. At first nce, he looked calm, but Jung-bin had a hunch.


    He is back.


    There was a noticeable ferocity that could not be resolved or not. To the point where a weak person can''t stand it and loses his mind. Jung-bin sent a signal to the team members standing behind him. He wanted to prevent anyone from approaching him.


    The team dispersed in unison; no hunter, let alone a reporter, was allowed near Lee Sa-young in this state. A sharp pressure squeezed the air as if it could tear a man apart at any moment. Jung-bin stood three paces behind him, watching him.


    After a moment of silence, he spoke.


    "Rift?"


    He must have meant, "Have youe to check the rift?" Jung-bin tensed and replied,


    "Yes, it is."


    "It''s not open."


    "......."


    With an impatient jerk of his chin, Lee Sa-young pointed to the calm sea. The waves were gently breaking in the moonlight. His gaze was still fixed on a single hint of writing at the top of the monument.


    Originally, the Incheon Rift was a joint venture between the Rift Management Agency and the Awakening Management Bureau. The size of the rift and the scars it left behind were too great for any one guild to control, so no guild applied. The rift came from the Western Sea, and no one wanted to store a bomb that could explode at any moment.


    One day, however, Lee Sa-young appeared out of nowhere, and instead of sharing the results of the Pado Guild''s researchb, he demanded that the government take possession of the Incheon Rift. That was enough of a headache, so the government didn''t even bother to consider it and handed the bomb over to the Pado Guild.


    Ever since that day, Jung-bin has had a small question nagging at him.


    Why did Lee Sa-young take possession of the Incheon Rift?


    And now. Why is Lee Sa-young here? Is he afraid that something will happen to the rift that belongs to the guild? Is he angry that he lost the top spot to J?


    "If that''s the case, go back and manage your hunters."


    "......."


    It was a clear gesture of congrattion. The gas mask''s gaze flickered into the air, just outside the monument. He was probably looking at the same thing as Jung-bin.


    +82 [CH.1] ¡¸J has entered the room.


    J appeared on the channel.


    Now that he had confirmed the safety of the rift, it was time for the second mission. He flicked his fingertips to give instructions,


    "Stop before I crush your fingers."


    Anguid voice murmured.


    "Tell Ham Seok-jeong."


    "......."


    "The Incheon Rift belongs to the Pado Guild."


    "......."


    Lee Sa-young slowly turned around to face Jung-bin. Ah, he suddenly realized,


    "Everything that came out of the rift is ...."


    Lee Sa-young said,


    "is mine."


    For this day....

 Chapter 28

    Separate recycling, remember!


    Whirring. The faded paper rattled in the cold breeze. A thick, beetle-like figure moved busily, crouching in an alley.


    Thick padding, toad apron, rubber gloves, sweatpants and three-line slippers. Ui-jae was peacefully sorting through the recycling, dressed in his winter home-warming look. As he removed thebel from the stic bottle, Ui-jae muttered aint.


    "No matter how much trash I throw away, there are so many..."


    He collected thebels and threw them into a stic bag, stomped on the stic bottles to dete them, and then picked up the soju bottle.


    Boom!


    At that moment, there was a sudden explosion of firecrackers in the air. Cha Ui-jae raised his head, wondering what it was, and saw a familiar white window.


    [Congrattions, J!]


    [You are the new number one in ''Region: South Korea''].


    "What?"


    Plop. A heavy stopper fell to the ground. An empty soju bottle rolled out of the bag and onto the asphalt.


    Why does this guy say I''m #1 for recycling?


    Ui-jae didn''t even think to point out the contents properly because the system''s guidance was so stupid.


    1st ce? Ui-jae wanted to ask and at least grab the cor in case there was someone who could answer. He couldn''t understand why this message came today, which could have ended normally.


    Instead of asking the system for information, Ui-jae quickly turned on the inte application on his cell phone. Fortunately or unfortunately, the news about the hunters'' rankings was disyed at the top of the portal''s main screen.


    "Breaking news, Korea''s No. 1 ranking, J¡¹"


    "[Breaking news] Lee Sa-young, the undisputed No. 1 yer, fell to No. 2 behind J¡¹.


    "[Breaking News] The Awakening Management Bureau said, "The same hunter name cannot exist, not the same name.""


    "[Breaking News] Awakening Management Bureau, "Possible system error, facts are being confirmed""


    "[Breaking news] Jung Bin captured boarding helicopter... heading to Incheon."


    Moreover, the number of articles increased with each refresh. The system was even kind enough to pop up a new ranking window for his reference.


    J


    Lee Sa-young ¨‹1


    The Gospel of Matthew ¨‹1


    Jung-bin ¨‹1


    GyuGyu ¨‹1


    Honeybee ¨‹1


    Doctor ¨‹1


    I am a master craftsman ¨‹1


    Ham Seok-jeong ¨‹1


    Song Jo-heon ¨‹1


    Shield Guy ¨‹1]


    There was a blue down arrow next to every name except J. It was a devastating visual just by looking at it.


    "Shit."


    Subconsciously, Ui-jae remembered a picture he saw in an Inte post one day.


    Let''s find out what not to do at the funeral


    This is


    (Emotions with raised hands)


    Resurrection


    You''ll be embarrassed if you suddenlye back to life, right?


    See you next time.


    Yes, Cha Ui-jae identally... did something he should never do.


    J. It''s a little embarrassing to say it, but he''s so famous that he saved countless people while working as a hunter, and even appears as a hero who sacrifices himself with rifts in learning cartoons read by children.


    Such a person resurrected after 8 years? And as soon as he came back, he took back the first ce?


    Of course, they''ll scour thend to find him.


    He could hear a quiet life slowly receding from him. Only then did he realize. Oh, right. It wasn''t the firecrackers he had heard before.


    It was the sound of his small, precious, quiet daily life exploding...


    As he mechanically refreshed the screen in denial, anger rose in his chest as high as the number of updates in the corner. With a grunt, he grabbed an empty bottle of soju from the bar and, holding it by the spout, pointed it at the status window.


    "Hey, what did I do to be number one?"


    In the past, being number one could be a thing. J was strong, he shed monsters nonstop, and he was unstoppable in terms of skill and performance.


    But what about Cha Ui-jae? What Cha Ui-jae did after escaping from the rift was cleaning, recycling, washing dishes, making hangover soup, taking care of discount coupons, shopping, taking care of Ha-eun, donating to the Incheon Rift Foundation, sometimes catching a monster on the street and reporting it to the Rift Management Agency. It was just that much.


    If that was all he had to do to be number one, a dog or a cow could have be number one.


    [1st ce perk reward]


    [Collect]


    Give me the decline button.


    He looked for a reject button somewhere, but there wasn''t one, not even a tiny X, let alone a reject button. Instead, the system began to highlight the words ''ept'' in red.


    You think I''m going to press that? Absolutely not. Ui-jae deliberately turned his eyes away from the system, intending to ignore it until he got tired of weeding and copsed.


    However, the system disyed a new window wherever he turned his eyes, and this time, instead of receiving it, it floated another option.


    [¡ö¡ö¡ö Some of the deleted privileges will be restored].


    [Restore permissions...]


    [¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö Permissions to ess Korea Channel 1 will be restored]


    [Would you like to ess Korea Channel 1?]


    [?Yes]


    [?Yes]


    As if it had been listening, the options increased. The problem was, nothing really changed.


    Hunter Channel is a system-created group messenger. A group messenger where you can share information, talk to each other, and make announcements. Of course, Ui-jae thought that they must have been forced into it because the hunters only yed solo.


    Anyway, there was an ess standard on the channel to meet the user''s eye level, and channel 1 was a ce where only the first to 50th ces were given ess rights.


    In other words, Jung-bin, Honeybee, and Bae Won-woo are on channel 1.


    Of course, Lee Sa-young.


    You are crazy. I can''t go in there.


    He tried to live as quietly as possible, but the world wouldn''t leave him alone. UI-jae picked up a soju bottle that had rolled far away and separated the lid from the ss bottle.


    "Close the window, because I''ll never go inside."


    [.......]


    The system did not respond.


    It is finally quiet.


    Ui-jae breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the sticks and empty bottles scattered on the floor.


    [!!Error!!!]


    [Time to choose is up]


    [Automatically connects to channel 1]


    "What?"


    Ui-jae was horrified. What is this cheap system saying?


    +82 [CH.1] ¡¸J has entered


    This is bullshit.


    How outdated this damn system is, and it didn''t even have a nickname change function! Cha Ui-jae, who was suddenly resurrected under the old name of J and even connected to Channel 1, lost his fighting spirit in an instant.


    He couldn''t help butugh at the absurdity of it all.


    "Ha, haha."


    Whether he knew it or not, the chat, which had been frozen for a moment, began to climb at a fric pace with a flurry of messages.


    :


    :


    [50] Romantic Opener: Much


    [50] Romantic Opener: Wow


    [11] Shield Guy: Wow


    [6] Honeybee: ?


    [6] Honeybee: Really?


    [34] Very Small Miracle: Isn''t this a system error?


    [50] Romantic opener: No,e on


    [50] Romantic Opener: It''ll be legendary?????


    [8] I am a master craftsman: ei?


    [8] I am a master craftsman: a surprise a surprise camera?


    [8] I am a master craftsman: They n it with the system ?? to see our reactions ?


    [8] I am a master craftsman: like the one on TV?


    [8] I am a master craftsman: Observation Entertainer turned on. Oh, my. Lee Haewan.


    [6] Honeybee: It''s crazy to escape reality


    [4] Jungbin: Hong Ye-sung ^^


    [4] Jung-bin: I''m going to turn off the Wi-Fi for a moment.


    [4] Jung-bin: Please be careful not to let others talk.


    [8] I am a master craftsman: (crying emoji)


    [29] Manseokpal Boy: Isn''t that someone else''s nickname?


    [43] Toon: It''s not really J, is it?


    [4] Jung-bin: As you all know, ^^; Hunter names cannot be duplicated.


    [4] Jung-bin: I think you''re very confused.


    [4] Jung-bin: I''m checking, so please wait a moment. ^^


    [29] Manseokpal Boy: Long-term non-contact nickname in online games


    [29] Manseokpal Boy: I release it periodically...


    [15] I don''t have a nickname: it''s not a game.


    [3] Matthew: Jung-bin.


    [3] Matthew: The possibility that the rift may have reopened...


    (TL/N: I know some of this doesn''t make sense, but I''m trying my best ???? Chats are the hardest to trante)


    The chat window, which was so hectic that he couldn''t read Matthew and Mok Tae-oh''s careful questions, froze. Ui-jae stopped breathing for a moment. If the Incheon Rift is open again, Ui-jae has to go there.@@novelbin@@


    He has to go back to that hell and find the things he left behind. He has to pay for his sins.


    nk!


    Ui-jae blinked. The soju bottle in his hand shattered. The back of his neck cooled. He seemed to have sweated without noticing it. Whoo, when Ui-jae took a long breath and raised his head to clear the annoying system window...


    [2] Lee Sa-young : X


    Lee Sa-young''s message appeared. Ui-jae blinked slowly.


    [11] Shield guy: Excuse me, Mr. J?


    [11] Shield guy: hoxy... Can you please chat?


    And even in this situation, Bae Won-woo was consistently tactless.


    If it were you, would you hit him?


    For some reason, he felt rxed. His confused mind seemed to be sinking bit by bit. Ui-jae, crouching on the floor, decided to borrow the power of AI as ast resort.


    "Hello Nexby, find me a way out of Hunter''s channel."


    -Searches for a way out of the Hunter Channel.


    -No results.


    Damn it.


    "Huh? It''s not working."


    At the Haejang-guk house, which was still crowded with hunters, a hunter snooped around the TV and pressed the remote control button. But no matter how many times he pressed the button, the TV did not turn on. He scratched his head and shouted.


    "This is supposed to be a TV, isn''t it broken?"


    Ui-jae replied and filled the tray with empty dishes.


    "Yes, it is. I looked at it this morning and it''s broken. I''ll call a repairman tomorrow."


    Of course that''s aplete lie. The TV was fine. It''s because the cord is unplugged.


    "I wanted to eat while watching the 110-minute debate."


    As the man mumbled with regret, the other hunters next to him began to chime in one by one.


    "Is this what we''re doing today? Should we send a rescue team or not?"


    ?"Oh, I''d like to see that."


    "We''ll have to watch it on our phones."


    "Can''t we call a repairman now?"


    "He won''t be here tonight."


    There were many disappointed voices here and there. But Ui-jae pretended not to hear them all. All to avoid the disaster of watching this week''s ''110 Minute Debate'' together, which they were so eager to watch.


    Today, a week after J''s appearance on the Hunter Rankings, the subtitle of the special live broadcast of "110 Minute Debate" was as follows.


    "J''s Return - Incheon Rift, Should Rescuers Be Sent In?


    Since the resurrected party''s opinion was not included in any of this, not even by the blink of an eye, Ui-jae woke up and unplugged the TV. His fists clenched tightly.


    I will never let them see this.

 Chapter 29

    How would you normally react if you heard that someone who died eight years ago was actually alive? People were still divided on whether J was alive or dead.


    Title: [Anonymous] If J is alive


    in the rifts of the West Sea


    Shouldn''t we send a rescue team?


    Even if he''s alive, he can''t move even if he''s alive.


    Maybe his leg was cut off or something...


    Comments (99+)


    -Are there really no other survivors?


    Ipared the ranking with the name on OO''s memorial, but only J''s name was newly created. I guess J is the only one who survived.


    -Didn''t you know what it was like in the rift and send a rescue team? Don''t you know how many hunters died in there?


    But do you leave people in the rift?


    You went in to save those guys. It''s the abyss of humanity??


    Don''t you remember when the West Sea Rift expanded a lot? If you open it, you can ruin thend.


    Is it the same as now? It''s not the time when people risked their lives with only one power difference??????


    ©¸Does it make sense to use all that power to get J?


    -Yes~ You can''t open a rift that was closed in the first ce.


    Of course, people didn''t believe it at first. The majority of hunters also said that it was just a temporary glitch and that it would be fixed soon. However, Channel 1, which had confirmed J''s existence firsthand, waited with bated breath for an official announcement from the Awakening Management Bureau.


    -Oh, my


    -Why are you lying?


    -Even if there is a mistake, how can there be a mistake like this?


    -Sometimes the system breaks down too


    :


    :


    -Why don''t you fix this bug?


    -No way?


    It didn''t take long for a question mark to be added after what people said was "no way". After a few days, the ranking did not change and people panicked.


    Soon after the media started spreading unfounded rumors and it became a fait apli, the Awakening Management Bureau rushed to clear up the confusion. Since the press conference was held at 3 p.m., Ui-jae was able to watch the press conference alone with a break sign.


    When the time came, the woman who appeared on the screen was neatly dressed with a neat haircut, a suit, and a cane. Except for the fact that her face was not good, it was simr to the one Ui-jae remembered. It was Ham Seok-jung, the director of the Awakening Management Bureau, who had refrained from outside activities for health reasons.


    With a brief greeting, she said firmly.


    "This ranking is not a system error."


    She paused for a moment and continued.


    "It''s not even a duplicate hunter name. It''s not like someone else took J''s name. It''s hard to believe, but an internal investigation shows that J is still alive."


    The murmur and sh grew louder. The reporters all raised their hands.


    "How can you be so sure?"


    "Are there other survivors besides J?"


    "Eight years ago, the Awakening Management Bureau would have confirmed the deaths of the hunters who entered the West Sea Rift, but why did the story suddenly change?"


    "If J is alive, where is he now?"


    Despite the baptism of questions, Ham Seok-jung raised her palm for a while without changing her expression and answered in a calm voice.


    "We will set up an investigation team to get a clearer picture of the situation. I''d appreciate it if you could wait a little."


    Ham Seok-jung and the hunters of the Awakening Management Bureau bent down.


    Ui-jae saw Ham Seok-jung''s face and realized that eight years had passed. In J''s memory, she was young and passionate, without a cane or a limp. When did she hurt her leg?


    And she''s...


    How can you be so sure?


    Today''s press conference by the Awakening Management Bureau was a reversal of what they had announced in the past. Since everyone''s attention was focused, the fact that J entered Channel 1 could not have made such an announcement.


    Ham Seok-jung is such a person. A cautious and calcting person who only moves when there is irrefutable evidence and a clear justification. Ui-jae turned off the TV while looking at Ham Seok-jung who was still bowing her head.


    After the press conference of the Awakening Management Bureau, the story of J continued wherever he went in Korea. The special broadcast of the final 110-minute discussion was nothing like it.


    The daily news bulletins were all about the West Sea rift and J, but they were also sharply divided over whether to rescue him or not.


    They are all fighting over nothing.


    Even when someone asked him what he thought about J''s resurrection and rescue, Ui-jae responded with amon meta-it seems to be passive now, like "Haha, I don''t know".


    But all of his desperate attempts to escape the topic ended in failure, because...


    "The whole world is shocked by J''s amazing ability, Japan is angry, and the American people are dying to see him!"


    J has even made a video clip that has skyrocketed in poprity on YouTube.@@novelbin@@


    The topic of conversation among the regr hunters of Haejang-guk House changed every time, but the hot potato of the past few days was, of course, "J".


    The hunters ignored tables and ate haejang-guk, discussing everything from J''s survival to the state of the rift. Since all the participants in the discussion were current hunters, various opinions were expressed.


    "Isn''t it a system error? That seems most likely."


    "The Bureau said so at a press conference. J is alive."


    "How can they be sure? Have you ever personally spoken to the system?"


    "I don''t know. But I think it''s certain when I see Ham Seok-jung''s press conference in person."


    "There are some shady things going on there too."


    "What about you... You''re saying that while sitting right in front of Jung-bin''s sign."


    "Crazy, when did that sign appear?"


    The mostmon and least reliable theory was the system error theory.


    The rankings are updated once a year, but it ismon for dead hunters to be removed from the list immediately upon death.


    If you lost contact in the rift, you could check someone''s name on the list to see if they were alive or dead, so the uracy was guaranteed. So people would suspect the system and then quickly dismiss it.


    At that time, a new hunter, who was slicing peppers with great skill, offered an opinion.


    "Or maybe he died and recently resurrected?"


    "Is there an item that can resurrect a dead person?"


    "The world is like that, so there might be at least one."


    "Maybe a healer brought him back to life......."


    "Even Nam Woo-jin can''t bring back the dead."


    "Or J had the only resurrection item in the world, and the waiting time for resurrection was eight years."


    "That''s a bit usible."


    "What''s so usible?"


    The theory of resurrection after death, where the crane is removed every time the doctor hears it.


    Logically, it was all nonsense to be dismissed, but J''s return was itself confusing. Of course, not only in Haejang-guk House, but also on the anonymous bulletin board of Hunter, several hypotheses appeared...


    -I''d rather believe that the necromancer saved him?????.


    Famous Necromancer anyone? Find them quickly.


    ©¸Necromancers are forbidden to resurrect humans, so no way ??


    The Necromancer''s J illegal resurrection story,


    -In fact, he returned after eight years of fighting in another dimension. Returned Warrior J


    I think you''ve read too many novels...


    Don''t you know that the court = the essay has been written since the day of the rift?


    There were many empty stories like the theory of the returnees, but of course no one guessed right. The premise was wrong to begin with. Because J never died.


    And those who discussed the "how" realized that there was no answer unless J himself opened his mouth, and moved on to the next step.


    J is alive. Then where?


    Thest ce J was seen was a rift in the West Sea. Obviously, he couldn''t get out of there, and people thought that J closed the rift and died in it. But what they have believed for eight years may not be true.


    Dawn, when everyone is asleep.


    Ui-jae suddenly opened his eyes. In the silence, where he could not even hear his own breathing, he held his breath without moving. The side room where Ui-jaey was silent without any sound, but he could tell instinctively.


    There is an intruder outside this room.


    It is impossible for a guest toe at thiste hour. No matter how much you want to eat Haejang-guk, you won''t open the locked door and enter the shop.


    The only thing that can be used as a weapon is in the kitchen, and all he has is a strong body. Ui-jae, who raised his upper body as slowly and quietly as possible, held his hand a few times and unfolded it. Fortunately, he was good at fighting with his bare hands.


    "I don''t know what kind of bastard...


    A part of him wanted to rip the limbs off, but he couldn''t be bothered with the mess. A moderate break would be enough to extract information and report it.


    With that, he opened the door to the next room and stepped barefoot onto the floor. He stepped through a wall of boxes and into a familiar hall. In the middle of a dimly lit shop, the dull glow of a streetmp shining through the ss, the gas mask sat.

 Chapter 31

    Sa-young gripped my hand tightly. The wound that touched it throbbed as if it were on fire. It''s been a long time since I felt such pain.


    Red and ck blood mixed and flowed down her wrist. Golden vines bloomed around the palm of my hand. Something tingled in my body. It climbed up my palms, wrists, and arms and settled near my heart.


    At the same time, a hot lump rose from the pit of my stomach. I groaned and bit my lips. The constant pounding seemed unbearable.


    "Ugh."


    "Hold it in."


    [Talent Basilisk Venom (S+) is active]


    "Wait a minute.


    My eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the system window.


    It was a detox talent I''d gained from capturing a basilisk in the Western Sea Rift, but I''d never used it before - it was a strange talent that never reacted to weak poisons. So why now?


    I couldn''t get over my embarrassment and coughed, red blood spurting out. There was a faint sweetness between the fishy blood tastes.


    "Ah, you bastard.


    "Shit, Hyung. Come on."


    Why are you cursing? I should be the one cursing. I coughed blood after blood, trying to hold on to my fading consciousness. Through my slightly shaky vision, I could see a hardened Lee Sa-young.


    "Hyung?"


    You''re poisoning people, damn you.


    "Hyung, open your mouth quickly."


    "I told him I''d kill him if he touched me...


    "Quick!"


    Sa-young, mumbling nervously, pushed the thumb of his gloved hand into my mouth. I instinctively bit Lee Sa-young''s thumb. I wanted to cut off his fingers with my teeth. My head was so hot.


    I stared at the white window that filled my vision with bloodshot eyes.


    Why is your S+ talent so slow? Do you want to search?


    [Basilisk Venom (S+) Talent is active].


    [Detoxify].


    [Basilisk Venom (S+) Talent is active] [Detox].


    [Detoxify].


    [Basilisk Venom (S+) Talent is active] [Detox].


    [Detoxify].


    The system window blinked in frustration. It seemed like an expression that he was working hard, but it was none of my business.


    I neither liked Lee Sa-young nor Basilisk''s poison. What the hell did that bastard think he was doing, putting poison into a person''s body? I don''t think the antidote is useful, so why did you tell me to take it? What would you do if I didn''t have the poison talent?


    Soon, the cool liquid flowed slowly down the thumb. The fever gradually subsided along the contact with the liquid. At the same time, the system window appeared.


    [Detoxificationplete]


    [Under the effect of Basilisk Toxin (S+), you gain resistance to poisons after detoxification.]


    Damn it. I breathed heavily. I couldn''t remember how long it had been since I vomited blood like this. The fever gradually subsided, and my senses slowly returned from my fingertips. One of my hands was still sped to Sa-young''s.


    "Hyung."


    I touched my forehead with the other hand. My blurry vision cleared and I saw the gas mask staring back at me.


    "Hyung."


    Saeyoung called out to me again. I slowly took a breath. My body was recovering quickly, whether it was due to hard work or some unknown liquid that Lee Sa-young had fed me.


    "Okay, that''s enough..."


    Although the pain remained a little, it was enough to ignore it and move.


    As I was about to answer the call, I heard leather gloves, warmed by my body temperature, gently wrap around my cheeks and chin. His hand, which had been on my cheek for a while, slowly looked down and grabbed my chin to lift my head.


    The ck gas mask was a little clearer. Sa-young asked in a whisper,


    "Can you see me?"


    I nodded meekly, as if I couldn''t see through this skimpy top. Though it was more like a nod because my head remained fixed. Sa-young murmured in a worried tone.


    "It seems like you can hear me."


    "......."


    "Talk? If you can''t, at least blink."


    I felt that if I opened my mouth I would probably start cursing, so with the utmost self-control I blinked instead of answering aloud. It was more a case of not speaking than not being able to, but it was either that or nothing. I felt the grip on my cheeks tighten a little more.


    "Your vocal chords are damaged."


    "......"


    "Where else?"


    What kind of poison does this guy have?


    I was stunned to hear this. To sum up what Lee Sa-young is worried about... Doesn''t it mean that the poison can damage sight, hearing, vocal cords, and organs at the same time? It''s a powerful poison that even works on S-Rank Awakened ones.@@novelbin@@


    How can a simple poison be so strong?


    "Cha Ui-jae."


    A worried voice interrupted my train of thought. A cautious hand touched my neck. I suddenly wondered what Lee Sa-young must be thinking right now. It reached out and touched my forehead,


    "......."


    "What..."


    I gripped the gas mask tightly.


    With a snap. The front of the gas mask crumbled in my grip. Fumbling and twisting and pulling, a pale, bloodless face emerged from behind the torn mask. Violet eyes wide with surprise, lips parted, fringe clinging to his face in cold sweat.


    "Yourshes are really long."


    I liked the way his normally stoic face changed to one of surprise and embarrassment. When I was satisfied with the look on his face, I tossed aside the remains of the torn gas mask and removed the stiffened hand from around my neck.


    I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand.


    "I''m fine. My vocal chords are not damaged."


    "......."


    "I''ve never seen such a deadly poison in my life... Do you have a conscience?"


    "Shit."


    Lee Sa-young''s pretty face crumpled into a hard line. He took off the gas mask that had been torn off his face and threw it on the floor, then red at me.


    "Why don''t you talk, are you kidding me?"


    "I thought I would curse at you as soon as I opened my mouth, why?"


    "Argh....Shit, really. Annoying..."


    Lee Sa-young nervously tossed her hair and turned around. Only then did I look around carefully.


    The blood-soaked table was melted in ces, the dagger that had sliced my palm was lying on the floor, and an unfamiliar bottle was rolling around next to it.


    I picked up the bottle as it rolled nearby. A system window appeared, showing that it was no ordinary bottle.


    [Nectar of the Golden Tree (S)


    Consume to remove all status diseases and curses]


    "...No way."


    The name alone was strange.


    Most treatments for abnormal conditions have the types and levels that can be treated. An item that could unconditionally remove all diseases and curses would be priceless. And this rare item is now...


    [It''s an empty bottle now]


    It was empty and rolling around on the table of Haejang-guk House....


    This was the cool liquid that came into my mouth. I felt a little less inclined to grab a person by the cor and argue that no crazy person would poison a person after giving them a bunch of ineffective drugs. Come to think of it, Lee Sa-young seemed quite embarrassed as well.


    Nectar... What a waste.


    If he''d just waited a little longer, my Basilisk Poison talent would have detoxified him by itself. Shouldn''t I have just told him that I had a detox talent?


    I rolled my eyes as I clutched the now empty bottle of nectar. Lee Sa-young was still standing with his back to me.


    "Hmm, Lee Sa-young?"


    "......."


    "This nectar... expensive, isn''t it?"


    "Say something else."


    When Lee Sa-young growled at him, I stretched and red. Asking about the price would be like rubbing salt in the wound.


    I thought to myself. I''ve never been good at appeasing people anyway. After a moment''s thought, I decided on the most obvious answer.


    "Thank you for now."


    "Ha ha."


    "Did I finally get it right?


    "Thank the person who poisoned you. You''re a saint..."


    "Thank you, but fuck you.


    "Most of the people who went there were people who had body changes or were about to have body changes. The suppliers take the ones who crawled in under their own feet."


    "Where?"


    "Theb."


    A dark light hung over Sa-young''s face.


    "Drugs are just bait to collect experimental bodies."

 Chapter 34

    "Oh, I won''t shoot you."


    "Yeah."


    "Anyway, have you been lowered enough? If it''s not enough, you need to drink a weak potion."


    I measured my physical condition by gradually moving my limbs. It was a long way. That was why it was barely a B-rank. I shook my head.


    "I don''t think it will be enough."


    "I knew it, and I''ve been preparing for this. Hold on."


    Just in time, the light turned red. Ming-ki took arge paper box from the inventory and handed it to me. When I opened the lid, ten ss bottles of white liquid were neatly contained.


    "This is an A-rank weakening pot. It''s a masterpiece made in one night by the potion makers of the Pado Guild."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. The guild leader promised a 300% bonus, so everyone worked overtime."


    That''s a lot of money. I thought for a moment.


    It''s not my money.


    I pulled out a bottle with a brighter expression and reflected it in the air. Min-ki muttered with a somehow determined face.


    "It''s supposed to be used on weapons... You won''t get any serious problems if you drink it. It went through aplete biopsy yesterday."


    My head, looking around at the opaque liquid, jerked up. Who the hell were you experimenting with? I stared at Min-ki with suspicious eyes for a moment, then opened the lid and drank the potion without hesitation.


    However, the feeling that came over my body was a little different from Min-ki''s words.


    What difference does it make?


    Unlike the bracelets that worked as soon as they were worn, the potion did not change. The name alone is too useless to say that it was the result of some terrible biological experiment. I opened the second bottle with an enigmatic face.


    "What do you think?"


    Without answering, I drank the second bottle. But my condition remained the same.


    Is there really no difference?


    Min-ki asked carefully.


    "If it''s not rude, can I ask you for an answer? If you don''t feel well, you should take an antidote right away."


    "Min-ki."


    "Yes, sir."


    "Does it take time for the effects to kick in?"


    "No. Experiments have shown that the effects are immediate upon ingestion. Maybe it''s because I made it with all my heart and soul, but even one bottle of this reduces my physical ability and rank. There''s a system warning window. I was afraid that my weakened ability would be "fixed" as it is.


    It gets a little weird as it goes on. Are you the one who was tested on this? I looked at the empty bottle and kept asking as if I had checked it several times.


    "The system warning window appears.


    "Yes. What''s wrong?"


    I opened the lid of the third bottle without saying another word. At this point, Min-ki also noticed that something was wrong. He asked while nervously tapping the steering wheel.


    "Well, maybe. It''s really a joke. I don''t think so, but just in case."


    "......."


    "No effect...at all?"


    I swallowed.


    Even after drinking the third bottle, there was no change in my body. Min-ki, who was watching the scene, looked almost crying now. Why isn''t it working? I agonized for a while, then suddenly raised my head.


    "Minki-ssi."


    "Yes."


    "In your system, the Weakening Potion is treated as poison?"


    "Ah, yes. Yesterday, our guild leader also took one, and since all poisons were ineffective against him, the Weakening Potion was also ineffective against him..."


    Min-ki''s eyes began to tremble relentlessly as she replied. I silently covered the box. The basilisk''s venom seemed to decipher it on its own, without saying anything about drinking the Weakening Potion. It must have decided that it was not even worth disying the system window, since it was A-rank.


    "Don''t tell me, are you resistant to poison? I didn''t hear that. If anything, I was told that you are highly susceptible to poison and that I should take care of you properly..."


    Min-ki asked nervously. At the end of the sentence, it was almost as if he was talking to himself.


    "Excuse me."


    "Yes? Yes. Go ahead."


    "Is there any other way to lower the rank besides this?"


    Min-ki, who had lowered his head and was lost in thought, suddenly raised his head.


    "...How about I go to the Hunter Market right now and buy a bunch of Weakening Curse items with my Corporate Card. I''ve always wanted to do something like that at least once in my life."


    "I refuse."


    "Of course you do. The rumor will spread immediately."


    Murmuring darkly, Min-ki let out a long sigh.


    "I''m really sorry, but I didn''t foresee this situation at all... Yes, the silver bracelet is all I have right now."


    The atmosphere in the car suddenly dropped. Min-ki was mumbling with empty eyes, maybe because he was shocked by the failure of the n.


    I was a little at a loss in this situation, but I tried some small talk that I learned while working at Haejang-guk, because the person next to me was more depressed than necessary.


    "Are you a Buddhist?"


    "What, what? I have no religion."


    Then what is that prayer bead dangling in the rearview mirror? I wanted to ask for a moment, but I just rubbed my nose in the thick smell of failure. But my honed verbal skills weren''t about to crumble here.


    "Here''s a prayer bead."


    When I tapped the prayer bead with my fingertips, Min-ki seemed to realize that he had left it on. He gave a little exmation and nodded.


    "I bought it at a souvenir shop in Bulguksa for 20,000 won. For the reality show. Doesn''t it go well with this vehicle?"


    He likes reality shows. Is thising from a guy who drives a car in a suit? My eyes cooled, but fortunately the small talk seemed to do its job. Min-ki murmured with a slightly excited face, as if his momentum had been revived a bit.


    "If it makes me look like a Buddhist, then it''s done its job and it''s worth buying and hanging."


    "Oh, yes."


    I opened the glovepartment on the passenger side, listening to Min-ki''s rap-like words in one ear and letting them out in the other. It was filled with things like a rough massage machine, a foot iron, and a folding fan. When a fan was taken out and unfolded, the Buddha joined in the lotus flower smiled gently at me. I mmed the glovepartment shut.


    Didn''t he just catch a weakling?


    As Min-ki''s confidence in him plummeted, the car drove diligently and arrived near the registration center. Min-ki stopped the car in a paid parking lot overlooking the center.


    The temporary registration center was arge container ced in the parking lot of the district office. At the entrance of the container was a life-size statue of Jung-bin with his thumb up and Lee Sa-young with her arms crossed and wearing a gas mask. There was also a banner over the door.


    Congrattions on your Awakening registration! -Awakening Management Bureau''


    It is an overwhelming image that can be trusted, even if it is set up to kill anyone whoes. Lee Sa-young''s life-size figure was neater than Jung-bin''s, as if it had been built ording to a public service announcement. Min-ki turned his eyes slightly to avoid seeing the life-size figure of his boss.


    "We got here first, but I don''t think a pair of bracelets is enough to get a D-rank. Why don''t you make a strategic retreat ande back?"


    "When?"


    "I have an overseas business trip scheduled, so I won''t be able to do it until three weeks from now."


    Does this make sense? I had to register as soon as possible and make an alibi, stared with cold eyes, Min-ki bowed his head.


    "I''m sorry."


    "Other ways."


    "Actually, it''s best to do it today. This container is to be used until the construction of this building ispleted... Maybe until Ie back from my business trip..."


    "If you''re going to rob an empty house, is it today?"


    "Your choice of words is unusual. Yes, it is, and that bracelet."


    I clenched my wrist. Min-ki said bitterly.


    "If you don''t get checked today, you''ll have to stay like this until the next time, because this thing is actually disposable."


    To be honest, it didn''t really matter that I was under a weakening curse all the time. However, I read the inner thoughts behind Min-ki''s words.


    "Just go get checked out now."


    "Actually, yes."


    "Earlier, you said we should make a strategic retreat."


    "That was a courtesy remark."


    "......."


    "You can do it. I trust you."@@novelbin@@


    Min-ki pped his hands in support. I was stunned. What does he believe in that he''s so positive? Min-ki muttered again with a determined look on his face.


    "Don''t worry too much. If it doesn''t work, I''ll use thest resort."


    "Don''t think about using thest resort, just let me get D-rank."


    "Well, don''t feel pressured. I''ll buy coffee and wait for you, so please take it easy. Go!"


    I shouldn''t hit people with prayer beads, right? I looked at the dangling beads and decided to give up. With my hands clenched and a supportive Min-ki behind me, I trudged to the makeshift center with my hood on.

 Chapter 35

    As I trudged to the entrance of the makeshift center, I shoved my hands into my pockets.


    What is this?


    I took out something hard in my hand and examined it. And after making eye contact with the gentle Buddha again, I briefly remembered why I had put it in my pocket and not in a glovepartment. With a small sigh, the fan was ced in the street pocket.


    As I approached the entrance, I was greeted by an employee standing in front of a container.


    "Hello, sir. What brings you here?"@@novelbin@@


    "I want to register as an Awakener."


    "Please take a number here and wait a moment."


    To my surprise, Min-ki was right about theck of people; the only people in the makeshift center were the medical staff and government officials.


    I took a numbered ticket from the machine, sat down on a stic chair, and checked the digital clock on the wall. It''s 3:02 p.m. The inspection itself shouldn''t take long, so if I move quickly, I shouldn''t have any problems with my evening business.


    I''ll take it to the Haejang-guk... As I closed my eyes and waited a while, my number was called.


    "Number 93."


    I went to the window and handed over my number ticket. The clerk ced the ticket in a stic basket and asked.


    "What brings you here?"


    "I am here to register as an Awakened One."


    "Congrattions on your awakening. How long have you been an Awakened?"


    It''s been 11 years. However, I had no choice but to lie because I would have been caught if I had been honest.


    "It''s been three days."


    "Give me your ID and your cell phone number."


    I gave my ID and my cell phone number. As the clerk entered the number, some documents were printed from the printer next to him. An employee who hadpleted the identification process handed over the documents and resident registration cards and gave me businesslike instructions.


    "You only need to fill out the part marked with a highlighter here. Please write your name, resident registration number, cell phone number, and address. Please open your system window and fill in the description box. You don''t have to write down all your skills, but you must write down one skill to show when you measure your skills."


    "Yes."


    "There''s a pen over there. Please fill it out and give it back to me."


    Eui-jae, who got up from the window and sat in a corner for a while, struggled with the pen. You can write down the address of the hangover soup restaurant... I was able to write down my personal information without difficulty. It was rather easy, because thorough management of the personal information of the Awakened was never done when J was active.


    After getting up from the counter and sitting in the corner, I grabbed the pen and thought. For the address, I can write the Haejang-guk... Personal information was not difficult to write down. Keeping track of the personal information of the awakened was something that hadn''t been done at all during J''s time, so this part was rather easy.


    The problem came next. I called up the system window, which I hadn''t consciously checked for some time.


    [Checking Cha Ui-ijae''s information]


    [Lots of information. Supports summary function]


    [Will you read the summary?]


    [When summarizing, traits and skills are disyed in order of increasing skill, up to a maximum of three].


    [Enable summary].


    [Error!]


    [There is an item that makes ¡ö¡ö impossible due to ¡ö¡ö]


    When several of the system''s information windows ovepped, I frowned slightly and then opened them again. Just because I hadn''t lived through it didn''t mean that eight years hadn''t happened, so it would be like collecting eleven years of data.


    After waiting a little longer, the summarized information appeared in the white window.


    [Cha Ui-jae


    Hunter name: J


    Age: 2¡ö


    Sex: Male


    Rating: A (currently under a weakening curse)


    Traits: Basilisk Venom (S+), Muscle Strength (S+), Poker Face (B)


    Unique Traits: Adept''s Hands (S+), Sight (S+), ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö(?)


    Title: ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö


    Skill: Tracker''s Eye (S+), Heart Pration (S), Silent Steps (S)]


    I quickly skimmed the information and stared nkly into space. Okay, so.


    What the hell am I supposed to write...?


    Skills were like a lifeline for hunters, so even if you had a low rank, a good skill was enough to make you a hunter.


    As society stabilized and the position of the hunter increased, the Hunter Association, an interest group of hunters, argued that the disclosure of all skills possessed by individuals vited the Privacy Act. The Awakening Management Bureau responded that this was nonsense, but after a long battle, the Bureau backed down. The criteria has been changed so that all skills are not recorded when Awakened are registered.


    As a result, the skills section of the Awakened registration form has been reduced to a single space, reced by a space for you to list one skill that represents you, your signature skill.


    That single skill bes the Hunter''s signature. Well, it didn''t matter anyway, since the intention was to hide one''s power and identity. But he had to demonstrate it, so he couldn''t invent something that wasn''t there. His eyes scanned the list.


    [Tracker''s Eye (S+)]


    The ability to track and locate others was not amon skill. If it became known that I possessed it, I would be twice as annoying as I am now. Others.


    [Heart Pration (S)]


    I can definitely prate the heart when I use it. It was also J''s signature skill. If I write this while J is still alive, the Bureau will catch me. Excluded.


    [Silent Steps (S)]


    It allows forplete concealment when used, which is unlikely for a lower-ranked hunter. Excluded.


    Other rtively low level skills were also full of ambiguities. At this point, all I could do was use my imagination and tell a decent lie. The problem is that my imagination is terrible.


    What''s something that''s inconspicuous and easy to deceive?


    What I''m good at is beating people up and holding on for dear life, but he can''t beat people up because that''s his signature skill.... I agonized for a long time and finally wrote down a skill.


    Strong (D)


    It strengthens the body and makes it strong.


    First of all, I''ll get hit. And I insist that it''s a strong one that uses skills.


    All I have is a strong body and a mill. That is when I switch to the tank ss.


    Choi Seok-yoon, a C-rank hunter from the Awakening Management Bureau. He was assigned to the temporary Awakening Registration Center in Gwangjin-gu because he was new.


    It''s a temporary center, and he''ll be moving to the main building soon, so it was nice to have less work, but... he was bored because he had nothing to do. Recently, he even watched a season of dramas during work hours. If there was nothing special today, he could watch another season until the end.


    Ding dong.


    Choi Seok-yoon, who had stopped the video screen with the y button for a while and yawned until his mouth was torn apart, was surprised by the notification sound he heard for the first time in a long time and checked the monitor. It seemed that someone was finallying to test his skills. He cleared his throat and raised his voice.


    "Uh,e on in."


    It was a tall young man in a gray hood who opened the door and walked in. Without hesitation, the young man approached Choi Seok-yoon and handed him the document. In fact, it was such a cool move that Choi Seok-yoon felt embarrassed. He was embarrassed for a moment and checked the document.


    Name, Cha Ui-jae. Age, 28. Skill is... Is it strong? What''s the name of the skill.


    Choi Seok-yoon couldn''t help butugh. Well, there are quite a few people who can shoot if you look around Hunter Net a bit. He asked, scratching his temples with a pen.


    "From the skill description, it looks like it''s a tank-type skill that increases defense, right?"


    "I think so, but I don''t really... I don''t know."


    The young man trailed off. His voice sounded insecure, a far cry from the bold step he had taken when he first entered the room. Choi Seok-yoon looked at the young man, then back at the papers.


    The date of the awakening... Three days ago? That''s possible.


    If it was a self-strengthening buff, it would be hard to feel it even if you used it alone. It''s not an attack skill. Choi Seok-yoon shook his head and stood up.


    "Wait a minute."


    He took the dummy out of the corner and turned it on. The dummy, which looked like a woodcarving doll, creaked and stood upright. Choi Seok-yoon ced a wooden sword in the dummy''s hand and gestured to Ui-jae.


    "You just have to use your skill and take the attack. The blow will be delivered with the average attack power of a D-ranked Awakened, are you okay with that?"


    "Yes."


    "If you get hit and it hurts too much, please! You must tell me. I''ll give you a recovery potion."


    "Yes."


    The young man''s voice was still a bit shy, but it was very calm considering that he was about to be beaten by a dummy. Choi Seok-yoon was deeply impressed.


    Your calmness is amazing.... Since you''re the tank, a small or medium guild might take you right away.


    And Cha Ui-jae...


    I used my skill so I didn''t get hit too hard, but I was still in pain, so I yed a sick person.


    I was preparing for a Hollywood action.


    "Did you use your skills?"


    "Yes."


    "Then let''s go."


    When Choi Seok-yoon pressed the button, the doll raised its wooden sword and rushed at me. To my eyes, it was terribly slow, but it could not be avoided. I rolled my eyes along the slowly descending trajectory of the wooden sword. At this rate, it''ll be a shoulder. As soon as the wooden sword hit my left shoulder, as I had expected,


    Oh, wait.


    Ppagak!!


    I had a premonition when I heard an unusual sound. Something had gone wrong. I was expecting a heavier blow, not this light one. My anxious gaze flickered into the air.


    Sure enough, the wooden sword that was supposed to be on his shoulder...


    Fuck.


    It flew into the air, split in half.

 Chapter 36

    ppagak!!


    Using my God-given hull vision to locate the wooden sword, I had a brief moment of hesitation. Should I grab it? No, if I grab it, it''s over.


    I rolled my head, hoping my brain would work a little faster. Or should I pretend to be ill? Yes, this is better! After quickly finishing my judgment, I tilted his body a little and wrapped it around my left shoulder. I didn''t forget to let out a little groan.


    "Argh, ouch."


    "......."


    "Oh, and how it hurts."


    Of course, it didn''t do much good. I sounded perfectly fine to myself, and in my panic, I''d faked the pain a little faster than I''d intended. My eyes narrowed. What kind of wooden sword is this? Adle from the Haejang-guk house would be stronger!


    Flying in a perfect parab, the wooden swordnded between the stacked boxes with a thud.


    "......."


    "......."


    "......."


    "It hurts.... a lot..."


    I tried to make a soulless boast, but it didn''t stop the eerie silence from filling the container.


    Choi Seok-yoon alternately looked at a broken wooden sword with a nk face, a wooden doll that stood still, and Ui-jae''s arm around his shoulder. Choi Seok-yoon wanted to say something. With a thud, the doll''s right arm fell limply to the ground.


    The eerie silence had gone from silence to noise. I looked at the doll''s arm on the floor and gritted my teeth.


    Don''t you check your supplies, you bureaucrats, you''re really fucking slipping up...?


    I came to my senses after ming every government for all these unexpected situations. This is no time to me old dolls and weak wooden swords! I had to solve this unresolved situation quickly. Choi Seok-yoon slowly came to his senses.


    "Excuse me, Cha... Ui-jae?"


    "Yes."


    "The skill you just used, is it a D-rank?"


    Choi Seok-yoon''s face was full of doubt. I calmed down and replied.


    "Yes, it''s a D-rank skill."


    "But why were the doll and the wooden sword broken?"


    "I don''t know..."


    His head hung low. Then he rubbed the floor with his worn sneakers and muttered.


    "It says it strengthens your body, but I''m not sure what or how it strengthens it..."


    I stammered, then rubbed my neck and asked sullenly.


    "Excuse me, sir. This doll, I''ll have topensate you, right?"


    "Yes? No, for now...."


    "Is it really expensive?"


    [Trait Poker Face (B) is activated]


    When I rubbed my shoulder where the wooden sword had hit him, Choi Seok-yoon started to panic.


    Oh dear. What are you saying to someone who just woke up!


    There is a story that has spread like a joke in the hunting industry. Newly awakened humans are very, very, very, very sensitive and must be handled with the delicacy of a bomb!


    Of course, the people who worked at the Awakening Registration Center also knew this. Not that it wasn''t true. Because that''s what the instructor who was training the new officials was shouting at the top of his lungs.


    "The newly awakened are very sensitive as they adjust to a suddenly changed environment. You have to be very careful when dealing with them, because small irritations can turn into big problems".


    In summary, the advice was that New Awakeners are just as sensitive and moody as someone who''s been up for 72 hours and can go around in circles, so don''t mess with them, just calm them down and get them registered.


    Luckily for Ui-jae, Choi Seok-yoon was a new employee. A new employee who still had the special legal training for Awakened Ones in his head, and who kept emphasizing the importance of caring for the general public and new Awakened Ones!


    If he''d had a better eye, he might have noticed that Ui-jae''s eyes looked like they were ready to punch anyone in the face, but unfortunately, the near-brainwashing training he''d received from the Awakening Bureau had put a wedge in Choi Seok-yoon''s eyes. Besides, Ui-jae''s handsome face, even if it was hidden by the hood, added to his credibility.


    Of course, what would an Awakened know who only woke up three days ago?


    Choi Seok-yoon''s idea leaned towards the need to calm down the new Awakened in front of him before he could ovee his emotional ups and downs and cause a bigger ident. He will return to the office soon, so he can''t cause any trouble. Choi Seok-yoon coughed and picked up the broken arm of the doll.


    "It''s okay. This doll is very old. We wanted to rece it when we moved to the main building."


    "Oh... Is that so?"


    "Yes, you don''t need to worry too much. We''re done with the skill demonstration for now, shall we measure your skills?"


    Choi Seok-yoon smiled softly and pointed to the measuring machine. I smiled back, but inside I thought that the time had finallye.


    This is a mountain beyond the mountain.


    This damn measurement will never end.@@novelbin@@


    Choi Seok-yoon pointed to the step.


    "If you take off your shoes and go up here, the machine will check the rank and skills registered in the system and disy them on the monitor. Ui-jae, you just have to stand there. Easy, right?"


    "Yes."


    Too easy was the problem. Even if he dropped one rank from his actual rank, Cha Ui-jae''s current rank was A-rank. It''s as far as heaven and earth from the D-rank he wants.


    I quickly looked around. A monitor connected to the machine was ced on the desk. Why don''t we check the results and break it down if it''s not suitable?


    To do that, Choi Seok-yoon had to turn his eyes or at least get him out of the room. I stopped taking off my shoes and raised my hand.


    "Excuse me, sir."


    "Yes, can I help you?"


    "My shoulder is a bit sore from the blow I just received... Do you think I could have some potion?"


    [Trait Poker Face (B) is activated]


    I looked as grumpy as I could. It would be a cheap supply potion to give to an Awakened who came to register, so it wouldn''t be in his personal inventory, and it would be expensive to give me one of his own... He would have to go to the warehouse after all.


    As I expected, Choi Seok-yoon scratched the back of his head as he looked around.


    "Oh, the potion is in the warehouse right now... I have to go for a while, is that okay?"


    "Yes. I''ll take the measurements in the meantime. You said the machine would do it anyway."


    "Would it? Then I''ll be back soon! You can stand ording to the shape of your feet. Don''t move too much. When you hear the bell from the machine, you cane down and check the result. I''ll be right back!"


    As soon as Choi Seok-yoon left the room, I quickly took off my shoes and climbed onto the stool. The blue light began to scan my entire body from my feet. After a while, a red alphabet with a bell appeared on the screen.


    [Number 93, Cha Ui-jae''s rank is A].


    I knew it, you bastard.


    I sighed and remembered Min-ki yelling ''Fight! I wanted to ask him, shaking his cor, if it was really the best to measure today, but I couldn''t imagine that the potion I tested on my body wouldn''t work, so I couldn''t get an answer.


    At this point I''m going to have to do some minor tinkering with theputer. To prove it, I stepped off the ledge and crumpled up my shoes.


    Thud!


    Suddenly the world rang loudly. After a few seconds of rumbling, the door and container began to rattle and shake, and a typhoon-like wind blew in. All this in a windowless container!


    Unable to ovee the strong wind, the hood I was wearing was taken off. Covering my face with my arms, I took a step back and managed to steady myself.


    "Awake! Are you okay..."


    Choi Seok-yoon appeared at the door with a package of potions. His hair was disheveled, maybe because he managed to get here through the wind. As he checked his condition, my eyes widened at the sight behind him. A blue glowing vortex appeared behind Choi Seok-yoon.


    It''s a rift!


    I quickly grabbed Choi Seok-yoon and shouted.


    "Hold my hand!"


    "What? Huh? Argh!"


    Choi Seok-yoon, who was looking around in confusion, screamed and was sucked into the rift. I clenched my teeth. An unknown cold sweat ran down my temple. I felt nauseous. I felt like something was going toe up with a lump in my throat.


    What will happen if I get sucked into a rift like this? I slowly rose to my feet and began to gasp at the horrible sight that filled my consciousness.


    Hands clinging to life, the unrecognizable bodies of people trampled by monsters, blood so thick you couldn''t tell where it came from.


    And left in the crevices...


    "Ah, fuck."


    Blue light washed over my head like a wave. I squeezed my eyes shut.

 Chapter 38

    "Oh my God!"


    At the same time, a giant pterodactyl pped its wings and slumped down, having been struck in the uv by the de. The pterodactyl''s neck, which resembled a bird''s but had an unpleasant valley in it, was twisted as surely as a chicken''s neck is twisted by a double-edged de.


    Before entering the rift, my stomach was churning and my vomit was rising, but after beating a few monsters, it calmed down a bit. I can''t feel any signs of life, so I''m pretty sure I''m done killing the monsters around me. I piled the dragon carcasses in a corner and dusted off my hands.


    Fortunately or unfortunately, all the people who had been swept away by the cracks seemed to be scattered. Thanks to this, I was able to kill the charging monster without being seen. I stood in front of a dead pterodactyl and rubbed my chin.


    It doesn''t seem like a dangerous crack, but... I need to reduce the number of monsters.@@novelbin@@


    It would not be possible to save people openly because I would have to hide my identity, but I could indirectly ensure their safety by killing monsters. No innocent person should be harmed because I did not do what I could. I bent down, changed my shoes, and walked.


    And after a long walk, I smashed 24 pterodactyls and 3 herds of horned bison, then found an office chair with two of its wheels blown off, a half-split desk, and the life-size statue of Lee Sa-young half buried in the ground.


    I examined the life-size statue with a doubtful expression. It was made of sturdy nks, but not broken.


    "Throw this away or not..."


    After a moment''s hesitation, I recognized the face of Miu and Gouna, no, I recognized the gas mask. I''ve seen them so many times in public service announcements that I''m almost starting to think they look familiar.


    Recently, even Ha-eun imitated Lee Sa-young''s strange hand movements, and I felt the fear of the media''s influence on children.


    Finally, I plucked the hated figure like a radish and tucked it into my side. And after cing the muddy life-size figure upright in the shade under the tree, I tactfully sat down on a broken chair. My body slumped, but my neat face looked quite serious.


    The rescue team... will theye?


    This is a crack in a temporary surveince station in the middle of the city. If you think about it inmon sense, the rescue team wille. Probably.


    Since I have dealt with most of the monsters, the safety of the other survivors is assured, and there is no need for me to go and clear the rifts at this time. All I have to do is sit quietly with Lee Sa-young''s life-size statue and wait for the rescue team.


    But just waiting for the rescue team... I had a very big problem.


    "What about the business tonight?"


    The answer is simple: the Haejang-guk has to open at 5 pm.


    In addition, I had a very real and important concern. In order to make clear broth, the air bubbles should be continuously removed, but leaving it unattended for longer than expected was more likely to cause off-vors. I didn''t even bother to take the broth off the heat, even though it was over low heat....


    What if it caught on fire? I got dizzy just thinking about it.


    I turned on my cell phone. The clock stopped at three twenty-five after entering the rift. Since the electronic device was not working, I could not contact my grandmother or check the current time.


    "No.


    At this rate, I''ll lose my pride in the ident-free and honest operation of Haejang-guk House!


    A situation in which the shop and my heart were on fire while waiting for the rescue team. I shook my legs nervously.


    Actually, it was the prospect of meeting the rescuers that was the problem. The n Min-ki hade up with, and I had agreed to, was for me to register and return as an ordinary hunter on the streets, minimizing contact with other hunters.


    However, there was too much of a variable involved, as they were caught in a rift in the middle of Seoul, even with a temporary registry. Presumably, the rescue team consisted of various hunters from the Rift Management Agency, the Awakening Management Bureau, and hunters from the guilds who responded to the call for help.


    And the Haejang-guk house was a hunter''s mill. Hunters of all kinds came and went.


    If there''s a hunter on the rescue team who''s been to Haejang-guk House. What if he''s a regr? He''ll recognize me the moment he sees me.


    What are you doing in this rift?


    ''I know...''


    Of course, they will talk about all kinds of things, starting with questions, and no matter how much I hide, they will inform the world that I came to register as an Awakener and unfortunately got swept away by the rift. At least the regrs at Haejang-guk House will know everything. Just the thought of it chilled my blood.


    The Haejang-guk house where I got a job to live quietly is a hunter''s restaurant, so I kept running into hunters, meeting Lee Sa-young, the consequences of the mana stone and J''s survival being exposed to the whole world, and getting caught in the rift when I came to register for the hunters.


    As the bad news piled up, I remembered a myth I had picked up somewhere.


    Shit... Am I this year''s Samjae?


    I can''t even ask Nexby because I''m in a rift. My life, which was already pretty messed up, had been spiraling downward for the past few weeks. It was obvious that it was being twisted from somewhere. I decided to sprinkle salt all over the ce when I got out of here.


    Anyway, Samjae or no Samjae, I couldn''t let my quiet life fly away like that. Of course, thanks to Ma-seok and Lee Sa-young, it is already half torn, but I have to hang the banner "Our Quiet Life is Open for Business"... I had to protect what was left.


    I rose from my chair and craned my neck.


    Let''s make a n.


    The hunters woulde to rescue those trapped in the rift, but they were not a rescue team for themselves. So it was much better to assume that there were no rescue teams. For a moment, the insolent face of Very Small Miracle shed through my mind, but I shook it off.


    He''s noting.


    At times like this, it''s better not to have the slightest hope. Everything can be dealt with in an unexpected way only by drawing and nning the worst situation. That was the truth I had learned from my experience.


    I let out a long sigh, washed my face, and drew a picture on the floor with my sneaker nose. I had to make a n to escape here with maximum efficiency.


    The rift will not disappear until the Rift Master in the center has been dealt with. Since the rescue team''s first priority is to save all survivors, it''smon for them to put off dealing with the master until the next step. If they do that, I''ll bete for the store opening.


    So while the rescue team goes in and rescues the survivors, I elude the rescue team and kill the master alone. It''s perfect.


    I rubbed off the image with the soles of my sneakers. The survivors are all scattered anyway, and the search will take time. When they ask me where I was after the rift disappeared... I''ll tell them I was hiding in a corner.


    Kill the master as soon as possible, then escape and return to the shop, make the broth, and sell dinner.


    I took a short, deep breath as I worked out the n in my mind and took it out of my hood pocket beforehand. It was a Buddha statue that I had taken out of the glovepartment of the car earlier.


    Even if your clothes get dirty when you fight with your bare hands, it will interfere with opening your clothes on time. If you don''t have a tooth, you have to use your gums. I closed my eyes.


    Please cooperate, Buddha.


    <Tracker''s eyes!>


    The eyes that opened were blue. mes fluttered and rose above the t floor. The number of monsters did not seem to berge, perhaps because I killed them once. Seeing the shape of the person everywhere, the survivors seemed to be hiding well.


    After identifying the location and number of survivors, I turned my eyes to the other direction. In the middle of the rift, a huge green me was fluttering.


    "That''s him."


    <Soundless footsteps!>


    A gust of white wind swept around my feet, obscuring my movements. I began to walk silently toward the me.


    Yang Hye-jin, an A-rank hunter from the Rift Management Agency, stood in front of the former temporary registration office in Gwangjin-gu, her face full of dark circles. The ce where the container used to be had been swallowed by the rift, leaving it in ruins.


    She definitely liked it when she went to work this morning because she was free, but she didn''t expect such a big ident to happen.


    That''s why you can''t say you''re free... There''ll be an ident right away.


    A fluorescent vest with white safety letters fluttered pathetically in the winter wind. Snorting, she lit a cigarette and muttered.


    "Ha... What kind of rupture does it take to break out in the temporary center? I''m really unlucky."


    Another B-rank hunter, who was staring at the rift entrance with shing safety bars in both hands, also held his head.


    "That''s right. Still, it''s lucky that most of the people involved are Awakened. We have some time to spare."


    "Who has time to spare? They''re all low-ranking, white-cor Awakeners, so they won''t be able to fight, so you''d better hope they''re hiding well..."


    "Senior! Senior!"


    The neer who had gone to check the surroundings after interrupting the half-worried conversation rushed over. Hye-jin blew out a cloud of cigarette smoke.


    "Do you know? How many reporters are here?"


    "Uh... there were about six people! Maybe more wille."


    "It can''t be helped. What about the support staff? I heard theye from the government offices."


    "Well, they are. Oh, I''m here to tell you that!"


    The new employee who was in a hurry shouted with his back to me.


    "Lee, Lee Sa-young is here! To attack... the rift."


    Hearing the neer''sst words, Yang Hye-jin took another drag on her cigarette and paused. The neer was still standing, even though Hye-jin did not answer. Yang Hye-jin''s face was colored with embarrassment as she received the report.


    "Did I make him work too hard?"


    She stared nkly at the neer with a cigarette in her hand and unconsciously began to think about herself.

 Chapter 39

    Yes, the new employee must have seen something wrong due to the hard work. She can''t believe that Lee Sa-young is here. It''s impossible, right? It seems that he has be weak and cannot distinguish himself well. Otherwise, he wouldn''t say such a crazy thing.


    Hye-jin looked at the neer with pity. She thought, "I''ll have to give him some bellflower juice when I get back to the office. And she recited Lee Sa-young''s profile in her head.


    Lee Sa-young, a strong hunter who has held the number one position for six years despite losing the number one position to a person who suddenly jumped out of the blue or didn''t know if he was impersonating. The only thing unusual about her is that... ''he usually ignores requests from the Awakening Management Bureau and the Rift Management Agency''.


    Since Yang Hye-jin worked at the Rift Management Agency, Lee Sa-young has never responded to a request for assistance. A B-rank hunter standing next to herughed as if it was no different from Hye-jin''s idea.


    "Why is Lee Sa-young here? Did you see it wrong?"


    "Oh, no. This is the real Lee Sa-young...."


    "I heard that the number of concept worms using gas masks in techware has increased these days after seeing public service announcements. Are you sure this isn''t one of them?"


    "It''s a possibility."


    "Right? I get goose bumps every time I see thatmercial."


    Hahahaha, it was time for a change of mood that didn''t help much with a ridiculous joke. It was a sleepy voice that everyone knew that froze the friendly atmosphere in an instant.


    "Have youe to make your sacrifice... before the rift?"


    "It''s like a family reunion."


    It was a familiar voice, but too familiar. It was understandable because it was a voice she could hear all the time after the weekend entertainment program recently.


    Yang Hye-jin turned her head slowly. He walked leisurely across the line that the dark gas mask had set. He''s tall, he''s got dark technology, he''s got sarcasm, he''s got goosebumps, he''s got a gas mask... Just one!


    The B-ss hunter, who had been sweating from the moment he heard his voice, finally made a cross shape with a safety rod and began to shake it. It looked like he was exorcising evil spirits. Yang Hye-jin also dropped the cigarette she was holding. Of course, she immediately came to her senses and rubbed it out with her feet.


    In the midst of the confusion, there was only one thought on everyone''s mind.


    What the hell is this guy doing here?


    A rank 5 crack is not an easy crack. But it wasn''t so difficult that it required an S-ss hunter. Of course, she called them for support, but she knew they wouldn''te, so it was embarrassing when they did. It was like winning the first prize in a lottery she bought for fun.


    Before she knew it, the gas mask standing in front of the rift entrance tilted his head.


    "What are you doing? Not going in."


    Yang Hye-jin, swallowing hard, asked cautiously.


    "Are you here... for support?"


    "Yes."


    "For what?"


    He pointed his chin at the crack opening.


    "To get rid of this."


    She asked why the current number two in the country woulde to a fissure that is only number five.... But Yang Hye-jin quickly gave up trying to get an answer. She''s in a hurry and doesn''t have time to argue with Lee Sa-young.


    "Support staff from the Awakening Management Bureau are on their way as well. It''s better if you wait a bit and go in together..."


    Lee Sa-young replied sourly.


    "I don''t need it."


    "What?"


    Behind the lens of the gas mask, the indifferent look swept over the new recruits, the B-rank hunters and Hye-jin one by one.


    "You guys take care of the survivors."


    He stepped into the rift before she could stop it. After the rift swallowed Lee Sa-young, the neer stomped his foot while alternating between the rift and Hye-jin.


    "Se, Senior... What should I do?"


    "Hah..."


    Hye-jin threw off her yellow hard hat and ruffled her hair.


    "What can we do. We''re going to follow him right now..."


    "What? Oh yes!"


    "Don''t worry about the master, he''ll take care of it, we''ll focus on identifying and rescuing survivors. Move!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    "And... Neer!"


    "Yes?"


    The neer raised his head. Hye-jin took off her fluorescent vest and put on a thick bulletproof vest and pointed to the supply truck with her thumb.


    "Bring a gas mask that is more than the number of people, and bring everything that has an antidote and detoxifying effect."


    "W, why is that...?"


    Is there a monster in this rift that uses poison? The neer looked at Hye-jin with a confused face. She clenched her tongue and gestured hastily.


    "If you don''t want to die from the poison, then hurry!"


    As the Rift Management Agency''s hunters rushed to open their supply trucks, Lee Sa-young, who was lighting their tails, moved slowly. Pretending to run to the Rift Master at any moment, he stopped in a quiet ce and watched a purple ivy wrapped around a tree.


    After a few minutes, something ck and round emerged from its shadow. It was the sunsses-wearing head of Min-ki.


    "Guild leader."


    Min-ki, who deals with shadows and lives in hiding, could only hide in the shadows of others. Therefore, he couldn''t enter the rift alone and waited for Lee Sa-young''s arrival. Min-ki''s head bobbed up and down for a moment, then he crawled out of the shadows and stood on his own two feet.


    He cleared his throat.


    "It''s quiet."


    "Yes, it is."


    Normally, when you enter a rift, you''re greeted by monsters running around like it''s their own backyard. But in this rift, from the moment they entered until now, they haven''t seen a single monster. It''s like there''s not a single living thing there. Min-ki pushed up his sunsses and followed behind.


    Lee Sa-young picked up a red feather that fell to the ground. The feather glowed without a speck of dust. Min-ki took off his sunsses to check the feather and muttered quickly.


    "This is the breast feather of a fourth-rank monster red-breasted pterodactyl. It has a violent temper, so whether it''s a human or another monster, it runs like an Adelie penguin whenever it sees it, and it''s characterized by traveling in groups of five or six. If you look at its condition, it looks like a feather that has recently fallen out."


    "You are clever. I''ll leave the training of next quarter''s recruits to you."


    "I''m sorry."


    Feeling a sharp sting, Min-ki closed his mouth. Lee Sa-young, who took off his gas mask, looked around.


    When the hunter moves, the distinctive smell remains. Whether it''s body odor, the lingering scent of a weapon, the smell of a monster''s blood, the scent of its breath, or... whether it''s the smell of a human being attacked by a monster. Lee Sa-young could smell such a smell particrly well.


    However, during the journey from the entrance of the rift to here, there was strangely no smell left in the rift, except for what the nts in the rift were spitting out.


    I can''t even smell this ordinary blood.


    Even though it entered the middle of the red-chested pterosaur habitat, this silence means that all the pterosaurs have died. It''s possible that monsters were fighting, but if there was a battle between monsters, there wouldn''t be such a big mark.@@novelbin@@


    "It''s too clean."


    "Either the master of this rift is very powerful and the monsters have good discipline, or someone cleaned it up. Which do you think?"


    The rift master controls the monster, so there is no such thing as a rtively quiet rift. However, in that case, the master''s power was very strong, and the moment he entered the rift, he could sense the master''s existence. But this rift didn''t feel like that.


    "Thetter."


    Someone killed all the monsters without leaving a trace.


    Anyone trapped in this rift who could do that... Sa-young thought of Ui-jae who had blocked his attack with adle and ripped off his gas mask with his bloody hands. Yes, it''s Ui-jae. He started to walk slowly.


    "Seo Min-ki."


    "Yes, sir."


    "Where do you think Hyung is?"


    Hyung, a polite title he couldn''t believe hade out of his mouth. Suspecting his ears, Min-ki received a cold look beforeing to his senses and answering.


    "Well, wouldn''t he be hiding somewhere? He has to hide his power. He doesn''t need to catch a monster and reveal his existence."


    Seo Min-ki''s opinion was right. Sa-young agreed with him in her head as well. Didn''t Cha Ui-jae even insist on living quietly? Such a person would never kill a monster. However, the inside of the strangely quiet crevice kept bothering him.


    Suddenly, Sa-young''s lips tightened. Come to think of it, he insisted that it was not him, but still, Cha Ui-jae needed money and tried to sell the mana stone. At the tomato market.


    I have no money...''.


    Did he kill them all to collect monster by-products? If so, the condition of this crack, which seemed to have beenpletely cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, was also understandable. Sa-young''s fine facial lines frowned and he clicked his tongue slightly.


    Shit, if you need money, just tell me.


    Cha Ui-jae was strange and suspicious. He couldn''t understand his behavior.


    He said he wanted to live quietly, but he had a lot of idents and at some point he epted the deal. This time, he''s caught in a rift, and instead of staying put, he goes off to dry the monster''s seed. Apparently, he was born to attract storms.


    What appeared at the end of the walk through the blue reed field was an open space with grass. In the middle of the open space, there was a life-size statue of Lee Sa-young with dirt and a broken office chair, and in one corner, dead pterosaurs were piled up like towers. Min-ki, who made eye contact with a life-size figure, was more shocked than the pterosaur corpse.


    "Oh, my God."


    Sa-young approached the pile of pterosaur carcasses and picked up the top one. It is a strangely clean corpse. The only trauma is a twisted neck. He didn''t even pull out the feathers. He thought he was aiming for a monster by-product, but that wasn''t it either.


    "What did you just say... are you sure he''s just hiding somewhere?"


    "......"


    Min-ki trembled with fear, sandwiched between the paper Lee Sa-young and the real Lee Sa-young. What are you going to do with Cha Eui-jae who is going around breaking my expectations! He was a criminal who moved based onmon sense, so he didn''t dare to follow Cha Eui-jae''s movement.


    Sa-young threw the pterosaur carelessly and turned to the life-size stand.


    "When did they make this?"


    "Isn''t it after the public service announcement aired? I think we should ask the public rtions team for the exact details."


    "I''m not that curious..."


    When Sa-young raised his hand, Min-ki understood it well and turned around to look around. Meanwhile, Sa-young was looking intently at the life-size figure. When he saw the dirt on its waist, he wondered who had dug out what was buried in the ground. Min-ki, who approached him before he knew it, reported.


    "I don''t see any footprints here or any sign that someone passed by."


    "He wouldn''t have gone up to the sky or down to the ground."


    "Yes. He may have the ability to hide signs or tracks."


    "The more I think about it, the more fun it is."


    Sa-young replied with a face that didn''t look amused at all. His palm began to throb like it was on fire and he sternly took off his gloves to check his hand.


    The palm of his hand, the blood, the proof of the contract, the golden line... It burned ck. Sa-young muttered coldly.


    "What the hell do you think you''re doing?"

 Chapter 40

    Meanwhile, I arrived at the ce where the master of the rift had been. A long arch of purple wisteria and radish blossoms, surrounded by massive tree trunks and vines, protected him from the elements.


    I struck the trunk with my fist. It made a loud sound as if it was full. The master of the rift is here, but it was not easy to pierce the entrance.


    I looked around cautiously. This is because the rift master is often in a form rted to the inner environment. And since this rift was a huge forest, it was likely that the master was also a nt-type monster.


    It would be morefortable if I had a fire.


    But I was a non-smoker, so I didn''t even have a small lighter. I used to carry a lighter and a torch in my inventory just in case, but not anymore. I scratched my head and sighed deeply.


    "Well, it''s not like steel or anything..."


    In cases like this, there was usually only one solution.


    "If you hit it, it will break!"


    Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! A cold fist flooded the trunk. The trunk began to dent, and soon the tree snapped. After so much breaking, a fragrant odor wafted from the cracks in the wood.


    I tore it apart and saw what was inside.


    [Entering the Master''s Home, the Garden of Life]


    In the middle of a garden of colorful flowers, a huge deer was curled up in a ball and lying down. I took a step into the flower garden. As if sensing my presence, the deer raised its head. His blue eyes locked on me and he roared at the intruder.


    Gooooooooo....


    The whole garden began to rumble. I repaired the Buddha''s fan. Root-like monsters with flowers on their heads sprang up from the flower bed, and dozens of them crawled out and surrounded me. The deer roared again.


    Gooooo...!


    Boom! The roots came crawling for the limbs of the righteous. I quickly uprooted the roots that were rushing around the fan. But when I hit ten, fifteen crawled out again. Perhaps all the flowers in this garden are monsters.


    After taking a deep breath, I ced a fan in the floor and let the energy flow.


    Whoo!


    Boom!


    A blue shockwave from the fan shook the garden. The monsters screamed unintelligibly and twisted. The roots that had crawled out shriveled and spat green juice.


    The deer shook its huge antlers in anger. Now, instead of tiny roots, the vines and thick tree trunks that had blocked the archway rose from the ground.


    If I kept fighting like this, I would eventually catch it, but it was like wasting time. For the sake of the safety of Haejangguk House and the clean broth, I had to finish quickly. Right now, my goal was to get back to the shop quickly, and closing the crack was a means to an end.


    I tucked the tattered Buddha fan into the front pocket of my hood.


    I''m sorry, Buddha. I can''t help it.


    I always fought with my body because it was the most efficient. I didn''t need to use my head to fightplicated battles, just a strong, lean body and most problems were solved.


    But now it is under a curse of weakness. What happens when your body can''t do its job?


    I''ll have to use another method.


    I pulled out a ck sword from the inventory. The sword, jet ck from hilt to handle,y in my hand as if waiting for my touch.


    Use tools if you can''t use your body.


    [Basilisk Fang (S)


    A sword made by a craftsman in ¡ö¡ö¡ö by cutting off the fangs of a basilisk. The unworthy are not allowed to hold it.


    Maker: ¡ö¡ö¡ö]


    [Under review for suitability...]


    Contrary to my expectations, the sword made an ominous sound and a white system warning appeared.


    [Warning! You are not fit, your flesh is beginning to be consumed by poison].


    The hand holding the sword hilt burned ck. An urgent situation in which the master of the rift roars. The root of the tree prated me with a piercing force. I quickly ducked and dodged, waving my sword-holding hand.


    "Hey, are you crazy? Don''t you remember me?"@@novelbin@@


    [Trouble! Want to hear what ''Basilisk''s Fang'' is thinking?]


    Somehow the system was doing something helpful. I replied quickly, avoiding another root.


    "Yes. Try it!"


    [Read the thoughts of ''Basilisk''s Fang''...]


    [Basilisk''s Fang''s thoughts: I don''t listen to orders from those weaker than me].


    The mad sword grumbled, no, protested, that I was not worthy to hold this rank. It was ridiculous that I was an A ss, even at this level.


    I jumped over the vines and hurried to wrap my legs. The system continued its friendly response.


    [Calcting time remaining in body...]


    [Error! Variable encountered!]


    [Basilisk Venom (S+) talent activated].


    [Time remaining: 999:59:59]


    [Basilisk Fang Thought Update!]


    [Updating...]


    [Basilisk''s Fang Thought: Why is Brother''s Toxin here?]


    Climbing up the tree trunk, I checked my arms. My arm, which had turned ck almost to the elbow, returned to its original color thanks to the Basilisk''s Poison. This foolish sword didn''t recognize its owner and treated me like an older brother. I looked at the sword with a pitiful face.


    Who the hell does this crazy sword''s tantrum look like?


    Basilisk''s Fang had appeared out of nowhere in front of J, who had lost his spear in the West Rift. Of course, I was suspicious of a piece of equipment lying in the middle of a pure white ruin.


    But in this ce, thinking was a luxury. I had to rely solely on my physical instincts, swinging and striking without thinking in order to survive, my senses and flesh as sharp as ever.


    J held the sword without hesitation. There was a warm glow on the hilt.


    [Checking Suitability]


    [One Who Challenges ¡ö¡ö]


    [I will lend you the power entrusted to me by ¡ö¡ö.]


    The sword spoke, but J didn''t hear it. He just grabbed it, needing the power. ck energy wrapped around his arm. J said that he used to ughter the pure white monsters that attacked him with the ''Basilisk''s Fang''.


    So much for the past. I was still clinging to the roots of the tree, even with my S-rank weapon.


    Vines grew everywhere I went, and the deer kept swinging roots and vines at the ground, unwilling to give me any room to step on the ground. The smell of fresh flowers was so strong it made me dizzy.


    I cut down another vine that was hurrying to wrap around my ankle and frowned.


    If I do this right, I can probably finish this with one shot...''''


    But a sharp leaf flew near the deer. The momentum was fierce, as if it had cut off everything nearby. If I went in with my current condition, my whole body might get impaled.


    Of course, I don''t mind the wounds, but the problem is that I don''t have any potions. Even if I let it heal naturally, all my wounds wouldn''t heal before the shop opens.


    I can''t make hangover soup when I''m bleeding...


    Besides, hunters are very sensitive to the smell of blood. It was obvious that they would sniff around until they found the source of the blood smell. I climbed onto the flying trunk and looked down at the sword in my hand.


    "Are you..."


    [Basilisk''s Fang wants to talk!]


    [Basilisk''s Fang said: If you throw me, I won''t let you go]


    You''re so fast. I gritted my teeth and stared at the knife handle. Even the one weapon didn''t help me. I missed my broken spear so much.


    Kugugugugung, the ground rang loudly and huge roots rose like mountains. Half of the garden was so huge that it was covered by the shadows of the roots. The roots swayed back and forth as if looking for food.


    It can''t be helped.


    A small sacrifice has to be made. When that rootes flying, I''ll jump on it and run straight to the deer... One shot. I yelled.


    "Hey! You idiot!"


    The swaying roots stopped for a moment, and the deer roared, threatening to shake the garden to its core. The roots flew wildly at me.


    At that moment.


    A gloved hand appeared behind me and mped over my mouth and nose, but I didn''t try to pull away. He seemed to be in a hurry. At the same time, his ck fingertips touched a tree root that was trying to pierce me.


    The root stopped moving as if it had hardened. And where his hands reached, it turned ck and began to peel off.


    I raised my head and stared forward. The roots of trees everywhere, the vines that rushed to catch him, the leaves that fluttered violently, the ruined flower fields, and the master of the rift stopped.


    The poison that came from the root of the tree spread silently along the root, like ck paint spreading in clear water and poison spreading in blood vessels. It didn''t take long for everything to turn ck.


    The master of the rift copsed without making a sound. The garden that the rift master cherished was covered in ck poison that was melting in some unknown way. Only the small area where I stood was green.


    There was silence. A sweet smell came from the breath of the person standing next to me. A harsh voice whispered.


    "You are not your normal self, Hyung."


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!


    If you want to buy me a coffee /santos_28

 Chapter 41

    The scent of fresh flowers that had filled this ce earlier was covered by the sweet scent of Lee Sa-young. The pounding in my heart gradually subsided.


    When Lee Sa-young touched the root I was holding, even thest remaining stem became poisonous and died. With just one use of the ability, the garden of life became a ck poisonous swamp. After confirming that nothing was alive, Sa-young muttered.


    "What the hell did you do to the master of the rift? I heard you were under a weakening curse."


    Thatst part didn''t seem to be directed at me.


    "That''s what I''m saying, guild leader."


    Min-ki, who was standing a few steps behind me, replied coldly. He was holding some kind of oxygen mask to his mouth. Sa-young pped his hand away from my nose and mouth.


    You''re not going to let go?


    When I looked at him like that, Sa-young said without looking back.


    "Hey, give me that."


    "What?"


    "I don''t think you have any more. Give it to me."


    "......"


    "I know you have the tool."


    "Yes."


    A shadow human as big as a hand came out of nowhere with a small oxygen mask raised over his head. Sa-young raised his head.


    "Grow."


    The shadow human quickly grew to the size of a full-grown man. It handed me the oxygen mask and then melted away.


    [Artisan''s Mass Production Oxygen Mask (A)]


    If you wear it where the poison has spread, it will detoxify a certain amount of poison and help you breathe. It is better than nothing.


    Creator: Hong Ye-sung]


    Sa-young whispered.


    "If you let go of your hand, you can put it on your mouth right now."


    "......."


    "Blink if you understand."


    This guy is giving orders one by one. When I opened my eyes fully again and shot at him, Sa-young reacted angrily.


    "If you don''t want to throw up again, listen to me.


    No, I have basilisk venom. My failure to mention a trait came back to haunt me in a big way.


    Sa-young rxed her hand when I blinked. In any case, the item I was told to wear had to be used, so I put a mask over my mouth. The basilisk''s poison had worked hard, and it didn''t make much difference if I used it or not.


    The atmosphere became as calm as possible. My heart, which seemed to have calmed down a bit, started pounding again. It was so loud that even Sa-young, who was standing right behind me, could hear it. The strange fire filled me to the brim. I deliberately made his breathing louder. Without the sound, I felt like I was being consumed by the fear that had barely dissipated.


    Then a strong arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me closer. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.


    "Breathe."


    "......."


    "You''re surprised now, Hyung."


    No, I''m not surprised. No matter how many monsters I''d seen, I was just...


    Uneasy.


    Tap, tap, a small hand tapped my shoulder in a regr rhythm, a faint sound that pierced the silence and my breathing. I could feel my heart, which was about to beat hard, slowing down a little. I let out a long breath. As my head began to spin, I wondered.


    Why is Lee Sa-young here?


    Why did this guye to the 5th grade rift? I could ignore the call. No, I''m going to ignore you, Lee Sa-young.


    As the arm around my shoulder fell, I looked back at Sa-young. Sa-young was wearing gloves again. He looked at my face and smiled, which meant he knew what I was thinking.


    "Someone will think you saw a ghost."


    "......."


    "Did you think I wouldn''te?"


    "Yes."


    "Why?"


    "There''s no reason toe."


    Sa-young tilted her head slightly.


    "You''re so..."


    "......."


    "You don''t trust people."


    It was his usual bluntness, but somehow it felt sarcastic. It was a rational conclusion, and he rubbed the back of his neck.


    "So why did youe here?"


    "I''m here to get you out."


    Sa-young replied, pointing at the ck poison swamp with her chin.


    "But I can''t believe you''re fighting the Rift Master."


    Damn it. I''ll just kill it and get out first. That was the moment I crumpled my face. Min-ki shouted in the distance.


    "Guild leader! It''s good of you to take care of your customers, but there''s something you should consider!"


    Sa-young looked back.


    "What is it?"


    "There is a possibility that the stones of the Rift Owner have melted together because you melted the Rift Owner all at once!"


    As if waiting for this word, the entire rift began to tremble. The ground, the sky, and even the air were distorted. Min-ki shrugged.


    "It''s already started, can you lend me your shadow?!"


    The Rift Stone is a kind of mana stone cherished by the RFIT master, and when it is broken, the rift disappears. It is a different concept than when the rift master dies. When the rift disappears, all the people trapped inside it will bounce back to where the rift entrance was, without distinguishing between a corpse and a survivor.


    In other words, it was also said that the survivor would see the body of another victim who had been sucked in right in front of him. The bodies of the monsters were horrible, so the rescue team would disintegrate them and erase the cracks to minimize the trauma of the survivors.


    Fortunately, there would be no deaths this time, but... there was another problem with the prostitute.


    At this rate, I''m going to run into the rescue team!


    I looked around in rm and locked eyes with Sa-young. Sa-young shrugged.


    "This is an unexpected situation. What do we do now?"


    "What do you mean?"


    I pulled Sa-young''s cor. And I looked directly into the purple eyes over the lens and said one word after another.


    "You''re not going to wait for the rescuers, are you? You don''t want to get caught removing the rift stone, do you?"


    "......"


    "Memorize everything I''m going to say. Say it."


    The corners of Sa-young''s mouth slowly turned up as he listened to Ui-jae.


    Yang Hye-jin, who jumped out of the rift as if she were spitting, tried to concentrate by blinking her eyes. She felt nauseous as if she had been on a roller coaster 50 times in a row, and her whole body ached as if she had been hit with a baseball bat repeatedly. There was only one thought in the midst of her dizziness.


    Lee Sa-young, you crazy bastard... ....''.


    The rescue operation hadn''t even finished yet, so why was he making a fuss about destroying the crack? Yang Hye-jin grimaced and barely raised her upper body from the ground. The feeling of being pushed out of the rift was still terrible. She heard the sound of busy footsteps.


    "All the hunters who entered the rift have returned!"


    "O... Observation confirmation of rift dissipation!"


    "We will check the survivors."


    "How did they capture the rift master so quickly? It''s been less than half an hour since they entered."


    When Yang Hye-jin looked around through themotion, the Rift Management Agency''s hunters who had entered together were suffering from a loss of mind, as if they could not get over the shock of being suddenly thrown away. Yang Hye-jin, A-rankn, was the first toe to her senses.


    Still dizzy from her dizzying vision, she leaned down and saw a pair of ck shoes in front of her and stopped. She looked up with a frown.


    Jung-bin stood with a gentle smile. If she had known that he was the support hunter from the Awakening Management Bureau, she would have kept that bastard Lee Sa-young a little longer before she entered.


    "Are you okay? Yang Hye-jin."


    "Yes... I think I''m going to throw up a little, but I''ll be fine soon."


    Jung-bin reached out to hold her. Hye-jin took his hand and looked around. Jung-bin followed her gaze and asked.


    "Are you looking for someone?"


    "The guild leader, Lee Sa-young... Where is he now?"


    She couldn''t let that go. This was a vition of the Hunter''s Code of Conduct that must be followed when assisting in a rift. What would you do if there was a dead person and the survivors gathered? Jung-bin pointed behind her with an embarrassed smile.@@novelbin@@


    "It''s over there. But..."


    "Yes?"


    "Well, I looked at it, but... he has a very good reason for it, and I''m sure you can see it too."


    Jung-bin stepped aside. Several ambnces stood side by side in the parking lot of the district office. Among them, a ck figure sat cross-legged in the farthest ambnce, unmistakably Lee Sa-young.


    He was unbelievably neat like everyone else who had entered the rift, but hisst conscience seemed to be that he had covered his shoulder with an orange ambnce nket. Next to him, however, was someone else.


    It was a familiar face.


    ''...Huh??''


    A cool, neat-looking young man leaned against Lee Sa-young, who was huddled under an orange nket. His slightly sweaty bangs were tangled and attached to his forehead, and the color of his face was particrly pale. It was a face that Hye-jin knew well.


    She... ate the hangover soup the young man made for herst night! Hye-jin asked carefully.


    "Isn''t he the part-timer at a Haejang-guk house in the alley?"


    "Yes."


    Jung-bin nodded.


    "The part-timer woke up and came to get tested... and got caught up in this whole mess."


    "Oh my God..."


    Hye-jin felt truly sorry and checked her watch. It was time to prepare the ingredients for Haejang-guk House. Yang Hye-jin sighed heavily at the heartbreaking news of a good and sincere young man, and Jung-bin spoke up.


    "ording to Lee Sa-young, the rift master had the power to attract the awakening. Originally, I was going to stay near the master and buy time until the rescue was over, but when Sa-young arrived, the possessed part-timer was already in front of the master..."


    "Are you saying that he killed him?"


    "That''s right."


    What happened while he was saving people... Yang Hye-jin made a face, grunted, made a noise, and then sighed heavily.


    "I shouldn''t have let it go, but he was trying to save someone''s life, so I can''t me him."


    "Haha, right? But that''s it, and he has to be punished."


    Jung-gbin, who was looking at the ambnce with warm eyes, said refreshingly. After a moment of silence, Hyejin frowned.


    "But... Is it okay to leave the part-timer next to Lee Sa-young like that? He must have used his ability to deal with the rift master. Will it have a negative effect on the patient?"


    "I don''t know about that."


    "Is it okay to just say it like that?"


    "I tried to say it, but Lee Sa-young looked at me like he was going to kill me, so I ran away......"


    Jung-bin shrugged andughed. Hye-jin looked at Jung-bin with her eyes wide open, and when she saw the neer choking, she rushed over to him.


    In the ambnce a short distance away, I rested my head on Lee Sa-young''s shoulder and did the trick of whispering without moving my lips.


    "Are they gone?"

 Chapter 42

    "Are they gone?"


    My voice was so small it was almost like ASMR. Even considering the ventriloquism, it was weak. It was something I could do because I believed in the hearing of the S-rank guy next to me. Sa-young, who was sitting next to me with her legs crossed, replied so much that only I could hear it.


    "Yes, well. What can you say, I was trying to save someone."


    "That''s great."


    "Well, I''ll pay some fines."


    "Are there fines?"


    "Yes, because hunters have to be punished to listen."


    Well, he is right. Powerful and capable hunters are controlled by powerful restraints,ws. Ostensibly, since Lee Sa-young was at the center of this disturbance, he would be punished. I made a deliberate grunt, a sound of pain.


    "So much for hiding the fact of registration."


    The best n was to move on quietly without even getting caught in the registration, but thanks to being caught in a suddenly appearing rift, the n and everything went up in smoke. I muttered.


    "Is Min-ki really able to change the note?"


    "Well, if he can''t... There''s no point in taking money."


    Sa-young''s answer made me remember Min-ki''sst appearance.


    Before the rift had dissipated, Min-ki had paced nervously and then plunged into the shadow of the ashes. Before I could ask what he was doing, another head emerged from the shadows and exined.


    "I''m in a dungeon in Jongno 3-ga with the deputy leader. It''s a big deal if I catch people''s eyes. It''s going to be very hard for me. Wouldn''t swearing add 20 years to your life span?"


    (TL/N: ??? ??? 20?? ?? ????? I need help with this :''))


    "Hey, I''m not supposed to be here either, right?"


    "It''s okay, sir. You just woke up, so you can pretend to be here for a while and we''ll be fine. By the way, how did you get your rating?"


    "I''m screwed."


    "I knew it, and I''m sure theputer got caught up in it, which makes it easier for you."


    "Are you using thest option?"


    "Exactly."


    Min-ki''s head bobbed up and down.


    "Theputer is broken, so everything is okay, well, not really. The records remain online. As soon as it''s measured, it goes to the data center of the Awakening Management Bureau. No one would have thought to read it because the rift burst in time, so it''s just a matter of quick maniption."


    "Are you sure that the maniption is really no big deal?"


    "Don''t worry too much. I''ll take the responsibility of turning you into a D-rank awakener. Then I''ll leave now!"


    With that, he gave a thumbs up and slowly disappeared into the shadows. Like a scene from the movie Terminator.... I smiled as I remembered thisst scene.


    There are only idiots in the Pado Guild....''.


    It''s possible because Lee Sa-young, the leader of the guild right next to him, is a weird guy. Anyway, I didn''t know how long I had to lie there. I was about to get up when Jung-bin and Yang Hye-jin disappeared, but the person''s appearance only increased, as the incident might have be bigger than I thought. More ambnces were arriving and the sirens were getting louder.


    Some people approached me, but when they checked who was next to me, they couldn''t get closer than a certain distance. I found out that Lee Sa-young had also written ZONE.


    "Hey."


    "Lee Sa-young."


    I can''t believe you said your name out of the blue instead of answering me. Do you want me to say your name or what? I opened my eyes and looked at him from an angle, but I couldn''t see his expression because he was wearing a gas mask.


    "Yes, Lee Sa-young."


    "Yes."


    Sa-young replied half-heartedly. When I heard the sound of tapping on the screen, he must have been fiddling with his cell phone. I froze, my eyes still closed.


    Jung-bin still won''t leave?


    Saeyoung replied with a long, drawn-out "Mm-hmm.


    "He''ll be here until dawn today... It''s a bigger deal than I thought."


    It was the worst news. Damn it. I muttered a low curse. A cold skin touched my neck where the others couldn''t see it. I flinched harder than I thought I would, but rationalized that it was because all my senses were heightened after the battle.


    "Does it hurt?"


    "What?"


    The gloved finger felt at the back of my neck and pushed through my hair. The unfamiliar sensation sent shivers down my spine. If I shook my head, I would immediately attract the attention of Jung-bin and Yang Hye-jin. I clenched my teeth and mumbled.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Because you were sweating cold."


    "Leave it. I''ll be fine soon."


    "......."


    Something clicked in my head. Lee Sa-young seemed to tilt his head. His fingers were still gently running through my hair. Is he caressing me? I was confused. What''s wrong with him all of a sudden?


    I couldn''t put my finger on his behavior. Isn''t he acting like a child again, touching people gently and then pulling away quickly?


    "You know, you''re really crazy."


    I don''t know. Noplications, this guy is just a total bastard. I slowly opened his eyes. I didn''t want to hear that shameful sound from a lunatic.


    "Are you going to argue?"


    "You''re so good at lying."


    "That''s what service jobs are for, you lie for a living."


    "How did youe up with that excuse?"


    "Don''t try to dig it up. You''ll get hurt if you do."


    Sa-youngughed softly. The fingers that had been running through my back hair moved more gently. Was it because I was so nervous? It''s been a long time since I had chaos.


    "You''re really suspicious."


    "What are you going to do if I''m suspicious... You''ve already signed me."


    "I know. Why would I sign with someone so suspicious..."


    Fingers brushed the back of my neck and I tried to close my eyes, breathing in the sweet scent of Sa-young...


    This crazy.


    It reminded me of a Haejang-guk house.


    My mind snapped back to reality. My body stiffened and I straightened my back. Sa-young must have noticed the change because he stopped running his hands through my hair. I muttered seriously.


    "Lee Sa-young."


    "Huh? What?"


    Where the two of them are now is in the back of an ambnce. The paramedics are busy taking care of the other survivors, and they don''t approach this ambnce because of Lee Sa-young.


    "Do you know how to drive?"


    "What did you say?"


    "I don''t have my license because I''ve been busy. Do you have a license?"


    I gestured to the steering wheel, and after blinking for a moment, Sa-young smiled in disbelief.


    "See, you''re the crazy one."


    From then on, everything was fine. Actually, it was a bit of an eventful trip, but we managed to get to the Haejang-guk house on time, so it was a sess by our standards.


    Unfortunately, Lee Sa-young did not have a driver''s license either, and it was quite a distance to walk from the Gwangjin-gu office to Haejang-guk House. Taking a taxi wouldn''t be much help anyway, as the roads in the area werepletely paralyzed. I seriously wondered if I should hijack the ambnce and go there.


    Lee Sa-young watched me curiously as I struggled until just now and somehow nned to go to Haejang-guk House.


    "Do we have to go?"


    "Yes, absolutely."@@novelbin@@


    "This ispulsion."


    "Cut the crap and think about it."


    "What...? It''s not like there''s no way."


    Sa-young, looking at me with his chin, took something out of the inventory and gave it to me. It was a crumpled A4 sheet of some kind.


    "Trash?"


    "What do you mean trash? It''s Hong Ye-sung''s masterpiece, but you''re talking too much. Read the description first."


    [Artisan''s Emergency Escape Button Prototype (S-)


    Tear it off and you can go anywhere you want. However, it cannot be used inside rifts and dungeons and is disposable.


    Producer: Hong Ye-sung]


    ...Crazy. There is such an item. But why is it called a button if it''s shaped like an A4 sheet of paper? When I asked Sa-young, he shrugged his shoulders.


    "I heard he made it look like trash because he was afraid Jung-bin would take it away if he found out."


    The question in my head grew stronger, but the existence of the article was still great news. Grabbing Sa-young''s arm with my right hand and the escape button with my left, I immediately put the paper in my mouth and tore it in half.


    There was a feeling of being swept away somewhere, and the sounds of themotion faded into the distance.


    After a while, before I could open my eyes, a familiar smell lingered at the tip of my nose, causing me to blink. Hong Ye-sung hadn''t lied when he said it was his masterpiece.


    "Oh my God, there is such a thing in the world."


    "It''s not trash."


    "Oh, the broth!"


    I quickly dismissed my gratitude for the paper button that had sent me to Haejang-guk House in a matter of seconds and rushed to the kitchen.

 Chapter 43

    Relieved that the shop was fine, I went to the kitchen to check the safety of the broth first. The broth was a little watery, but¡­ it was good enough. As I sped my hands together in prayer, Sa-young followed behind me and peered over my shoulder.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Be quiet.¡±


    I did not believe in religion in particr, but today I decided to thank the Buddha. I remembered the warm smile on Min-ki¡¯s fan. I repeated my thanks and apologies over and over again in my mind, and then I remembered how terribly I had offended the Buddha.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look that religious.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, it¡¯s just for today.¡±


    ¡°Also, that¡¯s the god of Nairon.¡±


    I prayed once again to show mercy and forgive him for his irreverence. It wasn¡¯t for Lee Sa-young, but for the sake of my own.


    I walked back out of the kitchen, grabbed an apron, and came back in, fully equipped for the business, and called out to him.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°Lee Sa-young.¡±


    There it is again¡­. I nced at the gas mask, but since he had been gracious enough to bring me here so quickly, I obedientlyplied with Sa-young¡¯s request.


    "Lee Sa-young, don''t touch anything in the kitchen."


    "I can''t even watch?"


    "Are you nning to poison a group of guests at Haejang-guk House?"


    "I''m wearing gas masks and gloves."


    Sa-young waved his ck leather gloves in the air, but he walked out of the kitchen willingly. I nced back at him, thenid out the ingredients I needed.


    "Lee Sa-youn-"


    "Yes, what?"


    "What time is it now?"


    "Four forty."


    "Hyung?"


    Opening in... 20 minutes?


    I slowly looked around the kitchen. Business was much busier in the evening than in the morning. Besides, there were a lot of customers these days since the discussion about J was held at Haejang-guk House. After looking at the ceiling for a while, I looked at Lee Sa-young standing in the hall for a moment.


    Wouldn''t it be okay if he wore a gas mask and gloves? I subconsciously had terrible thoughts and shook my head wildly. The possibility of an ident was also a problem, and the rat poison in the food could not be ruled out. Sa-young must have been aware of this and would have stepped aside.


    Just like that, my Haejang-guk house credo of ident-free and sincere work copsed. It was time for me to be a bearer of Haejang-guk House to despair.


    "Hey, I''m back."


    "This is... Congrattions on your safe escape from the battlefield, sir!"


    A round thing suddenly emerged from the shadows of the robe. I couldn''t take my eyes off its cheerful appearance, even putting my hand around its eyes and looking around. I forgot to greet him out of courtesy and grabbed Min-ki''s wrist as he stepped out of the shadows.


    "Mr. Min-ki."


    "Yes."


    "Are you good at cutting?"


    "What?"


    "No, I can''t, but I''m sure an A-rank could."


    "Sir, I think that''s a facy of generalization."


    Min-ki tried to rebel shyly, but he waspletely ignored by Ui-jae, the monster born from the Haejang-guk house. I set the wooden cutting board and knife down with a tter and waved to him.


    "Cut the Cheongyang chili and put it in this container."


    "What?"


    "You can take the apron out and put it on."


    "What? Yes..."


    "I''ll lend you a pair of goggles if you start to tear up, but just chop it up, there''s no time, now."


    As I lit my eyes and instructed him step by step, Min-ki, who had been stuttering and realized that there was no way out, nodded hesitantly.


    "Okay, can you put the knife down and tell me?"


    "Why? Do you think I''ll stab you with it?"


    "....."


    "Let''s go, because I''d rather set up shop than stab you and clean up the blood."


    It seemed that Ui-jae had a talent for saying scary things casually. But Min-ki, a strong-willed worker, could not break down here. He still had a job to do.


    "V, very well, sir. But why don''t you lift the curse of weakness first and then do it?"


    "It won''t affect the business, so let''s do itter tonight."


    Min-ki''s heart almost copsed again when he heard that. He could almost see the dark gas mask of his abusive boss over Ui-jae''s face, casually ordering him to work overtime.


    Min-ki fumbled with a thin, long, rectangr piece of leather in his pocket, indicating that he had a scroll.


    "While you''re at it, take a knife and cut it right here in the middle..."


    "This is a kitchen knife."


    "...Then please give me another one."


    I bent my waist slightly and took out the small scissors I had left inside. It was part of Ha-eun''s stationery set, and it was useful as a knife for opening packages. The handle had a cute ribbon pattern that contrasted with Ui-jae''s vicious face as he rushed to open it.


    Cut!


    As the leather snapped, I felt my body lighten.


    When I looked at him to see if he was done, Min-ki nodded vigorously and took the apron from the basket in the corner of the kitchen and put it on. I washed my hands thoroughly and put on the hygienic hat, apron and gloves.


    It was fortunate that I hadn''t cooked rice before going to the center. I opened the rice cooker, searched through it, and started to put it into a stainless steel bowl.


    [Unique Traits: Adept''s Hands (S+) Activated]


    [Trait proficiency has been reached to the limit].


    I frowned. I was in a hurry, but I couldn''t see anything through the white window.@@novelbin@@


    Do not obstruct my view.


    I ignored the system message and continued to eat the rice. A momentter, a firecracker exploded in front of me with a bang.


    [Congrattions! A new trait has blossomed!]


    [You have obtained Combat Woven into Life (S)]


    Someone who gains a new trait when they eat rice. I had suddenly gained the S-ss trait that all those hunters craved, but I''m not happy about it. I''m grateful, but it''s suspicious. Besides, there was no way a part-time worker in a store about to open would have the time to check its contents.


    I have to open the store in 10 minutes, so don''t bother me and get lost.


    The system seemed to know that it would be the same, so it kindly presented the exnation itself.


    [Trait: Struggle Woven into Life (S)]


    Housework is war for me. A trait for those who can''t give up housework or battle. Increases attack, attack speed, and dexterity when performing actions ssified as housework].


    ...It was too good a trait to ignore. I stopped my rapid-fire quenching.


    Actions ssified as chores?


    Cooking, cleaning, andundry would all be considered chores, then... I looked at the hand holding the spat. Cooking is a chore. Putting rice in a bowl to set the table was also a chore.


    [Trait: Combat Woven into Life (S) Activated]


    As if to confirm my answer, a notification appeared to activate the trait. For some reason, the hand holding the wooden spat felt lighter. With this talent... Five o''clock opening, yes! The hand holding the spat began to dance.


    At that time, Min-ki, who was behind me, blinked back tears under his sunsses.


    The topic of the 110-minute debate in his mind was: "How big should I cut the Chengyang chili, and how should I cut it? He wished he had a sample to look at and follow, but all he had was a cutting board, some chili peppers, and a chef''s knife. He thought he''d take the tap off first, so he snapped it off with his nitrile gloved hand.


    The tremendous energy sent shivers up and down his spine.


    There is something...


    It was so intense that he didn''t even dare to look back. Obviously, Ui-jae is the only one behind him, so can the mood change like that in a moment? Maybe Ui-jae is angry because he can''t make the opening time instead of scooping the rice? Don''t tell him, he''s going to deal with him for not doing his job properly?


    He had to check, but he was so afraid of the strong impulse. Min-ki swallowed his saliva.


    No! No matter how angry he is, he won''t kill me.


    Didn''t Cha Ui-jae say it himself? It''s more efficient to prepare for the opening than to kill him. Although it went through a somewhat distorted filter, the meaning itself was simr. The intense energy became thicker. Min-ki believed what he said and turned his head carefully. And then,


    Min-ki opened his mouth without noticing.


    Ah...


    Cha Ui-jae was still cooking rice in the restaurant''s rice cooker.


    Clink, clink, clink, clink


    But very fast. So fast that you can see so many arms!


    ''...Asura?


    For some reason, it seemed like a golden halo was shining behind him. He felt like Ui-jae was doing a knife dance or a spat dance. When Cha Eui-jae put down the spat, the lid of the bowl flew like a prize. Clink, clink, clink. Everything fell on the rice bowl without missing a beat. If the producer, the artisan of life, saw this, he would have to kneel down and pray for him to appear on their program.


    Is this... the professional of Haejangguk House?


    It was such a waste to watch that scene alone! It has to be recorded on video. Min-ki was about to take out his cell phone without realizing it.


    "Seo Min-ki."


    "Yes, sir... g, guild leader?"


    Min-ki was so surprised that he jumped to his feet. Standing at the border between the kitchen and the hall was Lee Sa-young, a person who did not fit into this old Haejangguk house! He must have escaped with Ui-jae, but he didn''t expect to be followed all the way back to the shop, so Min-ki creaked like a broken robot.


    "Why don''t you do as you''re told?"


    "Yes, sir. But I don''t know what size to cut this to..."


    A small sigh flowed through the gas mask as Min-ki answered hesitantly. Min-ki seriously considered whether he should learn more than 30 skills needed to run a Haejangguk house now.


    "That one."


    "What?"


    "That one."


    When Sa-young pointed to Onjango, Min-ki walked over to the pile of rice that was stacked like a mountain. Ui-jae, who had be a crazy chore master, immersed himself in his work without the slightest nagging. After putting all the rice in, Min-ki wiped his tears with his sleeve and said in a small voice of frustration.


    (TL/N: I forgot the name of the ''ojango'', so you can only see the picture of it.


    "Still, I... I did my job quickly, sir."


    "......."


    "Exactly the quality you asked for, just right. No jams this time."


    "Well done."


    Min-ki, who had nned to mourn his daily suffering under the vice boss again today, was surprised by the unexpected answer and hardened. He opened his mouth in disbelief and finally bit back.


    "What? I didn''t hear that well."


    But the gas mask''s face, which had been turned to him a moment ago, was now turned to Ui-jae. Min-ki was thrilled that even in his guild life a small miracle could happen.

 Chapter 44

    A few days after the riots.


    I was serving hangover soup to the zombies who came in as soon as I opened the shop as usual, when I noticed a strange man walking in front of the door. He was wearing a pressed cap and a thick sweater with the words ''Delivery'' written on it.


    What is this?


    Ha-eun, Grandma and I buy most of the things we need at the supermarket ourselves. We don''t even sell hangover soup for delivery, so there''s no way a delivery person woulde here. I put my hand in my apron pocket and opened the door. The delivery man standing at the door saw him and called out.


    "Are you Cha Ui-jae, who works at Hajang-guk Soup?


    My eyes narrowed when I heard my nameing out of a stranger''s mouth.


    "What''s the matter?"


    The delivery man smiled brightly and pointed to the truck covered with ck tents.


    "A wreath was delivered for Cha Ui-jae."


    "What?"


    My eyes widened at the unthinkable. The delivery man took arge wreath from the truck and ced it in front of the door of Haejang-guk House. On the long pink cloth were the following words written in cursive script


    The doors of HB Guild, a family, are always wide open - HB Guild HR Team Leader Han Min-jun''.


    Team leader Han was a person who asionally came to Haejang-guk House and asked me to join a few times. One guild member once said that he had his sights set on me. Of course, I refused, saying that I wasn''t an Awakened, but he kept asking me to join the guild because the general selection process was good.


    You want to promote the guild in a Haejang-guk house... and eat it raw?


    Before I could look up, the delivery man took another wreath from the truck. How many wreaths were there? I looked into the truck with a puzzled expression. Fortunately, it seemed to be thest time.


    The wreath taken out this time was the same size as the previous one, but there were fewer flowers. As if that wasn''t bad enough, the delivery man stacked three sacks of rice underneath it. This time the wreath read.


    Congrattions on your awakening, part-timer - Ranked 6th in Korea, HB Guild''s Honeybee''.


    My eyes shook wildly when I saw a sudden awakening celebration. I pointed at the rice bag carefully.


    "This... What is this?"


    "Ah, this is a rice wreath sent by the HB Guild."


    For some reason, there was a hint of pride in the delivery man''s voice. At a loss for words, I stared nkly at the two wreaths that had taken over the customer waiting area.


    What is this? Another business interruption?


    Should I take a picture and report it this time? After all, I had met Jung-bin, his autograph was in the store, and he had even learned my name. I had nothing to lose if I didn''t hesitate to report it to the Awakening Management Bureau as a hunter.


    Some paper and pens were handed to me as I was hypnotized before the wreath attack. The deliverer kindly pressed the pen and said,


    "We will get the recipient''s signature for confirmation. Please sign."


    After eating the hangover soup, some of the hunters who had escaped from the zombie state felt amotion and pulled their necks out of the door. A bearded hunter with good eyesight, who had checked the words on the wreath, shouted loudly.


    "Part-timer! You''re awake?"


    Damn it, I''m done. I gritted my teeth.


    The Haejang-guk house, which had been silent for a while, quickly became noisy again. Zombies rushed to the door, clinging to it and beginning to rumble.


    "The part-timer woke up?"


    "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    "Wow, is that a wreath sent by Honeybee?"


    "Look at Team Leader Han''s persistence in sending the wreath right away. What a poisonous bastard."


    "I see you even registered!"


    "Wow, congrattions! What grade did you get?"


    "Our part-timer was amazing even before he woke up, so I guess a B."


    Instead of congratting him, the hunters tried to guess his grade, but the conversation soon turned to the most important topic.


    "Wait a minute. If the part-timer joins the guild, who will run Haejang-guk House?"


    "Won''t Grandma do it?"


    "She hasn''t worked for a while because her legs hurt."


    "You''re not closing Haejang-guk House, are you?"


    "Why don''t you get a new part-time worker?"


    Bang! Suddenly, they were silenced by the sound of something being mmed down.


    "You bastards, don''t talk so loudly in front of a newly awakened person, don''t you know the rules of the hunter world?"


    "That''s right, didn''t you see the news the other day, one of the newly awakened just smashed a building, so let''s be careful, too much noise will make the newly awakened ufortable."@@novelbin@@


    This is a bombshell. The loud voices faded to whispers, but the words came through all too clearly to my ears. A booming voice could be heard clearly through the hushed atmosphere.


    "...You''re a part-timer? We''re here to help you settle in, that''s what seniors do."


    Hunter J, once everyone''s idol, is being treated like a rookie by the cranky juniors. I quickly scribble a line on the receipt to fire the delivery guy who caused all the trouble. Hopefully, this will solve all my problems.


    However, my troubles and adversities did not end so easily, and from the day after the wreath arrived, a crazy situation began to unfold, as if I had been waiting.


    First. When I opened the door wide to ventte the ingredients during the preparation time after finishing my lunchtime business, something terrible hung in front of my eyes.


    Part-timer''s wake-up party of a proud hangover soup restaurant


    -All the regrs at Haejang-guk House


    I stared nkly at the colorful banner hanging between the electric pole and the tree in front of Haejang-guk House. I wanted to check the names and faces of the people who hung it up, but I can''t believe they hid behind an anonymous name like a regr at a hangover soup restaurant. It''s cowardly... I called Nexby for the first time in a long time.


    "Hi Nexby, please check if it''s okay to remove the banner."


    -Search to see if the banner can be removed.


    -Even if it is an illegal banner, if a member of the public arbitrarily removes it, they can be punished for property damage under the Criminal Code.


    If it''s illegal, why am I being punished? I grabbed my head.


    Second. One day after the banner incident, it was time to prepare the materials again.


    What happened?


    At 2:10 p.m., which is usually the time to put up the ''If you''re here before 5 p.m., get lost'' sign - which doesn''t actually say that - and get ready for the evening business. However, I had to sit quietly at the counter without putting up a sign, let alone getting ready for business. Because,


    "Okay, hunters, please stand in line and show the new hunter the proper behavior of our senior hunters!"


    [Trait Pokerface (B) activated].


    There was a very long line in front of me. A neer to the Crack Management Agency was organizing the line by waving a safety pole. Memories of the very distant past crept back. Before the crack day began, a video I saw on YouTube of a popr idol''s autograph session went something like this.


    I''d rather kill a hundred monsters.


    I was suffering from the illusion that I''d be an idol. The corners of my mouth twitched.


    "I heard you woke up, part-timer. It''s a wake-up gift."


    A huge hunter, like a Russian brown bear, shyly offered a small pink box. Behind him, I could see several more hunters, their heads hanging like enoki mushrooms. They all looked excited, as if expecting a reaction. I epted the box with a soulless smile. On the wrapping paper, in a sentimental font, were the words.


    ''Gift box for the newly awakened ?''.


    It was the No. 1 product in the Hunter category of the Messenger Gift Menu that I looked at when I was bored. It''s like a trick. I calmly unwrapped the ribbon and opened the lid. In the center was a card with a bouquet of flowers.


    For you, my dear... Congrattions on your awakening.


    Congrattions... I''m a littlete.


    Congrattions on awakening after 11 years. Tucked neatly under the message card was a starter potion kit. I took out a finger-sized red potion and checked the information.


    [Rehabilitation Potion (C)


    Restores 10% of physical strength when used]


    Healing potions are a versatile tool, and if I''d had one in the rift not too long ago, I could have fought like I used to. I ced the potion in my inventory and bowed my head.


    "Thank you for the gift."


    "Oh, no! Please continue to make delicious cat soup."


    The Russian brown bear scratched his head and slowly fell back. The Enoki mushroom hunters patted him on the back and cheered. The righteous man ced the box on the table someone had brought next to him. Before I knew it, the pile of gifts was piled up like a small mountain. Next to arrive was Honeybee, her shiny blonde hair flying.


    "Did you get the wreath? Yes, it''s right outside. My HB guild sent it first, didn''t they?"


    Dressed in a gold leather jacket and sunsses, she ced a gift wrapped in gold paper on the counter. Next to her stood a stern looking man in a neat suit and sses. He is the team leader. He bowed and Honeybee smiled.


    "Congrattions on your awakening. This is a gift. We''re colleagues now."


    "Wreaths are enough, but you''re giving me gifts. It''s okay."


    I gave an exemry response as if I were reading a Korean book. Honestly, it was a burden. Honeybee, however, waved her hands as if to open them quickly with a proud face.


    "Oh, it''s not expensive, so go ahead and open it."


    I carefully tore off the shiny gold wrapping paper. Inside was...


    ''Change Your Color! Kraken Ink.


    ''Change Your Color! Volcanic Magma.


    "Change Your Color! Queen Bee Royal Jelly''.


    This was the hunter hair dye advertised by Honeybee. High-quality hair dye made from dungeon by-products for hunters with strong hair. Especially the ck color contained 0.0001% octopus ink and cost a million won each!


    Although my wallet would never allow me to buy it, I was impressed by the model who could afford it.


    "Well, even a part-timer might want to change his image. Try it and tell me if you like it. I can always give you more. If not, I''ll sell it at the tomato market."


    With that, I no longer had to go through three bottles of regr squid ink hair dye! It was like a halo shining behind Honeybee''s glossy blonde.

 Chapter 48

    After standing still and watching, Sa-young took a moderate step and stood right behind J as the other hunter began to talk about their uing schedule. The overheated hunter, who had been waxing lyrical about the importance of medicine, gasped and took a step back.


    "Lee, Lee Sa-young."


    "Oh, Sa-young, you got here fast. How was Dongdaemun Gate?"


    J looked back and pretended to know, but Sa-young just replied coldly to the hunter standing in front of him.


    "Send another asshole."


    "What? But..."


    "Send another asshole."


    The hunter, who wanted to say more, bowed after failing to break through Sa-young''s wildness. Sa-young lowered his head and whispered in J''s ear.


    "I''m just listening to bullshit..."


    "Don''t be so hard on yourself. Efficiency-wise, I''m the one going."


    "Don''t talk bullshit to me either."


    "I told you to talk nice."


    Sa-young muttered more in an angry, pouty voice, but it was inaudible to me. His soft ck hair was buried between J''s shoulders and neck. J patted Sa-young''s head with another hand while looking at the documents. He looked very familiar.


    Watching the unfamiliar scene, I crossed my arms trembling.


    Isn''t this a dog''s dream?


    True to Yoon Autumn''s words, the fairy tale of the doomed world was dizzying and confusing. J and Lee Sa-young in this fairy tale were both the same and different from the ones I knew. Like a distorted reflection in a warped mirror.


    They were pointless stories that made me question whether I should continue to watch them, but there was a reason why they could not be dismissed as nonsense. The room that appeared in thefort of autumn... was very familiar.


    Snow-white ash, familiar copsed buildings covered in ash, all in broken space. Monsters constantly pouring in from open gates everywhere.


    Isn''t it so simr to the inside of the West Sea Rift that I''ve been digging through for eight years?


    ''.....''


    I lowered my eyes and took a breath. With the sound of shattering ss, countless flutes rushed past me at the speed of a reeling movie.


    In one scene, Autumn was saving people with the Channel 1 hunters, and in the next, the hunters were in disarray, covered in cuts, scars, bandages, and missing limbs as they fought monsters.


    The surviving hunters tried their best to save the humans, kill the monsters, and close the rift, but things showed no signs of improving. There was endless skirmishing. Even the hunters who had held out were copsing one by one. Desperation began to show on the faces of the humans.


    And then time and space suddenly changed. At that time, Autumn was cowering in the crack of the copsed building. White monsters filled the street, and it was not enough, they continued to pour out of the crack that appeared in the air.


    J, who was sitting next to her, had his arm bandaged and was holding a spear.


    "I''ll block this ce, so run away first."


    "Wait! Even if it''s J, so much..."


    "If I run away, everyone will rush to the base camp. Can you handle that?"


    Yoon Autumn lost her words and closed her mouth tightly. A scarred hand patted Autumn''s head.


    "It''s okay."


    "J!"


    "Oh, I''m fine."


    "......."


    "I''ll be right back. Trust me."


    His eyes squinted through his half shattered mask. The monster''s roar and footsteps from beyond the building grew louder. The young man wiped the smile from his face. He rose to his feet, the bloody spear in his hand.


    "When I give the signal, run and don''t look back."


    "Oh, that''s right. One more."


    J put his index finger to the corner of his mouth, just like the first one I''d seen.


    "It''s a secret from Sa-young. Okay?"


    The scene ended there. But I didn''t need to look behind it to know. J would nevere back.


    Before I knew it, I was in an unfamiliar room. Looking at the textbooks, pens, and school uniforms on the wall, jumbled on the desk, it seemed to be Autumn''s room. Autumn, who was lying on the bed, cried for a long time from the moment she opened her eyes.


    Is this it? I looked up. At that time, there was a slightly different sound than before. The chilling sound of a broken piece of ss being trampled.


    Self-consciousness. An ominous sound continued, and a piece of ss simr to Autumn''s palm appeared in front of my eyes. A piece that was shiny with so many colors... It turned ck. At the same time, I was immersed in pitch ck.


    In the darkness, which could not be seen an inch away, only the harsh sound of a beast''s breathing could be heard irregrly. At first, it seemed to be a deep sob.


    Then, with a thud, something shattered. A small ray of light pierced the ckness. Another thud. With a snap, it sounded like wood breaking.


    "You son of a bitch, how long are you going to stay down here?"


    Crashing through the door was Honeybee, her face and body covered in wounds. Her once-vaunted golden hair was severed at the back of her neck. Gesturing into the darkness with a bandaged hand, she screamed.


    "Do you have any idea how much power we''ll lose without you? They''re a bunch of idiots fighting for their lives, don''t you get it? You''re supposed to be alive!"


    "....."


    "You''re the only one who''s sad? We''re all sad, shit! Don''t act like you''re the only one who lost the world!"


    "Honeybee, calm down, you''re hurting yourself."


    Bae Won-woo, who had followed, grabbed Honeybee''s shoulder. But she pped his hand away and screamed.


    "Son of a bitch, do you know Jung-bin is dead? Today Mok Tae-oh is dead, shit. Mok Tae-oh is .... that stupid bastard is dead!"


    Honeybee giggled, but soon began to shed tears. Bae Won-woo watched Honeybee with a puzzled face, then looked into the darkness. He was wearing a brown coat with an empty left sleeve.


    "...Sa-young."


    "....."


    "I understand how you feel. But..."


    Bae Won-woo''s scarred face looked tired. He tried to say something, but finally closed his mouth.


    "...no. Let''s go, Honeybee."


    Bae Won-woo picked Honeybee up, almost carrying her, and carried her out of the room. The sound of crying faded into the distance. The room became silent again.


    "...J."


    A faint voice echoed in the darkness. It sounded familiar. As if hypnotized, I took a step into the darkness. At that moment.


    "Hyung."


    A purple me shed in the dark.


    Something swooped down from the darkness and at the same time a huge hand, glowing like a kaleidoscope, wrapped itself around my jacket. Autumn''s urgent voice pierced his ears.


    "J! Wake up!"


    "Heuck, uck..."


    I took a sharp breath and blinked. I was in a familiar Haejang-guk house. Across the street, Autumn was sweating profusely. When she saw that Ui-jae had opened his eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes tightly.


    "Thank goodness..."


    "What did you just do ....?"


    I asked hesitantly. Autumn held her shaking hands. Her right hand, which had glowed in countless colors, was... ck. Autumn, her left hand wrapped around her right hand, mumbled nervously.


    "I don''t know. I''ve never seen thatst one before."


    "What was it? I... It''s definitely connected to this world, but..."


    "Wait, calm down."


    If anything, Autumn had lost herposure more than she needed to calm down. Chewing on her lip, Autumn lowered her head.


    "I''m sorry. It''s the first time I''ve shown this to anyone, so, uh, I didn''t expect it to happen. I''m really sorry. I never thought you''d be taken somewhere else..."


    "Just take a breath, what do you mean you were taken somewhere else?"


    "This is..."


    I gestured in rhythm to remind her to take a deep breath. Yoon Autumn followed his hand and slowly calmed her breathing. When she regained herposure, she spoke in a sleepy voice.


    "I just made and led the way for the people J saw. I made a path toe back here from all memory, but it suddenly stopped... I took you to a ce I didn''t know at all."


    "Did someone else intervene?"


    "I don''t know. It''s the first time I''ve seen something like this..."


    "What about your hands?"


    "What? Ah..."


    Yoon Autumn''s right hand was constantly swaying with ck energy. Autumn mumbled, hiding her hands in her long padded sleeves.


    "It''s okay, probably. I''ll tell the office and they''ll take care of it."


    "It''s because of thest... scene, isn''t it?"


    "I think so."


    "....."


    There was a short silence. Was it Lee Sa-young who was buried in the darkness of thatst room, why did I flow into that room, what drew me there? Why was Lee Sa-young so... ....


    "J."


    I raised my head. Yoon Autumn muttered.


    "I haven''t told anyone else that you''re J. There must be a reason why you''re hiding your identity, and I''ll continue to keep it a secret."


    "....."


    "Oh! Of course, the Bureau asked me if the J who appeared this time was the same J who entered the West Sea Rift... Oh, I said yes, didn''t I? No, that''s right, I wanted to keep it a secret until the end, but it would be too embarrassing to talk to the director alone..."


    "....."


    "...I''m sorry."


    Autumn bowed her head again. I held out my hand.


    "No, no, I should thank you for not saying more...."


    Come to think of it, the gap between J''s appearance in the dream and the me now must be pretty big... Autumn came to me convinced that the two were one and the same. She had been nervous in front of the director, but she hadn''t realized it.


    "I just felt like... you should know that there''s an end to this world."


    "Didn''t you tell the Bureau?"


    "Of course I did."


    "Wouldn''t they be prepared?"


    "Yes, that''s why it''s a problem."


    I looked at her curiously at her answer. What''s wrong with being prepared? I''m sure that''s what Autumn wants.@@novelbin@@


    Autumn swallowed and said.


    "The Bureau has considered many ways to prevent the end... J just happened to be in the rankings. They''re desperate for him to help them deal with the apocalypse. I''m sure they already have a search team in motion."


    "It''s a good thing you registered as a hunter, because the search team said they''re focusing on unregistered hunters and the general public, considering the possibility that J might have lost his memory due to the shock."


    I listened quietly to Autumn, suddenly lifting my head.


    "How did you know that I registered as a hunter?"


    I wish I had lost my memory, I thought bitterly. Anyway, if I was a littlete, I might have been included in the searchwork. The contract with Lee Sa-young was quite useful.

 Chapter 50

    Someone stepped in front of me, drenched in seawater and soaking wet. The man snapped his fingers, making a bone-crunching sound.


    "Hey, bastard, I can see you rolling your eyes under your eyelids. When you wake up, snap out of it..."


    This time, something hit my face. Judging by the speed and airflow, it looked like a fist. I sat still, closing my eyes and just wiggling my toes.


    "You have to open your eyes!"


    Boom! A fist as light as cotton touched my cheek. One second, two seconds, three seconds.


    "Arrghhhh!"


    The scream came from somewhere other than my mouth, and I slowly opened my eyes. The skinhead who''d hit me was pacing, clutching his swollen fist. The faint light bounced off his closely shaved head, making it glow like a dizzying psychedelic glow.


    "My, my hand!"


    The men around him booed as he stomped around like the soles of his feet were on fire.


    "Hey, motherfucker, get a grip!"


    "Why are you punching him in the face and saying that?"


    "Oh, it''s not real!"


    The skinhead with the clenched fist yelled, and one of the men in the crowdughed out loud.


    "If you''re lying, we''ll beat you up. Let''s see."


    "It''s true! Ah..."


    "...Huh?"


    The face of the person who checked the fist became slightly stiff. Soon, he scratched his head and said while looking back and forth at his hands with a puzzled face.


    "I think he really broke his bone."


    "What?"


    "No, he hit him in the face. How did his bone break with just one punch?"


    "Come to think of it, I hit him on the head with a piece of wood earlier, but the wood was broken."


    "What is it, stoned? Is stoned a skill?"


    People gathered around me with a roar. This situation was embarrassing. The first time a sloppy person hit me...


    At that time, a guy with a mustache grabbed my wet hair and I tilted my head. I was wet, but my face was so clean that people wouldn''t believe I had been beaten. The mustache guy, who examined my face carefully, smiled bitterly.


    "Ha, you punk. You came right in. You must have something to believe in?"


    "....."


    "Hey, hey, hey. I''m not going to crush your pretty little face. See, motherfucker, no matter how busy we are, we''re still faster than a tool on a drum. I''ve got time to throw one of you in the ocean, nigga."


    "....."


    "Shut your mouth until the end.... Ha, motherfucker. You can''t fucking act."


    I don''t know what else to say, but the words "you can''t act" hit my ego. As J and EZ, the center of attention in the Korean hunter scene, I had ovee countless adversities and hardships with my acting skills. Of course, my poker face helped.


    What do you mean I can''t act? My fingers, which were tied behind my back, flinched a little at the unfairness. The mustachioed man raised his hand.


    "Yeah, it makes you want to talk. Hey, hold your tools, he seems to have some kind of strange ability."


    "Yes, Hyung!"


    A group of ragged men with baseball bats, pumpkins, and the like approached, craning their necks and arms. The mustachioed man stepped back and grinned viciously.


    "This is going to hurt a little."


    The big man at the head of the pack twitched the corner of his mouth and stepped closer, and then-


    Bam!


    The sound of snapping bones was crisp and clear. The man stood still, eyes wide and rigid, then leaned forward, grabbed my shin, and began to roll over.


    "Argh! Argh!"


    "Fuck, what''s that?"


    "Aaah, why is this idiot leaving his extension out and hitting me with his legs?"


    "That''s weird! Hit him with an extension!"


    "That''s what I said, you idiot!"


    "B, bastard!"


    The big man closed his eyes tightly and hit the little head with a nailed bat.


    Whoo! The muffled sound was quite loud, but the head was not broken again this time. The bat was shaking with a broken middle part! The person who was actually hit was fine except for a slight tilt to his head.


    Is he really a rock?


    A kick breaks a person''s toe, and a fist breaks a hand bone. A tool is broken when it is hit with a chair, hammer, baseball bat, or wood. If you put all the injuries on one side, you get a football team. Meanwhile, the kidnappers had noticed something strange. Backed up against the wall, they lowered their voices and began whispering to each other.


    "Fuck, does this make sense? Why do you think the one who hits hurts more than the one who gets hit?"


    "I know. What''s this? Potions are so expensive these days, but I think I''ll spend it all."


    "Ugh, it hurts so much."


    "Gosh, hang in there, man."


    "Even though your bones are dislocated?"


    "It''s broken, urgh."


    "Oh, go over there and lie down!"


    "No, you said it was D grade. Fuck, you confused A-rank with D-rank. Why should a B-rank''s wrist break when B-rank hits a D-rank? Is that how physics works?"


    "This is the copse of hunter society, man."


    Of course, I heard it all. Listening to conversations about the copse of society while beating people up was disturbing.


    Those bastards... why are they so weak?


    The kidnappers were weaker than I expected. Even when I tried to dig up information while matching the rhythm, there was no answer because the other person made mistakes. How could such weak people smuggle drugs? Isn''t it worth getting kidnapped and covered in seawater?


    The mustachioed guy in the back was annoyed.


    "Hey, you punk, shouldn''t you finish your work quickly and leave before dawn? You can''t even handle a D-rank, you jerk!"


    Before dawn, the words stirred my body.


    I have a duty to serve Haejang-guk to the zombies whoe early in the morning. I wasted a lot of time catching these guys, and they can''t threaten me, harass me, or give me any information.


    What the hell are they all doing?


    I got a little annoyed that I had to sit still and watch them tap dance on their broken leg without getting any information.


    Finally, I muttered what sounded like a sigh.


    "Guys, this is not going to work."


    The kidnapping victim said what the leader of the kidnappers would have said. The kidnappers leaned against the wall and whispered.


    "Why is he saying that?"


    "I thought you said it."


    "I don''t know, I''m a little scared now."


    "I was trying to be as impartial as possible, but you guys are so out of line."


    Regardless, I stretched my arms, which were tied to a steel chair with a zip tie, vigorously upward. Snap! The cable ties, which had been tied together several times, broke at once. The bound leg was also lifted and cut off.


    In an instant, the faces of the kidnappers, who had lost dozens of zip ties, were stained with consternation. I rose from my steel chair and brushed my wet hair. And after folding a chair in half, which was familiar to me even as I continued to sit after being kidnapped,@@novelbin@@


    and hurled it at the mustache guy!


    Boom!


    "Keuk."


    As expected, I thought I should have dreamed of being a baseball yer.


    Inevitably, the mustache guy, who had been hit in the face with an iron chair, had his eyes upside down and bent. Blood dripped from his fluttering nose.


    I ran my hand over my slightly disheveled wet hair once more and walked over to the men tied to the wall. A murderous aura that seemed to be about to be decapitated poured into the kidnappers. The ck eyes shed fiercely.


    "Hurry up ande at once, you bastards."


    A small number of elite guilds, Pado Battle Support Team 1 is a department that supports the battle team just by looking at its name.


    However, the situation was quite different. The Battle Support Team 1 was a kind of special team that normally did leadership work, but when Lee Sa-young''s orders were given, they would carry out those orders first and foremost.


    At that time, there were only two ranked hunters in the Pado Guild''s Combat Support Team 1.


    The first, ranked 34th, is ''Very Small Miracle'', a master of stealth and infiltration, information gathering, and maniption.


    Second, 50th in the ranking, a young man called "Moon Opener" is the best in "Romantic Opener".


    Best, Hunter named Romantic Opener. He was on a very important secret mission on behalf of Seo Min-ki, who was on a business trip abroad, so he watched the part-timer at Haejang-guk House and reported every move to Lee Sa-young!


    A part-timer at a Haejang-guk house, Lee Sa-young''s favorite target, would go to Incheon harbor every morning to see what secret mission he had received from Lee Sa-young. Choi Gyodo gave up sleeping early in the morning and had to go to Incheon Port every morning.


    He used his cell phone camera, which could zoom 10,000 times, to take pictures from a distance and report back to Sa-young. It was a tip from Min-ki. The part-timers at Gaejang-guk have a strong sense of smell, so if you get too close, they''ll catch you.


    After taking and sending a picture of an ant-sized part-timer, he put on his wireless earphones and watched a YouTube video. Then, out of the blue, he received a text message from the Guild Leader!


    Guild Leader: Target Status


    He chuckled and zoomed in on his phone''s camera to see the top of the container where the part-time worker was.


    Shit, where did he go?


    Seeing the empty roof, Choi Gyodo''s mind went white. He took a quick step, trying to stay as stealthy as possible, and headed towards the area around the container where his target was sitting. Luckily, it was early in the morning when the port was asleep, so he didn''t meet anyone.


    And now he clung to the wall of the container opposite like a cicada. He pressed his ears to the container and concentrated on the soundsing from inside.


    Puck, puck, puck, puck... The regr sound of something being hit. He heard the dull thud of flesh, the sound of something flying away, and there were also those breathless screams and groans,


    At this point, Choi Gyodo began to panic. He wondered where the target was, and he must have been caught watching and dragged in! It was obvious that these unsorted scum were beating up the newly awakened D-ss hunter.


    Let''s go, this is the best! It''s time to show the best final dance of my 20 years of life. The climax was the A-rank Awakener''s tremendous stranglehold, kicking and punching through the steel door, and nimbly stepping through the open door to enter the container. Then he yelled, bnced in a great pose.


    "Hey, you coward! Stop beating the weak!"


    This is what Choi Gyodo imagined.


    This is what Choi Yo-yo imagined.


    A part-timer in a Haejang-guk house who is being watched lies down, and bad gang members surround the part-timer and beat him. Usually, it''s something you can easily imagine when a kidnapping takes ce. After kicking out the gang members, he nicely rescues the part-timer.


    His proud fantasy is crowned by the offer of a raise from an impressed Lee Sa-young.


    However, the inside of the container looks a bit different than he imagined. Best of all, he locked eyes with a man flying next to him who had been hit so hard that his face was swollen like a steamed bun. For a moment, the world rolled in slow motion.


    "...Ah?"


    The scene in front of him...


    It waspletely different from what he had imagined.


    Snap! The steamed bun flew out of the door with a loud crack, rolling and rolling, stopping only when it hit another container. His mouth fell open at the sight, and he turned his attention back to the inside of the container.


    Someone... something... was hitting something.


    "...Is that right?


    The part-timer from Haejang-guk House was hitting the kidnappers.


    Very hard.


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!


    If you want to buy me a coffee /santos_28

 Chapter 51

    Choi Gyodo tried to understand the situation with a stupid face.


    Okay, some bad guys kidnapped a guy. I followed them to an abandoned factory. I heard the sound of people being beaten inside. Of course, Choi Gyodo thought that the kidnappers were beating up the poor part-time worker! The first priority was to monitor Min-ki''s transition, but to protect her from anything that might happen.


    Oh no, those cowardly Awakeners are beating up ordinary people! It''s themon morality of the Awakening, the specialw, and I wanted to die, so I rushed through the door of the abandoned factory.


    Bang.


    But an ordinary Awakened was beating the Awakened.


    "Ugh...."


    There were even several people who had already been beaten and fallen!


    The door was kicked in so hard that the cold wind from the sea blew in.


    A ck apron with full footprints fluttered. The part-timer let go of the man clutching his cor. The bleeding man, his face swollen like a steamed bun, dropped like a doll falling off a string. There was another flinch on the floor.


    And silence.


    Our eyes met.


    Without looking at the hand that tried to grab his ankle, the tight, trampled part-timer opened his mouth, a new scream ying in the background.


    "Hey."


    "What?"


    My voice cracked as I hurried to respond. I swallowed my saliva. Footprints on a ck apron with sky-blue toads on it, blood on his hands, and even wet and disheveled hair. His face was well groomed for someone who had been abducted.


    In fact, the most emotional expression was the most frightening. A clean face, as if nothing had happened to the person who had just been beating people.


    Wasn''t he just a part-timer in a regr Haejang-guk house? At least he''s a D-rank reviver. What is this terrifying momentum? I was on the verge of losing the strength in my legs because my chills were numb. The silent part-timer asked.


    "Same group?"


    "What? No! No way! Absolutely not!"


    "Every time I ask them, they say no. It''s boring."


    I say no because I''m not! Choi Gyodo was frustrated. I was on the verge of tears, whether from frustration or fear. I slowly backed away, but not before he said,


    "Don''t try to run away."


    In a word, I stopped in ce. The part-timer did not look at me. He just stands there, getting wet and cleaning his messy hair. Still, my feet didn''t move. Cold sweat flowed. Choi Gyodo tried to make an excuse.


    "Oh no, I really..."


    "Don''t strain yourself, .... won''t take long to catch you."


    It wasn''t a threat, but a timely reminder. I felt like I would be caught and dragged back here even if I ran. And I''d end up on the ground like her. I shut my mouth and sat down on the dusty floor. The part-timer murmured contentedly.


    "Good boy."


    As he approached silently, he crouched in front of me, who sat down. He was like a bully, not matching his sweet face. The part-timer raised his hand with an expressionless face.


    "So."


    "What?"


    "What were you going to say? Go ahead."


    "Ah."


    "If you don''t hurry..."


    Cold eyes scanned the people around me. The part-timer took the time to tell me how generous he was, and warned me personally that if I didn''t tell him quickly, I would be like them. I pulled out my wallet and slid him my business card in the fastest way possible.


    Pado Guild Battle Support Team 1


    A-Rank Romantic Opener


    "I, I''m a Romantic Opener from the Pado Guild!"


    Ui-jae casually asked the familiar and disgusting guild name.


    "Pado?"@@novelbin@@


    "Yes! The guild leader sent me to you. To protect you."


    I never thought that the business card Bae Won-woo had given me would be so helpful. Reflecting on the days since I had acted immaturely by saying that I didn''t need it and that my face was my calling card, I decided to repay him for this favor.


    After choosing the menu, I looked at the part-timer in front of me. The part-timer, who was flipping through my business card, raised his eyebrows.


    "A member of the Pado Guild."


    Suddenly, the atmosphere changed like a cold snap on a warm spring day. Ui-jae, who was reading his business card, asked me.


    "Your name is... Romantic Opener?"


    "Yes, that''s right, Romantic Opener..."


    "Aha."


    In the atmosphere of an interview, I answered without knowing it, with a little bit of fear and excitement. It was the first time I had been so nervous since the final interview of the Pado Guild with Lee Sa-young.


    While I was thinking about this and that, Ui-jae suddenly pushed his bloody hand away. I started to roll my head like a new employee who is suspicious of his boss. What was it? What did he want? Do you think I should wipe your hands because they''re dirty? Did I bring a handkerchief?


    Cha Ui-jae didn''t want to get anything, but he spoke naturally.


    Was.


    "Mr. Romantic Opener."


    "What? Yes."


    "Are you quick-witted?"


    "What?"


    If he had been quicker, he wouldn''t have said "Yes?" so quickly, but that''s the beauty of a romantic opener. Ui-jae smiled.


    "Well... I wouldn''t mind if you weren''t so quick-witted."


    Immediately after that, Ui-jae suddenly bowed his head. It was all very dramatic.


    "Well, as you can see, I''m in a pretty bad mood right now."


    So.... I''d like to hear an exnation of how that happened.... But it was effective. For one thing, the blood on his hands was intense, adding to the tension. I nodded eagerly.


    "Yeah, it looks like it."


    "They kidnapped me when I was about to take a break after closing the shop."


    That''s a lie. Ui-jae was not kidnapped, he was just kidnapped in a hurry. Even I had an old intuition about his movements and every move he made until the moment he was kidnapped, but I could only agree.


    "Oh, my God."


    "Not only did they kidnap me, but they kicked me for not answering their questions. They hit me with a pirogue. They hit me with a nailed bat."


    "Those trash!"


    To be clear, Choi Gyodo was not an empathetic person. In other words, I''m someone who would ask my friend, ''Dry shampoo? Do you like it?'' when they say, ''I got dry shampoo because I was so tired every morning.


    But today was different. I tried my best to sympathize with him because I was reminded of his empathy ability that he sold when he was young. When the song was well received, he grabbed the skirt of an apron with his thumb and forefinger, which was full of dirt marks.


    "You see these footprints?"


    "Oh, my God. How badly did you get hit?"


    "Don''t even say it. I got hit a lot."


    "Those motherf***ers. They should be fed to the piranhas!"


    Of course, Cha Ui-jae''s im to have been "hit a lot" seemed perfectly fine... but what matters to me now is not authenticity. As the saying goes, the dead have no words!


    I nodded my head vigorously with my soul. Fortunately, the young man in front of me seemed to like my intense reaction, and he sighed heavily, tucked his chin into his cheek, and continued.


    "So I took care of the kids a little."


    "...Y, you did."


    All the flinches on the floor were so swollen like steamed buns that they couldn''t even recognize their faces. If this is a little controlled, what happens when you''re really controlled?


    A shiver ran down my spine for a moment, but I shook it off. The blood-dried fingers twitched painfully, drawing my attention to them, but I just closed my eyes and thought, "What a merciful thing to do, kidnap him, beat him, and hang him for the lives of his fans.


    What a merciful thing to do, I thought, to save the lives of the men who kidnapped and beat him. If it had been Lee Sa-young, he would have melted them down without a trace. Thinking about it, the ashes of the car in front of him felt like raw fire.


    I nodded mechanically and said what I felt without adding or subtracting anything.


    "You are so merciful."


    "Yes. Well, Mr. Choi Gyodo."


    "Yes!"


    "Will you please shut up?"


    "What?"


    As he said this, a cold smile suddenly appeared on his face, and it was not just a blossoming cold, but the surface of a frozenke somewhere in Siberia. When the top yogi stared at him, unable to follow the leap of logic, he let out a short sigh and began his eye-level instruction.


    "I do not have the ability to cleanly erase memories."


    "....."


    "I have to use physical methods to erase them..."


    He clenched his fist with his bloodied hand and gently lifted the corners of his mouth. But Choi Gyodo, who saw the face, became as pensive as when he saw the harrowing scene.

 Chapter 53

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve be a beggar, huh, hyung?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit much for a beggar to walk into the guild master''s room, don¡¯t you think? Just grab the items and leave with them.¡±


    Ui-jae pointed to a long line of dried fish hanging behind him. Sa-young¡¯s mouth tightened. He returned to the desk, keeping his gaze fixed on Cha Ui-jae, and pressed the microphone button that connected to the secretary¡¯s office.


    ¡°¡­Tell the research team to take the new samples and send a transport truck to the Wave Guild¡¯s main entrance.¡±


    ¡ªUh, what? A transport truck?


    ¡°Get one that can carry twenty awakeners at a time. Or just tell them to bring the biggest one they have, and they¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡ª¡­Yes, I¡¯ll ry that right away.


    As Sa-young removed his hand from the microphone button, he leaned both hands on the desk and lowered his head. A deep sigh escaped his lips.


    ¡°¡­The message.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Ui-jae blinked. Given his state, which looked like he had just been pulled from the water and rolled around in dirt, Sa-young asked, tapping his fingers on the desk.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you checking your messages?¡±


    ¡°¡­Did you send a message?¡±


    Sa-young rolled his eyes upward, looking at Ui-jae. Did he really not see the crazy message that hade in right after he sent it? Sa-young''s lips twisted in irritation. So that¡¯s how it was going to be.


    ¡°Ah, pretending not to know?¡±


    ¡°No, hey, what do you mean pretending? I really didn¡¯t see it. My phone screen is broken.¡±


    Ui-jae pulled out his phone from his pocket to show him. Just as he said, the screen waspletely shattered, looking like it had been hit with a hammer.


    Sa-young peeked into the container through the open door. Tools and weapons were scattered around the guys tied up like dried fish. There was no blood, but most of the items were broken or bent.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sa-young turned his gaze back to Ui-jae. His face remained as handsome as ever, but his hair was wet and messy, soaked from the water, and his usual neat appearance was reced by a disheveled mop. There were also footprints and stick marks all over his apron. This was a mess, even for a mess.


    While it was unclear what Cha Ui-jae¡¯s true abilities were, there was no way an awakener strong enough to block Sa-young¡¯s attack would get beaten up to this extent and leave such marks. In other words, he had purposely taken a beating.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    In the meantime, Ui-jae pulled out a heavy ck backpack from his inventory and piled them up in the guild master¡¯s office, cing thest one he was carrying down. It irritated him that he wouldn¡¯t cross over the threshold himself.


    Did he think that just because he called him a beggar, he was really a beggar? Sa-young asked, unable to hide his irritation.


    ¡°What are you doing right now?¡±


    ¡°Just a second¡­. Everything in this backpack is medicine. They said it was three of this and that, but I don¡¯t know the units. No, you¡¯ll figure that out.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Romantic Offener, when do you think you¡¯ll pass out?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re about to pass out.¡±


    The Romantic Offener was already copsed on the container floor, barely moving his mouth. His eyes were dazed, and he looked like he was about to drift off. Ui-jae clicked his tongue and gestured to Sa-young.


    ¡°Come in and take this guy with you.¡±


    Sa-young tilted his head slightly with a sullen expression.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go in there.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°That door is one-way.¡±


    ¡°¡­One-way?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Choi Go-yo exin? That door only lets you exit; you can¡¯te in.¡±


    Ui-jae nced once at the Romantic Offener, then at the door, then back at Sa-young.


    At this point, it was clear to Sa-young that Cha Ui-jae was having some crazy thought with his fair face. Sa-young had no intention of hiding his displeasure, gritting his teeth like an angry dog.


    ¡°Why? You nning to wait in there until the Romantic Offener passes out?¡±


    His usually neat face had turned sour. He often made that expression when he was hit on the mark.


    ¡°No, I was just wondering if I really need to go out there¡­.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡±


    ¡°I could just pass you the items and these guys, and that would be it, right?¡±


    ¡°How am I supposed to get to the hangover soup restaurant in Incheon? Are you going to make me swipe the corporate card for a taxi again?¡±


    ¡°Late-night surcharges would make it about two hours¡­ it would be a bit expensive.¡±


    Ui-jae looked like he was seriously considering it.


    Cha Ui-jae was a mess. That¡¯s what Sa-young thought. His appearance, as well as his actions, clearly indicated that his head was in disarray. He was unbelievably reckless, impulsive, and bossy; he acted as if he had an extra life and was risking it all.


    ¡°Still¡­¡±


    Cha Ui-jae brushed his wet hair back and smiled.


    ¡°This was quite useful, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Then, oddly enough¡­


    As he revealed his teeth while smiling, Sa-young turned sharply away.


    ¡°Come in before the door closes.¡±


    ¡°If I just throw them over there¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll listen to me when I tell you once, right?¡±


    He could only hear Sa-young when he spoke with a sharp tone. It was only then that Ui-jae sluggishly pushed the Romantic Offener into the guild master¡¯s office and dragged the tied-up guys over the threshold.


    The moment thest of the dried fish passed through the door, the Romantic Offener, who had been stubbornly holding on, let out onest breath.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    At the same time, the wide-open door disappeared, and the solid door of the guild master¡¯s office returned to its ce. Sa-young came back afterying the Romantic Offener and the dried fish outside. Ui-jae was still awkwardly standing there, looking around.


    ¡°Should we go in for now¡­?¡±


    Sa-young asked with his arms crossed.


    ¡°Why did you jump in on purpose?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? I thought maybe I could catch a tail while stirring things up.¡±


    Ui-jae replied casually and shrugged.


    ¡°But it seems I didn¡¯t salvage anything.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go that far. What I entrusted to you was just simple surveince. Taking them down requires different specialists.¡±


    ¡°I could respond faster than they could today.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Ui-jae¡¯s actions had indeed been quite helpful. The Awakener Bureau and the Wave Guild members were chasing after drug dealers, but they only pursued them so far. It was the first time they had wiped out dealers like this and taken all the drugs. With this much medicine, the Seowon Guild and the Wave Guild¡¯s research team should be able to extract some valuable data.


    Sa-young gestured toward Ui-jae.


    ¡°I get it. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. Hi Nexby, search for the nearest bus terminal.¡±


    Ui-jae called for Nexby on his phone with the broken screen. At this point, it could be called his eternalpanion. However, Lee Sa-young was ring at the phone with a tilted head, as if something was bothering him.


    At this point, Cha Ui-jae couldn¡¯t help but notice that Lee Sa-young often tilted his neck when he was in a bad mood. He tried to pretend he didn¡¯t notice, but in the end, Ui-jae couldn¡¯t hide his displeasure and asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I was just wondering if you were doing this on purpose.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Why are you looking for a bus?¡±


    ¡°I have to go home. If I wait too long, the bus will stop running.¡±


    ¡°In that state?¡±


    Sa-young scanned Ui-jae from top to bottom, as if mocking him. It was only then that Ui-jae reflected on his appearance: his wet hair and hoodie, and the apron covered in footprints.


    Cha Ui-jae was fine, but his appearance was not. Anyone could see that he looked like he had a serious story to tell. If someone were kind and caring, they would surelye up and ask what was wrong!


    Realizing this, Ui-jae quietly tucked his phone back into his pocket. He then sighed deeply, brushing his wet hair back.


    <em>If I hadn¡¯t gotten drenched, I would have just gone.</em>


    Actually, thinking about it, if he used Silent Steps, he might be able to slip away unnoticed. Just as he was about to sneak over to the door, Sa-young pulled out a crumpled A4 sheet from his inventory. It was the emergency escape button from Hong Ye-seong that he had seen once before.


    And before Ui-jae could refuse, Sa-young grabbed Ui-jae¡¯s arm and tore the paper.


    Momentster, the two stood in front of the hangover soup restaurant.


    ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t that a rare item?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Ten sheetse in a set.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    With a sour face, Ui-jae opened the locked door of the hangover soup restaurant and stepped inside. He headed straight for the small room in the back.


    The small room attached to the shop was packed with gift boxes he had received a while ago on one wall, and neatly folded nkets and pillows were piled on one side. The size of the room was so small that Ui-jae wouldn¡¯t be able to lie down without touching the boxes and nkets.


    ¡°You should change your clothes first.¡±


    ¡°I know that.¡±


    Cha Ui-jae took off his hoodie and tossed it to the floor. He put on the clean clothes that were prepared for him and then climbed into bed. The new clothes were too warm, as if they had juste out of the dryer.


    Sa-young, who had been standing awkwardly outside the door, stepped inside and leaned against the wall.


    ¡°You still can¡¯t use Silent Steps?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ I haven¡¯t practiced enough.¡±


    Ui-jae felt embarrassed. In fact, his skills were stillcking, and he couldn¡¯t maintain them for long. When he first awakened as an elemental wizard, he had specialized in using the Silent Steps skill. However, after falling into the underworld, his skills had dwindled greatly. Now, even small sounds would make him jump.


    ¡°Even so, if you¡¯re going to get thrown out, make sure you don¡¯t drop your bag.¡±


    Sa-young grinned.


    ¡°Why not? The bag is my treasure. I had my first loss ever today. It¡¯s not easy to get things back, even with a reward.¡±


    Ui-jae curled up inside the warm nkets, breathing softly. He felt embarrassed and ashamed to think of today¡¯s events, but he had to admit it was a valuable experience.


    ¡°Anyway, just take a break. You can go back when you feel better.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ sure.¡±


    Cha Ui-jae covered himself with the nket and dozed off. As he watched Ui-jae¡¯s sleeping face, Sa-young took a moment to contemte their shared experiences.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t do it again.¡±


    He muttered quietly, careful not to wake him up.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54 (1)


    "What kind of question is this? Are they seriously asking if I''m a masochist?" Eui-jae crumpled his face in disbelief, shooting back, "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "No, there isn''t," he replied curtly.


    Sah-yeong frowned, not backing down. "What''s the difference between here and that container from earlier?"


    "How can you evenpare them? This ce is way cleaner. There''s a nket and pillow too."


    "Clean up the container, throw in a nket and pillow, and it''s the same."


    "Are you seriously wishing for a move to Incheon Port right now?"


    Sah-yeong couldn''t believe his ears. He''d taken Eui-jae to a soup restaurant to help him recover from exhaustion, only to find this tiny room where he couldn''t even stretch his legs properly. And without hesitation, Eui-jae took off his worn-out sneakers and crawled into the cramped space like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Normally, Sah-yeong wouldn''t be this bothered by Eui-jae''s behavior. But given how Eui-jae had been rolling around helping him, he couldn''t bring himself to be too harsh. Plus, the thought of Eui-jae enduring all of this just to help him, despite how much it didn''t suit him...


    "...."


    "Hey... what''s with that weird expression?" Eui-jae asked, noticing something off.


    "What?"


    By now, the transport vehicle should have arrived. He should''ve handled this himself instead of letting the authorities take care of it. No, he <em>would</em> handle it personally.


    Sah-yeong finally decided to revise his original n. Initially, he had intended to drop Eui-jae off at his home and return straight to work. But after seeing the state of Eui-jae''s so-called ''home,'' he couldn''t leave him here. After making sure his gloves were still on, Sah-yeong grabbed Eui-jae by the arm.


    "Let''s go."


    Surprised by the unexpected move, Eui-jae widened his eyes. "Huh?"


    Sah-yeong stubbornly tugged on his arm. "There''s somewhere we need to go."


    A brief silence followed as the two faced off. Eui-jae, despite being notoriously stubborn, found himself faltering under Sah-yeong''s unwavering gaze. The thought of standing his ground against this younger guy suddenly seemed pointless. Shrugging, Eui-jae slipped his sneakers back on.


    "Alright, alright. Where are we going now? Got more favors to ask?"


    Without a word, Sah-yeong tore open the emergency exit.


    Not long after, they found themselves standing at the entrance of a house. It was sorge it could probably fit dozens of soup restaurants inside it. But despite its size, the ce felt barren and empty rather than simply spacious.


    Eui-jae felt uneasy. Even though it was someone''s home, there wasn''t any warmth in it at all.


    "...Where is this?"


    "My house."


    Sah-yeong gave a curt response, heading inside as if there was nothing strange about it, and opened the refrigerator. Neatly packed meals and bottled water were stacked inside. After taking out a bottle of water and drinking it, Sah-yeong pointed to a door. It appeared to be a bathroom.


    "Take a shower. I''ll leave some clothes for you outside."


    The bathroom, much like the rest of the house, was absurdly spacious. Feeling gross from head to toe, Eui-jae quickly took a shower and peeked out to check for the clothes. Neatly folded were a brand-new pair of underwear and a navy silk pajama set.


    "Does this guy... wear pajamas to bed?"


    Involuntarily, Eui-jae imagined Sah-yeong wearing pajamas and quickly pushed the thought aside. Although they weren''t that different in size, the clothes were a bit loose. Rolling up the sleeves, Eui-jae followed the faint sound of Sah-yeong''s footsteps. He found him sitting on a recliner in what looked like the bedroom. When Sah-yeong nced at him, he pointed to the bed.


    "Sleep there."


    Eui-jae followed his gesture to the king-sized bed in the middle of the room. It was big enough for both of them to sleep infortably. But the thought of sharing a bed with Sah-yeong¡ªor even worse, sleeping alone while the homeowner sat nearby¡ªdidn''t sit well with him. He responded casually.


    "I''m not that shameless. Just give me a pillow, and I''ll sleep on the floor."


    "Sleep on the bed."


    "I''m good. Got a sleeping bag? I''ll take that instead."


    Sah-yeong let out a scoffing sound, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Who uses sleeping bags nowadays?"


    "Back in my day, sleeping bags were essential dungeon gear, kid."


    "You''re only four years older than me, and you''re already acting like a boomer, you know that, hyung? Anyone listening would think you''ve been a hunter for a decade."


    Eui-jae''s words hit a little too close to home, but he knew admitting it would only make things worse. He shamelessly retorted, "Sleeping in a bag feels like camping, okay? And you¡¯ve had it too easy as a hunter¡ª"


    "Yeah, yeah, I''ve had it easy. Now go lie down."


    "Stop trying to make me look like some freeloading jerk who steals beds."


    "It''s worse to let a guest sleep on the floor. Now get in bed."


    "You''re a jerk anyway, so why does it bother you now?"


    "For once, can''t you just listen when I¡ª"


    "This is an equal partnership, okay? I''m not your subordinate. We''re equals¡ª"


    As their bickering escted, so did their tempers. The furniture around them began to rattle slightly, but neither of them paid attention. Their heated argument echoed through the empty house.@@novelbin@@


    <em>Crack!</em>


    A sudden ominous sound filled the room, bringing their shouting to an abrupt halt. They both turned their attention to therge mattress, where a massive hole had formed in the middle.


    Standing side by side in front of the now-ruined bed, both Sah-yeong and Eui-jae let out deep sighs. If only the bed frame had broken, they might''ve been able to fix it. But the mattress itself had a gaping hole, leaving no way to salvage it. There was no way they''d be able to get a recement for something this big through express delivery.


    Staring at the mattress, which now looked like a ck hole, Eui-jae mumbled, "...I''ll pay for it."


    Sah-yeong scoffed, "With what money?"


    "I''ll sell some magic stones."


    "Oh, for crying out loud... Don''t even mention magic stones."


    Sah-yeong growled, his toneced with exasperation. The next words that came out sounded more like a sulkyint than a scolding.


    "Thanks to that, there¡¯s already an article saying I''m dating Jeong-bin."


    "...."


    Eui-jae hung his head in shame. Is this how celebrity hunters feel when a rumor sparks just because they talked to someone? All Sah-yeong and Jeong-bin did was exchange some information over a bowl of soup. Eui-jae silently vowed never to indulge in gossip about hunters and celebrities again.


    As Eui-jae stood there, silently reflecting, Sah-yeong crossed his arms and muttered, "Wait here."


    He pulled a gas mask from his inventory, put it on, and disappeared. Left alone, Eui-jae lifted the mattress. It waspletely split in two, the bed frame sagging miserably underneath.


    How many bowls of soup would he have to sell to pay for this? It definitely wouldn''te cheap, especially considering how picky Sah-yeong was. With a heavy sigh, Eui-jae stared at the ruined bed.


    <strong>Guild Chatroom:</strong>


    ¨D "Wait, where did all the pillows and nkets go??"


    ¨D "Didn¡¯t the cleaning staff take them forundry?"


    ©¸ "No, they don¡¯t clean while people are still in the rooms."


    ¨D "Did 240 really steal them all?"


    ¨D "Spill the story, please!"


    ¨D "C¡¯mon, dude, tell us! The beautiful hunter¡¯s waiting!"


    ¨D "Damn, I¡¯m wide awake now."


    The Wave Guild¡¯s shower and rest areas were part of the guild¡¯s welfare facilities, specifically designed for hunters to rx after the heightened sensitivity thates from dungeon raids. The quality of the rest rooms was top-notch: each hunter was assigned a private room,plete with a bed and bedding designed for optimal sleep, and the room even had dungeon-made fragrances to ease tension.


    But now, all of the rest room bedding had been stolen. The beds stood bare, and the person who had taken them was none other than Lee Sayoung. It was hard to believe, but there were photos to prove it. Who would be reckless enough to fake a story about <em>her</em>? The conclusion was obvious: this post was genuine.


    It was enough to wake up anyone. They felt cursed by reading the chat before bed, and now they were stuck, endlessly refreshing the thread, waiting for the storyteller to return.


    Finally, just as they were losing hope, the original poster returned with more details.


    <strong>Post Title:</strong> [Anonymous] Story of Lee Sayoung¡¯s Heist (Deleting in 10 mins)


    Had to workte writing reports.


    By the time I finished, I didn¡¯t feel like going home, so I just decided to sleep in the rest area and go straight to work in the morning. So, I was lying down when, around 4 a.m., I heard someone m the door to the next room.


    I thought, <em>Who¡¯s this rude bastard at this hour?</em> So, I got up to check.


    It was 240.


    After that, my mind went nk... It was like watching a movie.


    240 started grabbing the nkets and pillows. Not just one, either. She took them from every single room.


    It was like she was going to take the whole bed, but she settled for just the bedding.


    I was in the farthest room, and as 240 got closer, I snapped back to my senses, clutching my own nket tight. We made eye contact, but thankfully, she left mine alone. She even kindly closed my door on her way out.


    That¡¯s the end.


    <strong>Comments (13):</strong>


    ¨D "Can we fact-check something real quick? What was 240 wearing?"


    ©¸ "White t-shirt, ck sweatpants, and a gas mask. Indoor striped slippers."


    ©¸ "This story is legit."


    ©¸ "How do you know?"


    ©¸ "I was in the elevator with 240 earlier, wearing that exact outfit. Almost fainted."


    ©¸ "Oh¡­"


    ¨D "So, 240 does have a sense of consideration... Didn¡¯t take the nket from the guy who workedte."


    ©¸ "And even closed the door so he could sleep."


    ©¸ "Legend."


    ¨D "This anonymous guy is something else, more scared of losing his nket than of 240 herself lol."


    ¨D "But honestly, it¡¯s all 240¡¯s stuff anyway. She can take it if she wants."


    ©¸ "True lol."


    ¨D "So why¡¯d she take all the bedding, though?"


    Meanwhile, Choi Euijae had been waiting for Sayoung for quite some time. When the door lock finally clicked open, Euijae, who had been stretching out of boredom, peeked around the corner.


    What came through the door was¡­ a pile of white fabric. At first, Euijae thought it might be a ghost, but upon closer inspection, he saw long ck legs sticking out from underneath. Those legs marched confidently down the hallway and into the spacious living room before dropping a mountain of nkets and pillows onto the floor.


    "What in the world...?"


    Euijae alternated between staring at the pile of bedding and at Sayoung, utterly confused. Without a word, Sayoung removed the gas mask and put it back in her inventory. Her expression was cold.


    "...Did you rob a bedding store?" Euijae asked seriously.


    Sayoung, still looking stern, shot him a re. ¡°Who do you think I am? I¡¯m no thief.¡±


    Euijae stared at her, trying to read the situation. Maybe the whole broken-bed thing had really gotten to her.


    Sayoung put her hands on her hips and nodded towards the leather sofa. ¡°Lie down.¡±


    "...Can¡¯t you, as the host, sleep on the couch instead?¡± Euijae suggested.


    ¡°One more word out of you¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡ªand we can both sleep on the floor after I smash the couch too,¡± Sayoung threatened.


    Euijae silentlyplied, lying down.

 Chapter 55

    Lee Sayoung''s sofa was incredibly soft, as if filled with some mysterious material. These days, even nkets were made from dungeon byproducts, so maybe this sofa was crafted from something simr? Choi Euijae was desperately trying to redirect his thoughts, attempting toe to terms with the situation.


    Despite taking a morefortable spot than the host, which made him feel uneasy, he knew he couldn¡¯t risk another argument. If he did, they might end up breaking the sofa too, and he would be forced to sleep on the floor beside Sayoung.


    It wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t contributed to breaking the bed earlier. He couldn¡¯t afford to destroy yet another piece of furniture, especially since he had no money to rece it.


    *¡°Yeah, the older one should give in...¡±* he rationalized to himself, relying on his ingrained sense of hierarchy to justify the situation.


    Just as Euijae began to enjoy the plushness of the sofa, Sayoung tossed two pillows and two nkets his way. He instinctively caught them, muttering under his breath, ¡°I don¡¯t need two of each.¡±


    ¡°Just take what you''re given,¡± Sayoung replied curtly.


    Behind his, a mountain of pillows and nkets loomed, evidence of her recent haul. Euijae didn¡¯t know anything about the high-end rest facilities in the Wave Guild, so he simply marveled at how many he had gathered. Still, with all the extras, it didn¡¯t seem like Sayoung would be short on bedding, even after giving him two sets.


    After watching Euijae squirm around, arranging his pillows and nkets, Sayoung finally beganying her own bedding out on the floor. Heyered several nkets, turning them into a makeshift mattress, andy down with a pillow. With a single p of her hands, all the lights in the house turned off.


    Euijae stared at the now-dark ceiling and muttered, ¡°...Good night.¡±


    There was no response, not that he¡¯d expected one. It didn¡¯t really matter to him. The sofa was soft, the nkets were warm, and the pillows had just the right amount of firmness and height to support his neck. It had been a long time since he had such afortable ce to sleep.


    But if you were to ask whether he was able to fall asleep easily... the answer would be no.


    Roughly ten minutes had passed since they bothy down. Euijae knew this with certainty because, out of sheer boredom, he had counted the seconds as they ticked by.


    *¡®I can¡¯t sleep.¡¯*


    He wasn¡¯t the type to sleep much anyway, and this was around the time he would normally be up prepping for work, not lying down to sleep. It wasn¡¯t easy to change a well-established routine. His body, unused to such suddenfort, seemed incapable of rxing enough to fall asleep. And with Sayoung lying nearby, his mind grew sharper as time passed.


    ¡°... ¡­¡±


    Moreover, Sayoung was still awake. Although he hadn¡¯t moved at all, lying still like a corpse, his breathing had remained steady and unchanged since theyy down. Just as Euijae noticed he was awake, he must have been aware he wasn¡¯t sleeping either. Euijae tried to distract himself with other thoughts.


    In the silence, his mind started spiraling into the cracks of his memories: the apocalypse, Yoon Gaeul¡¯s kaleidoscope, the West Sea Rift, the screams of people, the smell of blood¡­ His thoughts tumbled endlessly into a dark abyss. He felt himself being sucked into the familiar bleakness once again.


    Unable to bear it, he bit his lip and opened his mouth to speak.


    ¡°Sayoung, are you still awake?¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t groggy as if he¡¯d just woken up¡ªit was the same clear tone he¡¯d spoken in earlier. Why was he so quick to respond? Hearing his voice brought some rity back to Euijae¡¯s mind, calming the chaotic thoughts that had been overwhelming him. His consciousness slowly returned to the present. He blinked and spoke again.


    ¡°I can¡¯t seem to fall asleep either.¡±


    ¡°You must be tired, though.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°With all the chaos you caused, how can you ask why¡­?¡±


    Sayoungughed, not mockingly but in mild disbelief.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t even that big of a deal,¡± Euijae replied, casually brushing it off.


    Another brief silence fell between them, but this time, it was more bearable. Euijae stared at the ceiling for a moment before asking again.


    ¡°How¡¯s Chaegoyo? Think they¡¯ll be okay?¡±


    ¡°Well... from Incheon to Seoul, it shouldn¡¯t be too bad.¡±


    Sayoung paused, seeming to choose her words carefully before continuing.


    ¡°They¡¯ll probably be back to normal in about a day. By tomorrow evening.¡±


    ¡°The penalty is harsher than I thought.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a skill that¡¯s too good to be used without limits.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡±


    Their conversation flowed sporadically. As with all human interaction, silence inevitably crept in. But Euijae wasn¡¯t afraid of it anymore. Even if something tried to invade the quiet spaces between them, he felt like he could push it away this time.


    This time, Sayoung broke the silence.


    ¡°Hyung.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°You know I still have that letter, right?¡±


    ¡°Letter? What letter?¡±


    ¡°You gave it to me, and now you don¡¯t even remember¡­¡±


    Euijae tried to recall, but nothing came to mind. He didn¡¯t remember giving Sayoung anything that could be called a letter. He heard the sound of his shifting, possibly turning over, and so he did the same, turning toward the edge of the sofa.


    Sayoung was now propped up on one arm, looking at him with an amused expression on her pretty face.


    ¡°If you touch it, you¡¯re dead.¡±


    "...Ah."


    Could he be talking about the threat he¡¯d scribbled on his business card? He really had delivered it to the right person. As Euijae gave his a sheepish look, Sayoung let out a small snicker and lowered her head.


    Suddenly, a faint blue light nted across his vision. One side of the living room was arge window, and through it, the first light of dawn was beginning to creep in. Time had passed faster than he realized. Euijae rubbed his face and asked,


    ¡°What time is it now?¡±


    ¡°Not sure¡­ maybe around 4:30?¡±


    ¡°... ¡­¡±


    "Why? Are you nning to open the shop again?"


    "I mean, the store has to open."


    "Have Bae Wonwoo do it."


    "Can he handle it?"


    "After all the food he¡¯s eaten, he should at least be able to make hangover soup by now..."


    Sayoung grumbled as she sat up, while Euijae stretched as he got out of bed. Time was a bit tight, but with his newly acquired traits, preparing for the day¡¯s work would be quick.


    Since Sayoung had taken care of washing his clothes from the day before, Euijae had to borrow her clothes again. After putting on the ck turtleneck and ck cks he handed him, the two stepped into the elevator together.


    Well, "together" wasn¡¯t quite the right word. Euijae stood neatly diagonal from his but clung to the corner of the spacious elevator, trying to maintain as much distance as possible. Sayoung smirked at him.


    "You know, you could stand a little closer."


    "I''m morefortable here."


    "After breaking my bed and borrowing my clothes?"


    "Don¡¯t say things that¡¯ll give people the wrong idea."


    "We¡¯ve already done everything; why act all shy now?"


    "Can you stop talking?"


    Euijae didn¡¯t want any sort of send-off from Sayoung, but the elevator in the Wave Guild building, where her official residence was, required a guild member¡¯s ID to function, much like a hotel. Even if he tried to take the stairs, those too needed a guild member¡¯s ID to open. So, whether he liked it or not, Euijae had to drag along this "giant ess key" that was Sayoung. Worse, her nextment made him even more anxious.


    "You''re famous, you know."


    "Me? Why?"


    "Do you think there¡¯s anyone in this guild who hasn¡¯t had your hangover soup?"


    "..."


    "And if the guild members ask why the part-timer is here?"


    The reason Euijae¡¯s face was known at Wave Guild was because Sayoung had prepaid 5 million won at his hangover soup restaurant. He wanted to argue, but now wasn¡¯t the time to quibble over who was at fault.


    It was 4 a.m., so there was little chance they¡¯d run into anyone, but if they did, how would he exin himself? He couldn¡¯t say he was there for a soup delivery¡ªthat¡¯d be impossible since his restaurant didn¡¯t offer deliveries. He''d even emphasized to customers that they didn¡¯t. If he tried to make excuses, he might find himself giving a press conference about favoritism toward the Wave Guild leader.


    As Euijae pondered this, his eyes caught the reflection in the elevator ss. The front of the elevator was entirely ss, providing plenty of light, and for a moment, the exterior seemed to look like a door. Could I just break it¡­ and jump out? He wouldn¡¯t be too injured if he did, but the problem was¡­


    "Hyung?"


    "Never mind..."


    The cost of paying for that shattered window. Euijae already had a huge debt thanks to the bed. Silently folding away his reckless thoughts, he stared straight ahead. He briefly considered using his silent footsteps skill, but all it did was hide his presence; it wouldn¡¯t make him invisible in such a small space, so it wouldn¡¯t help.


    As soon as the elevator announced its arrival on the first floor and the doors opened, a dreaded voice could be heard.


    "Man, it¡¯ste as hell after clearing that dungeon... Oh, Guild Leader?"


    "You should rest in the nap room for a bit and¡ªhuh? Oh, good morning! You¡¯re up early, huh...? Wait, what?"


    All eyes were suddenly on the two of them. First, they bowed in shock after seeing Sayoung¡¯s shadowed face, and when they raised their heads, they noticed Euijae huddled in the corner. The hunters, returning from clearing a dungeon, and even Bae Wonwoo, who had just finished an early morning run and was wiping sweat with a towel, were all present.


    "Wait, aren¡¯t you the part-timer? What are you doing here?"


    Bae Wonwoo approached the elevator door, greeting him cheerfully, but his face quickly turned confused when he saw Sayoung standing firmly in the center. He began wracking his brain, trying to figure out what was going on, but it wasn¡¯t making any sense. Meanwhile, Euijae, feeling like his soul had left his body, began muttering to himself about random flower names.


    "Uh¡­ yes... well... you see..."


    "Excuse me?"


    "Haha... something like that."


    Neither Euijae nor Bae Wonwoo knew what he meant by "something like that." Only Sayoung, standing nonchntly in the middle of the elevator, red at Bae Wonwoo. But with his oblivious, almost unbreakably thick skin, Bae Wonwoo continued chatting with them, seemingly unfazed by the icy stare.


    "But seriously, part-timer, what brings you here?"


    "..."


    "What brings you here?"


    Sayoung remained silent. Bae Wonwoo, already expecting no answer from her, turned his gaze to Euijae. Surely, the part-timer would exin¡ªthere was some camaraderie between them, after all. However, Euijae was just as tight-lipped.


    As the awkward silence stretched, the hunters¡¯ curiosity only grew. Bae Wonwoo, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed something strange. Euijae¡¯s outfit¡ªa ck turtleneck and cks¡ªlooked oddly familiar. The all-ck ensemble was exactly what Sayoung often wore.@@novelbin@@


    "Wait a minute."


    That turtleneck... hadn¡¯t Sayoung worn it recently? A forbidden realization mmed into Bae Wonwoo''s mind: Euijae was wearing Sayoung¡¯s clothes. And Sayoung, who wouldn¡¯t even let otherse close to her, much less lend out her clothes... hade down the elevator with Euijae? While lending him her clothes?


    Bae Wonwoo¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. His hand trembled as he pointed a finger at Sayoung.


    "Y-y-y-you, wait. What? You two...?"


    "Wonwoo."


    "What the hell is going on here? Exin!"


    Sayoung¡¯s response was calm, yet it carried a clear threat.


    "How about you go for two moreps around the Han River?"


    Though his words sounded like a friendly suggestion, the underlying message was clear: Get lost. Even Bae Wonwoo, who was usually oblivious, picked up on it.


    Still, he stubbornly lingered, refusing to leave. His tenacity, fitting for a tank, was unrelenting.


    ¡®If this keeps up, I¡¯m not going to make it to the shop until after 5,¡¯ Euijae thought.


    Realizing the situation wasn¡¯t going to resolve itself, Euijae stepped in. He moved from the corner and casually threw his arm around Sayoung¡¯s shoulder in a show of camaraderie. The Wave Guild members stared in silent shock. Even Sayoung seemed to be ring at him with wide eyes, but Euijae didn¡¯t care.


    Patting Sayoung on the shoulder, Euijae shed a friendly smile.


    "There was a bit of troublest night, and Guild Leader Lee Sayoung was kind enough to help me out. Haha."


    "What? Trouble? Did someone break another table?" Bae Wonwoo asked.


    Euijae felt Sayoung¡¯s shoulder flinch ever so slightly under his arm. Keeping a serious expression, Euijae shook his head.


    "I can¡¯t go into detail right now, but the Guild Leader was a huge help."


    "Sayoung did¡­ that?" Bae Wonwoo¡¯s face twisted in confusion. He wanted to believe the part-timer, but the idea that Sayoung had helped out at a hangover soup shop was hard to wrap his head around. Euijae drove the point home.


    "Well, since I¡¯m Bae Wonwoo¡¯s favorite hangover soup part-timer, I think that¡¯s why he took care of me."


    "What? ...Is that so?"


    Bae Wonwoo, unfortunately, fell hook, line, and sinker for Euijae¡¯s smooth talk. While Bae seemed oddly touched, Sayoung coldly ignored his gaze. Euijae, on the other hand, seized the opportunity and swiftly slipped out of the elevator, waving as he did.


    "Ah, I have to go open the shop now. See youter, customer! I¡¯ll be at the shop!"


    "Oh? Oh, okay, see youter, part-timer!"


    Bae Wonwoo waved his muscr arm energetically. After Euijae disappeared, Bae turned back to Sayoung, looking utterly bewildered.


    "So, why was the part-timer here? And did you really help him?"


    Sayoung, who had remained silent throughout, clicked her tongue and replied icily.


    "You''re really useless, you know that?"


    __________________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 56

    Despite the many challenges, Euijae sessfully registered as an Awakened, creating an alibi and solving Lee Sayoung''s request. Now, however, Euijae faced a new problem.


    His automatic kimchi and side dish self-service bar, which devoured mana stones instead of electricity, had terrible cost-efficiency but gave Euijae a little extra free time. All the Hunters needed to do was stack their empty bowls by the bar, grab some kimchi, radish cubes, and hot peppers after ordering hangover soup. Euijae would cook the soup and serve them a bowl of rice from the warmer. The Wave Guild¡¯s engineers supposedly worked themselves into the ground, like peppercorns in a grinder, to make this ultimate self-service bar, and it showed.


    So, what did Cha Euijae do with his newly freed time?


    ¡°...¡±


    Euijae sat at the counter, scratching his temple with a pen. Normally, this was a scene typical of him managing his prepaid tabs, but today, his calm face, usually devoid of expression, was noticeably etched with frustration. In front of him, instead of his tab ledger, a stack of thick books towered like a hill.


    The Hunters slurping their soup began murmuring among themselves.


    ¡°Does anyone know why our part-timer looks like he¡¯s ready to murder someone?¡±


    ¡°No kidding. I want another bowl, but he seems so pissed, I don¡¯t even dare ask.¡±


    ¡°Screw it, should we just cook it ourselves?¡±


    ¡°Bleugh... nmff...¡±


    ¡°What are you even saying? That¡¯s gross, finish eating first before talking.¡±


    One of the newer Hunters chimed in. ¡°The part-timer¡¯s been attending basic Hunter education sses and is studying for the qualification exam.¡±


    At this, the faces of the surrounding Hunters turned pale. A bearded, middle-aged Hunter muttered in disbelief.


    ¡°Wow¡­ they still haven¡¯t scrapped that shitty basic education?¡±


    A Hunter in his mid-twenties scrunched his face in sympathy.


    ¡°He¡¯s already so busy¡­ That must be a pain in the ass. How many mandatory hours is it nowadays?¡±


    ¡°Sixty, I think. Thirty offline, thirty online. If you''re really busy, you can submit a form to the Department of Awakened Affairs and convert it all online, but even then, you still have to pass the exam. And if you score less than 70%, you keep retaking it until you pass.¡±


    ¡°Gross. They should just get rid of it. What a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯ll confess something¡ªI failed the Hunter exam four times.¡±


    ¡°Four times? That¡¯s not even bad. Anyone who passes it on the first try is nuts. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Hey, everyone, keep it down. Let¡¯s create a good study environment for our part-timer.¡±


    The Hunter who confessed to failing four times gagged a little, and Euijae, who had been listening to their conversation the entire time, also felt like throwing up. The words on the page in front of him looked like squiggly worms drawn by Haeun.


    In recent days, Euijae hade to fully understand why Haeun doodled worms on her homework.


    In Korea, all Awakened individuals must go through registration procedures at an official center in ordance with the Special Law on Awakened Individuals. Once registered, they receive a card that lists their name and rank.


    Euijae, too, had received a shiny, new D-rank registration card and felt oddly proud of it. Sure, it was four ranks lower than his real level, but after enduring all sorts of hell and high water, the D-rank card felt especially precious. He even bragged about it to some of his regrs, something totally out of character for him.


    However¡­


    ¡°Oh wow, you got your registration card, part-timer. Congrats!¡±


    ¡°So, now you need to study for the exam¡­ Good luck. I have some old practice test books if you need them¡­¡±


    For some reason, the congrattions were always apanied by pitying looks.


    It wasn¡¯t a look that disrespected his D-rank. The regrs at the hangover soup joint weren¡¯t the type to discriminate based on rank. So what exactly was behind those lukewarm, pity-filled nces? Euijae couldn¡¯t figure it out, but since he had to head out to Incheon Port every morning for investigations, he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it.


    After the Incheon Port case was wrapped up, though, rumors must have spread. On his way out after finishing a meal, Baewonwoo handed Euijae a worn-out test prep book, his face deadly serious. Euijae took the book with a confused expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a gift. It¡¯s your human right, part-timer.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon enough. The soup was delicious as always. I¡¯m out.¡±


    The next day, Honeybee also showed up early in the morning, dropping a thick, spiral-bound textbook onto the counter.


    ¡°I heard the news, Cha Euijae. You¡¯re preparing for ¡®it,¡¯ huh?¡±


    ¡°What ¡®it¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Eh, no one can me you for wanting to escape reality. I get it. Anyway, I talked to Manager Han and brought you some HB Guild¡¯s training material. Make good use of it.¡±


    ¡°Honeybee! The reporters are gathering at the dungeon entrance!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, those bastards are fast. I¡¯ve got to go handle the raid.¡±


    After incidents like these happened several times, Euijae¡¯s patience began to wear thin.


    Based on what he gathered from the Hunters'' conversations, it seemed that nowadays, after getting registered as an Awakened, you had to take some sort of separate exam to officially be a Hunter. Registering had been hard enough, and now there was an exam? What kind of test? When he worked as J, there had been no such strict registration process or tests!


    That night, after closing up shop, Euijae turned to the inte.


    ¡°Nexbi, search for information on the Hunter qualification exam.¡±


    ¡ªSearching for information on the Hunter qualification exam.


    ¡ªThe Hunter exam is bullshit.


    ¡ªWhen¡¯s the next Hunter exam?


    ¡ªI Awakened but still can¡¯t be a Hunter because I keep failing the exam.


    ¡ªWho wrote question 30 on the January exam? That bastard.


    ©¸It¡¯s Nam Woojin, who else?


    ©¸Nam Woojin, fight me fair and square.


    ¡ªEight-time exam taker here, ask me anything.


    ©¸At that point, just give up on bing a Hunter, man.


    ¡ªThe Hunter exam sucks, sucks, sucks¡­


    The results of his search were shocking. Cha Euijae, an 11-year veteran of the Hunter world, couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    ¡®Wait¡­ I¡¯m not a Hunter yet?¡¯


    Exactly. Euijae had only received an Awakened registration card. He wasn¡¯t officially a Hunter yet!


    The registration card he¡¯d been so proud of only certified that he was an Awakened individual. It didn¡¯t grant him the right to work as a Hunter. Euijae, like many others, had assumed that once you received your card, you could start working as a Hunter. But no¡ªthanks to a change in thew, that card was essentially useless without passing the qualification exam.


    ¡®I went through all that shit for a worthless card?¡¯


    Euijae stared nkly at his shiny new D-rank card. But then, the next revtion hit him even harder.


    In order to be a fully certified Hunter, he had toplete the ¡°Basic Hunter Education Program¡± and pass the ¡°Hunter Qualification Exam.¡± Only after passing the exam could he receive an official Hunter license and start using things like the Hunter Market. It was all so unnecessarilyplicated!


    And the worst part? The written portion of the qualification exam was notoriously difficult. It was widely known as the Hunter equivalent of the national college entrance exam or the bar exam. Just typing ¡°Hunter exam¡± into a search engine immediately triggered autplete suggestions about its brutal difficulty.


    Euijae grabbed his head in despair.


    ¡®Why is bing a Hunter so hard?¡¯


    The basic education program had been implemented five years ago. Initially, the program wasn¡¯t this strict. It was introduced to provide newly Awakened Hunters with survival knowledge, focusing on the behavior of low-level monsters and the ecosystem of dungeons.


    However, as the number of Awakened individuals grew, so did crime rates among them.


    ¡°Rising crime rates among the Awakened¡ªis public safety in jeopardy?¡±


    ¡°Abuse of power by Hunters¡ªwhen will it end?¡±


    Despite the Department of Awakened Affairs'' best efforts, incidents of Hunters abusing their power continued to rise. As a result, the government scrapped the system that allowed newly Awakened individuals to immediately be Hunters and reced it with a mandatory education program and qualification exam.


    After finishing his search, Euijae sped his hands together and cursed.


    ¡®Why couldn¡¯t those assholes just hunt monsters instead of bothering normal people¡­?¡¯@@novelbin@@


    To make matters worse, Hunters who were scouted by guilds could submit certification documents from their Guild Leaders to skip the exam. It was all about connections. Disgusting.


    Among Euijae¡¯s limited connections, there was only one Guild Leader he knew.


    Lee Sayoung.


    But there was no way Euijae would ask him for help. It was a matter of pride. If Korea¡¯s number one Hunter couldn¡¯t pass a simple qualification exam on his own, what kind of reputation would he have left?


    ¡®Fine. I¡¯ll study for it.¡¯


    And so, Cha Euijae found himself, for the first time in his life, hitting the books.

 Chapter 57

    After Euijae began preparing for the Hunter qualification exam, the Hunters, perhaps as a way of showing gratitude for all the hangover soup he had served them, began showering him with support¡ªboth materially and emotionally.


    Many brought him chocte and caffeinated drinks, encouraging him to take care of himself while studying. Euijae didn¡¯t turn down these small tokens of appreciation. Usually, the regrs at the hangover soup shop acted like hungry hippos devouring their food, but in times like these, they proved to be surprisingly helpful.


    Moreover, thanks to Hunter Yoon Hyejin, an employee of the Rift Management Bureau, Euijae was able to switch his mandatory 30 hours of offline basic Hunter education to online sses. Hyejin, hearing his situation, had immediately pulled aptop out of her inventory, the Rift Bureau logo sticker visible on the lid, and began filling out the paperwork for him with the skill of a seasoned professional who dealt with documents every day.


    As she tapped away on the keyboard with a toothpick in her mouth, she muttered under her breath at lightning speed, ¡°We all know you work all day at the hangover soup shop. There¡¯s no way someone like that can sit through 30 hours of in-person sses at the center.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°They really need to ease up on the required hours.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, the younger generation of Hunters is pretty well-behaved anyway. There¡¯s no need to make the education hours this strict¡­ but they just don¡¯t listen when we suggest that.¡±


    Herints quickly transformed into grumbles about the higher-ups. It seemed even someone with her high rank in the Rift Bureau had a lot of pent-up frustration. After all, those with power often carry their own burdens. Momentster, she hit the enter key with a flourish and removed her hands from theptop.


    ¡°All done! By the way, do you have aptop, part-timer?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just send it straight to the Bureau¡¯s email. With this document, you¡¯ll be able toplete all 60 hours of your training online. Just leave the lectures ying on mute while you work. Good luck!¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Showing off her professional side, Hyejin made a grand exit from the hangover soup shop. Was this what they called camaraderie? Euijae felt a warmth spreading in his chest.


    With the education issue resolved, it wasn¡¯t long before Baewonwoo dropped off a newptop and smartphone on the counter. While the ¡°congrattions on Awakening¡± gift-giving fad had already swept through the hangover soup shop once, the ¡°no gifts¡± rule was still firmly in ce.


    As Euijae¡¯s eyesnded on the A4 sheet disying the no-gifts notice, Baewonwoo jumped in.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a gift from me, Mr. Alba.¡±


    ¡°Then who¡¯s it from?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift from someone who is very close to you¡ªour Guild Leader.¡±


    Euijae¡¯s face twisted with difort. Ever since the elevator incident, where Baewonwoo had unintentionally witnessed a misunderstanding, he had been convinced that Euijae and Lee Sayoung were incredibly close. Clearing up the misunderstanding seemed like a monumental task, especially given how exhausting that day had been.


    Baewonwoo continued in a solemn tone. ¡°I bought it at an employee discount, so just take it.¡±


    Euijae had no idea what to say. Sure, he could use a new phone since the screen on his old one had shattered at Incheon Port, but what was he supposed to do with aptop? He shot Baewonwoo an incredulous look, but Baewonwoo¡ªdetermined to protect his second workce, the hangover soup shop¡ªwas unfazed.


    ¡°I¡¯m just the delivery guy. Think of it like space shuttle delivery or something.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°And if you¡¯re going to ban someone, ban Lee Sayoung from entering the shop, not me.¡±


    Essentially, Baewonwoo was pleading for an exception. As Honeybee and the other Hunters watched the scene unfold, they started booing and jeering at Baewonwoo.


    ¡°Pathetic, Shield Guy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that!¡±


    While Euijae quietly pushed the box back, Honeybee and Baewonwoo continued to bicker. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, but this is way too expensive for me to ept. I¡¯ll take the sentiment instead.¡±


    ¡°Then just use it while studying and sell it on Tomato Marketter. You can sell it as ¡®like new.¡¯¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Euijae¡¯s shoulders twitched slightly at the mention of Tomato Market, where he had unpleasant memories. Baewonwoo, oblivious to the difort, proudly swiped his nose with his hand.


    ¡°Sayoung suggested it. That guy¡¯s pretty sharp.¡±


    Euijae couldn''t help but wonder if Lee Sayoung had rmended that purely to mess with him. Baewonwoo,pletely unaware, had filtered out any sarcasm. Twirling a strand of hair around her finger, Honeybee suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Come to think of it, where¡¯s Lee Sayoung beentely? Haven¡¯t seen him around.¡±


    Euijae had been wondering the same thing. Ever since their awkward shoulder-to-shoulder incident in the elevator, Sayoung hadn¡¯t stopped by the shop. Euijae figured Sayoung was busy dealing with the drug cartel and their couriers.


    Maybe he did miss seeing Sayoung¡¯s face. Just a little.


    Euijae unconsciously leaned in, curious to hear Baewonwoo¡¯s response.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s been crazy busytely, catching all sorts of weirdos. I haven¡¯t seen him either.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s he dealing with weirdos? That¡¯s the Bureau¡¯s job.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°Geez¡­¡±


    In the end, Euijae epted theptop and phone on the condition that he¡¯d return themter. Thus, he spent his days running the hangover soup shop with online lectures on mute in the background, all while memorizing practice test questions.


    Thanks to the unwavering support of the shop¡¯s regrs, Euijae managed to memorize three entire test prep books. Since he had never studied for an exam this hard before, he couldn¡¯t even tell if time was moving slowly or quickly.


    Finally, the day of the Hunter qualification exam arrived.


    Euijae entered the middle school assigned as his test center and took a seat. The ssroom was far more high-tech than he remembered from his own school days.


    Perhaps because the test-takers were all Awakened, the ss size was small. The proctor, a Hunter from the Department of Awakened Affairs, handed out the exam papers. Euijae took a deep breath.


    The bell rang, signaling the start of the exam. The proctor, who looked thoroughly uninterested, nced at the clock and mumbled, ¡°Okay, start the exam.¡±


    As soon as Euijae turned the cover of the exam booklet, his eyes went wide with disbelief. He could hear the near-silent gasps of panicing from the other test-takers.


    ¡®These questions¡­ They¡¯repletely different from the practice books!¡¯


    The practice tests he had studied were mostly about memorizing legal provisions rted to the Special Law on Awakened Individuals. It had felt like they were brainwashing you into obeying thew. Euijae half-joked that the exam creators must¡¯ve been haunted by some ghost who had died not knowing the Special Law.


    But what was this? Not a single question about thew was on the test. Even from question one, the format was entirely different! Judging by the gasps around him, Euijae wasn¡¯t the only one in shock.


    Whoever had written the questions for this month¡¯s exam hadpletely flipped the script. Euijae gritted his teeth.


    ¡®I memorized all those stupid Special Law cases for nothing.¡¯


    All that hard work seemed wasted. But since he was already there, he had to finish the exam. With half his mind already giving up, Euijae began reading through the questions.


    And then...


    ¡®Wait¡­ Why is this¡­ so easy?¡¯


    To his surprise, the questions flowed smoothly.


    While the other test-takers looked like they were dying, resorting to randomly guessing on multiple-choice questions, Euijae¡¯s pen danced across the paper.


    The questions were mostly about monster characteristics and behavior patterns¡ªsubjects that just so happened to be J¡¯s area of expertise! As a former field veteran, Euijae had a wealth of real-world knowledge that couldn¡¯t be learned from books. He grinned as he breezed through the test, marking answers with his pen.


    ¡®Whoever wrote these questions is just as crazy as me.¡¯


    By the time he finished, there were still 30 minutes left. Euijae decided to rx and enjoy some well-earned rest.


    A few dayster, the usually bustling hangover soup shop was even busier than usual. After all, today was the day Euijae would receive the results of his qualification exam. The regrs nced at the part-timer as he deftly peeled garlic, whispering among themselves.


    ¡°I heard this month¡¯s Hunter exam was ridiculously hard. Do you think he passed?¡±


    ¡°One of our guild¡¯s recruits took it and came back crying. None of the practice questions were on it. It was all stuff about monsters they¡¯d never even seen before.¡±


    ¡°What? How are they supposed to answer monster questions when they¡¯ve never even been inside a dungeon?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Our recruit knows the Special Law well enough to be awyer¡­¡±


    One of the Hunters pretended to dab at their eyes, dramatically mourning their poor recruit. Someone else piped up.


    ¡°Who was the test creator this time?¡±


    ¡°Rank 5. Kyugyu.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ That lunatic. How does he write questions when he¡¯s not even in the country half the time?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Anyway, we should prepare to console the part-timer.¡±


    It was a strange sight¡ªEuijae¡¯s regrs looking more downtrodden than he did.


    Just then, a phone vibrated. The sharp-eared Hunters immediately pinpointed the source: the part-timer¡¯s apron pocket. It seemed the test results hade in! Euijae set down his knife and pulled out his phone,pletely absorbed in peeling garlic.


    The Hunters tried to act casual, but they were clearly watching him intently.


    ¡°...¡±@@novelbin@@


    A faint, soft smile appeared on Euijae¡¯s usually impassive face. Could it be? Did he really pass the notoriously difficult Hunter exam on the first try? The Hunters exchanged nces. Honeybee, unable to contain herself, blurted out.


    ¡°Well? What¡¯s the result, Cha Euijae? Did you pass?¡±


    Euijae scratched his cheek and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, I passed.¡±


    ¡°You passed? On the first try?¡±


    The buzz in the shop grew louder.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Our part-timer is way too talented for this hangover soup restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Congrattions!¡±


    ¡°Congrats! You¡¯re the pride of the hangover soup restaurant!¡±


    Thepliments flew, and for a moment, Euijae¡¯s soft smile twitched.


    ¡®That guy must¡¯vee up with the line for the banner.¡¯


    The Hunters swarmed around him, offering their heartfelt congrattions. Euijae, having passed the exam and identified the banner culprit, smiled and nodded to each of them.


    Then, his phone vibrated again. Euijae checked the message.


    <strong>Sayoung</strong>: Congrattions.


    It was the first message he¡¯d received from Sayoung in a long while.

 Chapter 59

    Nam Woojin''s hair was not only white, but his eyes were also a striking white. He greeted Sayoung with a nod and then turned his attention to Euijae, his grandmother, and Haeun standing behind them. His pale eyes, behind silver-rimmed sses, scanned the three of them as if observing, and then he bowed slightly in greeting.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. Are you Choi Pilsoon, the patient here for a consultation, and Cha Euijae, the guardian?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s right.¡±


    Euijae bowed his waist politely in response. He was a bit nervous since he felt somewhat closer to Sayoung, but he was relieved to find that Nam Woojin seemed to be a sensible person. After straightening up, the old man checked his wristwatch.


    ¡°Then... shall we proceed with the consultation? Time is precious, after all. I¡¯ll guide you to the examination room.¡±


    ¡°Can Haeune along?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    Despite Euijae¡¯s concern, the person in question, Haeun, appearedpletely uninterested in the adults¡¯ conversation.


    Haeun was busy looking around, turning her little head in every direction. This was her first time seeing a library with so many books, and it seemed to dazzle her. Even Euijae was somewhat surprised by the scenery of this ce.


    She was distracted by the hurried figure of a librarian pushing a book cart, rushing somewhere.


    ¡®It looks like she wants to ride that¡­.¡¯


    Euijae was contemting which direction to grab her from if she suddenly bolted toward the book cart when his eyes met Nam Woojin''s. Nam Woojin smiled faintly.


    ¡°Haeun¡­ I think you might prefer exploring the library overing to the examination room, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­I guess so.¡±


    ¡°Well then, Haeun, you can take a little more time to explore our library while we take the patient and guardian into the examination room. Our guild member will assist the patient.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine, really¡­.¡±


    The elderlydy waved her hand lightly, but Nam Woojin responded skillfully yet firmly.


    ¡°You can walk just fine, but it¡¯s a bit of a distance to the examination room. I think it would be better for your legs if you received some assistance. So¡­.¡±


    Was his experience from working in a general hospital with elderly patients showing? While Euijae admired Nam Woojin inwardly, the healer smiled briefly and turned to lead the way. A librarian wearing a yellow armband carefully supported the elderlydy.


    Euijae¡¯s gazended on Sayoung, who was standing a little further back.


    ¡°What about you, Sayoung?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to tag along, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­.¡±


    Before following the elderlydy down the corridor, Euijae momentarily nced at Haeun, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement. She looked ready to dart between the bookshelves any moment.


    Euijae grabbed Sayoung''s arm and moved a bit closer.


    ¡°Hey, Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The gas mask turned to look at Euijae. There was something subtly peculiar in the lingering gaze, but Euijae brushed it off and leaned closer to Sayoung''s ear, whispering quietly.


    ¡°Could you keep an eye on Haeun for me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The violet eyes behind the gas mask glimmered with a look of disbelief for a moment.


    ¡°Are you really asking me to be your babysitter?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to ask you this either, but look at her right now.¡±


    Euijae pointed at Haeun, whose interests were shifting in real time. For twenty seconds, her head moved restlessly from the bookshelf to the librarian, to the book cart, to the librarian again, and then to the books, never settling on one spot. If she had been engrossed in a fun book, he might have felt a bit more at ease, but there were far more interesting things around than books here. Euijae muttered.


    ¡°I think she might get lost while we¡¯re at the examination.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Just stay close to her so she doesn¡¯t wander off. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung looked down at Euijae without saying anything. Euijae didn¡¯t shy away from meeting the gaze behind the gas mask. After a moment, Sayoung nodded very slightly, and Euijae beamed, giving her back a light pat.


    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll be back soon!¡±


    With that, he dashed off.


    ¡®¡­Does getting patted on the back always hurt this much?¡¯


    It was a strangely sharp pain that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Sayoung rubbed her back absently before slowly following after Haeun, who had disappeared between the bookshelves.


    Haeun was crouched down in front of the bottom shelf, pulling out a thick hardcover book that was about the size of her forearm. Sayoung checked the title of the book.


    <em>¡°T-0783 Physical Experiment Report¡±</em>


    It definitely didn¡¯t seem like something appropriate for a nine-year-old to read. How did she even pick that book? Maybe it was because she was Cha Euijae''s niece, but she was unusual too. Sayoung quickly approached and spoke up.


    ¡°Hey there.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    There was no response. Her ears should be fine. Sayoung frowned slightly and changed her approach.


    ¡°¡­Park Haeun?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Finally, Haeun looked up at Sayoung with her round eyes. Ah, so she must not have liked being called a kid. The way shepletely ignored it by not responding at all was telling. Sayoung pointed at the hardcover book in Haeun¡¯s hands.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think your uncle would like you reading that.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something your uncle would dislike.¡±


    It seemed that the child in front of her didn¡¯t want to be treated like a little kid. So, rather than saying it was something a child shouldn¡¯t read, Sayoung rephrased it to something that would upset her uncle. Usually, when told not to do something, children would want to do it even more.


    A look of contemtion crossed Haeun¡¯s round face. Sayoung waved at a passing librarian.


    ¡°Over there.¡±


    ¡°Yes? Ah, Guild Leader Lee Sayoung. How can I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Is there a book suitable for this child?¡±


    When Sayoung pointed to the much smaller girl, the librarian kindly directed her.


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a section for picture books for children over there. There are also educationalic books.¡±


    Sayoung had visited this library several times, but she had never known there was a section for picture books and educationalics. All the books in this library must be ones Nam Woojin had read. Today, she felt grateful for his thirst for knowledge.


    Looking down at Haeun¡¯s round head, she said, ¡°From what I see, I think your uncle would prefer you read educationalics.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­.¡±


    ¡°That book probably doesn¡¯t have any pictures.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    There might be dissection images of something that was either a human or a monster, but Sayoung held back the rest of her thought. After pondering, Haeun made a sound of agreement and finally returned the hardcover book to its ce. Then she mumbled with a frown.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the educationalic section?¡±


    Good. Sayoung smiled slightly, satisfied, and followed the librarian. The area they arrived at was a section for children¡¯s books with colorful books on rtively low shelves. The floor was covered in soft, plush mats, andrge stuffed animals were scattered about.


    ¡®It should be fine to leave her here.¡¯


    Haeun began to rummage through the books with sparkling eyes, as if she hadn¡¯t been sulking just moments ago. After asking the librarian to bring her a chair, Sayoung sat down next to the bookshelf where she could keep an eye on the children¡¯s section, folding her arms and closing her eyes.


    Just as she thought it might finally be quiet since everyone was absorbed in their books, a familiar little presence crawled toward her. It was Park Haeun. Sayoung opened her eyes slightly to look down at her.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Um, excuse me.¡±


    Haeun¡¯s innocent eyes sparkled just like they did when she first saw the library. When their gazes met, Sayoung felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.


    Haeun spread her five fingers wide and then drew a peace sign over them with her other hand. It was the gesture Sayoung had done in a public service announcement.


    ¡°Is that you from the TV?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Can you do it just once?¡±


    Haeun¡¯s eyes sparkled insistently. If she did it once, surely the novelty would wear off and Haeun would go back to her books. It wasn¡¯t particrly difficult¡­. Though she wasn¡¯t keen on it, she didn¡¯t want to drag it out either, so Sayoung made the same hand gesture as in the public service announcement.


    However, Park Haeun was as adamant as a meticulous ceramic artist.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡±


    Her clear, round eyes, staring unblinkingly, looked as if they were captivated by something. Sayoung waved her hand dismissively.


    ¡°I already did it. Go read your book.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Ahhh, just one more. Okay?¡±


    Sayoung let out a short sigh. Then she performed the gesture from the public service announcement again, hoping this time to catch the girl¡¯s interest. But, contrary to her expectations, Haeun shouted firmly.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    ¡°Go read your book.¡±


    ¡°Just once more.¡±


    ¡®You just need to keep an eye on her so she doesn¡¯t get lost, damn it¡­.¡¯


    At that moment, Sayoung missed Cha Euijae more than ever.

 Chapter 60

    Sayoung fell into the endless cycle of finger games, forgetting the world¡¯sw that states, ¡°The first time is hard, but after that, it¡¯s easy.¡±


    Every time she made a hand gesture, Haeun would shout, ¡°Again!¡± So, each time she showed it again, Haeun would demand, ¡°Again!¡± It seemed the child was quite excited to see someone from the TV right in front of her, doing the same thing. Even after about twenty repetitions, Haeun showed no signs of getting tired of it.


    Sayoung spread her fingers once more and thought,


    ¡®Is she not afraid of the poison?¡¯


    Most people tended to keep their distance. Even with the gas mask on, the special order gloves on her hands, and always carrying an antidote, they still didn¡¯te near.


    Sayoung had no regrets about this. In fact, she thought it was entirely reasonable. If she let her guard down even for a moment while breathing, the person next to her could die. It made things easier for her if people were cautious, reducing what she had to worry about.


    But Park Haeun was different, and so was Cha Euijae.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    When she heard the word ¡°again,¡± Sayoung moved her hands like a machine while lost in thought.


    Haeun was just a child, so she might not understand. She might notprehend why Sayoung wore a gas mask or why she never took off her gloves. Or perhaps she understood intellectually but couldn''t grasp the reality of it. Children often had a bravery that bordered on recklessness.


    But Euijae was different. He had nearly died from her poison, and yet, instead of keeping his distance, he boldly grabbed Sayoung¡¯s arm. He wasn¡¯t a child who didn¡¯t understand; he was someone who already knew how harsh and dangerous the world could be.


    Sayoung found it hard toprehend such behavior. But did it bother her?


    ¡®He almost died.¡¯


    No. It wasn¡¯t that bad, actually. Of course, there were moments that were frustrating or tense. The image of Euijae coughing up bright red blood remained vividly etched in Sayoung¡¯s memory.


    In that moment, she felt anxiety for the first time since awakening. Why wasn¡¯t the antidote working? Such logical questions didn¡¯t even arise.


    Euijae couldn¡¯t die. She couldn¡¯t just let him die.


    That thought consumed her. The red rm in her mind red loudly. Without hesitation, she used the elixir obtained from a first-grade dungeon on Euijae. Its worth, its value¡ªnone of it mattered. What was important in that moment was only¡­


    ¡°Again, again!¡±


    Haeun demanded again. As Sayoung made the gesture once more, a boy in a white coat approached them, walking briskly. His smooth and delicate features resembled fine porcin, but he was not a boy.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung.¡±


    It was Nam Woojin¡¯s marite, a reward for saving the life of an Italian puppeteer. The boy looked up at Sayoung with a nk expression.


    ¡°Park Haeun, it¡¯s time to go read a book for real.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­.¡±


    Haeun looked between the boy and Sayoung, pouting her lips before returning to the children¡¯s book section. Her demeanor was a stark contrast to how she had been insisting on the hand gestures.


    ¡®She¡¯s quick to catch on when it really matters¡­.¡¯


    Thinking of Euijae, Sayoung shook her head to block the ensuing thoughts. Only when she confirmed that Haeun had settled down and opened a book did she nod.


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    The marite began to brief her in a monotonous voice.


    ¡°The consultation for the patient you requested has concluded. The owner is currently selecting a treatment method, so I¡¯m here to ry the information.¡±


    Sayoung asked sinctly, ¡°What¡¯s the condition?¡±


    ¡°The owner has diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms initially appeared in the hands, but it seems they spread to the knees due to ack of timely treatment.¡±


    ¡°What about aplete cure?¡±


    ¡°With medication and consistent management, there should be significant improvement. Additionally, rather than aiming forplete recovery, it was suggested to focus on reducing pain to a manageable level for daily life.¡±


    ¡°No use of abilities?¡±


    ¡°Correct. Since this is a naturally urring illness based on real-worldws, it cannot be healed with the owner¡¯s abilities.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung nodded as if she understood. The boy bowed his head and continued with his second message.


    ¡°Recently, the PRO-009 you sent in bulk is being used for experiments and analysis. They send their gratitude.¡±


    PRO-009. It was the temporary code name for the drug that Euijae had thrown himself into danger to recover.


    The drugs that had been obtained and analyzed so far had undergone gradual changes and enhancements. Therefore, every time variations urred post-analysis, the numbers were updated. The most recent discovery was different from the previously obtained drugs, earning the designation ¡®9.¡¯ Given that there had been nine iterations of progress, its danger and efficacy were likely the strongest among all the drugs discovered thus far.


    The marite added casually, ¡°The owner suggested that it would be good for you to stop by theboratory briefly to check the analysis results. The child will be taken care of by the librarians.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung looked down at the marite with cool eyes at its suggestion.


    While it was a logically sound proposal, it wasn¡¯t necessarily an essential procedure. She could be informed of the analysis resultster at her leisure. So why was Nam Woojin so intent on sending her to theboratory?


    ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Whatever his ulterior motives were, Nam Woojin wouldn¡¯t harm her or Euijae. Reason, not trust, guided Sayoung¡¯s judgment as she slowly made her way to theboratory.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not an incurable disease, but it requires consistent management. You could think of it like diabetes, where you have to be cautious for life.¡±


    Nam Woojin¡¯s examination room was located deep within thebyrinthine library. Passing through the dimly lit corridors, which felt suffocating with books, she opened a steel door to reveal an ordinary doctor¡¯s office, indistinguishable from any other hospital.


    Euijae¡¯s grandmother was assisted by a guild member and headed for the physical therapy room, leaving only Nam Woojin and Euijae in the examination room. Nam Woojin clicked his pen and continued speaking.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t provide aplete cure, but I can only heal wounds that ur under the system¡¯s rules.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright. I¡¯m just grateful for your examination.¡±


    Euijae cautiously asked, ¡°Where will we go for future appointments? We can¡¯t always get treated here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. My schedule is flexible, so I can¡¯t always be avable. However¡­¡±


    Nam Woojin typed something on the keyboard and handed over a yellow sticky note with the name of a hospital. It was a university hospital located in the heart of Seoul.


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact the hospital, so from now on, you can go there for your appointments.¡±


    ¡°Ah, thank you.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t need to pay for consultations or medication. The Seowon Guild will cover all expenses.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? Why?¡±


    Euijae asked in surprise. Today was his first meeting with Nam Woojin. Why would thisplete stranger cover his hospital bills? Arthritis wasn¡¯t a rare disease, after all. Instead of answering the question, Nam Woojin stared at Euijae with his transparent white eyes.


    ¡°Since my work as a doctor is finished, I¡¯d like to introduce myself as a Hunter.¡±


    He slowly blinked his white eyes before continuing.


    ¡°I¡¯m Nam Woojin, ranked 7th in Korea. I¡¯m the leader of the Seowon Guild and also the owner of this library. You must be Cha Euijae?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Sayoung¡¯s ¡®supporter.¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The corners of Euijae¡¯s eyes sharpened slightly. Nam Woojin continued with the same courteous smile he had shown to the grandmother.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t answer. Your presence here is an answer in itself.¡±


    He waspletely certain of that. Euijae pondered his words and asked, ¡°How is my being here an answer?¡±


    ¡°¡­Sayoung has never brought anyone else here. You are the first person she has brought to this ce.¡±


    He stood up and looked down at Euijae.


    ¡°Would you like to take a short walk?¡±


    Without a word, Euijae stood up. As Nam Woojin took a step forward, the pristine examination room vanished, reced by a lush green garden. The scent of grass tickled his nose, and the gentle flow of air felt just like a real garden. Was it a skill of Nam Woojin¡¯s? As he walked ahead, Nam Woojin began to speak.


    ¡°Since the Day of the Rift, I have developed a great interest in this altered world. What is the system? What is the rift? Where do the monsterse from?¡±


    These were questions everyone was curious about. However, no one in Korea, or even the entire world, including Euijae, could provide clear answers to them. Nam Woojin continued speaking slowly, as if he didn¡¯t expect an answer.


    ¡°I have been gathering knowledge indiscriminately in search of the answers to these questions. I also maintain a good cooperative rtionship with Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Every time he stepped on the dew-kissed grass, a fragrant aroma wafted up. Nam Woojin came to a halt.


    ¡°Recently, Sayoung delivered a massive quantity of drugs to me. She said her supporter brought them.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Do you know the name of those drugs?¡±


    He was probably referring to the drugs Euijae had recovered by throwing himself into danger. Euijae shook his head.


    ¡°I only heard them referred to as drugs.¡±


    ¡°The name of the drug is PRO-009.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the ninth drug created by the organization Prometheus, which gathers subjects for experimentation.¡±


    The mythology of ancient Greece and Rome was fundamental knowledge for children in Korea before the Day of the Rift, so Euijae had indeed heard that name before.


    ¡°Prometheus¡­ isn¡¯t he a figure from Greek mythology?¡±


    ¡°Correct. He is the one who was tortured for bringing fire and knowledge to humanity. They im to be seers, looking into the future through dreams, asserting that they enhance human abilities to avert the end times.¡±


    An organization that scatters drugs to gather subjects for experiments, using the gathered subjects to create artificial awakeners: Prometheus. Their ims were very simr to the fragments of stories Yun Ga-eul had shown.


    Nam Woojin turned slightly to look back.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°You seem quite intrigued.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ how about this story?¡±


    Euijae¡¯s face waspletely reflected in Nam Woojin¡¯s pure white eyes. The healer observed even the smallest changes in his expression before stating inly,


    ¡°Lee Sayoung was a test subject of Prometheus.¡±


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!


    If you want to buy me a coffee /santos_28

 Chapter 63

    Lee Sayoung knocked on the door just as Uijae finished washing the dishes, cleaning, and preparing for tomorrow''s business. It was such perfect timing that it felt like someone had been watching him.


    Uijae peeked his head out from the kitchen to check the door, and upon seeing the ck gas mask floating above the ss, his eyes widened.


    ¡°What¡¯s up? All of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°I have something to say.¡±


    The response was whispered. Was it yet another favor he wanted to ask? Uijae loosened the apron strings he had tied tightly and headed for the door. Sayoung stood patiently in front of it, as if waiting for him to open it.


    With a slide, he opened the door, and the shadowy figure stepped inside without sitting down first.


    ¡°Have you been to Songdo?¡±


    This was it.


    Uijae made a sour face as he alternately nced at the shiny ck ticket and the ck gloves holding it, along with the gas mask. This guy, whenever he thought to greet him warmly out of some umted goodwill, always pulled out a bomb from his pocket, making it impossible to wee him. Moreover,


    ¡®Why are ck tickets somon?¡¯


    Aren¡¯t these supposed to be rare, sought-after tickets worth tens of billions? The regrs at the hangover soup restaurant were causing quite a stir just to get their hands on one piece of this paper, so why was it that three of them rolled in right into hisp without him even trying?


    Uijae averted his gaze from the ticket, which would intimidate any ordinary person, and tried to change the subject.


    ¡°Why did youe sote today?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head slightly and answered sincerely, ¡°If I came during business hours, you¡¯d give me the stink eye for ruining sales.¡±


    ¡®Damn, why say it like that?¡¯


    Caught off guard by the direct hit, Uijae subtly looked up at the ceiling.


    In truth, Sayoung was right. If he hade during dinner service, it would have created a Sayoung ZONE, meaning dinner sales would plummet, and Uijae would have been looking at him with a sour expression. He still was, in fact.


    Sayoung muttered, seemingly for Uijae to hear, ¡°They¡¯re the ones scared and noting near me.¡±


    Somehow, the gas mask holding the ck tickets looked gloomy. Even though gas masks don¡¯t have expressions!


    Nam Woojin¡¯s words began to swirl in his mind like fog. The thoughts kept flowing, linking one to the other.


    The gas mask kicking someone in the alley, Sayoung showing his ck tongue, the gas mask brazenly appearing in a public service ad, the Prometheus experiment subject, Sayoung showing up with nkets and pillows, Sayoung sitting alone in a ruin melted by poison, Sayoung asking if he was okay after instantly melting the owner of a fracture, Sayoung mumbling with his face buried in J¡¯s shoulder, and...


    The child who was saved by J but was no longer J, now a jumbled mess of emotions he could no longer trace.


    From the moment they first met until just recently, Uijae saw Sayoung as rude, bothersome, strange¡ªsomeone who kicked his small, quiet life to the curb just by existing. Their first encounter had been the worst possible way to start things off. Besides the busy customers, it was Sayoung who caused the hangover soup restaurant to explode with noise.@@novelbin@@


    But they say you see more as you know more. While unintentionally bumping into each other, Uijae had learned more than he expected about Sayoung.


    ¡°Um, think of it as a sort of shackle.¡±


    This was what it meant to be shackled. A shackle of conscience? He was saying he had no shackles on himself, so he had shackled Uijae instead? Lately, he had been acutely aware of how much those guys had gotten worse.


    ¡®Those rankers really need a good talking-to¡­ they¡¯re just too greedy¡­¡¯


    Whether or not Sayoung was aware of Uijae¡¯s troubled feelings, he muttered again, this time louder than before.


    ¡°Maybe I should let you know how much I care about you.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh, I know.¡±


    Uijae responded listlessly and took a step back. However, Sayoung somehow caught that small movement like a ghost. His eyes shone from behind the gas mask.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? To the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to answer my question?¡±


    ¡°No... We have time. Let¡¯s take it slow over a cup of coffee. Do you drink coffee?¡±


    Even though it was a half-hearted excuse, Sayoung¡¯s sharp demeanor suddenly softened. He looked to the upper left, as if recalling a very old memory. After a long silence, he muttered, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±


    What kind of ambiguous answer was that? Growing serious, Uijae crossed his arms and gestured.


    ¡°...Just sit and wait for a moment.¡±


    To his surprise, Sayoung sat down without furtherment. After confirming that he had removed his gas mask, Uijae stood in the kitchen, lost in thought.


    ¡®Is it okay to serve coffee thiste?¡¯


    Of course, caffeine wouldn¡¯t affect an S-rank Awakened, and especially not someone like Sayoung¡­ but there were feelings to consider. Even if the regrs at the hangover soup restaurant drank soju and didn¡¯t get drunk, they still tried to drink more than two bottles every time.


    Moreover, thinking back to the events at Sayoung¡¯s house, it didn¡¯t seem like he was a good sleeper either. As with all sensitive S-rank Awakened, they tended to have that trait.


    At this point, he had no choice. He would have to show him his ultimate recipe that even a picky 9-year-old elementary school student would enjoy. Uijae pulled out a ck bag and some SoBaeksan acacia honey from the fridge. A golden halo shone behind him as he firmly held the spoon.


    [The characteristic <em>Combat (S)</em> integrated into daily life is now activated.]


    Momentster, Uijae confidently approached and ced a paper cup in front of Sayoung. As Sayoung propped his chin with one hand and tapped on his phone with the other, he paused and asked,


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Mi-sut-garu.¡±


    Not just any mi-sut-garu, but a special blend made with honey and white milk that Haeun had bought as a snack. Using a disposable paper cup meant less worry about dish costs. It was a win-win for both Sayoung and Uijae¡ªhe saved money while taking care of him.


    However, a look of suspicion appeared on Sayoung¡¯s face as he stared at the cup ced before him.


    ¡°What about coffee?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t sleep well.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Sayoung gazed at Uijae with a strange expression. Uijae clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Someone who can¡¯t sleep properly has no business drinking coffee. Drink the mi-sut-garu.¡±


    Sayoung put down his phone and gripped the paper cup, mumbling.


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re the same in that regard.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I drink water.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Sayoung didn¡¯t argue further and obediently removed his gas mask, cing it on the table. He then took another look at the paper cup and its contents, beginning to sip the mi-sut-garu.


    Uijae sat across from him, sipping water while observing Sayoung¡¯s face. Sayoung, licking his lips with that ck tongue, blinked as his long eyshes fluttered in response to the movement.


    ¡°Anyway, have you been to Songdo?¡±


    Uijae shook his head, recalling the tickets he had stowed away in his nkets.


    ¡°No.¡±


    He had traveled all over the country while active as J, but oddly enough, he had never visited Songdo. And he had no intention of going in the future. As Sayoung ced the empty cup down, he rested his chin on his hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. You should go this time.¡±


    ¡°To Songdo? Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably noisy from all over the ce these days.¡±


    He pointed to the posters and flyers stered on the wall. It would be stranger not to have heard about it. Uijae deliberately responded indifferently.


    ¡°Is it that Craftsmen Exhibition or whatever?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that.¡±


    ¡°Why would I go there?¡±


    ¡°To go on a date.¡±


    ¡°Is the mi-sut-garu spoiled or something, damn¡­.¡±


    No matter how Uijae¡¯s expression crumpled, Sayoung continued unabashedly.


    ¡°It¡¯s a date proposal worth tens of billions, you know.¡±


    Sayoung gestured toward the tickets neatly ced on the table. But for Uijae, who had carelessly tucked away around a hundred billion worth of tickets in his nkets, it wasn¡¯t apelling proposal.


    There was no reason to go, but plenty of reasons not to. Uijae let out a long sigh and picked up the biggest and sturdiest shield he could find.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to go to Songdo. I need to run the business.¡±


    ¡°You can just say you¡¯re taking your grandmother to the hospital and close for the day. You only need to go on the day of the Craftsmen Exhibition.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s response came without a hint of hesitation, as if he had expected this dialogue to ur, ready with anticipated questions and answers. He smiled leisurely.


    ¡°What will you do if they say your grandmother is sick?¡±


    ¡°Hey, using my grandmother as an excuse is¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re really worried, I can say you¡¯re taking her to the hospital, with the highest priority. What¡¯s next?¡±


    Fortunately, the highest priority had likely awoken well. After all, it had been a while since the Incheon Port incident, so that made sense. Uijae raised his second shield.


    ¡°How can a D-rank Hunter attend the Craftsmen Exhibition? What will you do if they ask where you got the tickets?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, too.¡±


    Sayoung rummaged through his inventory and ced a seemingly new gas mask beside the tickets. Two gas masks sat next to tickets worth tens of billions on the old, shabby green table.


    ¡®Is this¡­ what they call cognitive dissonance?¡¯


    Uijae felt as confused as he had been the first time he saw Sayoung¡¯s public service ad on TV. Meanwhile, the actual subject of all this chaos, Sayoung, said calmly.


    ¡°You just say you¡¯re from the Wave Guild¡¯s secretary team.¡±


    ¡°¡­You want me to wear this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s mandatory for the secretary team going out with me, so it¡¯s not that unusual. Everyone will just go with it.¡±


    No, if two gas masks walked around together, it would definitely attract attention. Even Uijae would turn his head if he saw two gas masks pass by on the street.


    At this point, Uijae was debating whether to just curse at Sayoung and kick him out or to refuse politely. Sayoung, propping his chin with both hands and gazing silently, finally spoke.


    ¡°By the way, hyung.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Can I ask you one thing?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°When you went to the Seowon Guild¡­¡±


    Sayoung asked with a gentle smile, ¡°What did that bastard Nam Woojin say?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Why are you being so nice to me today?¡±

 Chapter 64

    ¡°Why are you being so nice to me today?¡±


    As Uijae lifted his head, he met Sayoung''s violet eyes. Contrary to the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, a chilling aura surrounded him.


    [The characteristic <em>Poker Face (B)</em> is now activated.]


    ¡®What a crazy guy. He''s really perceptive.¡¯


    Fortunately, the Poker Face trait activated automatically. Uijae suppressed his expression and recalled his suspicions about Nam Woojin. Did he somehow know everything? Had Nam Woojin given Sayoung a heads-up about him? They said they were in a cooperative rtionship.


    But Uijae quickly dismissed those doubts. At that time, Nam Woojin was merely observing Uijae as he listened to Sayoung¡¯s past.


    It was only natural to find the sudden appearance of Sayoung¡¯s supporter suspicious, yet there was no questioning his identity, no thoughts about the mysterious powerhouse that had appeared out of nowhere. That gaze seemed to prate through Uijae¡¯s very existence, as if¡­


    ¡®As if confirming value¡­¡¯


    Uijae swallowed hard, silently. Although it was said to be a reward for the drugs, giving away two ck tickets might be a sign of his criteria or a testament to having passed some kind of test.


    Nam Woojin appeared to be a person thirsty for new knowledge and truth. So, it made sense he would want to analyze the newly emerged existence that was Cha Uijae. But since he only observed briefly, the information he gathered likely wasn¡¯t enough to be called knowledge.


    Someone like him, born to be a schr, wouldn¡¯t ce an unfinished book in his library. If this spection held true, Nam Woojin would not have shared his conversation with Sayoung.


    In that case, it was simply that Sayoung''s instincts were razor-sharp.


    In the end, if he was responding to Uijae''s changed attitude, was it worth being so wary? It felt as if Sayoung''s narrowed eyes were asking, ¡®When did you be someone who gives these things?¡¯


    This¡­ wasn''t it ack of trust in people? Uijae found it absurd but, for now, offered a genuine response.


    ¡°Being nice? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°This.¡±


    Sayoung tapped the paper cup with his gloved hand.


    ¡®This?¡¯


    Uijae frowned as he nced back and forth between the cup and Sayoung. If making a cup of mi-sut-garu was all it took to consider this as being nice, how low was Sayoung¡¯s threshold for kindness? Just as Uijae was about to retort, he caught a glimpse of Sayoung''s face. His delicate features were stered with suspicion.


    Is he really just a kid? Less prone to mood swings than Haeun.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing that could have changed your attitude in this short time¡­¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head slightly and murmured, ¡°The only thing that happened was meeting Nam Woojin.¡±


    ¡°......¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°That guy can talk quite well¡­¡±


    That was true. They had only exchanged a few words, but the way Nam Woojin dominated the conversation without giving anyone else a chance to speak was impressive. Sayoung rubbed the top of the paper cup and continued slowly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the kind of guy who listens well to people¡­ so it¡¯s even more suspicious.¡±


    ¡®Suddenly attacking with words, huh?¡¯


    ¡°Who does that guy think he is, getting involved between us?¡±


    What do you mean, ¡°between us¡±? A contractual rtionship? Uijae almost shot back but stopped himself. The force behind Sayoung¡¯s words was surprisingly intimidating.


    In the meantime, Sayoung briefly closed his eyes before opening them again.


    ¡°Well¡­ I think I¡¯ve said everything in my spection.¡±


    He nodded as if daring Uijae to respond. Uijae thought it best to keep quiet about what Nam Woojin had said regarding Sayoung¡¯s past. Of course, discussing things about Nam Woojin in his absence felt weird too.


    Uijae struggled toe up with an excuse¡­ and then gave up. Rubbing his hair, he replied honestly.


    ¡°Is it such a big deal if I¡¯m nice? I mean, saying I did something nice just for giving you mi-sut-garu isughable.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. I¡¯m grateful, why do you ask?¡±


    A look of disbelief crossed Sayoung¡¯s face.


    ¡°Grateful? For what?¡±


    ¡°You took my grandmother to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°That was already a part of our contract; I was the one who suggested it.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ you looked after Haeun too.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    He still couldn¡¯t believe that he had genuinely helped with that public service advertisement, but at any rate, Sayoung had been there to ensure Haeun didn¡¯t get lost in the library. Uijae continued to mumble.


    ¡°When I got caught up in the fracture¡­ you came then too, which, I suppose, was part of the contract.¡±


    Thinking back, no one had evere to help him during his time as J. Instead, he was always the one going to help others. Because he was J. He had to tackle everything with his own strength. It was only natural.


    ¡°......¡±


    A brief silence descended, but his head was so tangled that he had no time to process it. After speaking, Uijae realized he had been intertwined with Sayoung more than he initially thought. Once he started, praise for Sayoung poured out like a broken dam.


    Uijae rubbed his mouth and discreetly averted his gaze. Unfortunately, his line of sight fell onto the self-serve bar for kimchi and side dishes. The shining Masuk sat prominently in the center.


    ¡°The Masuk support was provided by Sayoung, the Wave Guild Leader.¡±


    What the hell, that was also Sayoung? Uijae gritted his teeth. He quickly added, ¡°Well¡­ if you hadn¡¯t been there then¡­ the restaurant might have caught fire. I might have ended up as a suspect in the ambnce theft.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ you were actually trying to steal an ambnce?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    A shortugh escaped him. Sayoung covered his mouth with a hand,ughing.


    ¡°I wondered why you were asking about my license.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°You really are a fool.¡±


    Shut up; what do you know? The restaurant was almost on fire.


    Being acknowledged as a fool by another fool made Uijae frown, but on the flip side, the suspicion in Sayoung¡¯s face was gradually fading. Moreover, he looked quite pleased. He subtly pressed on.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And what, is there more?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything else you¡¯re grateful for?¡±


    ¡°Nothing more to say, really.¡±


    Should he have just conveyed the things he heard from Nam Woojin? In trying to uphold the meaningless bond with someone who had little to offer, he had inadvertently revealed a more intimate story buried deep within. The atmosphere that had grown stiff under Sayoung¡¯s questioning was now rxed. Sayoung¡¯s sharp demeanor seemed to have softened as well.


    As Uijae struggled against the rising embarrassment and subtly touched the corner of his eyes, Sayoung remarked.


    ¡°See¡­ you have no trust in people, but your threshold for gratitude is low.¡±


    His tone was teasing, but there was no trace of mockery. Sayoung tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.


    ¡°If you¡¯re that grateful, you should ept my date proposal.¡±


    Damn, we¡¯re back to square one. Uijae gritted his teeth and replied.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I just really don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    Even if he had been pushed down to second ce, he was still ranked second in the country. It was clear that Sayoung would be the center of attention. Even the secretary apanying him would likely steal a nce at him. Especially since he was wearing a gas mask.


    ¡°You told me to live quietly. I¡¯ll just sell hangover soup here.¡±


    ¡°I can go quietly.¡±


    Uijae had no intention of stepping out of thisfortable and somewhat noisy hangover soup restaurant into a battlefield. Moreover, he had already caused far too many idents in the meantime; it was time for some self-restraint. But it seemed Sayoung had no intention of letting him off the hook.


    ¡°Why do you want to take me with you in the first ce?¡±


    ¡°For a date.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense about dates. Just say it straight.¡±


    ¡°Um, I¡¯m lonely going alone?¡±


    Sayoung sometimes threw out nonsense with a perfectly serious face. Uijae still gritted his teeth and replied.


    ¡°What about Baewonwoo? He¡¯s your vice-guild leader.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ he would probably go.¡±


    ¡°Then you can just move with Baewonwoo.¡±


    ¡°Why do you call Baewonwoo by his full name but not mine?¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­ Sayoung, you¡¯re really annoying.¡±


    ¡°I hear that a lot.¡±


    After having his name called, Sayoung responded satisfactorily, extending the conversation, ¡°Baewonwoo will be hanging out with other guild members¡­¡±


    ¡°Then just invite him along.¡±


    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be right. It¡¯s ufortable to go with a superior.¡±


    Sayoung said as if he were teaching him. When did he start being so considerate of the lower staff? Uijae sighed deeply. Sayoung rested his chin on his hands and slowly blinked.


    ¡°If I say this, you¡¯ll have one more reason to be grateful.¡±


    Seeing theughter in his voice, it seemed like he was enjoying Uijae¡¯s unease.


    ¡°Do you remember the guys you tied up like dried pock?¡±


    Dried pock¡­ he must be referring to the guys caught at Incheon Port. Uijae nodded slightly while still rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°You were a bit¡­ reckless, throwing yourself in like that. Ignoring my texts.¡±


    There was still a lingering grudge over not reading a single text.


    ¡°I tried to prod them a bit before putting them in the transport vehicle¡­ they remembered you quite well.¡±


    ¡®Damn.¡¯


    Oh no, I hadn¡¯t considered that! Uijae pressed his palm against his face and tightly shut his eyes. He had used memory erasure on the romantic opener, but he had only physically attacked the dried pock guys without any threats of memory erasure.


    Until recently, he had been so ustomed to wearing a mask while active that he had not shaken the habit of leading with his body, trusting the disguise. The pressure on his eyes intensified. Sayoung spoke leisurely.


    ¡°I contacted the Awakener Management Bureau and arranged for the transport vehicle¡­ If I had sent you like that, it would have been a disaster.¡±


    The Awakener Management Bureau. Uijae began mentally repenting for not having thought things through.


    Jungbin believes that Cha Uijae is a D-rank Awakener. But what would happen if a D-rank Awakener single-handedly took down a group of 20 thugs? And B-rank Awakeners? The moment that fact became known, he would undoubtedly end up captured by the Awakener Management Bureau and have a one-on-one interview with Jungbin. Cold sweat trickled down his back.


    ¡°Fortunately, we¡¯re still underground in our guild. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll have to go to the Awakener Management Bureau.¡±


    ¡°...If they say anything about me, it will put you in a bad spot too, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, it would definitely affect me less than you. I have a way out.¡±


    Sayoung was putting a long spin on a sentence that could have been short.


    Do you want to die together, or go to Songdo?


    ¡°Originally¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to force you toe if you refused.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯re grateful for the little things like this¡­¡±


    A cold leather touch brushed against the back of Uijae¡¯s hand. Sayoung gently took his hand away from his eyes. Their gazes intertwined closely. The chill from earlier had vanished, leaving only a smile on Sayoung''s pretty face.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to do more for you.¡±


    ¡®No thanks, you jerk¡­¡¯


    Uijae learned for the first time in 28 years that being honest isn¡¯t always a good thing.


    The next day, at 5:30 AM, Uijae stepped outside with a broom in hand to tidy up the area where barnacles would attach before opening the shop. However, not long after, a stout stranger in a thick coat wobbled over, carrying arge box and a small one.


    It¡¯s cold¡­


    ¡®This feels just like how the flower wreaths were delivered.¡¯


    Uijae¡¯s ominous premonition proved correct once again. As the delivery person looked around, they noticed the hangover soup sign on the sliding door and eximed, ¡°Oh, is someone working here?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I have a delivery.¡±


    What kind of delivery arrives this early in the morning? Uijae¡¯s expression hardened, recalling his not-so-good memories of packages and deliveries. But the delivery person didn¡¯t care; they handed Uijae the box and left in a hurry.


    Setting down the broom, Uijae squatted in front of the hangover soup restaurant and checked the items listed on the invoice. It was a luxury brand men''s suit and shoes.


    Sender: Lee Sayoung.


    Uijae instinctively realized he had crossed an irretrievable river.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡±


    The faint curse floated through the early morning air.


    Cha Uijae¡¯s participation in the Craftsmen Exhibition was confirmed.

 Chapter 65

    After the decision to go to Songdo was made due to Uijae''s karma and Sayoung''s threats, time cruelly flowed until the dawn of the Craftsmen Exhibition day.


    Uijae stood in front of the hangover soup restaurant, wearing the navy suit and shoes that Sayoung had sent. An A4 paper stuck to the door pped pitifully in the morning breeze.


    **Closed on the day of the Craftsmen Exhibition.**


    **Reason: Taking Grandma to the hospital.**


    **©¸ Wishing Grandma good health!!**


    The suit that Sayoung sent fit him perfectly, neither too loose nor too tight. How did he know Uijae''s size? Uijae fidgeted with the jacket sleeves for no reason.


    A momentter, a familiar figure appeared from the alley. It was the usual Sayoung. As he slowly walked towards the hangover soup restaurant, he crossed his arms and scanned Uijae from head to toe. He seemed displeased, which made Uijae narrow his eyes in response.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Your tie¡­.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tied nicely?¡±


    It was an unexpectedment, but Uijae felt a swell of pride in his shoulders. After all, he had learned to tie it by watching tutorials on YouTube. However, Sayoung reached out and flicked the tie with his finger, messing it up.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could do it.¡±


    ¡°Are you picking a fight?¡±


    ¡°If you couldn¡¯t tie it, I would have done it for you.¡±


    ¡°Shut up with the nonsense early in the morning.¡±


    Uijae clicked his tongue. Without replying, Sayoung continued to fidget with the tie for a while before pulling out a staff ID and a gas mask from his inventory. The ID disyed the picture of an ordinary man along with the name.


    **Wave Guild Secretary Team Kim Seung-bin.**


    Uijae hung the ID around his neck and asked, ¡°Is this person real?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Just wear this for now.¡±


    As he donned the gas mask, gloved hands approached to adjust his appearance. To anyone watching, it would have looked bizarre¡ªa gas mask assisting another gas mask in front of a run-down hangover soup restaurant. Thankfully, it was early morning, and there were no passersby.


    Sayoung muttered, ¡°Just in case¡­ when you speak, keep your voice as low as possible. Only let me hear it.¡±


    Instead of answering, Uijae nodded. A ck finger tapped the filter of the gas mask.


    ¡°And you know how sharp-eared Hunters can be.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re part of the Wave Guild Secretary Team.¡±


    His low voice had a hint of a smile. Uijae guessed what wasing next and frowned slightly. As if she could tell through the gas mask, Sayoung smiled and asked, ¡°You can use honorifics, right?¡±


    Uijae squinted his eyes. Is he purposely doing this to me? Of course, Sayoung had a valid point. It would stand out if the secretary team spoke informally to their superior.


    Deciding to let it go, Uijae thought it was time to showcase his acting skills, making him feel much more rxed.


    ¡°...So the title is Guild Leader, then?¡±


    ¡°Guild Leader Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too long.¡±


    ¡°There will be quite a few Guild Leaders attending, and if they get confused, what then?¡±


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll just call you Guild Leader.¡±


    Ignoring the nonsensicalints, Sayoung shrugged while pulling out an emergency escape paper from his inventory.


    ¡°Do as you like. Grab my arm.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a lot of those? It seems like you use them every time I see you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pain to drive all the way to Songdo.¡±


    What a bourgeois remark! Just as Uijae was about to lecture Sayoung on the reckless spending habits of rankers, Sayoung ripped the emergency escape paper without hesitation.


    When he opened his eyes, they had arrived in front of a massive building he had never seen before. It must be the Songdo Convention Center, where the Craftsmen Exhibition was taking ce.


    Neatly lined up along the well-kept road were streetlights, each adorned with banners of the Craftsmen Exhibition. A huge banner depicting Hong Yesung giving a thumbs-up was attached to the exterior wall of the center.


    **The Craftsman Returns After Two Years!**


    **Genius Hong Yesung¡¯s Craftsmen Exhibition**


    Since it was early morning, there weren¡¯t many signs of life. Near the entrance, a few reporters and fans huddled in thick padding and nkets, but it seemed that no Hunters had arrived yet. Uijae found this fortunate.


    At the spacious entrance of the center stood four exhausted-looking Hunters. When they spotted the two gas masks striding toward the entrance, they wore expressions of confusion.


    ¡°Oh? No way, at this early hour¡­.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    Sayoung swiftly handed over two ck tickets. The startled Hunter quickly scanned the tickets with a handheld device norger than the palm of his hand. Blue light red up on the ck surface, forming letters like stars.


    **ˇÐÇ**


    ¡°Uh, y-yeah, your tickets have been confirmed. Wave Guild Leader Lee Sayoung, and the person next to you is¡­.¡±


    ¡°Secretary.¡±


    The Hunter''s gaze fell on the ID hanging around Uijae¡¯s neck. He seemed to want to confirm the face hidden behind the gas mask, but upon receiving Sayoung''s icy re, he quickly bowed his head.


    ¡°Yes, you may enter.¡±


    Lee Sayoung''s free pass was incredible. They could enter the center without any verification process of removing the gas masks. Is this what power feels like? Uijae thought as he surveyed the interior of the center, then poked Sayoung in the back.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Guild Leader, I¡¯m going to the restroom for a moment.¡±


    Sayoung, who had been walking ahead, suddenly turned to face Uijae. The aura emanating from him clearly expressed his displeasure.


    ¡°...You¡¯re going to leave me alone right after arriving?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll need some mental preparation if I¡¯m going to use honorifics all day.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­.¡±


    Crossing his arms, Sayoung began to mock him.


    ¡°Kim Seung-bin doesn¡¯t seem like the type to be well-prepared.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t mentally prepare, I might identally curse at some point, and is that okay with you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Silence sparked between the two gas masks. What can I do if I just want to go to the restroom?


    In the end, Sayoung flicked his hand first. It seemed to be a gesture of permission. Uijae quickly took a step back from Sayoung and walked swiftly to the restroom he had noticed earlier. Despite the gazes following him, he felt it was worth enduring. At least he wasn¡¯t being followed!


    Fortunately, there was no unusual presence in the restroom either. Uijae entered the innermost stall, locked the door, and sat silently on the toilet lid, letting out a sigh.


    From the day he received the suit until today, he had memorized the information of famous Hunters with the help of Nexby and was now mentally exhausted. Plus, the gas mask limited his vision, making him more sensitive.


    ¡®How does Sayoung wear this every day?¡¯


    The mask he had used when he was J was a precious item that even modted his voice. Now, wearing the stifling gas mask, he found himself missing that old mask. He couldn''t reuse it since it broke at the West Sea Rift just before he was ejected.


    Uijae quietly checked his inventory. He had potions gifted by regrs from the hangover soup restaurant, the Basilisk''s fangs upying a generous slot, the cursed magic stone that was the source of all evils, and two ck tickets.


    Excluding the potions, the items in his inventory were enough to turn the convention center upside down if the knowledge of their existence leaked. Was this what it felt like to be a teacher assigned to a problem child ss? Uijae began to understand, at least in part, the heart of a teacher he had never experienced.


    The particrly problematic items were¡­ the magic stone and the ck tickets. The magic stone was understandable, but this damn ticket was something he wanted to bury in his nket.


    ¡®I¡¯m really anxious¡­.¡¯


    Even if he thought about it, thebined value of the two tickets would be around 10 billion won. It was hard for Uijae to feel at ease leaving them tucked under his nket while going out. When he worked at the hangover soup restaurant, the whole area was under his watchful eyes, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal. But now that he was far away in Songdo, it was possible that a thief could break into the restaurant without him knowing.


    ¡®It¡¯s better to keep it in my hands.¡¯


    After experiencing situations that couldn¡¯t be solved merely with force, like nearly burning down the hangover soup restaurant because he left the stove on, or recklessly attacking Awakeners without considering the aftermath, Uijae couldn¡¯t afford to neglect preparations for the unexpected. His life just never went ording to n.


    Now, having entered a space without Sayoung, he needed to quickly finish what he had to do. Uijae opened the Rankers'' chat that he hadn¡¯t checked since he was forcibly entered. In Songdo, where danger lurked at every corner, information was crucial.


    The number one Ranker channel would have the most valuable information. Who was attending the Craftsmen Exhibition, what were they aiming for, and what were their current locations? Though Sayoung was next to him, it was Uijae''s responsibility to avoid any risks that he could actively evade.


    Uijae began


    to scroll back up, reading the chat messages from around midnight one by one. As expected, the chat started with the addiction of the Hunter known as Hong Yesung.


    ---


    [8] I am a Craftsman: The day of the Craftsmen Exhibition has dawned! ^^


    [8] I am a Craftsman: Everyone in channel one ising, right?


    [6] Honeybee: Yesung!


    [6] Honeybee: Have you finished making the rapier?


    [8] I am a Craftsman: I¡¯m a native Korean, so I don¡¯t deal with foreign weapons.


    [6] Honeybee: You ****.


    [6] Honeybee: Just wait for me in Songdo.


    [11] Shield Guy: Oh, haha, are you looking for Honeybee¡¯s ticket?


    [6] Honeybee: Yup.


    [6] Honeybee: Matthew brought it.


    [8] I am a Craftsman: If it weren¡¯t for Matthew, I¡¯d be busy scamming tickets in Songdo.


    [6] Honeybee: You¡¯re really in trouble, huh?


    [11] Shield Guy: He¡¯s just a kid, that¡¯s why.


    [11] Shield Guy: Can you just let it go this one time?;;


    [6] Honeybee: ??


    [6] Honeybee: In the HB Guild, it¡¯s me and Matthew going.


    [6] Honeybee: Are youing too, Shield Guy?


    [11] Shield Guy: Yup.


    [6] Honeybee: What about Lee Sayoung?


    [11] Shield Guy: He said he woulde, but¡­


    [11] Shield Guy: He¡¯s moving separately, so I¡¯m not sure;;


    [6] Honeybee: How many of you are there that you¡¯re moving separately?


    [11] Shield Guy: I don¡¯t know, but at least I¡¯ll get thepany card --v


    [4] Jeongbin: Good morning, everyone in channel one! ^^ The Craftsmen Exhibition is back after two years! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: I just want to remind you of something important to remember while attending the exhibition! ^^


    [8] I am a Craftsman: Here we go...


    [4] Jeongbin: Please do not cause any trouble! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: Don¡¯t fall for others¡¯ provocations! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: I strongly rmend that you do not interact with others at all! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: Always maintain a safe distance to avoid shes with other Hunters! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: Please be careful that bumping shoulders doesn¡¯t lead to a building copsing! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: If you cannot avoid a fight, please handle it discreetly in a ce out of the reporters¡¯ eyes and then contact the local response team! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: I hope you do not threaten the reporters! ^^


    [4] Jeongbin: I would like to ask for your cooperation in sessfully holding the Craftsmen Exhibition and hope you behave well so that I do not have to meet you one-on-one! Have a great day! ^^


    [50] Romantic Opener: That wasn¡¯t just one sentence¡­


    [34] Tiny Miracle: It¡¯s technically one sentence if you think about it.


    [50] Romantic Opener: I¡¯m not curious¡­


    ---


    As he read through Jeongbin¡¯s lengthy message, a sense of solemnity washed over him. With prideful, hot-tempered, and sensitive Hunters gathering in one ce, idents were bound to happen¡­.


    Just then, he felt a light presence rushing toward the restroom in a near sprint. Uijae hurriedly closed the unread chat and quickly concealed his presence.


    <Silent footsteps!>


    Following the lead buffalo, other presences rushed in, but fortunately, they stopped just in front of the restroom door and didn¡¯te inside.


    Squeak, bang. The sudden intruder, inexplicably, settled in the stall right next to Uijae. After a while, all he could hear were rustling sounds, suggesting that they weren¡¯t there to use the restroom but rather for something else.


    ¡°Damn, why isn¡¯t this working?¡±


    The muttering voice was familiar. It was a voice he couldn¡¯t pretend not to know. Uijae stared at the wall adjoining the adjacent stall with a startled expression.


    Because what he heard next was¡­


    ¡®Crazy.¡¯


    The repeated reys of WeQuiz echoed¡­


    ¡®It¡¯s Hong Yesung.¡¯


    It was the voice of Hong Yesung.

 Chapter 66

    While Uijae was trying to gather information in the restroom, Hong Yesung had rolled in next door, making a ruckus. The numerous footsteps following him and the people waiting outside the restroom were undoubtedly his security personnel.


    Uijae let out a silent sigh. Despite having his enemy right next to him, he couldn''t move recklessly.


    ¡®Just one hit, that¡¯s all I want.¡¯


    It was nice that Hong Yesung hade to him, but the entourage he brought was anything but wee. Even if he ignored Hong Yesung and pretended nothing was happening, there was only one entrance to the restroom, meaning he would inevitably run into the guards stationed at the door. If luck was against him, he might have to go through ticket checks and ID verifications.


    In the end, he had no choice but to wait until Hong Yesung left on his own¡­ Feeling anxious, Uijae unconsciously assumed the pose of Rodin¡¯s *The Thinker*.


    ¡®If you¡¯re going to the restroom, you should hurry up and take care of business¡­.¡¯


    He was also one of those people who did other things instead of using the restroom, but he red at the wall separating them for no reason. If he didn¡¯t hurry back, Sayoung would start to worry¡­ No, he shook his head.


    ¡®Worry? About what?¡¯


    Uijae changed his train of thought. Regardless, if he waste, there would be hell to pay. If things escted, Sayoung might evene storming in here himself. Considering his past behavior patterns, it was a very usible scenario.


    Sayoung asionally had bizarre fixations and would throw a fit for no apparent reason. He had warned Uijae to stay quiet and yet had dragged him all the way to Songdo. As if this was a date, he was simply making Uijae run errands for him¡­.


    ¡°Ugh! Crazy!¡±


    ¡°Are you okay, Yesung-nim?¡±


    ¡°Aaah!¡±


    ¡°...It seems like things aren¡¯t going well. Just keep waiting.¡±


    The thoughts that had wandered towards Sayoung were cut off by Hong Yesung''s desperate screams. Uijae shot a piercing nce at the wall as if he could see through it.


    ¡®What the hell, can a person really make such sounds?¡¯


    Hong Yesung was now rustling around and intermittently howling like a deer. Thankfully, it seemed the guards were familiar with this level of noise and didn¡¯t rush into the restroom. Listening to the deer-like cries, Uijae fell back into his thoughts.


    Hong Yesung and the equipment he created were the stars of the Craftsmen Exhibition this time. So why was the star stuck in a restroom like Uijae, who had nowhere to go? Surely there was a waiting room just for him.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    He realized it from the time Yesung posted egg pictures on Inhart looking for magic stones. Hong Yesung wasn¡¯t in his right mind. Uijae anxiously, yet silently, shook his legs as he made a decision.


    ¡®If I can¡¯t avoid it, I need to dig up something.¡¯


    As much as he wanted to hit Hong Yesung and escape, it was clear he would be caught immediately if he tried to flee.


    Ultimately, Uijae chose a different route. He leaned toward the adjacent stall and focused on the soundsing through. However, the person who had locked himself in the cramped restroom stall only cried out like an animal instead of speaking like a human. Instead, he could hear the whispers of the Hunters waiting outside more clearly.


    ¡°¡­But why did youe into the restroom? You could have tested it in the waiting room.¡±


    ¡°The waiting room doesn¡¯t feel confined or something. I need a smaller space.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, maybe we should just make a portable storage bin¡­.¡±


    ¡°This guy misuses the purpose of storage bins. Are you King Yeongjo? Storage bins are for storing grains.¡±


    ¡°And you mentioned that something could explode if you¡¯re not careful.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened. What? He could still hear rustling from next door and the sound of buttons being pressed. Was that sound from explosives? Sitting beside a bomb like an idiot, Uijae gasped in horror while the Hunter who had asked the question whispered back, sounding rmed.


    ¡°Can we really stay like this unprotected? If the restroom explodes, it would be a big deal, right?¡±


    Right, stop it quickly. Pull him out. Are we going to let the building explode? Uijae mentally echoed the sentiment, but the response he received was cold.


    ¡°As long as they¡¯re not attempting to evade the guards or engaging in behavior that poses a threat to their safety while not producing equipment, it¡¯s the director¡¯s order to let them do whatever they want.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t what you¡¯re doing now a threat to safety?¡±


    ¡°Since he¡¯s S-rank, even if something explodes, he¡¯ll be fine¡­.¡±


    ¡°From the start, he wouldn¡¯t listen even if we tried to stop him.¡±


    ¡°Is that even the case when the building restroom is about to explode?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he a wealthy creator? He can easily fix a restroom.¡±


    It seemed that this wasn¡¯t the first time such things happened; the Hunters outside remained unconcerned. Hunters were all too confident in their abilities, which made them prone to serious safety issues. Only when a major ident urs do they finally wake up.


    Uijae listened even more intently to the soundsing from the adjacent stall. After a while, Hong Yesung gasped in awe. Click¡ª a clear button sound that was distinctly different from before rang out.


    ¡°Done!¡±


    And at the same moment¡ª


    Beeeeeeeeep!


    An ominous rm began to re, piercing their ears!


    As if the rm wasn¡¯t enough, red lights began to sh wildly beyond the stall partition. The atmosphere outside the restroom shifted, with multiple people rushing in.


    ¡®Is it really going to explode?¡¯


    As Uijae frantically pressed himself against the far side of the stall, he contemted whether he should open the door and run. He wouldn¡¯t get hurt, but his suit from Sayoung could get torn. He had no money to pay for this expensive outfit!


    But the very person who had caused this crisis, Hong Yesung, muttered in a tone devoid of urgency.


    ¡°Ugh, so noisy. What¡¯s going on? Is it a malfunction?¡±


    ¡°Yesung-nim, are you okay!¡±


    The once quiet restroom was now filled with the incessant rm and the presence of the Hunters. The adjacent stall continued to sh red. Hong Yesung shouted out loud.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine! I must have identally pressed something. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°Still, please step out for safety checks.¡±


    ¡°Hey, just give me a second.¡±


    Hong Yesung¡¯s disgruntled voice was followed by the sound of him unlocking the door. Had he taken the device with him? Now, not only the adjacent stall but the entire restroom began to sh red. Uijae let out a silent sigh as he gazed at the dazzling red lights. Hong Yesung chattered nervously.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s really nothing! This is just a detector for unregistered tickets to filter out those crazy bastards who stole and sold tickets from other Huntersst time. It suddenly started ringing.¡±


    ¡°Is it not turning off?¡±


    ¡°Nope. It won¡¯t turn off¡­ Maybe it needs to separate the magic stone?¡±


    Once Hong Yesung¡¯s safety was confirmed, it seemed the tension of the Hunters had eased a bit. One Hunter cracked a joke.


    ¡°Is there someone here who hasn¡¯t registered their ticket?¡±


    ¡°Hey, if the blue letters appear on the ticket, everyone must have done it.¡±


    ¡®¡­Wait.¡¯


    Uijae suddenly lifted his head. Blue letters? The scene he had seen at the entrance of the convention center shed in his mind.


    When he scanned the ticket with a palm-sized device, blue light had floated on the ck surface, forming letters like stars.


    **ˇÐÇ**


    If that device didn¡¯t just confirm the authenticity of the ticket but also registered it, a chill ran down Uijae¡¯s spine. He quickly opened his inventory with his mouth agape.


    The equipment Hong Yesung created was likely made with his awakening skill and would operate ording to the system¡¯s rules. And the inventory operated ording to the system¡¯s rules as well. Something felt ominous, and all the pieces of the puzzle clicked together.


    The two tickets used to enter were both held by Sayoung, meaning his ticket was in pristine condition, i.e., an unregistered ticket. Then¡ª


    ¡®Why is the detector so good¡­.¡¯


    That machine was definitely detecting the ck ticket in his inventory and causing this ruckus. What kind of insane crafting skills were these? Uijae didn¡¯t want to verify that Hong Yesung¡¯s reputation was well-deserved.


    ¡®If he had time to make something like that, he could have made another piece of equipment.¡¯


    Just as Uijae was ring at Hong Yesung outside the door for thest time¡ª


    ¡°¡­Wait a second.¡±


    A Hunter¡¯s voice suddenly dropped in tone.


    ¡°¡­I think there¡¯s someone next to the stall where Hong Yesung was. The door is closed¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t sense anyone.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a cleaning cart left locked inside?¡±


    ¡°Do cleaning carts usually get locked from the inside?¡±


    Uijae found himself at a crossroads. Trusting in his ¡®silent footsteps¡¯ and acting cocky or pretending to be an ordinary person who knew nothing. He heard the sound of a Hunter approaching the door. Uijae decided to close his eyes in resignation and feigned a trembling voice like a goat.


    ¡°Um, there¡¯s someone inside¡­.¡±


    The Hunters¡¯ previously rxed demeanor sharpened again. One Hunter said in a stiff voice.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­


    I¡¯m sorry, but could you pleasee outside?¡±


    Uijae recalled the zombies he had seen in the hangover soup restaurant. Their appearances had been a mess, looking like they had been through the worst of it. He loosened his perfectly tied tie, unbuttoned one shirt button, and let his well-fitted jacket fall apart, perfectly creating a disheveled look.


    He made sure his ID hung around his neck was visible and then stepped out with a staggering gait as if he was the best at pretending. Uijae had a few backup concepts in mind for unexpected situations. This time, the concept he decided to use was as follows:


    The rookie employee of the Wave Guild Secretary Team, who had just barely joined, was so nervous to be out in public with Guild Leader Lee Sayoung that he ended up throwing up in the restroom.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    With the ring rm ringing and the red lights shing, the sight of the gas mask-wearing figure emerging from the innermost stall in a suit was indeed bizarre. The Hunters, witnessing such a spectacle, wore strange expressions.


    The gas mask clutched the restroom doorknob and whispered in a trembling voice.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m really nervous.¡±


    ¡°May I ask which organization you belong to¡­?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m with the Wave Guild Secretary Team¡­¡±


    ¡°The Wave Guild?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I came to assist Guild Leader Lee Sayoung at the Craftsmen Exhibition¡­ ugh.¡±


    Uijae pretended to gag, holding the filter part of the gas mask.


    Lee Sayoung from the Wave Guild. If he was here alone to assist him, it was no wonder he was nervous. The Hunters¡¯ expressions softened with sympathy. The ID of the Wave Guild dangled from his neck, looking pitiful.


    It was then that he sensed a familiar, ominous energy approaching silently. Before he could react, the dark figure of Sayoung burst through the restroom door, followed by a low, mocking voice.


    ¡°I see you guys get along quite well in the restroom¡­.¡±


    All eyes that had been on Uijae shifted to the owner of the voice. Sayoung walked straight toward Uijae, hands shoved in his pockets, not sparing a nce at anyone else.


    ¡°Going to the restroom together now?¡±


    Thud. Sayoung''s ck boots came to a stop right in front of Uijae. Beneath the shing red lights and ring rms, an oppressive shadow loomed over him. Sayoung tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Are you ready, Secretary?¡±


    That mocking tone was oddly weing for the first time.


    ---


    If you need any adjustments or additional details, just let me know!

 Chapter 67

    ¡°Have you finished preparing your mind, Secretary?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The ring rm seemed to announce Lee Sayoung''s presence, as his aura was overwhelmingly strong. The self-proimed secretary who crawled out of the restroom wearing a gas mask was quickly overshadowed!


    Uijae, who had been looking down, let out a silent sigh of relief upon seeing the shiny tips of Sayoung¡¯s boots.


    ¡®With it this loud, there''s no way he wouldn¡¯te.¡¯


    It was a gamble he took, expecting Sayoung to show up at the restroom. He had enough faith now that if something happened, Sayoung would definitely show up. Of course, if he hadn¡¯te, Uijae would have had to rely on his acting skills to resolve things somehow.@@novelbin@@


    Uijae subtly shifted his body to hide behind Sayoung and still managed to speak in a trembling voice.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry, Guild Leader.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung blinked. He seemed somewhat puzzled, as if he hadn¡¯t yet grasped the situation fully. Uijae prodded Sayoung''s side with his finger to signal him to y along, making sure the Hunters in front wouldn¡¯t notice.


    However, what he felt at his fingertips was more of a poke than a prod.


    ¡®Why is he so solid? Is he made of stone?¡¯


    The two stared at each other wide-eyed for different reasons. One was questioning why a person''s stomach was so hard, while the other was surprised that someone other than a monster had just poked him.


    Just as Sayoung¡¯s posture was about to be a little crooked, Uijae snapped back to reality and quickly added a line.


    ¡°I took a Cheongsimhwan. I¡¯m okay now! I was just nervous since it was my first time¡­.¡±


    ¡°...Ha.¡±


    Sayoung let out a sound that was neither augh nor a sigh. His narrowed eyes scanned Uijae from his feet to his head. His gaze lingered for a moment on Uijae''s loosened tie, but it vanished quickly.


    ¡°Right¡­.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s drawn-out response came with a rxed crossed-arms pose.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t regret bringing your secretary along.¡±


    ¡®Nice.¡¯


    Fortunately, Sayoung had a talent for acting. Who wouldn¡¯t see him as the perfect viinous boss? Uijae nodded eagerly, as if to score a goal with the pass Sayoung had set up for him.


    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    ¡°Just doing your best isn¡¯t enough; you need to do it well.¡±


    It was an unexpected statement. However, Uijae didn¡¯t panic and responded with a quivering voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to do well!¡±


    The Hunters seemed to have missed their chance to interject, remaining silent. However, the curious nces behind Sayoung¡¯s broad shoulders seemed to be as riveting as a drama. Sayoung tapped his fingers on his crossed arms.


    ¡°How long has it been since you joined, Secretary?¡±


    ¡°It''s been a month.¡±


    ¡°Oh, a month.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a month, yet you haven¡¯t changed much¡­. You¡¯d better do well today.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to pay attention to me as the secretary. Just because your condition isn¡¯t great¡­¡±


    But wait, is he really? Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in irritation. Sayoung was performing a spectacr method acting disy that he hadn¡¯t even asked for.


    Of course, because of that, Uijae looked like ¡°the poor rookie employee of the Wave Guild Secretary Team who barely joined, was so nervous to be out with Guild Leader Lee Sayoung that he ended up throwing up in the restroom.¡±


    This guy was always skilled at turning people¡¯s insides upside down. Each word he uttered was a work of art. In reality, Sayoung wasn¡¯t just a secretary; he was digging into Uijae¡¯s very being!


    ¡®Or is this just how he is?¡¯


    Uijae gritted his teeth and answered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ do well. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. From now on, finish your mental preparations in advance. If you keep acting like this, I¡¯ll have to wait for you forever, Secretary.¡±


    ¡®He¡¯s really petty about this.¡¯


    Their eyes met again. Sayoung smiled with his eyes narrowed. However, momentster, the smile washed away like a wave. He uncrossed his arms and nodded toward the restroom entrance.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. Understood.¡±


    As Sayoung turned his body, the tense expressions on the Hunters watching their conversation shifted again. Only Hong Yesung raised his hands enthusiastically.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung! Can I greet you now?¡±


    In person, Hong Yesung was quite a handsome young man. Aside from his round eyes that bore an oddly unsettling glint, he looked clean-cut. If one weren¡¯t careful, they might think he was a madman. Perhaps their rtionship was good, as Sayoung nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°I wondered why it was so noisy¡­.¡±


    His gaze fell on the device in Hong Yesung''s hands. The restroom continued to sh red, resembling a ughterhouse.


    ¡°It¡¯s noisy. Can¡¯t you turn it off?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I barely got it to work, but I can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s malfunctioning or what; it keeps ringing.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an unregistered ticket detector!¡±


    Hong Yesung proudly thrust his belly forward.


    ¡°This is a top-notch item that can even detect unregistered tickets hidden in the inventory. It¡¯s my masterpiece.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­.¡±


    Sayoung stared at the machine, mumbling.


    ¡°If it¡¯s ringing like that¡­ it means there¡¯s someone with an unregistered ticket, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Well, it normally does¡­.¡±


    Yesung¡¯s face soon fell, and he muttered.


    ¡°I made it in a hurry in three hours. I can¡¯t tell if there¡¯s actually an unregistered ticket or if it¡¯s just malfunctioning. Everyone here has registered, right? You and your secretary should have too.¡±


    ¡°We have.¡±


    A guard, who had been listening to their conversation, cautiously asked.


    ¡°Could you possibly show us your tickets?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but could we confirm them just once¡­?¡±


    Without a word, Sayoung pulled out two tickets from his inventory and showed them. The blue letters floated on the ticket¡¯s surface. The Hunters who confirmed the letters bowed their heads.


    ¡°Thank you for confirming.¡±


    ¡°Damn, did I input the settings wrong? I must have set it to respond to verification tickets too¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Uijae, watching the whole scene unfold, quietly bit his lips. If Sayoung hadn¡¯t shown up in time, things could have gotten quite troublesome. He might have had to use physical memory-erasing techniques on all the Hunters present¡­.


    Fortunately, that wasn¡¯t necessary. Sayoung''s ZONE had been on a winning streak, at least excluding the hangover soup restaurant. After putting the tickets back in his inventory, Sayoung murmured.


    ¡°If I apply the technology I used on that¡­ I could scan everyone¡¯s inventory.¡±


    That was a malicious thought that disregarded others¡¯ privacy. Hong Yesung also muttered while covering his mouth.


    ¡°What a viinous idea¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s an interesting thought, but it¡¯s impossible. Exining the mechanism of this machine isn¡¯t easy. Ah, it tracks the chip I embedded in the item I created.¡±


    ¡°So it can only be used on the items you made?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Hong Yesung chimed in and pulled a red magic stone from the detector, which finally silenced the ring rm and the shing red light. He let out a short sigh of relief, stowed the device in his pocket, and scratched his fluffy hair.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to fix it if I want to use it on everyone entering the venue. I should test it thoroughly too.¡±


    ¡®What do you mean?¡¯


    It was a mountain beyond a mountain. While fiddling with the magic stone, Hong Yesung waved his hand with bright eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll fix this and head in. Also, take it easy on your subordinates!¡±


    ¡°Take it easy, huh?¡±


    Sayoung replied with a voiceced withughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m in charge here¡­¡±


    The Hunters watched the small gas mask following therge gas mask not with suspicion but with pity. One Hunter even struck a small fighting pose as if to cheer him on. It seemed Uijae¡¯s acting and Sayoung¡¯s slightly mixed method acting had worked well.


    As they moved away from the restroom, Sayoung muttered in a way that suggested he wasn¡¯t pleased.


    ¡°Why are there so many people around here¡­.¡±


    Uijae strongly agreed. He cleared his throat and poked Sayoung in the back.


    ¡°...Guild Leader Lee Sayoung?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Can we talk for a moment, just the two of us?¡±


    Of course, he didn¡¯t wait for Sayoung¡¯s response. Time was of the essence. After ncing around to make sure no one was watching, Uijae grabbed Sayoung¡¯s arm and started dragging him somewhere.


    Sayoungplied, allowing himself to be pulled along. They arrived at a quiet spot stacked with luggage, devoid of any signs of life.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    Cha Uijae let out a long sigh and removed his gas mask. His slightly flushed cheeks and disheveled hair were now visible. Without fixing his messy appearance, he pushed Sayoung against the wall and gripped both sides of the gas mask.


    ¡°Guild Leader Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any lies between us¡­ You know, we¡¯re in a contractual rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Your introduction is a bit long.¡±


    Even in this awkward position, Sayoung remained calm. He gazed intently at Uijae¡¯s face before reaching out. A cautious hand brushed


    through Uijae¡¯s messy hair. As Sayoung yfully adjusted the tips of his hair with his gloved hand, he murmured.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious when we became so honest and open with each other¡­.¡±


    ¡°Uh, starting now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, starting now?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Before this esctes any further, I want to be honest.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head, as if inviting him to speak. After taking a deep breath, Uijae met Sayoung¡¯s gaze and said.


    ¡°I have¡­ unregistered ck tickets.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­Two of them.¡±


    A heavy silence filled the narrow space between them. Uijae didn¡¯t shy away from Sayoung¡¯s inquisitive purple eyes. After a moment, Sayoung finally spoke.


    ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m starting to understand.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°The fact that you called my name first without me asking means¡­.¡±


    The gloved hand that had been toying with his hair now found its way to Uijae¡¯s neck. The hand that gently traced his straight neck moved down to wrap around the loosely tied tie like a snake. Then, it gently pulled him closer. He could have resisted or brushed Sayoung¡¯s hand away, but¡ª


    ¡®Tsk.¡¯


    He would yield. Allowing himself to be drawn in, Uijae lifted his gaze slightly. Sayoung¡¯s neck still carried a sweet scent.


    ¡°It means something has gone wrong.¡±


    The glove slowly tightened around the tie, loosening it. With the loosened tie in his grasp, Sayoung leaned in slightly. The filter of the gas mask met Uijae¡¯s forehead as Sayoung growled in a whisper.


    ¡°Who gave you those tickets?¡±

 Chapter 69

    Embracing him with bravado was one thing. It was another that Sayoung hadn¡¯t pushed him away as Uijae had expected. However, both Sayoung and Uijae¡¯s bodies had stiffened significantly, as if two sturdy logs were pressed together.


    Sayoung¡¯s body felt colder than usual, almost like that of a dead person. A chill ran down Uijae¡¯s neck. He bit his lip, feeling his mouth go dry with sudden anxiety.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®...No, Sayoung is alive.¡¯


    Uijae unconsciously tightened his grip around Sayoung and focused on the pulse beating at the back of his neck. Thump, thump, thump¡­ He closed his eyes, feeling the rapid heartbeat.


    With each pat and stroke on Sayoung¡¯s back, he felt the tightly woven muscles flinch beneath his touch and heard his low breaths intermittently. The sweet scent lingered around him, and Uijae noticed the pale skin, warm in the spots where their body heat met. A testament to life.


    Just as Uijae leaned in to listen to the rhythmic sound a bit more,


    *Puh!*


    A strong force shoved at his right shoulder. Uijae, pushed back, opened his eyes wide. Sayoung remained in the same position, his hand outstretched. The ck fingertips were slightly curled.


    Their eyes locked across the space that had just been created. Sayoung''s purple eyes were slightly widened. Uijae, seeing the other¡¯s surprise, rolled his eyes.


    ¡®Have I been holding on for too long?¡¯


    The shoulder that had been pushed felt tender. He had a body that wouldn¡¯t typically get hurt from mere attacks, so this level of pain was rare for him. Uijae rubbed his shoulder with his palm. Sayoung¡¯s gaze followed every one of his movements intensely.


    If it hadn¡¯t been Uijae who got pushed, the other person would have flown into the stacks like a discarded item. Sayoung¡¯s shoulder de might have shattered. Should he advise him to be careful with his strength when pushing someone? Or should he pretend to be in more pain? But given Sayoung¡¯s strange aura, he couldn¡¯t do anything at all.


    He seemed¡­ anxious.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung stood still, having pushed Uijae away, staring at him silently. It was unclear whether hisst resort had worked or not.


    However, right now, instead of trying to teach Sayoung a lesson, it was more important to soothe him. Well, at least not being thrown into the pile was a small victory. Uijae, having made that judgment with a positive conclusion, casually brushed off his shoulder.


    ¡°Feeling a bit better?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s shoulders twitched slightly. After a moment, he clenched his fist and smirked with a fierce expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a learning disability?¡±


    He was trying to let things slide, and yet this guy was suddenly attacking his intelligence? Even with his rxed smile, Uijae¡¯s expression turned sour.


    ¡°Hey, why are we bringing up learning disabilities here?¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s been years since you spat blood¡­?¡±


    ¡°Blood?¡±


    As he frowned and reyed the words, Uijae suddenly eximed, ¡°Ah.¡± Sayoung was likely referring to the time he had vomited blood during theirst contract.


    Thanks to the **Basilisk¡¯s Poison** trait, he had developed resistance, so Sayoung¡¯s poison wasn¡¯t a concern for Uijae anymore. But more than that, what he was worried about was¡­.


    Sayoung continued to taunt him without closing the distance.


    ¡°What if you vomit blood here? What¡¯s going to happen then?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Are you nning to leave that cleanup to me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t taken the antidote¡­.¡±


    ¡°No, Sayoung.¡±


    Uijae identally called Sayoung''s name, then quickly closed his mouth. No matter how much Sayoung knew Uijae was hiding his strength, revealing the existence of his antidote trait was a different matter entirely.


    ¡®That¡¯s suspicious as hell.¡¯


    An ability to instantly detoxify an S-ss poison and gain immunity? Even if he was a Hunter hiding his abilities, wouldn¡¯t that sound suspicious?


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    A short silence followed. Sayoung stopped throwing jabs and stared at Uijae, lips pressed together.


    Well, the person who had been given the antidote nearly died in front of him from being unable to endure the poison, so it was understandable that he was surprised. The precious **Gyeongroso** must have been wasted on him¡­ It was enough to dwell on. Uijae shrugged.


    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m really fine now. Your poison isn¡¯t that dangerous anymore.¡±


    Uijae spoke the truth, but it seemed to only make Sayoung more ufortable. Sayoung buried his hands in his pockets and muttered in a low voice.


    ¡°Ah, so a person like that vomits blood like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    ¡°I''m not thinking about cleaning up after you here.¡±


    Uijae wanted to refute further, but it seemed Sayoung wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen. Instead, he silently grabbed the tickets that had been registered for both Uijae and himself.


    As Sayoung tore the corners of the two tickets simultaneously, the surrounding scenery swirled chaotically and sank to the floor, reced by a newndscape. Where there had been a pile of boxes, a long sofa and table appeared, and where a dusty dark alley wall had been, clean walls and bright lighting emerged.


    In an instant, they found themselves in a spacious area resembling a waiting room. On the neatly stered white wall, ck letters appeared one by one.


    ---


    **¡¶Craftsmen Exhibition Participant Istion Room Waiting Room¡·**


    This waiting room was personally created by Hong Yesung.


    Each waiting room can only be entered with a certified ticket.


    Please wait in your waiting room until the Craftsmen Exhibition begins.


    If you attempt to escape from the waiting room and cause problems, you may be penalized under the Awakened Special Law.


    If a disturbance seems likely, please evacuate to your personal waiting room and contact the Awakened Management Bureau ^^.


    ---


    ¡®What¡¯s with the ¡®istion room¡¯ marking?¡¯ Just as Uijae eyed the letters on the wall and the interior of the waiting room that had suddenly appeared with suspicion, Sayoung, having examined the area familiar to him, pointed to the sofa.


    ¡°Sit down.¡±


    ¡°What is this ce?¡±


    ¡°It says right here. A waiting room.¡±


    Still looking confused, Uijae sat down while Sayoung added an exnation.


    ¡°Last time at the Craftsmen Exhibition, the building almost copsed.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because of some rude guy.¡±


    A chat filled with warnings, like Jeongbin¡¯s proverbial ¡®great meal,¡¯ shed through his mind. Was all the precautionary advice really based on past experiences? What kind of battlefield had thest Craftsmen Exhibition been?


    And what was Sayoung, who had brought him here under the pretense of a date while threatening him, really doing? Regardless of Uijae''s confusion, Sayoung muttered nonchntly.


    ¡°This time, they decided to iste everyone¡­ and they made a space like this. It¡¯s not a hamster cage or anything.¡±


    If what he said was true,st time they had put multiple super Hunter hamsters in one cage, and it almost caused the building to copse, so this time they would enforce a one hamster per cage policy.


    While not facing others was a good thing, being alone in here with the doughnut-like Sayoung wasn¡¯t so appealing. Uijae sat on the sofa, maintaining a wary expression.


    Sayoung, arms crossed, stared at Uijae.


    ¡°Shirt.¡±


    ¡°Uh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d be better to take it off.¡±


    It seemed he wanted to check the shoulder that had been pushed earlier. Although it throbbed asionally, it should heal naturally with time. Uijae didn¡¯t want to take off his clothes. He exaggeratedly rolled his shoulders to showcase that he was fine.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that hard of a hit.¡±


    Sayoung muttered ominously.


    ¡°It¡¯d be best to take it off before I do it myself¡­.¡±


    Uijae inadvertently tightened his grip on his jacket.


    ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t take off your gas mask earlier either.¡±


    ¡°Is that the same thing?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference? Why don¡¯t you believe me when I say I¡¯m fine?¡±


    ¡°Why would I believe you?¡±


    Even while being sarcastic, Sayoung¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Uijae¡¯s shoulder. Uijae couldn¡¯t help but blurt out without thinking.


    ¡°Are you worried about me right now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    With a firm step forward, Sayoung ced his ck hand on the back of the sofa. He looked down at Uijae for a moment before finally answering.


    ¡°...I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    After a brief silence, Sayoung removed his hand from the back of the sofa and pulled out his phone. It seemed he received a message from someone, and after a few taps, he turned his body towards the door.


    ¡°Just take a breath there. Don¡¯t think about going out and being seen by others.¡±


    Creeeeak, bang. The door closed firmly. After staring at the door for a few minutes, there was no sign of it reopening.


    Uijae let out a long sigh and sprawled out on the sofa. He realized he had been quite tense without realizing it; his whole body felt lethargic. Left alone in his own space, he gazed at the ceiling.


    In the stillness, he didn¡¯t feel anxious. Perhaps it was because he understood that there was no threat in this space. He was experiencing a feeling he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. A sense of stability.


    Suddenly, a question he


    had never considered rose to the surface.


    ¡®Why doesn¡¯t Sayoung¡­ seem curious about me?¡¯


    People often pried into his abilities, using the excuse that they wanted to utilize him better. They would ask him what he could do with his powers, where his limits were, and explore everything about him.


    But Sayoung didn¡¯t ask anything or try to use him effectively. He had probably figured out that they had a simr level of ability. Uijae turned on his side, resting his arm.


    ¡®Isn¡¯t it basic to understand your opponent¡¯s capabilities before making a contract?¡¯


    It was standard procedure to ask about what skills they had and what traits they possessed, yet Sayoung seemed uninterested in that at all. He acted as if Uijae¡¯s mere existence was all he needed.


    Uijae opened his right hand and quietly gazed at his palm. A barely visible golden chain shimmered faintly. He tried intentionally clenching and unclenching his hand, but the golden chain continued to gleam from its spot. Once a thought began, it kept flowing.


    ¡®Does he know that I¡¯m J¡­?¡¯


    No, that couldn¡¯t be it. If he did, he would have asked for something in exchange for keeping it a secret long ago. But Sayoung hadn¡¯t asked anything; he merely set the condition that Uijae not betray him.


    ¡®Then why?¡¯


    Since emerging from the Rift, Cha Uijae had wanted to live a perfect daily life. A quiet and peaceful one. A life lived faithfully in the day-to-day without connection to monsters or rifts. And that simple life had proven to be more challenging than expected, leaving him with no room to think about anything else for several months.


    However, at some point, Sayoung had slipped into the gaps of his well-structured routine. As if he had taken up a corner of that quiet life, Uijae now realized he had been sharing that life with him.


    Before he knew it, Cha Uijae¡¯s daily life had be filled with Sayoung. He reflected on that fact for a while.


    ---


    In the corner of the alley, where boxes had previously been stacked, a dark figure stood quietly. It had been two earlier, but now it was just one. Eyes that chased the dust floating in the air turned toward the wall.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, Hyung.¡±


    The strong arms that had embraced him, the warmth that had touched him all over, the hands that had repeatedly patted his back, the quietly beating heart, and the soft hair that brushed against his neck.


    It was in that moment that Sayoung gritted his teeth. A whisper, void of inflection, echoed through the alley.


    ¡°Guild Leader.¡±


    A round head peeked out from behind the crossed arms of Lee Sayoung. It was the cheerful little miracle who had imed to be overseas on a business trip. Of course, he had only pretended to leave, stepping onto the threshold of the ne and immediately infiltrating the Awakened Management Bureau.


    Dressed in a smart suit, he stepped out of the shadow and stood upright, hands behind his back.


    ¡°Sorry for being a bitte; I had to wrap things up first.¡±


    ¡°Report.¡±


    ¡°Yes. First, please ept this.¡±


    Sayoung took the tablet offered by the little miracle. As the screen lit up,rge red letters greeted him.


    ---


    **[J Tracking Report]**


    ---


    Clearing his throat, the little miracle began to speak in front of Sayoung, who was intently examining the screen.


    ¡°Now, I will begin the report.¡±

 Chapter 70

    ¡°Now, I will begin the report.¡±


    Minggijak started speaking without hesitation.


    ¡°First, the research team revisited all the data from the Rift Meter used to measure the coastline where the West Sea Rift urred. Most of the figures showed uniformity with no significant changes. There was no observed spike in the meter''s graph when the Rift opened.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°However, about six months ago, there was a day when the measurements were unusually low.¡±


    ¡°Low?¡±


    As he flipped to the next screen, a graph recording the data over time appeared. Among the uniformly long bars, there was one that dipped significantly.


    ¡°Yes. As you know, higher values indicate a greater probability of a Rift forming in that location. But this low value is unprecedented¡­ I consulted with the developer of the meter, but I couldn¡¯t get a useful answer.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s the first time this has happened.¡±


    ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±


    The next screen disyed a certification photo of J, wearing a ck mask. It was the only remaining official image, unlike the low-quality footage from video media. Sayoung, with his ck fingertips brushing the mask, quickly scrolled through the report.


    The West Sea Rift had not reopened. There had been no progress in the research team¡¯s attempts to reopen the closed Rift. No Awakened being resembling J had been discovered.


    Summarizing the lengthy statements, it all boiled down to negatives. Just as Sayoung¡¯s hand moved more forcefully across the screen,


    It was confirmed that the J Tracking Team had been formed by the Awakened Management Bureau.


    Sayoung muttered.


    ¡°There are rumors that Gyugyu is in charge of the tracking team.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s correct.¡±


    Minggijak nodded briefly.


    ¡°I heard from Director Ham Seokjeong that he made a request to Gyugyu. I confirmed that he secretly entered Korea about a week after the ranking update.¡±


    Korea''s fifth-ranked Hunter, Gyugyu. His real name was Ban Gyumin. Despite being an S-rank Awakened, he imed to be a frence Hunter traveling the world, without being tied to any organization. Naturally, the government had tried every trick to keep an S-rank Awakened in the country, but Ban Gyumin had always managed to slip away like an eel.


    He only returned to Korea for two reasons: either the client or target was in Korea, or it was during the Seol holiday. Ban Gyumin returned every Seol just to eat tteokguk, as if to certify his Korean nationality.


    Minggijak continued quickly.


    ¡°Gyugyu has not left Korea since he submitted the Hunter qualification exam questions and is still here.¡±


    As Sayoung tapped the tablet screen, he asked,


    ¡°The top scorer in the Hunter qualification exam?¡±


    ¡°Well, you know¡­¡±


    Minggijak hesitated. When he flipped to the next screen, two certification photos appeared side by side.


    The Hunter qualification exam was notoriously difficult, not only passing but achieving a perfect score was a rarity. However, typically around five perfect scores would emerge in each session. This time, though, there were only two: D-rank Awakened Cha Uijae and C-rank Awakened Ryu Hanbaek.


    Sayoung tilted his head, staring at Uijae¡¯s face in the photo, which looked particrly stubborn.


    ¡°What¡¯s Uijae¡¯s record?¡±


    ¡°I filled in the eight-year gap with the details you instructed. If they conduct any background checks, they won¡¯t find anything unusual. There¡¯s also a decent excuse: ¡®I heard various things from regrs at the hangover soup restaurant¡­¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    This Hunter qualification exam was primarily filled with questions that only current Hunters who frequently ventured into dungeons and rifts could answer. Most candidates who only memorized the Special Law were eliminated, yet Uijae passed without difficulty¡­.


    Sayoung lowered his voice and instructed,


    ¡°Keep spreading false information. Make sure the Awakened Management Bureau doesn¡¯t notice.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Minggijak fell silent for a moment, then with his hands behind his back, he cautiously called Sayoung.


    ¡°Guild Leader, may I ask you one thing?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°¡­Am I right in what I¡¯m thinking?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯smands usually had clear purposes, whether to subdue someone or for the benefit of the Wave Guild. Therefore, until now, Minggijak had been able to execute orders without question.


    However, since the appearance of J in the rankings, there had been many instructions that were not immediately understandable in their intent.


    The first task he received after the ranking update was to track down J''s whereabouts. Up to that point, it hadn¡¯t raised any suspicions. Finding J, the hero of the country, was a reasonable request. Minggijak carried out his assigned tasks withoutint.


    But shortly after, he received a rather odd directive: to help conceal the rank of a certain individual. Following that, instructions to monitor the target and report everything, protect the target, and various other odd tasks continued to pour in.


    Sayoung wasn¡¯t someone who would issue orders without reason. Minggijak, who was quite perceptive, had connected the dots and found an answer to his questions.


    Though the subject was omitted, neither of them could be unaware of what Minggijak''s inquiry was hinting at. The purple gaze locked onto Minggijak. He swallowed hard and awaited a response. After a long silence, Sayoung spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s stillcking.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Sayoung turned off the tablet screen. The pitch-ck disy reflected his gas mask.


    ¡°Concrete evidence, certainty.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Sayoung stared nkly at the empty wall before suddenly speaking.


    ¡°There are two ck tickets left. I¡¯ll deliver them shortly, so handle them as you see fit.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Minggijak nced around, hesitating, then pointed to himself with his index finger.


    ¡°Are you talking about me¡­?¡±


    ¡°Who else is here?¡±


    ¡°Even though I¡¯m supposed to be in Mysia right now? If I show up here, it¡¯ll be a huge problem!¡±


    ¡°Just say you returned early.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a lie that would be caught as soon as they check the boarding list?¡±


    ¡°Then just toss them, or put them in amemorative frame; do as you wish.¡±


    ¡°Guild Leader! How about giving them to Romantic Opener instead? I¡¯m too weak to handle those tickets¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s at the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? Did he open the door again? No, G-Guild Leader!¡±


    Minggijak desperately, but quietly, called out to Sayoung, but he ignored the plea and crumpled his own ticket. The stunned Minggijak¡¯s expression twisted along with the surrounding scenery, disappearing as the neat waiting room emerged.


    Before him, curled up on the sofa, was Cha Uijae, facing directly. Perhaps due to the small size of the sofa, even while curled up, his legs slightly protruded outside. Seeing him like that brought back memories of crawling into a cramped room where he couldn¡¯t even lie down properly, which felt unpleasant. If they were going to keep him here, they might as well provide a bigger sofa, Uijae thought.


    Even as he approached silently, Uijae''s even breaths remained unchanged. It seemed he hadn¡¯t been able to sleep properly, but for some reason, he appeared to be sound asleep.


    Sayoung bent down slightly, gazing at Uijae¡¯s sleeping face, then raised his hand over it. The shadow of his ck hand enveloped Uijae¡¯s neat face. His hand could almost cover it entirely. Suddenly, Uijae¡¯s curled-up body looked small.


    Had he always been this small?


    He might be considered tall among regr folks, but among Hunters, he wasn¡¯t that big. As Uijae shifted slightly, the soft ck hair fell over his eyes. Sayoung quietly whispered.


    ¡°Cha Uijae.¡±@@novelbin@@


    He squatted down in front of the sofa. His gaze fell upon the slightly parted lips. Slowly, Sayoung closed his eyes. The calm breathing, barely audible, became a bit clearer. When he opened his eyes again, the gently rising and falling chest and the asionally fluttering eyshes captured his attention.


    The moment Uijae opened his eyes, it was a sight he wouldn¡¯t normally see. Sayoung crouched in front of the sofa, observing everything that could only be discovered in the silence.


    And right now, for Sayoung¡­


    He needed more than ever to have strong conviction.


    ---


    Inside the caf¨¦ at the convention center where the Craftsmen Exhibition was held, instead of regr part-time workers, Awakened part-time workers were serving. This was due to the unspoken adult reasoning that it was easier to handle problems if Awakened were involved rather than ordinary people if something went wrong.


    And a woman with long blonde hair walked in confidently. It was Honeybee, dressed in a ck leather jacket. She pulled down her sunsses slightly and scanned the menu.


    ¡°One Americano, one hot and one iced, bothrge, please.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll be 10,000 won.¡±


    ¡°Seriously¡­ that¡¯s cheaper than hangover soup. Here.¡±


    Just as Honeybee grumbled and handed over her card,


    ¡°Your taste seems to have be quite rich since Ist saw you, Bumblebee.¡±


    A drowsy voice called out. Hearing the voice, Honeybee quickly turned around to find its source. In a corner of the caf¨¦, a man sat with his legs crossed, half his white and yellow hair tied up. He appeared somewhat disheveled, and his slow movements made him look like azy person out for a drink.


    He had initiated conversation without even turning his body. The smiling Honeybee furrow


    ed her brows at him.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Gyugyu?¡±


    The man didn¡¯t move his body or head, but leaned back to look at Honeybee upside down. Ban Gyumin, the fifth-ranked Hunter in Korea, chuckled, a straw in his mouth.


    ¡°Why? I came to buy a weapon.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡±


    Honeybee scoffed, crossing her arms.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Who doesn¡¯t know you¡¯ve been banned from entering the Craftsmen Exhibition?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. If I have a friend up top, the ban¡¯s lifted.¡±


    ¡°Enough. What crazy stunt are you pulling here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really here to buy a weapon.¡±


    ¡°Does Jeongbin even know you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Well, if he knew, I wouldn¡¯t be here drinking coffee without cuffs, would I?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, how could you show up here after causing that mess?¡±


    The culprit who nearly destroyed thest Craftsmen Exhibition, Ban Gyumin, set his transparent brown liquid down. Pretending to clean his ear, he spokezily.


    ¡°Hey, did I want to fight? That guy started it, and of course, I retaliated¡­ Also, Bumblebee, isn¡¯t it normal to support a Korean when they¡¯re fighting a foreigner? Isn¡¯t that patriotism? Isn¡¯t that patriotism?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ This guy suddenly shows up and calls me a traitor.¡±


    As Honeybee gritted her teeth, she stepped closer to Gyumin and grabbed him by the cor. Gyumin, eximing ¡°Whoa!¡± as his drink nearly flew out of his hand, faced Honeybee¡¯s fierce expression.


    ¡°Youe back to Korea, and the first thing you do is make a scene, huh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, did it show?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t believe this.¡±


    Just as Honeybee reached into her inventory,


    BEEP BEEP BEEP¡ª


    A loud siren red, piercing their ears. Honeybee and Gyumin simultaneously turned to the source of the sound. The Awakened part-timer standing at the counter looked troubled, holding a bright red button. Honeybee gritted her teeth and muttered.


    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, isn¡¯t that the coffee you ordered, Bumblebee? They¡¯re alerting us with a siren instead of a vibrating bell.¡±


    ¡°Are you just picking random nonsense to say?¡±


    Fortunately, the identity of the button became clear quickly. Before the siren could end, a calm and measured stride entered the caf¨¦. A badge hung from his neck.


    ¡°Ah, good morning. What a surprise to see both of you together!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°However¡­.¡±


    As Honeybee stealthily withdrew her hand from her inventory, Gyumin¡¯s face froze in ce. Jeongbin, who appeared like the reaper after hearing the siren, stood with his arms crossed, wearing a warm smile.


    ¡°You two are not using the waiting room created with great care by Hong Yesung, are you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Indeed. The button given to the Awakened part-timer was¡­


    ¡°Is it for the waiting room used by Sayoung?¡±


    The vibrating bell to call Jeongbin!


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 71

    "Lee Sayoung is using the waiting room too. Why aren''t you guys using it?"


    With one sentence, Master Jung Bin managed to strike both of their consciences and take a jab at Lee Sayoung simultaneously. Smiling faintly, he waited for an answer. Honeybee, who had been ring at Gyu-Gyu and gripping his cor, let go and tried to distance himself from the situation.


    "Well, I was in the waiting room, but I just stepped out to get some coffee. I was nning on going back as soon as I got it. This guy started picking a fight with me first, though."


    "Ah, I see."


    "You can ask the staff here if you don¡¯t believe me."


    Honeybee made this excuse, banking on Jung Bin''s reputation for being lenient with cooperative people. Jung Bin narrowed his eyes at Honeybee but then nodded in agreement.


    "Is there any need to ask? I trust you, Honeybee."


    Honeybee, feeling victorious, shed a wide grin.


    "So, can I go now? The Book of Matthew is waiting for me."


    "Of course. See you at the main auction."


    "¡­Damn it. You better thank Jung Bin for saving you."


    Honeybee made a slicing motion across his throat toward Gyu-Gyu before heading to the counter. Gyu-Gyu just grinned as he joked.


    "Oh, scary."


    "Ban Gyumin."


    "Ah¡­ Now the real scary onees?"


    Gyu-Gyu let out a weakugh as he stirred his sikye* with a limp paper straw. Jung Bin, staring down at Gyu-Gyu¡¯s head, finally spoke slowly.


    "We lifted the entry ban under the Director''s orders, but¡­."


    "You¡¯re telling me not to cause trouble, right?"


    "It¡¯s a relief that you¡¯re aware."


    "Of course. Most foreign hunters are participating via phone this time for the Craftsmen Exhibition, right? Less chance of any trouble."


    Gyu-Gyu continued to babble on without being asked, then suddenly slumped forward, nting his face onto the table. He peered up at Jung Bin with only his eyes. Jung Bin, who had been smiling earlier, was now coldly staring down at him. Ban Gyumin curled his lips into a sly grin.


    "When we go after J, we won¡¯t be holding back, no matter what."


    "......"


    "If something happens in the process, you¡¯ll understand, right? Since it¡¯s under Ham Seokjeong¡¯s orders."


    "Oh dear, you¡¯veid the groundwork poorly. J wouldn¡¯t show up at the Craftsmen Exhibition."


    Jung Bin retorted coldly, but Gyu-Gyu remained steadfast.


    "He¡¯lle."


    "...How can you be so sure?"


    Without moving from his slumped position, Gyu-Gyu raised his right hand and pointed to the sky with his index finger.


    "I¡¯ve prayed a lot."


    "......"


    "Prayer works well for me, you know. My dad¡¯s a pastor."


    He smirked.


    ---


    11 AM. The hall where the main auction was being held was quite modest for a ce gathering rich hunters. Aside from arge poster of Hong Ye-seong giving a thumbs-up on the wall behind the podium, there wasn¡¯t much decoration. It seemed as if they had deliberately kept it in, perhaps out of concern it might be destroyed.


    On the right side of the podium was the phone auction area, while the center and left were reserved for ticket holders. After the disaster at thest exhibition, the organizers had not only divided the waiting rooms but had also installed partitions in the hall, preventing the hunters from seeing one another.


    ¡®They¡¯re really treating us like hamsters.¡¯


    Although it was just for show, it was a relief for Uijae. If Baewonwoo had tried to strike up a conversation with Lee Sayoung, it would¡¯ve been troublesome. Whoever caused this mess, the "super hamster," was someone Uijae was grateful to for now.


    Inside the partition, which only allowed a view of the podium, there was a two-seater sofa and a table. While the sofa wasrge enough for two, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for a secretary to sit beside his boss, so Uijae stood behind the sofa. Sayoung, with his legs crossed, sat looking straight ahead and murmured softly without turning around.


    "Why don¡¯t you sit?"


    "I¡¯mfortable here."


    "The auction¡¯s going to take a while¡ªmaybe a few hours."


    "I¡¯ll be fine."


    "Ah¡­."


    Sayoung chuckled briefly, propping his chin up with one hand.


    "You were sleeping so soundly that I thought you might be low on energy, but I guess not."


    "......"


    "If your legs get tired, just let me know. I¡¯ll move so you can lie down."


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    Uijae frowned. Lee Sayoung had been teasing him nonstop about the nap he took in the waiting room. And yet, he was the one who had told Uijae not to go anywhere and rest. But before Uijae could respond, the auction began.


    The auctioneer, standing on the podium, struck the gavel with a loud thud.


    "Thank you to all the hunters for attending. We¡¯ll now begin the Craftsmen Exhibition auction! The first item is an S-rank essory, a pair of earrings. They offer fire resistance, ice resistance, and increased mental strength."


    Hong Ye-seong, sitting in a cushioned chair on one side of the podium, had his arms crossed and was dozing off. A guard standing behind him whispered something in his ear, waking him up. He pulled the earrings from his inventory¡ªa pair iid with red gems.


    Hong Ye-seong, blinking sleepily, opened his eyes fully. A golden pattern shimmered in his pupils.


    Without turning around, Sayoung whispered.


    "Hong Ye-seong is the only S-rank crafter in the world¡­ and he owns almost everything you could dream of, so it¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s so favored by the system."


    "......"


    "That ability is called Appraisal Eye."


    As Hong Ye-seong ran his fingers over the earrings, blue letters appeared on the red gems, like stars in the sky. Uijae had seen those two letters on the tickets as well.


    ˇÐÇ


    The hunter who received the earrings carefully ced them on the table. Hong Ye-seong, showing little interest, began dozing off again. The auctioneer, raising his voice, dered:


    "The engraving of the master has been confirmed, so let the first auction begin! The starting bid is 1 billion won!"


    Uijae nced at Sayoung¡¯s slouched figure. With his hands shoved in his pockets, Sayoung showed no signs of raising his paddle.


    "3 billion won. The bids will now increase by 500 million each. 3.5 billion!"


    The items continued to find new owners as the auction went on. Despite the flow of high-priced bids, Sayoung still hadn¡¯t lifted his paddle even once. Whether he wasn¡¯t interested in anything or was waiting for something specific was unclear.


    At that moment, the auctioneer¡¯s voice took on a mysterious tone, his usual lively cadence dropping into a smooth murmur.


    "Everyone here knows Hong Ye-seong¡¯s unique trait."


    Deadline Finisher. The closer he was to a deadline, the more efficient and faster his work became. The people waiting in the back began moving busily.


    "Up until now, the highest-rank equipment made by Hong Ye-seong has been S-rank, but¡­."


    What Hong Ye-seong pulled out from his inventory next was¡­


    "Introducing the first-ever S+ grade weapon created by human hands since the day of the Rift!"


    It was a massive spear.


    A spear strikingly simr to the one J had once wielded.


    Uijae¡¯s fingertips, resting behind his back, trembled slightly. Though Sayoung seemed to nce back for a moment, Uijae couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the spear and the figure of Hong Ye-seong holding it.


    After examining the weapon he had crafted, Hong Ye-seong lifted his head and scanned the audience below with his Appraisal Eye. For a brief moment, it felt as though his golden eyes locked onto Uijae''s. Because at that very instant...


    "Cancel the auction!"


    Suddenly, Hong Ye-seong tossed the spear aside and shot to his feet, grabbing the auctioneer¡¯s gavel and shouting. The precious, first-ever S+ grade weapon tumbled across the podium, sending the audience into a frenzy. But Hong Ye-seong, raising his voice, ignored the chaos.


    "The auction will resume in two hours! Wait in the waiting room! Take this, too!"


    He pulled something like powder out of his pocket and scattered it into the air. In an instant, the entire hall was enveloped in ck smoke so thick you couldn¡¯t see an inch in front of you. The murmur of the crowd was swallowed by the smoke, leaving only silence.


    "......"


    Surrounded by stillness, Uijae finally came to his senses. He nced around, but all he saw was darkness. Anxiety crawled up his spine. Where was Sayoung? He needed to find him¡ªSayoung had the ticket to the waiting room. He had to regroup with him.


    Just then...


    "Coo-coo."


    A strange cry came from the floor. In the pitch-ck smoke, a white, smooth-looking... bird stood tall, staring nkly.


    ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯


    As if in response to his thoughts, the bird spread its porcin wings wide and let out a loud call.


    "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!"


    ¡®What the hell, it¡¯s a rooster?!¡¯


    Before Uijae knew it, he and the bird had escaped the ck smoke and were now standing in front of a grand gate, surrounded by a tall stone wall. Beyond the wall, he


    could see the distinctive tiled roofs of a traditional Korean house. This wasn¡¯t Jeonju Hanok Vige or a folk vige¡ªwhere had this giant tile-roofed house suddenly appeared from? As he stood dumbfounded, the clueless bird nudged the gate with its blunt beak.


    The gate swung open, revealing arge yard covered in grass and a magnificent traditional house. In one corner of the yard sat a massive furnace.


    And lying on the porch of the house, casually sipping on a thin, t ginseng stick, was none other than Hong Ye-seong. He propped himself up when their eyes met and tapped the spot beside him.


    "You¡¯re here! Come on over. Good job, Rooster."


    Despite having just canceled an auction by flinging a gavel around like a madman, causing chaos with ck smoke, and kidnapping Uijae via some idiot-looking porcin rooster, the atmosphere felt oddly casual.


    This guy¡­ something¡¯s not right.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®He¡¯s not just crazy. He¡¯s really out of his mind.¡¯


    Cautiously, Uijae walked over and stood in front of him. Hong Ye-seong tapped the seat beside him again.


    "Sit next to me."


    "I¡¯m fine standing."


    "Tsk, just sit already."


    The porcin rooster clumsily dragged over a blue cushion and hopped down from the porch, pecking at Uijae¡¯s ankle with its blunt beak. Worried the rooster might break its beak, Uijae gave in and sat on the cushion. The wind chime hanging from the eaves rang with a clear sound.


    Hong Ye-seong, sitting with one knee raised, began to speak lightly.


    "Sorry for bringing you here like this. I was in a bit of a rush!"


    "Isn''t this kidnapping?"


    "Oh, I¡¯ll send you back soon. No need to be so cold."


    Tossing the empty ginseng wrapper behind him, Hong Ye-seongughed heartily.


    "What should I call you? Should I just go with ''Secretary''? We¡¯ve met before, right?"


    "We have, briefly. In the restroom¡­."


    "Right, right. You¡¯re Sayoung¡¯s secretary, aren¡¯t you?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s correct. Just call me Secretary Kim."


    "Sure, Secretary Kim."


    Hong Ye-seong waved his hand dismissively, as if names weren¡¯t important.


    "Now, here¡¯s the thing. Nobody can enter this ce without my permission, so feel free to say whatever¡¯s on your mind. This is my little, precious handmade house, so just rx. Okay? Rx."


    "......"


    The atmosphere was cold. Something about the way he was setting up the conversation didn¡¯t feel right. Nam Woojin had once done the same thing¡ªinviting Uijae for a walk only to drag him into a secluded forest to drop a bombshell. As Uijae discreetly eyed the peaceful, garden-like surroundings and calcted the distance to the gate for a possible escape, Hong Ye-seong suddenly leaned in close. Startled, Uijae leaned back.


    The delicate golden patterns in Hong Ye-seong¡¯s unnervingly clear eyes expanded and contracted, swirling like living entities. Unreadable symbols appeared and disappeared within the patterns.


    A chilling sensation, as if a de were scraping against his skin, crawled all over Uijae''s body. Gritting his teeth, Uijae instinctively moved to grab Hong Ye-seong by the neck, but before he could¡ª


    Without blinking, Hong Ye-seong spoke.


    "It¡¯s in your inventory, isn¡¯t it?"


    "......"


    "Something I made."


    _____________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Sikye*: A traditional sweet Korean rice drink.

 Chapter 72

    "It¡¯s in your inventory, isn¡¯t it?"


    "......"


    "Something I made."


    Uijae¡¯s breath caught in his throat. He clenched his trembling right hand with his left, trying to steady himself. Hong Ye-seong¡¯s golden, patterned eyes were still fixed on him, as if they were piercing through every inch of his body.


    It felt like his very being was being peeled away, his core exposed for observation. A sickening wave of nausea welled up inside him, and Uijae gritted his teeth as he responded.


    "I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about."


    The only thing in his inventory made by Hong Ye-seong was the ticket, and he had already handed that over to Lee Sayoung before the auction began. He had nothing else that stood out. So he asked the most obvious question.


    "...Are you talking about the ticket?"


    "Pfft, if it were just the ticket, I wouldn¡¯t have dragged you here."


    Hong Ye-seong scolded him as if it was a stupid question, muttering to himself as if suddenly realizing something.


    "Oh, right, I forgot to start with this."


    Gone was the lighthearted demeanor from earlier¡ªhe now looked like someone on the edge of sanity.


    "I didn¡¯t bring you here to argue with you, Secretary Kim. I¡¯m certain of it. I saw it clearly with these eyes¡ªsomething I made is in your inventory."


    Uijae nced around the air cautiously. The only things in his inventory were potions, mana stones, and the basilisk¡¯s fang.


    ¡®It¡¯s probably the mana stone he¡¯s after¡­¡¯@@novelbin@@


    The potions were mass-produced, and if Hong Ye-seong were interested in the mana stone, he would¡¯ve outright demanded it. Hong Ye-seong was known for his relentless pursuit of mana stones.


    That left the basilisk¡¯s fang, but there didn¡¯t seem to be any connection between them. After all, Uijae had retrieved it from the West Sea Rift, and when J entered the rift, Hong Ye-seong had still been an ordinary person, not yet awakened.


    As Uijae pondered, Hong Ye-seong continued quickly.


    "Sorry, but I don¡¯t have much time. And dragging this out won¡¯t do you any good, either. Won¡¯t Lee Sayounge looking for you? Let¡¯s just get what we both want and part ways."


    Finally, Uijae took a good look at Hong Ye-seong¡¯s face.


    "Whatever you want, I¡¯ll give it to you. Just take it out."


    Behind the golden patterns swirling in his eyes, Uijae noticed bloodshot veins.


    Why had Hong Ye-seong kept his eyes closed for most of the auction? You¡¯d think someone so dedicated to their craft would be curious about how their meticulously made weapon found its new owner. At first, Uijae had thought he was simply sleepy from pulling an all-nighter, but now it seemed there was more to it.


    The system is typically generous to the awakeners it chooses. After granting them new abilities and skills driven by desperate wishes, it rarely intervenes. However, for abilities that infringe on the system¡¯s rules, even those directly granted by the system, harsh penalties were imposed.


    Just like the spatial teleportation ability of the "Romantic Opener," the "Appraisal Eye," which allowed a limited view into others'' inventories, must also vite the system¡¯sws.


    He could have easily ended the ticket inspection with the Appraisal Eye, but instead, he had gone through the trouble of using the ticket detector¡ªa weaker substitute for the Appraisal Eye¡ªin the restroom...


    ¡®There¡¯s probably a penalty that prevents him from using the Appraisal Eye for too long.¡¯


    As the patterns continued to rotate and new symbols emerged, more and more blood vessels burst behind the golden glow. Yet, Hong Ye-seong stubbornly refused to close his Appraisal Eye.


    "Just take it out already," he pressed.


    The sensation of being yed alive intensified with every change in the patterns, and Uijae had to bite down on the inside of his mouth to avoid gouging out Hong Ye-seong¡¯s eyes. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.


    In the midst of this tense standoff, Uijae¡¯s phone began to buzz in his pocket. The only people who would call him were Haeun or Lee Sayoung. Either way, it was a call he needed to take. If it was Lee Sayoung, things would be even more serious. After all, the person who had been standing right behind him had suddenly vanished without a trace.


    ¡®He¡¯s probably looking for me right now¡­¡¯


    A chill ran down Uijae¡¯s spine. He couldn¡¯t afford to upset Sayoung again, especially after working so hard to calm him down earlier. And who knew if the "apologize-no-matter-what" strategy would work again this time¡ªafter all, such ast resort should only be used once a day.


    Ignoring the difort coursing through his body, Uijae reached into his pocket for his phone.


    "Rooster!"


    "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!"


    The moment Hong Ye-seong closed his eyes and then snapped them open again, the golden patterns became even more vivid. Uijae, stunned by the renewed sensation of unease, froze in ce. In that brief hesitation, the porcin rooster let out a loud cry and shot into the air like a bolt of lightning, snatching the phone from Uijae¡¯s hand.


    In the blink of an eye, the rooster had stolen the phone, leaving Uijae staring at it in disbelief. The rooster, however, simply sat contentedly on top of the phone, tilting its head curiously.


    "Cluck."


    ¡®Damn, how is this chicken so fast?¡¯


    Meanwhile, Hong Ye-seong groaned as he covered his eyes, and a thin trickle of blood slowly dripped down his face. When he shielded his eyes, the sensation of being yed alive disappeared, and Uijae could breathe a little easier.


    "Oh no¡­ Rooster, did you take it?"


    "Coo-coo."


    "Good job. Sorry! This is my first kidnapping, and I forgot to take your phone."


    The phone continued to vibrate, its persistent buzzing making the rooster tremble slightly as it sat on top of it.


    A soft breeze blew across the porch, carrying the metallic scent of blood. The blood streaming from Hong Ye-seong¡¯s eyes showed no signs of stopping. Uijae, momentarily setting aside his anger, checked on his captor¡¯s condition.


    "Are your eyes okay?"


    "Ah! It¡¯s because I used the Appraisal Eye for too long. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got something for this."


    Hong Ye-seong answered cheerfully as he pulled out a white bandage-like item from his inventory and wrapped it around his eyes. In no time, he looked like a blind hermit living in a mountain cave. He spoke as casually as ever.


    "Tada! Nam Woojin made this for me. It helps a lot when I wear it."


    "Then could you return my phone for a moment? I need to let them know what¡¯s going on. You know how Guild Leader Lee Sayoung is."


    "Nope. The phone stays with me¡ªit¡¯s my hostage. But if you cooperate, I¡¯ll help smooth things over. I¡¯ll even vouch for you!"


    "About that¡­"


    Uijae rubbed his throbbing temples and sighed, deciding to be honest.


    "Sorry, but I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    "......"


    Hong Ye-seong stared intently at Uijae despite the bandage over his eyes. His gaze was so intense that Uijae was d he was wearing a mask. After a brief pause, the phone¡¯s vibrations started up again. The porcin rooster yawned, opening its beak wide. After a long silence, Hong Ye-seong murmured.


    "Seems like you¡¯re not bluffing."


    "No. I¡¯m genuinely confused."


    "Hmm¡­"


    With his head tilted, Hong Ye-seong frowned thoughtfully.


    "Isn¡¯t there a weapon in your inventory? Something long, like a sword. About this big."


    He spread his arms wide, describing a shape that felt oddly familiar to Uijae.


    ¡®...Could it be?¡¯


    Was he talking about the basilisk¡¯s fang? But did Hong Ye-seong really make it? Uijae¡¯s face contorted in disbelief.


    The basilisk¡¯s fang was a weapon that had appeared out of nowhere inside the West Sea Rift. The timing didn¡¯t match, but¡­ showing it to Hong Ye-seong might reveal something about the rift. And somehow, Uijae had a gut feeling that he *needed* to do this.


    J had a duty to retrieve those buried in that ce.


    Ignoring the blood in his mouth, Uijae opened his lips.


    "...I do have something."


    Hong Ye-seong leaped up with excitement.


    "Aha, I knew it! Let me see."


    "But¡­ I¡¯m not sure this is something you made, Hong Ye-seong."


    "Come on, let me be the judge of that. Just show me already!"


    Uijae carefully retrieved the basilisk¡¯s fang from his inventory. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t react violently this time, screaming about how it wasn¡¯t worthy of being wielded. He cautiously handed it to Hong Ye-seong.


    Hong Ye-seong cradled the sword in his arms, running his hands over the sheath and hilt. After a long moment of feeling the weapon¡¯s form, he muttered softly.


    "...This wasn¡¯t made by me."


    Was it just a simple misunderstanding? Uijae bit his lip and clenched his fist.


    Just then, Hong Ye-seong gripped the hilt of the basilisk¡¯s fang and unsheathed it with practiced ease. The ck,


    obsidian-like de gleamed as he pulled it free, and at that exact moment, a white system message appeared before Uijae¡¯s eyes.


    ---


    **[Evaluatingpatibility...]**


    ---


    At the same time, Hong Ye-seong whispered.


    "But it¡¯s also something I made."


    "Huh?"


    ---


    **[Updating ¡®Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯ thoughts!]**


    **[Would you like to confirm?]**


    ---


    In his bewilderment, Uijae gave a small nod.


    ---


    **[Updating...]**


    **[Basilisk¡¯s Fang thoughts: Father?]**


    ---


    "Father?"


    What the hell was that supposed to mean? Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, Hong Ye-seong¡¯s fingertips began to glow faintly blue. As his fingers glided over the de, small blue points of light, like stars, appeared on the ck surface. These points soon formed letters, which then formed a name.


    ˇÐÇ


    "Crafted by Ye-seong."


    "......"


    "You know my name, right?"


    Uijae nodded silently. Gently, as if caressing a child, Hong Ye-seong stroked the de. Despite the sharpness of the weapon, his hand remained unscathed.


    "I always inscribe my name on everything I make. Only my touch can confirm its existence. It¡¯s kind of like a certificate of authenticity."


    "......"


    "My informationwork is top-tier, you know? The moment a good material or a powerful monster appears, I get messages from all over¡ªwhether it¡¯s in Korea or abroad. They always ask, ¡®Can you make something out of this?¡¯ Want to know why?"


    With a flick of his finger, Hong Ye-seong sent a clear, unfamiliar sound resonating from the de. It almost sounded like a child¡¯sughter.


    "Because I¡¯m the only person in the world who can turn things like that into weapons."


    "......"


    "But even I¡¯ve never heard of a basilisk appearing. I¡¯ve never heard of it, never seen one, never touched its spoils. So there¡¯s no way I made this sword."


    Of course he hadn¡¯t heard of it. The basilisk was the ruler of the West Sea Rift, and the only person who had met that ruler was J. Only J knew the truth.


    "But here this sword is, telling me that I made it."


    Why was Hong Ye-seong¡¯s inscription on a weapon Uijae had found in the rift?


    He had never entered the West Sea Rift, and none of the hunters who had ventured there had ever owned the basilisk¡¯s fang. Uijae was sure of these two facts. No one knew the West Sea Rift as well as J did.


    All the thoughts swirling in his mind tangled into a chaotic mess. His pulse quickened.


    "Where did you get this?"


    "......"


    "...Come on, Secretary. I¡¯m just as surprised as you. I didn¡¯t expect something like this to show up. I thought my weapons might¡¯ve been floating around some ck market somewhere."


    Hong Ye-seong scratched his head, more exasperated than angry.


    "Ugh, I get it. Even if I ask, you won¡¯t tell me."


    "......"


    "Look, I¡¯ll make a deal. I won¡¯t ask who you are, I won¡¯t dig into your identity, and I¡¯ll keep this little chat between us a secret. I¡¯m not curious at all. Heck, I¡¯ll even make you a weapon if you need one."


    "......"


    "But in return, you need to be honest with me."


    Hong Ye-seong gently set the basilisk¡¯s fang down and grabbed Uijae¡¯s arm. Uijae instinctively moved to shove him away but hesitated. The loose bandage slipped down, revealing Hong Ye-seong¡¯s glowing, bloodshot eyes.


    "Where did you get this?"

 Chapter 73

    The Basilisk¡¯s Fang found inside the West Sea Rift. A fang that Hong Ye-seong didn¡¯t make, yet bears his inscription.


    In truth, even without the inscription, considering the fang¡¯s personality, Hong Ye-seong¡¯s im seemed usible. Like father, like child, as they say.


    As Uijae remained silent, deep in thought, Hong Ye-seong began to whine.


    "Huh? Huh? Come on, please tell me! I¡¯m going crazy with curiosity."


    It really did resemble its "father"¡ªstubborn and quick to assert its will.


    But the real "father" of the Fang, Hong Ye-seong, knew nothing about the West Sea Rift. Simple logic would suggest that the Hong Ye-seong in front of him wasn¡¯t the one who made it, but rather a different version. Given that the Rift distorts time and space, it wasn¡¯t an entirely far-fetched thought. Uijae had already confirmed the possibility himself.


    "There are plenty of cases where someone looks exactly the same but is apletely different person."


    There was no trace of Hong Ye-seong in the fragments shown by Yoon Gaeul, but those were merely pieces from a world that had been destroyed. Somewhere out there, a fragment featuring Hong Ye-seong might exist. Uijae stared nkly at the grass swaying in the breeze.


    ¡®I¡¯ll have to meet Yoon Gaeul again¡­.¡¯


    If he could discover how a fang crafted by another version of Hong Ye-seong appeared in the Rift, it might help him recover the people buried there. And he needed to ask more about the end of the world.


    As Uijae stayed lost in thought, Hong Ye-seong tapped the floor impatiently.


    "Hey? Secretary Kim, you¡¯re listening to me, right? You¡¯re thinking about it, aren¡¯t you? I can wait."


    Uijae¡¯s gaze drifted past Ye-seong to the porcin rooster, which was trembling non-stop, likely due to the phone vibrating beneath it ever since it sat on top. The only person who would be this persistent with their calls¡­ was probably Lee Sayoung. Uijae nced skyward, watching the fluffy clouds drift by. It was a moment of escapism.


    ¡®Great, I¡¯m screwed.¡¯


    "Secretary Kiiiim!"


    Uijae¡¯s eyebrow twitched at the voice that sounded as if it was on the verge of hysterics. Not only was Hong Ye-seong disturbing his thoughts, now he was interrupting his moment of escape too. Uijae let out a long sigh. He had restrained himself three times already. A surge of irritation bubbled up.


    ¡®...Why is this guy acting so self-righteous after kidnapping me?¡¯


    Lee Sayoung¡¯s masked face floated into his mind, and Sayoung¡¯s teasing voice began ying on a loop.


    ¡®I thought I told you to avoid unnecessary contact with others. If you like making friends so much, why don¡¯t you join a mountain-climbing club or something?¡¯


    Just imagining Sayoung¡¯s taunts made Uijae¡¯s fists clench. It felt like climbing one mountain only to find another, even taller one in front of him.


    ¡®Even if I escape, I¡¯ll still have to listen to Lee Sayoung¡¯sintster, huh?¡¯


    Uijae quietly spoke up to the fidgeting Hong Ye-seong.


    "You¡¯re asking where I got this from, right?"


    "Oh! Finally ready to answer, huh? Yes, where did you get it?"


    Uijae stared at Hong Ye-seong, who was nodding eagerly. His posture, once straight on the cushion, had gradually be more slouched.


    "Why do you want to know?"


    "Huh?"


    Hong Ye-seong blinked in confusion. By now, Secretary Kim¡¯s posture was as lopsided as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one knee up, arm drapedzily over it, his tone brusque.@@novelbin@@


    "Why should I tell you anything? What reason do I have to trust you?"


    "Huh? Me?"


    "Yeah. You¡¯re offering just a verbal promise and expecting me to spill everything. Who does that? You should be offering a proper contract. If I tell you, what will you give me in return? Isn¡¯t that how it works?"


    "I said I¡¯d keep it a secret! And I¡¯ll even make you a weapon!"


    "Oh, yeah, I¡¯m sure nobody will find it suspicious when a hunter from the secretary¡¯s office suddenly shows up with a weapon made by Hong Ye-seong."


    Uijae had initially nned to brush it off with some sarcasm, but after being tossed around by Lee Sayoung all day, he was starting to get genuinely irritated.


    "And why should I have to answer just because you ask? Isn¡¯t this kind of a power trip?"


    "Wow¡­ I¡¯ve never been called out like this since I awakened. This is kind of refreshing."


    Hong Ye-seong, now caught up in usations of abuse of power, pounded his chest in disbelief.


    "I¡¯m Hong Ye-seong! And what¡¯s wrong with a parent asking where their lost child was found? Are you really not going to tell me?"


    He tried appealing to emotions, but it wasn¡¯t working on Uijae at all.


    If Uijae revealed that he had found the Fang in the West Sea Rift, it would be the same as dering that he was J. Was there any benefit to revealing that? Absolutely none. And since Hong Ye-seong had close ties with the Awakener Management Bureau, even if he promised to keep quiet, the information could easily leak out.


    There didn¡¯t seem to be any valuable information left to gain from Hong Ye-seong, and on top of that, Lee Sayoung was likely throwing a fit outside.


    "You just said a minute ago that you didn¡¯t make it. Now you¡¯re calling yourself its parent? Which is it?"


    With no more room to retreat, Uijae, emboldened by his situation, started pushing back hard, mocking Hong Ye-seong relentlessly. Ye-seong¡¯s mouth fell open.


    ¡®This guy¡­ Did he pick up his snark from being around Lee Sayoung too much?¡¯


    To make things worse, the man sitting in front of him was wearing a gas mask, making it feel like Lee Sayoung himself was sitting there.


    "You also said you¡¯ve never even seen a basilisk. I¡¯d like to tell you, but¡­ honestly, it¡¯s hard to trust you."


    Sure, Secretary Kim had never seen a basilisk either, but the aura he was giving off suggested he knew far more than he let on. Flustered, Hong Ye-seong mmed the Fang¡¯s ck de down. He raised his unscathed hand and waved it.


    "Look, it¡¯s got my name on it, and this sharp little guy isn¡¯t turning its edge against me. It recognizes its creator."


    "Let me see it."


    Suspiciously, Ye-seong handed over the Fang. The de, which had seemedfortable in the loving hands of its "father," now writhed as if it was struggling, but Uijae gripped it tightly.


    ---


    **[Updating Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s thoughts!]**


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: If you strike me, I¡¯ll cut your hand off.]**


    ---


    The Fang didn¡¯t recognize its owner, but Uijae had a n.


    ---


    **[Trait: Basilisk¡¯s Poison (S+) is now active.]**


    ---


    ¡®Get a grip.¡¯


    ---


    **[Updating Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s thoughts!]**


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: I take back what I just said.]**


    ---


    With the Basilisk¡¯s poison active, Uijae effortlessly subdued the Fang¡¯s rebellious attitude. Without hesitation, he brought his hand down onto the de. Though itnded squarely on the de, his hand remained unscathed. Hong Ye-seong¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Uijae,pletely unfazed, spoke casually.


    "Maybe the de¡¯s just dull. I don¡¯t think this proves anything."


    "Wait! Let me sharpen it. I¡¯ll sharpen it and we¡¯ll try again."


    Somehow, their roles had reversed, and Hong Ye-seong was now the one trying to prove that he was the Fang¡¯s creator. His obsession with confirming his "paternity" had taken over.


    ¡®Thank goodness Hong Ye-seong is so simple.¡¯


    As Uijae watched him get up and search for a whetstone, he let out a sigh of relief. But just then, Hong Ye-seong paused and muttered.


    "¡­Something seems to be happening outside."


    "Pardon?"


    "......"


    Without answering, Hong Ye-seong fidgeted with his phone. A momentter, the mechanical voice of a TTS message echoed through the air.


    ¨DMr. Hong Ye-seong, could you please move up the auction restart time? ^^ We¡¯re encountering some issues.


    ¨DPlease disregard the previous message, Mr. Hong Ye-seong.


    ¨DDo NOTe outside under any circumstances.


    The messages sounded like something straight out of a horror story¡ªthest words of a survivor. Uijae¡¯s face turned grim, but Hong Ye-seong looked serious.


    "If Jung Bin is saying something like this¡­ it means the situation outside is really bad, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "......"


    "Gyu-Gyu is probablyying low after what happenedst time, and the others won¡¯t do anything because they¡¯re afraid of me. So the only one who would pull something is¡­"


    Their gazes met in the air. It was clear they were both thinking of the same person. To confirm their suspicion, the porcin rooster had finally stopped vibrating. Uijae squeezed his eyes shut.


    ¡®Damn it, Sayoung. What kind of mess did you get into this time¡­?¡¯


    ---


    A groan escaped from Gyu-Gyu as his disheveled white hair spread across the ground. A pair of ckbat boots pressed firmly onto his shoulder,


    "Urgh, ah¡­."


    Gyu-Gyu groaned, his messy white hair sprawling over the ground. A ckbat boot pressed firmly onto his shoulder, causing him to let out a strangled breath. He coughed violently, wing at the boot with his hand while twisting his lips into a sneer.


    "You think stepping on me like that is going to break my shoulder?"


    "......"


    The figure in the gas mask standing on Gyu-Gyu¡¯s back tilted his head slightly while holding a phone to his ear. From the other end, a faint automated message announced that the call could not be connected. A mocking voice asked from beneath the mask.


    "Who are you trying to call? ¡­J?"


    The moment the name "J" left his lips, the boot pressed down harder, a loud cracking sound resonating as bones shifted unnaturally. But Gyu-Gyu, still sneering, kept his gaze fixed on the gas mask. Lee Sayoung¡¯s voice dropped to a menacing whisper.


    "What makes you think you can get away with this?"


    "Cough¡­ ah, damn that hurts¡­."


    "You should be careful who you pick a fight with¡­."


    Suddenly, a wailing siren pierced the air from somewhere nearby. Gyu-Gyu instinctively turned his head to nce toward the noise, but Sayoung¡¯s foot dug harder into his shoulder, shifting closer to his corbone, forcing Gyu-Gyu to writhe in pain.


    "Just because you mercenaries are used to fighting dirty, doesn¡¯t mean you can y the same game here."


    Sayoung, phone still wedged between his shoulder and ear, began taking off his gloves, when¡ª


    *Shing!*


    A ck chain shot toward him. Sayoung clicked his tongue and stepped back in time to avoid it. Gyu-Gyu clutched his shoulder, coughing violently as he was freed from the pressure. The chain, having missed its mark, slithered back to its owner. The sound of metal clinking echoed as a deep sigh followed.


    "Lee Sayoung¡­ Gyu-Gyu¡­"


    The sound of the sirens had been apanied by the arrival of Jung Bin. He calmly wrapped the returning chain around his arm as he approached, his usually gentle smile reced with a stern expression.


    "I think an exnation is in order."

 Chapter 75

    ¡°Hyung¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I really need to tie you up somewhere.¡±


    ¡®Says the one who¡¯s tied up...¡¯


    Despite Uijae¡¯s awkward look toward Sayoung, Sayoung continued to mutter gloomily.


    ¡°Every time I take my eyes off you, something happens, or you just vanish¡­.¡±


    *Crunch!* The gas mask in his ck hand was crushed as if it were paper. Even Gogo trembled from the intense atmosphere. When Uijae patted his smooth head, Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes sharpened even more. His head tilted slightly, and his curly hair gently fell over his face.


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Care to exin why you suddenly disappeared and then reappeared all chummy with *that guy*?¡±


    ¡°Is that ¡®guy¡¯... me, by any chance?¡±


    Hong Yeseong cluelessly pointed to himself, tilting his head. Shut up. Uijae barely resisted the urge to cover Yeseong¡¯s mouth. Even in this tense moment, Sayoung didn¡¯t give Yeseong a single nce and kept his gaze fixed solely on Uijae. Uijae blinked repeatedly, trying to send a signal with his eyes.


    ¡°Well, Guild Leader, I was going to exin everything¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm... go ahead.¡±


    Sayoung, clearly annoyed, kept pretending not to notice, even though they were making direct eye contact through the lenses. He even blinked back in sync with Uijae!


    ¡®Damn it, I can¡¯t exin everything with Hong Yeseong right here, you idiot.¡¯


    ¡°Maybe I should say it? Sayoung! Secretary! Can I exin?¡±


    ¡°You shut up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Hong Yeseong drooped his head in disappointment.


    ¡°And let go of that arm.¡±


    The arm that had been draped over Uijae¡¯s shoulder slowly withdrew. After silencing Yeseong with a single word, Sayoung leaned back on the sofa and nodded toward Uijae, indicating that he expected to hear an exnation.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s like this¡­¡±


    Just as Uijae gritted his teeth and opened his mouth to speak¡ª


    ¡°Hm? Hong Yeseong-nim, you¡¯re out of the waiting room?¡±


    A familiar voice chimed in. Jung Bin, with a puzzled look, entered the hall alongside a visibly exhausted Baewonwoo and a sullen Honeybee. Of all the possible people, it had to be the ones who¡¯d stered their posters all over the hangover soup restaurant.


    Uijae immediately summoned the self he had used earlier in the morning and began shrinking into himself, ying the role of a timid new hire in the secretary team.


    Honeybee, spotting Hong Yeseong, ruffled his hair in frustration.


    ¡°You! Ugh¡­ If you were going to postpone the auction, couldn¡¯t you have just said so? What¡¯s with the powder and all that nonsense? Now there¡¯s more trouble because of you.¡±


    ¡°Trouble? What trouble?¡±


    ¡°Ask Jung Bin!¡±


    Jung Bin, who had approached the trio locked in a tense standoff, rubbed his chin.


    ¡°Well, I did leave a message for you, asking you not toe out. You didn¡¯t see it?¡±


    ¡°You ask me not toe out, but everything looks perfectly fine? Nothing¡¯s broken. I thought Lee Sayoung might¡¯ve poisoned the ce, so I even brought detox items.¡±


    ¡°Yes, fortunately, we managed to stop it before any poison was used, thanks to Honeybee quickly sounding the rm bell.¡±


    Jung Bin smiled and shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Though Gyu-Gyu¡¯s shoulder did get a bit busted¡­ at least the building is still intact, so I guess it¡¯s within eptable limits?¡±


    ¡°I sincerely apologize for that. Our guild leader¡­ well, he tends to be like this sometimes, but still¡­ yes, please send the medical bill to the Wave Guild.¡±


    Baewonwoo bowed repeatedly in apology. Sayoung, who had been watching with a sour face, muttered, ¡°He threw the first punch, though.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Sayoung, keep your mouth shut!¡±


    ¡°Haha, yes, we did take into ount that Gyu-Gyu made the first move. That¡¯s why we only tied up his wrist, right?¡±


    Jung Bin, still smiling, turned his gaze from Hong Yeseong to another figure standing beside him¡ªUijae, who was still trying to y the timid secretary.


    ¡°Hmm, and the person next to Hong Yeseong-nim is¡­?¡±


    ¡°Ah, this is the secretary from the Wave Guild.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s gentle eyes narrowed slightly.


    ¡°But, why are you two together? You were there when the event started, but after the ck powder disappeared, I didn¡¯t see you during the hall check.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because I kidnapped the secretary!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    Both Jung Bin and Baewonwoo¡¯s eyes widened at the sudden confession of kidnapping. Meanwhile, Sayoung¡¯s gaze became even more intense, but Uijae did his best to ignore it. Hong Yeseong, sticking to the story they had agreed on earlier, continued excitedly.


    ¡°Well, I originally nned to kidnap Lee Sayoung, but since it was my first time using that powder, I got a bit confused. So, I told Gogo to bring me a gas mask, but instead, it brought the secretary. The kid¡¯s still young, you see.¡±


    ¡°Gogo?¡±


    By now, the distressed clucking from Gogo was unmistakable. This time, it sounded like a cry of injustice. However, its owner, Hong Yeseong, continued speaking shamelessly.


    ¡°And once the secretary was here, I couldn¡¯t just kick him out, could I? That would be so heartless! Plus, I couldn¡¯t go back and kidnap Lee Sayoung again. I mean, this poor guy works under such a terrible boss. It was obvious he¡¯d get chewed out if he just went back. So, I offered him some tea and let him rest a bit since he seemed so exhausted.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Jung Bin, who had been silently listening, finally turned his attention to Uijae.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Uijae deliberately raised his voice to sound as shaky as a goat, answering in the highest, thinnest voice he could muster.


    ¡°Kim Seungbin¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I see. Kim Seungbin-nim, is everything Hong Yeseong said true? Were you threatened or forced in any way?¡±


    ¡°N-No! Master Hong¡­ apologized for the mistake and treated me to green tea. He said he couldn¡¯t let me leave right away, so I stayed here for a while¡­ oh, and he introduced me to Gogo as well.¡±


    Uijae quickly thrust Gogo forward from his arms. Gogo tilted its smooth head and let out a soft, ¡°cluck.¡± After confirming the porcin-like chicken, Jung Bin¡¯s expression softened slightly. He poked Gogo¡¯s blunt beak with his finger and asked.


    ¡°I see. One more thing, if I may?¡±


    ¡°Yes? Yes! Of course!¡±


    ¡°When you were kidnapped, where were you taken?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it was apletely different ce from here. It was a traditional house, with a courtyard¡­ oh! And there was a kiln too.¡±


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°Cluck-cluck-oo!¡±


    Jung Bin, who had been observing Uijae intently, shifted his focus to Gogo, who let out a long, drawn-out cluck from Uijae¡¯s arms. With a smile, Jung Bin gently rubbed Gogo¡¯s smooth chin.


    ¡°Thank you for exining. So, Hong Yeseong-nim, why exactly were you trying to kidnap Lee Sayoung?¡±


    ¡°Oh? Well, obviously, I had something to discuss with him!¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have waited until after the Artisan Exhibition?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not something that could wait. Anyway, I¡¯ve exined my side, so now you exin yours. What¡¯s the big deal here, huh? What happened?¡±


    As Hong Yeseong tried to brush off the situation, Honeybee crossed his arms and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Well, here¡¯s the thing¡­¡±


    ---


    After the ck powder that had clouded everyone¡¯s vision cleared, the Hunters participating in the Artisan Exhibition found themselves staring at an empty tform. Instead of Hong Yeseong and the S+ grade weapon he had crafted, only his poster remained.


    ¡°Where¡¯d he go?¡±


    ¡°Is this a terrorist attack?¡±


    ¡°Was he kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s the one who spread the powder.¡±


    ¡°Are we really restarting in two hours?¡±


    The murmuring of the Hunters filled the hall. The effort to separate the sections with partitions proved futile, as the curious and sensitive super-powered hamsters began to venture out of their sections, sniffing around.


    Jung Bin, pressing a hand to his forehead, groaned and began issuing instructions to the nearby administrative Hunters.


    ¡°Half the team should start checking the Hunters¡¯ tickets in the hall, then guide them to the waiting room. The other half will assist me in searching the center for Hong Yeseong-nim.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible he went to the waiting room?¡±


    ¡°That would be a relief. But we must prepare for the possibility that he didn¡¯t. Ensuring his safety is our top priority.¡±


    Once Jung Bin and the Hunters hastily disappeared, the remaining staff began moving through the crowd, checking tickets one by one. Unfortunately, because they were moving in groups, progress was slow, and they failed to notice the inevitable¡ªan encounter between two super hamsters.


    Just as Sayoung began looking around, Gyu-Gyu sauntered over, draping himself over the partition and grinning.


    ¡°Looks like you weren¡¯t nning on buying anything, huh? Our number two, Lee Sayoung. Honeybee¡¯s been raising his paddle all over the ce, trying to snag a weapon.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even touch your


    paddle, huh? It¡¯s still set just like it was from the start.¡±


    Without sparing him a nce, Sayoung pulled out his phone, pressed a button, and held it to his ear. Gyu-Gyu watched him in silence before tugging at his half-tied hair, letting it fall messily.


    ¡°You know¡­ I¡¯ve got a little project going on right now. Not that you wouldn¡¯t know about it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a hassle, but it¡¯s fun, following this thin thread and seeing where it leads.¡±


    The endless ringing of the call in Sayoung¡¯s ear continued.


    ¡°But then¡­¡±


    *Shing!* A sharp ribbon transformed into a dagger, slicing through the air toward the pale neck beneath the gas mask. However¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    *Ting!* Sayoung caught the de with his bare hand, showing no sign of surprise. Hezily rolled his eyes toward the weapon¡¯s owner.


    Gyu-Gyu grinned and dusted off his hands.


    ¡°Every time I try to dig into something, something blocks me. And every time I check, it¡¯s the Wave Guild¡¯s hand in the way.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°So now I¡¯m curious. Why is the former number one going out of his way to block the government¡¯s hero hunt?¡±


    Sayoung responded coldly.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just not skilled enough.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure. I may becking in skill, but I had a thought.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu wiped the smile from his face, his expression turningpletely nk as he spoke softly.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you prefer J to stay dead?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the air around them became eerily still. Even the Hunters who had been eavesdropping fell silent. Sayoung slowly turned to face Gyu-Gyu. The phone still held to his ear emitted nothing but the monotonous tone of a voicemail.


    ¨DThe number you have dialed is unavable. Please leave a message¡­.


    ¡°Would you rather J stay gone?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Gyu-Gyu took a step forward, his gaze piercing through the lenses of Sayoung¡¯s mask as he spoke again.


    ¡°J¡ª¡±


    ---


    ¡°As you¡¯d expect, things escted between Lee Sayoung and Gyu-Gyu after that. It looked like one of them was going to end up dead, so I borrowed the call bell from one of the staff and pressed it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your quick response.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, of course.¡±


    Honeybee grumbled, twisting his hair, while Baewonwoo covered his face with both hands and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I should¡¯ve been there. But Sayoung insisted on moving separately with the secretary this time.¡±


    ¡°Haha, well, what¡¯s done is done. At least I¡¯m grateful the building wasn¡¯t covered in poison.¡±


    ¡°But hey, I acted quickly, don¡¯t I deserve a reward?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, how about some hangover soup?¡±


    ¡°Three bowls, and I¡¯ll think about it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the hangover soup restaurant after the exhibition.¡±


    ¡°Count me in too!¡±


    As the regrs of the hangover soup restaurant joked around, Uijae unconsciously nced over at Sayoung. Even with his hands tied and slouched on the sofa, Sayoung was quietly staring at Cha Uijae¡­


    And smiling.


    ________________________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Gogo is Hong Yeseong''s pet, described as a porcin-like chicken. It seems to be a small, somewhat cute, and smooth-headed creature that Hong Yeseong uses in his schemes, such as when it mistakenly brought Uijae (disguised as the Wave Guild secretary) instead of Lee Sayoung. Gogo also emits distinctive clucks, which are sometimes interpreted as conveying emotions like frustration or injustice.

 Chapter 76

    ¡°What? Hangover soup? I want to go too!¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯te. Get lost!¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on! Once you taste it, you won¡¯t be able to forget it.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Yeseong-nim, don¡¯t you have to go to Mount Bukhan soon? Do you really have time to go to the hangover soup restaurant?¡±


    As Hong Yeseong tried to push his way between the regrs, a cartel of rankers quickly formed, blocking his entry. Meanwhile, behind this fortified hangover soup cartel, the strange standoff between Cha Uijae and Lee Sayoung showed no signs of ending.


    The problem was that while Sayoung was smiling, it was the kind of smile that would have been better left unshown. His lips were twisted into a crooked grin, but his eyes weren¡¯t smiling at all, the lightless violet gaze still fixed on Cha Uijae.


    Gogo, who had been nestled in Uijae¡¯s arms, let out a small ¡°cluck¡± and buried its head deep into Uijae¡¯s chest. Clearly, Gogo was scared of Sayoung. Uijae gently stroked Gogo¡¯s smooth head, letting out a quiet sigh. He thought Sayoung¡¯s mood had lightened a bit, but¡­


    ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s not gonna happen.¡¯


    In fact, if anything, Sayoung¡¯s mood had probably gotten worse. Uijae narrowed his eyes at the mocking smile on that pretty face. At that moment, Baewonwoo¡¯s face turned pale upon spotting Sayoung.


    ¡°Sa, Sa, Sa, Sayoung-ah.¡±


    ¡°What? Oh, sh¡ª. Why¡¯d he take off his gas mask? You trying to kill someone with that re?¡±


    Honeybee, also looking in Sayoung¡¯s direction, shuddered at the sight. As soon as Sayoung noticed their stares, the forced smile on his face disappeared, returning to his usual indifferent expression. He adjusted his posture, crossing his legs, and rested his tied wrists on top of his knee.


    ¡°What did I do?¡±


    ¡°What did you do? You were ring like you wanted to kill someone just now.¡±


    ¡°Are your eyes broken?¡±


    ¡°Oh, just look at that attitude.¡±


    ¡°Honeybee, let¡¯s just ignore it, okay? Please?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to see it happen earlier. Can¡¯t you guys fight again for me?¡±


    Honeybee shot a middle finger at Sayoung, prompting Baewonwoo to quickly jump in and defuse the situation, while Hong Yeseong egged on the chaos. In the midst of the madness, Sayoung finally looked away from Uijae and spoke in a calm voice.


    ¡°Jung Bin.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sayoung-nim.¡±


    Sayoung raised his bound hands, and the sound of chains clinking echoed clearly.


    ¡°When are you going to release these?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was nning to release them after the auction. You can still raise the paddle with your hands bound, and worst case, Kim Seungbin can do it for you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ really?¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head slightly, looking at Jung Bin with a calm expression.


    ¡°I could probably break something here even without using my powers.¡±


    ¡°Haha, are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Does it sound like a threat?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The cheerful mood among the hangover soup cartel instantly dropped. Sayoung was indeed a killer with no blood or tears. He had the uncanny ability to kill the atmosphere with just a few words. Jung Bin sped his hands behind his back and smiled.


    ¡°Thew applies to everyone, Sayoung-nim. Even if Gyu-Gyu made the first move, you did break his shoulder, didn¡¯t you? And you almost used poison.¡±


    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t in the end, did I?¡±


    Baewonwoo, who had been watching the situation unfold, quickly stepped in between the two.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine. You can release him afterward! Haha, you¡¯re doing a great job, really.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with that?¡±


    Sayoung asked irritably, but Baewonwoo subtly motioned toward Uijae, signaling him to tear up the ticket and head to the waiting room. Uijae appreciated the gesture, but¡­


    ¡®...He¡¯s the one holding the ticket, though.¡¯


    Of course, to avoid escting the situation, they had to iste Sayoung. Uijae ced Gogo down on the floor and slowly approached Sayoung. Sayoung¡¯s irritated but still pretty face turned up to look at him. Uijae bent down slightly and whispered quietly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the waiting room.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything there. Let¡¯s go inside first.¡±


    At Uijae¡¯s soothing words, Sayoung, who had been staring at the gas mask nkly, let out a long sigh. He pulled out the ticket from his inventory and tore off a corner. Honeybee¡¯s shocked face, Hong Yeseong¡¯s curious expression, Jung Bin¡¯s unreadable gaze, and Baewonwoo¡¯s approving thumbs-up all faded away as the scenery changed.


    After everything that had happened in just a few hours, the quiet waiting room felt incredibly weing. Uijae let out a deep breath as he removed his gas mask.


    Sayoung, still bound at the wrists, strode over to the sofa and sat down with a thud. Tapping his foot on the floor, Sayoung began.


    ¡°So, I get that you went into Hong Yeseong¡¯s space¡­¡±


    The interrogation began right away. Uijae grimaced, pouting slightly.


    ¡°Why did that bastard drag you in there?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°What exactly did you talk about in there?¡±


    ¡°Well, um¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear it from you. In detail.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s piercing gaze swept up and down Uijae¡¯s body, enveloping him like a. Uijae, hands behind his back, stood awkwardly before Sayoung, who gestured toward the seat beside him.


    ¡°Sit.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just stand.¡±


    ¡°Sit down.¡±


    It was probably better to sit down next to him so they wouldn¡¯t have to look at each other directly. Uijae sat down a little distance away from Sayoung and started thinking.@@novelbin@@


    He couldn¡¯t reveal everything they¡¯d talked about with Hong Yeseong. Sayoung had seen the Basilisk¡¯s Fang in the Gwangjin-gu Rift, but owning the weapon and having one made by Hong Yeseong were two very different things. Uijae found himself umting more secrets he couldn¡¯t tell Sayoung.


    ¡°Well¡­ Gogo took me to Hong Yeseong¡¯s space.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°And Hong Yeseong was lying down, eating ginseng, and told me to sit, so I did.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    This was bad. Without talking about the Basilisk¡¯s Fang, there wasn¡¯t much to say. Once again, Uijae would have to twist the truth. He stared nkly at the white wall, then continued.


    ¡°Then¡­ suddenly, Hong Yeseong activated his appraisal ability and said he knew everything.¡±


    ¡°Knew what?¡±


    ¡°That I had a mana stone.¡±


    ¡°A mana stone?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ the mana stone Hong Yeseong was looking for, you know?¡±


    ¡°How the hell did he know about that?¡±


    Sorry, I told him, Uijae thought, but kept his mouth shut. Telling Sayoung about the Basilisk¡¯s Fang would essentially reveal that he was J. And judging by Honeybee¡¯s earlierments, it seemed like Sayoung didn¡¯t have the best opinion of J.


    ¡°Would you prefer J stayed dead?¡±


    ¡°Would it be better if J never reappeared?¡±


    Uijae bit his lip quietly. Was Sayoung upset because he lost his number one ranking to J? No matter how much he thought about it, Uijae couldn¡¯t recall ever encountering someone like Sayoung while he was active as J. The fragmented memories of Sayoung and J didn¡¯t seem unfriendly¡­.


    Suddenly, Sayoung cursed under his breath.


    ¡°Ah¡­ damn it.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are you swearing all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t think straight¡­¡±


    With a brief sigh, Sayoung slumped over, his soft hair falling against Uijae¡¯s shoulder and neck. Uijae blinked in surprise and turned to look. Sayoung had curled up and leaned against him. Uijae, frozen in ce with his arms awkwardly raised, blinked in confusion.


    ¡®What¡¯s with him?¡¯


    Was this a new kind of attack? If the goal was to throw him off, it was a massive sess. Uijae was more flustered now than he¡¯d been in a long time.


    But despite leaning against him, Sayoung didn¡¯t move any further. The only sound that followed was his soft breathing. The chains clinked slightly, and then Sayoung spoke again, leaving Uijae even more stunned.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired¡­¡±


    Did Sayoung really just say that? It sounded almost like he was whining. While Uijae stared, unsure how to respond, Sayoung continued in a slow murmur.


    ¡°You keep making me dig.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You keep making me worry.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so annoying.¡±


    Ending with the word ¡°annoying,¡± it was definitely still Sayoung. Uijae opened his mouth to say something but then closed it, unsure what to say. The breathing near his neck seemed a little heavier now.


    ¡®Oh.¡¯


    *Clink.* The soft sound of chains, and then Uijae reached out to pat Sayoung¡¯s shoulder. The shoulder, which had tensed briefly, slowly rxed.


    Jung Bin¡¯s chains worked by binding the source of an awakener¡¯s power, leaving them restrained. Anyone who was used to using their powers after awakening would naturally struggle when that power was suddenly taken away. Even though only Sayoung¡¯s wrists were bound, he probably felt like his whole body was tied up. The burden must have been immense, even if he didn¡¯t


    show it.


    As Uijae patted his firm shoulder, he clicked his tongue softly.


    ¡®It¡¯d almost be easier if he just started yelling again¡­.¡¯


    Sayoung mumbled once more.


    ¡°It¡¯s so damn annoying¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I get it, so just rx for now.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Take a nap if you can.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Sayoung didn¡¯t respond, instead pressing closer. Uijae couldn¡¯t help but feel like he wasforting a child. He almost let out augh but held it back. When he raised his hand and gently stroked Sayoung¡¯s hair, the tension in Sayoung¡¯s body seemed to melt away. His hair was softer than Uijae had expected.


    Just then, a new message shed on the wall.


    ---


    **The auction will resume in 30 minutes.**


    **Hunters waiting in the lounge are requested to return to the hall once the countdown ends.**


    **Time remaining: 29:59¡­**


    ---


    As the timer began to count down, Uijae watched it, silently hoping that¡ªfor now¡ªtime would move just a little more slowly.

 Chapter 77

    As Uijae absentmindedly stroked Sayoung¡¯s hair, staring at the white wall, he suddenly nced down at the ck hair resting against him.


    ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯


    The skin-to-skin contact felt strangely cold, and something seemed off. While Uijae had seen plenty of people bound by Jung Bin¡¯s chains in the past, this was the first time he¡¯d seen it affect someone so physically.


    When he gently pushed Sayoung aside to get a better look at his face, a slow-moving hand grabbed his arm. However, the gripcked strength, more like it was ced there than anything.


    Sayoung slowly lifted his head and moved his lips.


    ¡°¡­Where.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Where are you going now?¡±


    Uijae could feel the grip on his arm tightening. Was this guy about to break his fingers? Even though he knew that wasn¡¯t likely, a wave of unease welled up within him. He quickly patted the hand that clung to him, trying to reassure him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, you idiot. Where would I even go?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Uijae met Sayoung¡¯s eyes, which were filled with ack of trust so severe it was as if there wasn¡¯t a grain of belief in him. Uijae¡¯s lips twisted in frustration.


    ¡°Hey, seriously, I¡¯m not going anywhere. I don¡¯t even have anywhere to go.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to check on your face. Stay still for a moment.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Sayoung mped his mouth shut. Uijae turned his body toward him, cupping his face with both hands and examining him closely. Sayoung¡¯s already paleplexion had turned even whiter, and he was sweating. His violet eyes were slightly dazed and unfocused.


    He didn¡¯t even have the energy to keep up his usual shameless bravado, which meant something was definitely wrong. Was there a medical team stationed around the exhibition? Uijae furrowed his brows and asked.


    ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re sick, you need to say something. Staying quiet won¡¯t make you better.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Uijae had seen countless Hunters try to hide their injuries, acting like everything was fine only to copseter. In dungeons, in rifts¡ªit was always the same story. There was always someone who thought they could just tough it out, without any regard for those who would have to carry their body outter.


    His mouth went dry, and his fingers began to tremble. Uijae pulled his hands away from Sayoung¡¯s face and leaned back.


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    Thest thing he wanted was for Sayoung to notice his shaking hands. Sayoung raised his head slowly, his expression confused.


    ¡°¡­Why.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You should lie down. You¡¯ll feel better if you rest.¡±


    Uijae tried to gently push Sayoung back and stand up, but once again, Sayoung grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. The gap between them narrowed as Sayoung¡¯s gaze grew sharper.


    ¡°Damn it, you said you weren¡¯t leaving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m just giving you some space.¡±


    Uijae snapped back, trying to pry Sayoung¡¯s hand off, but Sayoung wasn¡¯t having any of it. Uijae needed time to calm the nausea rising in his stomach, but Sayoung wasn¡¯t giving him even a moment to breathe.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just sit over there.¡±


    ¡°Another lie¡­¡±


    Did this guy trust anyone? Who had shattered all of Lee Sayoung¡¯s trust in people?


    Just as Uijae was about to snap back, Sayoung suddenly leaned his entire body weight against him, mming his head into Uijae¡¯s shoulder.


    Where this surge of strength came from, Uijae didn¡¯t know, but it didn¡¯t hurt much. His body rocked slightly, but that was it. Uijae looked down at the ck head resting on his shoulder with a bewildered expression.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sick.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I said I¡¯m sick.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The words ¡®so what¡¯ were on the tip of Uijae¡¯s tongue, but he swallowed them. The body leaning against him was unnervingly cold, and Sayoung was still sweating. Uijae could hear his irregr heartbeat, thumping loudly.


    ¡®Ah.¡¯


    Uijae nced up at the ceiling, biting his lip.


    ¡®This is so annoying¡­¡¯


    Was this the kind of frustration Sayoung had been talking about earlier? Uijae stared nkly at the heavy body leaning against him, then let out a deep sigh, letting his own body rx. The weight of Sayoung¡¯s body pushed him backward, and soon he found himself lying against the soft cushions, with Sayoung sprawled over him. Or rather, it was more like Sayoung had copsed on top of him.


    Uijae muttered under his breath, pinned beneath Sayoung¡¯s heavy body.


    ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m tired too, so let¡¯s not make a big deal out of this, okay?¡±


    ¡°Cha Uijae.¡±


    After a long silence, Sayoung finally spoke Uijae¡¯s name, his voice as blunt as ever. Uijae absentmindedly patted his back and responded in a dull tone.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been dropping the formalities, huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only letting it slide because you¡¯re sick.¡±


    Uijae rolled his eyes. While they wrestled with each other, the auction¡¯s resumption was drawing near.


    ¡®I just need to stay like this until the auction starts.¡¯


    He listened to the breathing close by, closing his eyes for a moment. But then, a sudden thought shed through his mind, and he opened his eyes again.


    ¡®What am I going to do when this guy¡¯s hands are freed?¡¯


    At that moment, the rapidly decreasing countdown hit zero, and a loud rm sounded. It was simr to the siren Uijae had heard early that morning when he went to the bathroom. Sayoung, who had been rubbing his forehead against Uijae¡¯s shoulder, cursed quietly.


    ¡°Ah¡­ damn it.¡±


    Uijae patted his back.


    ¡°It¡¯s time. Get up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you not going to participate in the auction?¡±


    After hesitating for a long time, Sayoung finally sat up, leaning heavily against the sofa¡¯s backrest. As his weight lifted off Uijae, he could finally breathe again. Uijae sat up, straightening his rumpled clothes and putting his gas mask back on. Meanwhile, Sayoung remained slumped back with his eyes closed, his face scrunched up in difort.


    ¡®He looks like a pile ofundry.¡¯


    After Uijae finished getting ready, he pointed toward the door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Sayoung let out a long sigh, got up, and slowly began walking. As they stepped outside, the presence of others immediately became apparent. It seemed like they were thest ones to arrive. No wonder, considering the auction had been interrupted with an S+ grade weapon about to go on sale¡ªeveryone must have been anxious to continue.


    Sayoung sank deep into the sofa at his seat, leaning back and rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache, his eyes tightly shut. Uijae quietly took a spot behind him.


    The auctioneer they had seen earlier climbed back onto the tform. He bowed his head.


    ¡°Thank you so much for your patience. We will now resume the auction!¡±


    With effort, the event staff ced a massive spear onto the table set up on the stage.


    ¡°This is the first S+ grade weapon crafted by Hong Yeseong, ¡®The Titan¡¯s Spear¡¯! The starting bid is¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Sayoung spoke up.


    ¡°Hold up the paddle for me.¡±


    ¡°Huh? The auction hasn¡¯t started yet.¡±


    ¡°Just hold it up. Now.¡±


    As soon as Uijae grabbed the paddle from the table and raised it, the hall went silent as everyone¡¯s attention turned toward him. Sayoung slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°Whatever the price, I¡¯m buying it¡­ so back off.¡±


    His low, clear voice swept through the hall. For a moment, silence reigned, but it was quickly broken by the angry shouts of the super-powered hamsters nearby. Meanwhile, Sayoung closed his eyes again, unfazed by the chaos he had caused.


    Just then, themotion was interrupted by a loud ¡°pop,¡± and the walls surrounding the hall suddenly crumbled into sand. Someone had dismantled the walls. The hall, which had momentarily fallen silent again, grew even more chaotic.


    Still holding the paddle, Uijae nced to his left. Honeybee, sitting next to arge man in a gray suit, had turned his entire body around to re at Uijae. When Uijae looked to his right, Baewonwoo was staring at him with his mouth hanging open.


    Uijae couldn¡¯t help but shift his gaze toward the stage. There, Hong Yeseong sat with his neck stretched out like a turtle, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he nced back and forth between Uijae and Sayoung.


    Uijae instinctively realized what had just happened. Sayoung had dered war on the super hamsters, and in that moment, Cha Uijae¡­


    ¡­had be their g-bearer.


    ¡®Ah, crap.¡¯@@novelbin@@


    In other words, he was now Sayoung¡¯s pawn, the first target the super hamsters would aim for.


    The auctioneer¡¯s trembling voice broke through the chaos.


    ¡°W-W-We will begin the auction!¡±


    ---


    The faint sound of cheers from the chaotic auction seemed to reach Jung Bin¡¯s ears, but he simply raised his head slightly, then shrugged and focused forward. After all, this space waspletely separated from the rest of the venue, so there was no way he could hear what was going on outside.


    He walked over to the metal desk in the center of the room.


    ¡°Now then¡­¡±


    Jung Bin ced a file down on the desk with a sharp p and pulled out a chair, sitting down with a squeak. The dark room, reminiscent of an interrogation room at the Awakener Administration Bureau, was his personal waiting area. He sped his hands together and looked across the table at the man sitting opposite him. Under the soft lighting, the man¡¯s yellow hair seemed almost white.


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t the auction started? Shouldn¡¯t you be watching it?¡±


    ¡°Well, nothing serious should happen. This matter takes precedence.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ are you going to let me go, then?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Seated across from him was Ban Gyumin¡ªalso known as Gyu-Gyu¡ªhis shoulder wrapped tightly in bandages. Although he was bound to the chair with ck chains, he still wore a rxed smile.


    ¡°I think we have a lot to discuss, Gyu-Gyu.¡±


    Hearing his name, Gyu-Gyu grinned.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. Have you released Lee Sayoung?¡±


    ¡°No, we n to release him right after the auction, just before he leaves.¡±


    ¡°Ah,e on, you should just haul him off to the Awakener Administration Bureau.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu wiggled his bound body in the chair, grumbling.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little too lenient? You¡¯ve got me all tied up in here, but you¡¯re being way too easy on him.¡±


    ¡°Well, you did start the fight. And besides¡­¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s eyes turned cold as he stared at Gyu-Gyu.


    ¡°Even though you were assigned to track down J¡­ you¡¯ve been very quiet on that front.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The director has insisted that I get an answer from you today.¡±


    ¡°So boring.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you plenty of time. Now it¡¯s time for your answer.¡±


    Jung Bin tapped his fingers on the desk and spoke.


    ¡°Who is J?¡±

 Chapter 78

    ¡°Who is J?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±


    Gyu-Gyu, dragging out his response, swayed his upper body from side to side with a smirk.


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to tell you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to,¡± Jung Bin replied firmly, clenching his fist. The ck chains constricting Gyu-Gyu¡¯s body tightened even further, and a new strand looped around his neck, as if to strangle him. Gyu-Gyu shrugged, sighing.


    ¡°Alright, alright. But first! Answer me one thing, and I¡¯ll tell you everything right away.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hear it first, then decide.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing big¡­¡±


    Gyu-Gyu twisted his stiff neck in a circle.


    ¡°Why are you looking for J?¡±


    ¡°Because those are my orders,¡± Jung Bin answered curtly, gesturing for Gyu-Gyu to get to the point. Gyu-Gyu clicked his tongue and scowled.


    ¡°Ugh, think about it without the orders. Do we really need to find J?¡±


    The overhead light swayed precariously. Jung Bin remained silent, staring at Gyu-Gyu¡¯s smirking face as he answered coldly.


    ¡°What¡¯s your point? Stop beating around the bush and get to it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ funny.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu blew a puff of air, making his disheveled yellow hair flutter. Beneath the messy locks, his brown eyes glimmered sharply.


    ¡°I mean, do we really need to go to all this trouble, hunting down J like a rat?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Take Ham Seok-jeong, for example. The guy couldn¡¯t stop me from leaving the country, and now the higher-ups are on his case. But does it make sense that he¡¯s so obsessed with finding J that he put me on the job?¡±


    Ban Gyumin¡ªGyu-Gyu¡¯s real name¡ªwas the fifth S-rank awakener in South Korea. Before him, all of the S-ranks had chosen to stay and establish themselves in the country. But Ban Gyumin was different. He dered that he wouldn¡¯t stay in South Korea and instead became a frence Hunter, traveling around the world. Naturally, this caused an uproar, and Ham Seok-jeong had worn down his shoes trying to persuade Ban Gyumin to stay.


    As Jung Bin remained silent, Gyu-Gyu, not really expecting an answer, continued to ramble.


    ¡°And it¡¯sughable that we¡¯re supposedly looking for J because of the apocalypse. We don¡¯t even know when, where, or how the end wille, but we¡¯re chasing after J for that? What, we can¡¯t stop it without J?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Are we really nning to throw someone who barely survived the rift back in there?¡±@@novelbin@@


    Gyu-Gyu grinned, his toneced with sarcasm. Jung Bin couldn¡¯t respond. Ban Gyumin¡¯s tongue was as sharp as a serpent¡¯s in the Bible.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you and J in the same era? The first S-rank and the second S-rank. You two must¡¯ve known each other well, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The words stirred memories buried deep within Jung Bin, memories he had long locked away and kept hidden.


    Nine years ago.


    Jung Bin stood in front of the mirror, taking a deep breath. His hair was neatly trimmed, and he was dressed sharply in his police academy uniform. As he made one final check to ensure everything was in order, the bathroom door swung open, and a middle-aged man with a sharp, tiger-like face poked his head in.


    "Jung Bin, are you ready?"


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Good, good. I like that you''re keeping yourself in line."


    The man,ughing heartily, was Song Joheon, a well-known A-rank Hunter. Jung Bin nodded respectfully, and Song Joheon motioned for him to follow.


    "Come on. We shouldn¡¯t keep busy people waiting."


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Remember what I told you. Don¡¯t stare too long, and don¡¯t try to dig too much."


    "I remember."


    "Good, good. He¡¯s not too difficult, so it should be fine."


    There was a strange awkwardness in his voice, but Jung Bin didn¡¯t show any reaction and quietly followed him. They walked down a long corridor until they reached a door.


    ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    Song Joheon cautiously opened the door to reveal a spacious conference room. In the center, at an oval-shaped table, sat a young man slouched in his chair, flipping through a thick file. His face was entirely hidden behind a mask, and his ckbat suit was covered with dried bloodstains.


    Jung Bin recognized him immediately. He was J, the hero who had saved the country.


    J, however, didn¡¯t seem to care about the people entering the room. He remained focused on whatever he was reading,pletely ignoring their presence. Jung Bin stood straight, his posture rigid, and saluted. Song Joheon also smiled and bowed his head.


    "J! This is the newly awakened S-rank, Jung Bin. Say hello."


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Finally, J turned his head towards Jung Bin. It felt as if their eyes met through the mask. J put down the file he had been reading and asked casually.


    ¡°Oh¡­ How old are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m 21 years old.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re younger than I expected.¡±


    J¡¯s voice was oddly modted, making it impossible to discern his gender or age. Was it just his imagination, or did J seem to be in a good mood? Jung Bin couldn¡¯t help but study J more closely.


    The J who appeared on TV and radio was a reassuring hero for the country. But the person in front of him, wearing that mask¡­


    ¡®Is he even an adult?¡¯


    Jung Bin had always been observant. And no matter how he looked at it, J didn¡¯t seem like an adult. At most, he could be described as a high schooler caught between adolescence and adulthood. Could he really be a minor? While Jung Bin was lost in these thoughts, J stood up and walked toward him.


    As their eyes met, J abruptly held out his hand.


    "Hi, I¡¯m J."


    "Ah, I¡¯m Jung Bin. Pleased to meet you."


    Still caught up in his thoughts, Jung Bin didn¡¯t immediately realize what was happening until Song Joheon nudged him. He quickly grabbed J¡¯s hand. J¡¯s hand was bony, firm yet surprisingly soft. After a few shakes, J pulled away and asked with a friendly tone.


    ¡°What¡¯s your awakened ability?¡±


    Jung Bin nced at Song Joheon, who gave him a small nod of approval before answering.


    ¡°Binding. I can restrain my opponent.¡±


    ¡°Monsters?¡±


    ¡°No, awakeners.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great. There¡¯s been a surge in awakened criminalstely, so that¡¯s really useful.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Haha, he awakened just when we needed him.¡±


    Song Joheon chuckled before continuing. ¡°J, you¡¯ve heard about the rift that opened in Danyang, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a helicopter ready. You should get going.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    J, scratching his head as if it were a bother, turned and waved to Jung Bin.


    ¡°It was nice meeting you. See you next time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes! It was a pleasure.¡±


    With a short farewell, J opened the window wide and jumped out. A cold breeze blew into the room as he disappeared. Song Joheon gave Jung Bin a light tap on the back as he stared at the open window.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get too interested.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°I said, don¡¯t get too interested in J.¡±


    Jung Bin looked puzzled, and Song Joheon shrugged.


    ¡°We need a hero right now. The more you know about J, the more ufortable it¡¯ll get. I¡¯m just warning you in advance. Keep your distance. But don¡¯t make him an enemy either.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s expression must have given him away. As they left the conference room, Song Joheon muttered under his breath.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other choice. Until things settle down, the powerful ones will have to make sacrifices. The country¡¯s in a mess¡­¡±


    Jung Bin nced at the file left on the table. It had been left open, and the contents were clearly visible.


    ---


    **Swamp Toad**: Prevent it from spitting out mountains ¡î¡î¡î Target the head and mouth first.


    **Red-tailed Spear Dragon**: It¡¯s a problem if it reunites with its group! Pierce its throat before it calls its allies.


    ---


    What J had been reading was a list of monster names and strategies, written in a firm, deliberate hand. A strange feeling of difort settled in Jung Bin¡¯s chest. If he looked any further, he knew he might start questioning things he shouldn¡¯t. With that, he quietly turned away and followed Song Joheon out.


    ---


    Back in the present, Jung Bin quietly stared at Gyu-Gyu. The swaying light had finallye to a halt.


    ¡°We have to find him, even if it¡¯s not an order.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    He remembered J¡¯s back, always heading toward the rift alone. The sight of him jumping without hesitation. Jung Bin had turned away back then. The odd difort he had ignored as a child still lingered in his memory.


    He couldn¡¯t let the same thing happen again.


    ¡°To protect him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Jung Bin mmed his hand down on the metal table and stood, looking down at Gyu-Gyu.


    ¡°So tell me. Who is J?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, let me think¡­ I don¡¯t know?¡±


    After all the memories Jung Bin had revisited, that was thezy response he got. His expression hardened, and he raised his finger, ready to tighten the ck chains around Gyu-Gyu¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Man, you¡¯re impatient. I¡¯ve already got a lead! ¡­Though it¡¯s been cut off.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu quickly added.


    ¡°Look into Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°I did my own digging and narrowed down a few J candidates¡­ but all the info keeps getting cut off at Lee Sayoung and the Wave Guild. That guy¡¯s been feeding fake info, annoying everyone.¡±


    As soon as Gyu-Gyu said this, a memory shed in Jung Bin¡¯s mind.


    The day the rankings were updated, Lee Sayoung had stood before the memorial, staring at J¡¯s name. Hadn¡¯t he said back then that everything that came out of the rift was his?


    Jung Bin eyed the humming Gyu-Gyu with suspicion.


    ¡°And why are you suddenly being so cooperative?¡±


    ¡°Huh? You seem like one of the ¡®J supporters.¡¯¡±


    The chains wrapped around Gyu-Gyu¡¯s neck slithered back onto the table and coiled around Jung Bin¡¯s wrist instead. Puzzled, Jung Bin asked.


    ¡°Did you have a connection with J?¡±


    ¡°Nah, nothing special.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu smiled brightly.


    ¡°Once, that friend killed a monster that was about to destroy our church.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, I do repay my debts, after all~¡±


    Gyu-Gyu closed his eyes and began humming a tune again. It was a song Jung Bin had never heard before.


    ---


    Meanwhile, back in the auction hall, where the Hunters were left to their own devices, it was like an 8-ton truck with its brakes cut.


    ¡°Seven! Ten! Two! Seven! Eleven!¡±


    The price skyrocketed as the bidding paddle was raised again and again, with no signs of stopping.


    ¡°Hey! Stop outbidding me! Are you going to put down that paddle or what?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh. What are you going to do about it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already cut off the phone lines so the foreigners can¡¯t bid.¡±


    ¡°Good job. Go for the kill!¡±


    In the midst of this battlefield¡ªwhere super hamsters wielded their weapons against each other¡ªCha Uijae, the idental protagonist who had thrown gasoline on the fire, sat with his legs trembling, supporting Lee Sayoung, who was slumped like a wet towel.


    ¡®Where the hell is Jung Bin when you need him¡­?¡¯


    He was missing Jung Bin more than anyone else at that moment.

 Chapter 79

    For someone who had be the focal point of attention, Uijae was in a surprisingly peaceful state¡ªif you didn¡¯t count the fact that Lee Sayoung¡¯s heavy body was slumped against him, oblivious to its own weight. But, that aside, things were rtively calm.


    *Thunk! Thunk!*


    "Sayoung! Is this how it¡¯s supposed to be?"


    "Ah, just hang in there until the bid is settled, Vice Leader!"


    "This is right, isn¡¯t it?"


    "Yeah. Don¡¯t fight back, just block... we need an excuse, after all."


    *ng! ng!* The des aimed at Sayoung were deflected by a massive wall and ttered to the floor, making things surprisingly quiet behind that barrier.


    Sayoung, eyes closed,zily answered as Baewonwoo, who had been holding his stance in front of the sofa, exhaled loudly and readjusted himself. From the moment Sayoung had made a small hand gesture, Baewonwoo had been blocking the torrent of attacks aimed at them.


    "Leader! Can I shout now?"


    "Go ahead."


    Taking a deep breath, the red-haired woman who Uijae had seen a few times at the hangover soup restaurant¡ªKang Jisoo¡ªlifted her paddle,beled with the number 7, and roared with a voice like a lion.


    "SEVENNNNNN!"


    The entire building seemed to shake from the sheer volume. Two Hunters, who had been brawling nearby, clutched their ears and copsed. Uijae noticed that even the paddle on the table in front of him was shaking. The auctioneer, who had been groaning in pain, hurriedly grabbed the microphone again.


    "Y-Yes... Number 7!"


    An auction is supposed to be a process where the highest bidder wins the item, right? They even provided paddles for this. So why were these super hamsters using them to beat people instead? Rather than calling out higher bids, these Hunters were physically reducing theirpetition.


    And Uijae saw it clearly. Just beyond Baewonwoo¡¯s solid back, Honeybee leaped like a butterfly and smashed a fellow Hunter¡¯s head with his paddle. *Crack!* The satisfying sound of the paddle breaking echoed. Honeybee cursed quietly and tossed the broken piece aside.


    "Matthew! Do you have a spare?"


    "No."


    A low voice, as deep as a cave, answered. Uijae nced to his left. In the midst of this chaotic war zone, there was only one other ce that remained calm besides where Uijae and Sayoung were seated¡ªthe spot where Honeybee and a bear-like man sat. While Honeybee had started flying around and attacking other Hunters, the bear of a man remained in his seat, unmoving.


    At that moment, the man¡ªMatthew¡ªturned his gaze toward Uijae. Or rather, toward Sayoung, who was resting with his eyes closed against Uijae¡¯s shoulder. Despite his bear-like physique, Matthew, dressed in a gray suit and wearing silver-rimmed sses, gave off an intellectual air.


    "Lee Sayoung, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you did something about this situation?"


    Sayoung, still resting his head on Uijae¡¯s shoulder, repliedzily.


    "Why should I? I didn¡¯t do anything."


    "You provoked the pride of these Hunters, didn¡¯t you?"


    "Isn¡¯t it their fault forcking patience? It¡¯s not my problem if they didn¡¯t learn self-control."


    Even if his body was weak, Sayoung¡¯s sharp tongue was as quick as ever. Sayoung¡¯s snide remarks began to flow effortlessly. Caught between the top two Hunters¡ªranked second and third¡ªCha Uijae, the current number one, just wanted to run away to somewhere quiet. He wished they would talk without involving him.


    "¡­¡­."


    Matthew didn¡¯tsh out or argue. He just stood there, listening silently. Sayoung clicked his tongue and let out a short sigh before adding.


    "Just keep an eye on Honeybee. You¡¯ll need an excuse when Jung Bin shows up."


    "Understood. Thank you for the advice."


    Matthew bowed his head respectfully. Wait¡ªdid he take that as advice and not sarcasm?


    ¡®Is this guy some kind of saint¡­?¡¯


    As Uijae stared in disbelief, Matthew began rummaging through his inventory. Uijae shot a cautious side-eye his way, wondering if he would suddenly attack. But instead, Matthew pulled out¡­


    *A nostalgic snack! Grilled taffy.*


    It was a bright yellow packet of taffy.


    Despite the odd stares, Matthew casually opened the packet and raised his right index finger. A small me flickered to life at his fingertip.


    What happened next was even more absurd. Matthew began to grill the taffy over the me, adjusting the heat with perfect precision. Smelling the toasted sweetness, Sayoung mumbled.


    "That guy is grilling again¡­"


    "...Does he grill taffy often?"


    "Well¡­"


    Sayoung, his voice hoarse, muttered weakly.


    "When the guild leaders gather, he sometimes grills buttered squid for everyone."


    Is he the guild¡¯s snack guy? Uijae¡¯s expression turned nk, but before he could react further, something warm and freshly grilled was thrust in his direction. Matthew had handed him two pieces of grilled taffy.


    "Here, take them. They¡¯re perfectly grilled."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Just take them," Sayoung ordered.


    Kim Seungbin¡¯s persona snapped into action, and Uijae took the taffy with both hands, bowing politely. Matthew returned the gesture with equal formality before resuming his grilling.


    As the chaotic noise in the hall began to subside, Honeybee returned to his seat, running a hand through his hair.


    "Ugh, these guys are such weaklings... Huh? What¡¯s this?"


    "Eat it."


    "What? I didn¡¯t think you had any! Thanks."


    Honeybee grinned and bit into the taffy before sitting back on the sofa and crossing his legs. With Baewonwoo no longer blocking the view, Uijae could see that most of the super hamsters were lying sprawled on the floor, having been knocked out in the chaos.


    "Well¡­ now that thepetition¡¯s all gone¡­"


    Sayoung muttered as he straightened up in his seat. He gestured toward Kang Jisoo, who was still holding her paddle high.


    "Kang Jisoo."


    "Yes, Guild Leader!"


    "Collect all the paddles and break them."


    "On it."


    In the blink of an eye, Kang Jisoo disappeared. Sayoung picked up the paddlebeled with the number 2 from the table with his bound hands and looked at the auctioneer.


    "You said you need a paddle to participate, right?"


    "Ah, yes! That¡¯s correct."


    "¡­¡­."


    Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes swept across the room. In the distance, the sound of paddles snapping echoed regrly as Kang Jisoo broke them. Sayoung raised his paddle to head height and smirked.


    "Huh¡­ Looks like I¡¯m the only one who can participate."@@novelbin@@


    "What? Hey! Who said you could¡ª"


    "Honeybee, here¡¯s some roasted marshmallow."


    "Mmph! Mmph!"


    "Hmm? You want buttered squid too? Got it."


    Honeybee tried to protest, but Matthew silenced him by stuffing freshly roasted marshmallows into his mouth one after another. The auctioneer, nowpletely flustered, nced over at Hong Yeseong, but he was already too distracted. Grinning, Hong Yeseong snatched the auctioneer¡¯s gavel and dered loudly.


    "Then it¡¯s settled. The item goes to Lee Sayoung. Let¡¯s wrap this up!"


    *Bang! Bang! Bang!* The gavel echoed through the hall. Sayoung blinked slowly, then let out a long sigh. He leaned his head against Uijae¡¯s shoulder again and whispered into his ear.


    "So¡­ hyung."


    "Yes?"


    "Tell Jung Bin one thing for me."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Tell him I¡¯ll make him pay for this¡­ twice over."


    Sayoung¡¯s body copsed forward as he whispered, the paddle falling from his hand just as Uijae caught him. His body was frighteningly cold.


    In the haze of his mind, only one word came to Uijae¡¯s head. The murmurs around him blurred.


    ¡®Why?¡¯


    Was it just that his condition had been poor? Was it really the binding of his power source that had affected him so much? Could it really weaken him to this extent, to the point of copsing? Who should he call? Where should he¡ª


    His thoughts tangled and his heart raced. Uijae¡¯s hands, shaking as they held Sayoung, tightened around him.


    "Sayoung."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Hey, Lee Sayoung."


    His pulse seemed to slow, and even his breathing grew faint.


    No. Uijae¡¯s hands trembled as he held Sayoung¡¯s cold body. He frantically looked around and saw arge figure stepping forward.


    Baewonwoo, his face filled with panic, quickly raised a wall to shield them. He turned his head sharply to ensure they were hidden and then asked.


    "Secretary, what¡¯s going on with him? What happened?"


    Uijae opened his mouth to answer but bit his tongue hard instead. The sharp pain and metallic taste of blood brought him back to reality. Thankfully, his voice came out steady.


    "I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s been feeling off since he was bound, but he suddenly copsed."


    "What? He¡¯s never been this bad before¡­ I¡¯ve been bound by those chains too, but it was never this extreme¡­ Jisoo! Go find Jung Bin!"


    "Damn it¡­ Where even is Jung Bin? Fine, I¡¯ll


    go!"


    Kang Jisoo slipped through a gap in the wall. Meanwhile, Baewonwoo pulled out every potion he could from his inventory andid them out, clutching his head in frustration.


    After what felt like an eternity, when Uijae¡¯s back was drenched with cold sweat, there was a series of rhythmic knocks on the wall. One of the walls slid open, and Kang Jisoo entered, panting heavily and dragging Jung Bin with her.


    "Kang Jisoo, what happened to the auction hall¡ª"


    "Jung Bin!"


    "...Lee Sayoung? What in the world¡­"


    Jung Bin¡¯s expression shifted in an instant as he dropped to one knee in front of Sayoung. A heavy silence filled the space. After assessing Sayoung¡¯s condition, Jung Bin let out a quiet sigh.


    "I¡¯m sorry. I underestimated the situation. I didn¡¯t realize so much time had passed."


    With hurried movements, Jung Bin unraveled the chains binding Sayoung¡¯s wrists. His limp arms fell to his sides. Baewonwoo, now kneeling beside them, muttered worriedly.


    "Sayoung¡¯s never been this bad before. What¡¯s happening?"


    "Hmm¡­"


    Jung Bin looked troubled for a moment, but then his face hardened with resolve. He spoke in a low voice.


    "You know my chains bind an awakener¡¯s power source, right? That¡¯s what¡¯s publicly known¡­ but¡­"


    Uijae, still holding Sayoung¡¯s cold arm, looked up at Jung Bin as he continued.


    "To be precise, my chains return the body to its state just before awakening. That¡¯s the essence of how my power works. It temporarily rewinds the body¡¯s clock, locking it in that moment before awakening."


    Suddenly, Uijae remembered something Nam Woojin had once said.


    "In the middle of the ck wastnd, he was found sitting alone, wearing nothing but a loose hospital gown."


    "Back to the body they had just before they awakened."

 Chapter 80

    "So, about that..."


    Baewonwoo, who had been about to say something, mped his mouth shut when he noticed Kang Jisoo standing next to him.


    The state before awakening... Uijae looked down at Sayoung, who was cradled in his arms. Sayoung¡¯s once irregr breathing began to slowly stabilize the moment the chains were removed. His face, which had been unusually pale, was now gradually regaining its color.


    Only then did Uijae feel like he could finally breathe again. He lowered his head slightly and took a silent, deep breath to calm himself.


    "For now, Lee Sayoung''s condition is the priority. I''ll personally visit the Wave Guildter to formally apologize."


    Jung Bin retrieved a bottle of purple liquid from his inventory and opened it. Uijae, seeing this, quickly propped up Sayoung''s head by holding the back of his neck. Exchanging a silent nod, Jung Bin began pouring the liquid into Sayoung¡¯s mouth and then asked,


    "I was away handling another matter, so I haven¡¯t fully grasped what happened in the hall yet. Can you exin?"


    "The auction just ended. The Hunters started fighting over the huge spear, which led to this mess... What else am I supposed to say?"


    Baewonwoo, looking awkward, nced sideways, prompting Kang Jisoo to jump in with an eager reply.


    "The spear was won by our guild leader!"


    "Do we really need to mention that?"


    "Well, he¡¯s passed out now, and if we¡¯re not careful, he might not get it. We need to make sure it¡¯s noted."


    "...I see. That¡¯s enough for now. Thank you."


    Whether it was because the chains were removed or thanks to the liquid Jung Bin had administered, Sayoung¡¯s condition improved rapidly. From the outside, it looked like he was just sleeping. As soon as his condition stabilized, Jung Bin quickly took stock of the situation in the hall and began issuing orders.


    Meanwhile, Hong Yeseong, who had originally nned to enjoy some time in the city before getting back to work, was being escorted to a mountain retreat for his safety by the guild¡¯s management bureau. As the security forces swarmed him, Hong Yeseong jumped down from the tform in a panic.


    "Hey! Who gave this order?"


    "It¡¯s the Director¡¯smand."


    "Wait, wait, my business isn¡¯t finished yet..."


    Before Hong Yeseong could call out to Uijae, the security guards had already wrapped him up like a burrito in a yellow checkered nket.


    "Hey! Let me go! I can¡¯t work without this thing! Hold on a minute!"


    "Proceed with the escort."


    "Yes, sir."


    Crying out pitifully, Hong Yeseong was whisked away. Meanwhile, the Super Hamsters, who had been knocked out during the brawl, were to be handled by Matthew¡¯s HB Guild. Honeybee grumbled as he carried off the unconscious Hunters, while Jung Bin bowed respectfully toward Matthew.


    "Thank you for your assistance."


    "Oh, don¡¯t mention it. You all work so hard. Here, have some of this."


    Matthew offered Jung Bin a warm squid leg before heading off to assist Honeybee with the copsed Hunters. Jung Bin then turned to Baewonwoo, who stood awkwardly nearby, and bowed deeply.


    "I sincerely apologize. This was entirely my fault. I¡¯ll take full responsibility."


    Baewonwoo scratched his head sheepishly.


    "Well, it¡¯s already happened, so what can we do? I know you didn¡¯t mean for this to happen... Still, make sure to stop by the Wave Guild sometime. That¡¯s all I ask. Now, are you heading to the Seowon Guild?"


    "Yes, I believe Nam Woojin will be best suited to handle Lee Sayoung¡¯s condition."


    "Please take good care of him."


    "Of course."


    After Jung Bin left with Sayoung, only Baewonwoo, Kang Jisoo, and Uijae remained in the hall. Kang Jisoo, who had been watching quietly with her arms crossed, suddenly spoke up in a disgruntled tone.


    "...Are we really just going to leave it at that? The guild leader copsed! We almost lost our heads!"


    "It¡¯s fine, Jisoo. It was an ident. If there¡¯s anything to extract from the management bureau, Sayoung will take care of it. Let¡¯s go."


    "Yes, sir."


    As Baewonwoo started to walk toward the exit, he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening. He turned back and called out.


    "Secretary, why aren¡¯t youing?"


    "...Me? Are you talking to me?"


    Uijae, who had been standing there frozen, looked up in surprise. Baewonwoo smiled warmly, the same smile Uijae had seen many times at the hangover soup restaurant, and gestured toward the door with his thumb.


    "Come with us! We drove here, so we¡¯ll drop you off at the guild."


    "Oh, no, I¡¯m fine..."


    "Hey now."


    Kang Jisoo, who had quietly moved behind Uijae, gave him a firm push on the back. His feet finally lifted off the ground. Baewonwoo wrapped an arm around Uijae¡¯s shoulder and pulled him closer.


    "Come on, let¡¯s get going!"


    ---


    A short timeter, in the car.


    They drove in silence for most of the journey until they reached a familiar road near the convention center. Raindrops started to stter against the car windows. Baewonwoo clicked his tongue in frustration.


    "Damn, it¡¯s raining."


    In the backseat, the secretary finally spoke up.


    "Um, can you drop me off here?"


    "Vice Leader, do you have an umbre? I¡¯m sure the secretary doesn¡¯t have one."


    "Oh, no, really, I¡¯m fine¡ª"


    "What are you talking about? There¡¯s an umbre right here. Take it."


    Baewonwoo shoved arge ck umbre into his hands. Uijae, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment before bowing his head slightly.


    "...Thank you."


    "Take care, and good job today. Thanks for looking after Sayoung."@@novelbin@@


    With a soft *pop*, Uijae opened the umbre and stepped out into the rain. As he walked a few steps down the wet street, he turned back for a moment. Through the open window, Baewonwoo and Kang Jisoo waved at him in unison, as if by some unspoken agreement.


    *Sshhh¡ª* The rain fell harder now. Even though it had been a while since Uijae had gotten out of the car, Baewonwoo showed no intention of driving away. He rested his elbows on the steering wheel and yed with his phone. Kang Jisoo, who was chewing on a piece of dried taffy, finally broke the silence.


    "Hey, Vice Leader."


    "Yeah?"


    "Who is that guy?"


    "......"


    The figure in the suit had already disappeared into the rain, as if he had melted into it. Kang Jisoo craned her neck, trying to peer into the dark alleyway as she mumbled.


    "I stayed quiet because both you and the Guild Leader didn¡¯t say anything, but I¡¯ve never seen someone like him in the secretary team, or even in the guild. Shouldn¡¯t we have brought him back?"


    "Jisoo."


    "Yes?"


    Baewonwoo spoke solemnly, holding out his hand. Kang Jisoo ced another piece of taffy in it, and he brought it to his mouth.


    "Sayoung always has a reason for what he does."


    "......"


    "...Probably."


    Kang Jisoo nced at him with suspicion, but Baewonwoo finally started the car, the wipers working furiously to clear the rain.


    "If we needed to hold him, Sayoung would¡¯ve told us. He didn¡¯t say anything."


    "Maybe he was too out of it to say anything?"


    "No, don¡¯t underestimate that guy¡¯s determination. He probably timed when he¡¯d copse."


    Well, knowing Lee Sayoung, that wasn¡¯t out of the question. Even while he was on the verge of passing out, he had still given orders before finally letting go. It was hard to tell if he was truly sick or just putting on an act. Kang Jisoo asked cautiously.


    "But the Guild Leader¡ªhe¡¯s really sick, isn¡¯t he?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s true."


    "Was he really sick before he awakened?"


    "Well¡­ from what I heard, yeah."


    Baewonwoo, nonchntly steering with one hand, added,


    "And as for that secretary, I don¡¯t know who he is. He could be a new member of thebat support team... or maybe he¡¯s someone from another guild that we¡¯re working with."


    "Right, right. I get it. Don¡¯t ask too many questions. Got it."


    "No, seriously, I don¡¯t know!"


    Kang Jisoo shrugged dismissively and reached over to turn on the radio. Just in time, a familiarmercial jingle started to y. *Hunter One! The ce to pass your hunter exams!* She hummed along quietly and then spoke.


    "Well, he didn¡¯t seem like a bad person."


    "Huh? Why do you say that?"


    "Didn¡¯t you see it, Vice Leader?"


    "See what?"


    "...Never mind."


    Kang Jisoo sighed softly and leaned her head against the window. Baewonwoo muttered something under his breath, but she didn¡¯t bother responding. After running around all day at the Artisan Exhibition, she was too tired to engage. Besides, if Baewonwoo wasn¡¯t going to share everything, she didn¡¯t feel the need to either.


    Despite his calm voice and quick actions, the veins in his hands had bulged, and his fingers had trembled uncontroll


    ably as he held onto Sayoung. The moment Sayoung¡¯s condition stabilized, that so-called secretary had visibly rxed, never taking his eyes off him until Jung Bin and Sayoung left.


    Though his face had been hidden behind a gas mask, Kang Jisoo was sure of it. He¡¯d likely been just as pale as Sayoung¡ªor maybe even paler. Kang Jisoo smirked to herself.


    ¡®He seemed more worried than I was.¡¯


    "Shall we grab dinner?"


    "The soup restaurant¡¯s closed today."


    "...Oh, right."


    "Vice Leader, you really should cut back on the soup. Soon, soup broth will be running through your veins instead of blood."


    "You just don¡¯t understand the true taste of hangover soup..."


    Their idle chatter soon faded beneath the sound of the rain.


    ---


    At longst, Uijae was finally alone.


    The wind felt especially cold today.


    As he wandered through a deserted alleyway, he removed the stifling gas mask. The street was littered with soggy flyers and business cards, but despite the dirty ground, his shoes remained perfectly clean. He kicked at a puddle, sending water sshing.


    After taking several turns through the empty streets, he eventually spotted the faint glow of a familiar red sign in the distance. The hangover soup restaurant¡ªthe ce he was supposed to return to. Closing the umbre, Uijae made his way toward it, his footsteps slow and heavy.


    Standing in front of the door, he looked up and saw the paper he had taped to it earlier. The rain had soaked through, smudging the ink, but it was clear that something had been written all over it.


    Uijae squinted at the smeared writing. When he hadst seen it, there had only been one response. Now, the entire sheet was filled with messages, leaving no nk space.


    ---


    *Closed for the Artisan Exhibition.*


    *Reason: Taking my grandmother to the hospital.*


    ©¸ Hope your grandmother stays healthy!!


    ©¸ I wondered why the restaurant was closed. Hope you had a safe trip back.


    ©¸ Let us know if you need help with the hospital bills...


    ©¸ Here¡¯s to many more years of business! Please!!


    ©¸ Don¡¯t forget to take care of your health, too!


    ©¸ Will you be open tomorrow?


    ---


    His phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a short vibration¡ªlikely a text from Haeun. Slowly, Uijae pulled out his phone and nced at the screen.


    ---


    **Sayoung:** *I¡¯m fine.*


    ---


    Uijae swallowed a long breath. The damp air filled his lungs. Leaning his head against the ss door, he closed his eyes, listening as the sound of rain slowly faded into the distance. The knot of tension that had been tightly wound inside him began to unravel, bit by bit.


    When he finally opened his eyes again, they shone with renewed determination.


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 81

    ¡®Yes, I¡¯m okay.¡¯


    A soft voice whispered. Warm arms gently wrapped around the body.


    ¡®It¡¯s okay now.¡¯


    Behind the crumbling view, a brilliant white light shattered.


    ¡®I...¡¯


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s time.¡±


    Lee Sayoung opened his eyes. The moment he saw the bright white ceiling, he quickly sat up, pulling off the gloves from his hands.


    Crash! The heavy sound of something toppling over and hitting a hard surface echoed. Sayoung quickly scanned his surroundings. The wires connecting his body to the machines had been yanked out in an instant, leaving the equipment scattered in a mess on the floor. A sighced voice came from nearby.


    ¡°Do you always have to make such a mess? You might as well just smash everything to pieces.¡±


    It was Nam Woojin. He sat at a desk, facing away from Sayoung, busy with something. However, Sayoung didn¡¯t retract the killing intent he had briefly revealed. His piercing violet eyes moved toward the corner of the room. Standing there was Jung Bin, who quickly raised both hands and spoke.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung-nim, it¡¯s Jung Bin. You¡¯re in Nam Woojin¡¯sb, in the underground of Seowon Guild. I brought you here after you lost consciousness during the Artisan Exhibition.¡±


    "...."


    The sharp energy, as if ready to cut throats at any moment, slightly subsided. Only then did Sayoung realize that he was lying on a cot in Woojin¡¯sb. Nam Woojin muttered gruffly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to pay for barging into myb and hijacking my bed.¡±


    ¡°Of course. This ce is safe, Sayoung-nim. How much do you remember?¡±


    Thest memory left amidst the excruciating pain was¡­


    ¡°Sayoung-ah.¡±


    The trembling sensation of a hand resting on his back, so vivid that he could still feel it through his hazy senses.


    ¡°Hey, Lee Sayoung.¡±


    The always calm, unwavering tone had cracked miserably. There was a warmth that felt especiallyforting, along with a fragmented series of sensations. And the person responsible for all of them was¡­


    ¡®Cha Uijae.¡¯


    Sayoung hurriedly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Thankfully, the battery wasn¡¯t dead. Cha Uijae, Cha Uijae¡­ He quickly dialed the memorized number and typed a short message.


    [Are you okay?]


    Sent. Even after waiting for a long time, no reply came. Anxiety crawled up the back of his neck.


    ¡°Well then.¡±


    p. The crisp sound of a hand pping cut through his thoughts. Sayoung turned toward the voice. Nam Woojin had spun his chair around, looking at him with his legs crossed and his chin propped up in a tilted, casual manner.


    ¡°You wake up, break my equipment, threaten people, check your phone, and... seems like you¡¯ve wrapped up all your urgent business.¡±


    "..."


    ¡°Shall we talk now? This guy here hasn¡¯t given me a proper exnation.¡±


    Jung Bin, arms crossed, shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung-nim needs a detailed exnation too.¡±


    Sayoung roughly pulled the wires still connected to his body, ripping them out. Nam Woojin groaned.


    ¡°Do you even know how much those cost? Handle them carefully.¡±


    ¡°Send me the bill. And who told you to connect me to this stuff in the first ce?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you¡¯d consider my surprise when Jung Bin barged in, carrying you out of nowhere. How¡¯s your body feeling?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    Nam Woojin¡¯s pale eyes scrutinized Sayoung, who was now sitting on the cot. Eventually, he nodded and muttered to himself.


    ¡°It seems that upon awakening, the system restores all pre-awakening injuries. Of course, in your case, the difference between your pre- and post-awakening state is particrly pronounced. Does that mean the grade of awakening and the strength of recovery are proportional?¡±


    ¡°¡­Nam Woojin.¡±


    Sayoung brushed his hair back from his eyes and spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cross the line.¡±


    ¡°¡­I misspoke. Understood.¡±


    A brief silence followed. Sayoung rubbed his temple with irritation and opened his mouth again.


    ¡°Jung Bin, exin the situation.¡±


    ¡°Yes. While I was speaking with Gyu-Gyu, Kang Jisoo arrived and returned alone. When I reached the scene, you had already copsed. After assessing the situation, I immediately released the chains and administered the antidote provided by Nam Woojin.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Nam Woojin¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    ¡°Did it help with the rapid recovery?¡±


    Sayoung gave a small nod.


    ¡°Somewhat.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. In the future, if I obtain more of the antidote, I¡¯ll send it to the Wave Guild.¡±


    ¡°The other Hunters have returned to HB Guild. After giving some general instructions, I brought you here to the Seowon Guild. Everyone is back at their respective guilds.¡±


    ¡°Even Baewonwoo?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    "...."


    Sayoung leaned back, supporting himself on his arms, and his eyes scanned the room before settling on Jung Bin.


    ¡°Did you hear anything?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, I suppose you wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to hear it.¡±


    Sayoung smirked, his lips curling up. Jung Bin, facing that eerie smile, maintained his calm and soft expression.


    ¡°I told Gyu-Gyu to pass on the message that I¡¯ll collect double the debt.¡±


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m hearing of it, but I¡¯ve been prepared. It¡¯s my fault for being careless.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I like that you¡¯re easy to talk to.¡±


    Sayoung rolled his stiff neck. His tired voice made a demand.


    ¡°Tell me everything you and Gyu-Gyu discussed, from the beginning to the end.¡±


    The day after the Artisan Exhibition, which had felt as long as a week, Uijae quickly returned to his peaceful routine. His life consisted of waking up at dawn to serve hangover soup to Hunters, preparing ingredients while taking care of Haeun, working in the evening, and closing the restaurantte at night.


    However, ever since the Artisan Exhibition, Uijae found himself staring nkly into space more often. Whenever that happened, his mind was mostly filled with thoughts of Lee Sayoung. The sensation of Sayoung''s cold and solid body in his arms remained vividly in his memory. Was Lee Sayoung really okay? Every time such thoughts crossed his mind, Uijae would check the message Sayoung had sent him.


    **Sayoung**: *I''m okay.*


    "That''s fine and dandy!" Uijae muttered to himself.


    In truth, Uijae didn¡¯t believe that message. Even if Sayoung hadn¡¯t regained full consciousness, the country would have made sure to conceal that fact from the public. Powerful figures always needed to appear strong, no matter what. That message could have easily been sent by someone else, trying to hide Sayoung¡¯s actual condition.


    A strange sense of unease gnawed at Uijae''s mind constantly. Many times, he found himself about to reply, only to shut off his phone again.


    And as if taking advantage of Uijae¡¯s growing anxiety, Choi Goyo appeared at the perfect moment. It was alreadyte, and the restaurant had closed.


    Uijae hadn¡¯t even taken off his apron yet and was sitting in the dining area, idly fiddling with his phone when Choi Goyo, the "Romantic Opener," managed to unlock the front door and swaggered inside with both arms swinging. He greeted with cheerful energy.


    ¡°Hello, hyung-nim!¡±


    Luckily, it seemed like themon sense Choi Goyo had picked up at Incheon Port hadn¡¯tpletely escaped him, as he quickly toned down his enthusiasm after catching Uijae¡¯s mood.


    ¡°Ahem, remember? On the day of the Artisan Exhibition, I took my grandmother to the hospital. I came to tell you about that. I would¡¯vee sooner, but things got busy, so I¡¯m a bitte!¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Damn it, no matter how out of it I¡¯ve been, how could I forget about his grandmother¡¯s hospital visit?


    ¡®You¡¯re a total idiot, Cha Uijae.¡¯


    Uijae¡¯s face twisted with guilt, causing Choi Goyo¡¯s shoulders to shrink. He clung to the metal door, trembling as he asked in a shaky voice.


    ¡°Uh, can I speak now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, go ahead. How¡¯s your grandmother doing?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I brought copies of the diagnosis and prescriptions right here!¡±


    Choi Goyo quickly ran over and handed Uijae the documents, rattling off everything that had happened at the hospital like a rap. Uijae quickly skimmed through the paperwork as Goyo exined. Fortunately, his grandmother¡¯s knee condition hadn¡¯t worsened, and with consistent medication, she was expected to improve.


    ¡°That¡¯s all!¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, no need to thank me.¡±


    At Uijae¡¯s sigh of relief, Goyo scratched the back of his head with a shy grin. Seeing his face brought back memories of that sudden spaceship delivery experience, which smacked Uijae hard in the head. And just like when he had opened the door back then, Lee Sayoung¡¯s face shed before his eyes.


    Damn it. Uijae¡¯s expression stiffened in an instant, causing Choi Goyo to quickly erase his smile and straighten up. Unaffected by the change in mood, Uijae cautiously asked.


    ¡°How¡¯s Sayoung doing¡­?¡±


    ¡°Wh-what?¡±


    Goyo¡¯s eyes went wide. Damn it. Uijae quickly corrected himself.


    ¡°I mean, Lee Sayoung. I haven¡¯t gotten any work-rted calls from himtely.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you meant the guild leader! Sorry, that threw me off for a second. I honestly don¡¯t know!¡±


    As expected, Goyo wasn¡¯t of much help. While Uijae sat there in a brief moment of regret, sping his hands together, Goyo busily rummaged through his pockets.


    ¡°Hehe, he¡¯s always been a solo type, you know¡­ Wait, did he show up to work today? Hold on.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not contacting him directly, are you?¡±


    ¡°No way! There¡¯s a Wave Guild blind board. Usually, when the guild leader arrives, the secretarial team sends out a warning to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Goyo swiped through his phone and then held it out to Uijae.


    ¡°Wanna take a look? It¡¯s fun.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t security important for something like this?¡±


    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s mostly just employees asking what¡¯s for lunch in the cafeteria. And maybe a littleining about the boss.¡±


    Uijae took the phone and scrolled through the posts. Next to him, Goyo excitedly began to chat.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a pretty high security clearance, so I can see most of the posts.¡±


    The first post that caught Uijae¡¯s attention read:


    **Wave Guild Blind Board**


    Title: [Anonymous] So what happened at this f***ing Artisan Exhibition?


    240 hasn¡¯t shown up for work since the Artisan Exhibition. We have no sources of information since it¡¯s their own private league. The Hangover Soup Ghost says he doesn¡¯t know anything, and Kang Jisoo is saying ¡®noment.¡¯ I¡¯m dying of curiosity here.


    So, Sayoung still hasn¡¯t returned to work. Is he really that badly injured? Did he even regain consciousness? Uijae frowned and rubbed the back of his neck.


    ¡®Maybe I should go see him myself.¡¯


    He scrolled down further, hoping to find more information in thements. One line in particr caught his eye:


    Comments (10):


    - HunterNet seems to be under some sort of info lockdown, doesn¡¯t it?


    - Yeah, usually you see all kinds of humble-bragging posts disguised as testimonies, but now there¡¯s nothing.


    - No news articles either¡­ Did 240 actually win anything?


    - I had high hopes, but nothing came through.


    - My cousin was at the Artisan Exhibition, and when they woke up, it was over. Apparently, Honeybee was holding a sword and doing a headcount.


    - What the hell¡­


    - What is this, the hell for people who kill bees or something?


    - Could someone exin in more detail?


    - Let¡¯s make a separate thread for it.


    - Condemning all of this.


    Honeybee¡­ Does that mean Honeybee was involved? And he was doing a headcount while holding a sword? Uijae couldn¡¯t help but feel drawn in by such provocativements. He quickly refreshed the page. Fortunately, thementer had posted a new thread.


    **Title: [Anonymous] 10 minutes before the post gets deleted**


    Yesheng is yesheng.


    Uijae hit a wall right from the first sentence. What the hell was this weird word, ¡°yesheng¡±? Giving up on figuring it out on his own, he decided to ask for help.


    ¡°¡­Hey, what¡¯s ¡®yesheng¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yesheng?¡±


    Leaning forward to read the post, Goyo burst intoughter.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re reading that thread? It¡¯s hrious. ¡®Yesheng¡¯ refers to Hong Yeseong. It¡¯s a code.¡±


    ¡°Code?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s to avoid detection. They call it ¡®search prevention.¡¯¡±


    Yesheng equals Hong Yeseong. So that first sentence means¡­


    ¡®Hong Yeseong is being Hong Yeseong.¡¯


    ¡°Sh*t.¡±


    From the first sentence alone, Uijae could tell¡ªthe person who wrote this post was the real deal.

 Chapter 82

    *Hong Yeseong did something in his style, so the auction was interrupted.


    During that time, 240 broke Gyu¡¯s shoulder.


    240 got tied up by Jung Bin.


    My cousin said they got hit with a paddle by Honeybee and passed out.


    When they woke up, Honeybee was doing a headcount with a sword, and they almost fainted again.


    Mate Broli handed out roasted snacks and told everyone to go home.


    So, they went home.


    The end.


    Believe it or not, it¡¯s your choice.*


    **Comments (34)**


    ¡ª Is this an auction or the Colosseum?


    ¡ª Every single detail here seems too crazy to believe.


    ¡ª If you¡¯re going to lie, at least put some effort into it¡­


    ¡ª Strangely, the details are so vivid¡­.


    ¡ª If 240 broke a shoulder, why haven¡¯t we heard anything? This is making me nervous¡­


    ©¸ Are you from the secretarial team? Has 240 not shown up for work yet? I have something to report.


    ©¸ Yes?? We¡¯ve been getting instructions by email, but no one has seen hime in.


    Despite reading the post carefully, Uijae¡¯s anxiety only deepened. If Lee Sayoung wasn¡¯t showing up to work but was still sending emails, it was entirely possible that Baewonwoo was handling things in Sayoung¡¯s name.


    As Uijae bit his lip and began searching for more posts, Choi Goyo, who had been whistling and drawing on his tablet, suddenly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on some point in the air. Uijae nced up as well.


    **+82 [CH.1] ¡¶A megaphone has been used.¡·


    +82 [CH.1] ¡¶Writing message with the megaphone¡­¡·**


    A red megaphone icon appeared in Uijae¡¯s peripheral vision. But he consciously kept his head down, staring at his phone. After all, the chat where the megaphone appeared was the Ranker Channel, which he had sealed off after the Artisan Exhibition. He sneaked a nce at Choi Goyo, who was also probably staring at the same thing, ck-jawed.


    ¡®If I react or acknowledge it¡­ I¡¯m screwed.¡¯


    Momentster, bold red text with a crisp white border popped up in the corner of his vision.


    **+82 [CH.1] ¡¶Jung Bin has used a megaphone.¡·


    ???? [4] Jung Bin: Please maintain channel security. Yesheng, I won¡¯t hold you ountable for anything, but please just confirm you¡¯re alive. A simple dot will suffice, thanks^^**


    Uijae blinked, his mind racing. Using a precious megaphone for this¡ªjust to confirm if Hong Yeseong was alive? That man was supposed to have been rolled up like a kimbap and dragged away by the Awakened Management Bureau agents. He had even said he was going back to the mountains. Uijae might¡¯ve been preupied with Lee Sayoung, but Hong Yeseong¡¯s desperate wails had been burned into his memory.


    Choi Goyo muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Damn¡­ Do you think he got kidnapped? If it¡¯s a real kidnapping, the whole country¡¯s going to flip. This is bad.¡±


    Uijae had to fight the urge to mp his hand over Goyo¡¯s mouth. These kinds ofments were the kind of thing that triggered unavoidable gs. Before he could stop him, Goyo dropped another bomb.


    ¡°Or maybe he just ran away because he wanted some meat? Have they checked the chicken restaurants?¡±


    Right then, three urgent notifications popped up on Choi Goyo¡¯s phone. Uijae sneaked a peek at the contents, which were visible since Goyo was actively using his phone.


    **Mingigeok: <Urgent> Hong Yeseong escaped during his transport to Bukhansan, whereabouts unknown.


    Mingigeok: <Urgent> Most personnel from the Awakened Bureau will be mobilized to search for and protect Hong Yeseong.


    Mingigeok: <Urgent> Romantic Opener, please contact us immediately.**


    ¡®Oh,e on.¡¯


    **[Trait: Poker Face (B) has been activated.]**


    Thanks to his ever-reliable Poker Face trait, Uijae maintained a calm expression and an even tone as he handed Goyo¡¯s phone back as if he had seen nothing.


    ¡°Thanks for showing me. But you got a message, by the way.¡±


    ¡°A message? What is it?¡±


    As Goyo read Mingigeok¡¯s messages, his face went through a series of color changes¡ªfirst white, then red, then blue. He shot to his feet and frantically began packing up his things.


    ¡°Sorry! I have to leave right away.¡±


    ¡°Already? At least have a bowl of hangover soup before you go.¡±


    ¡°No, no, something urgent just came up.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t tell you. It¡¯s ssified.¡±


    ¡°ssified?¡±


    ¡°¡­I really can¡¯t say! I¡¯ll bring the deputy guild leader next time!¡±


    With a wince, Choi Goyo bolted out of the hangover soup restaurant like a bullet. Finally, peace and quiet returned to the restaurant. But Jung Bin¡¯s megaphone message still loomedrge in Uijae¡¯s mind.


    ¡®No way¡­¡¯


    The more Uijae thought about Hong Yeseong¡¯s sudden escape, the more connections started forming in his head. However, Uijae¡­


    ¡®...Let¡¯s just focus on the restaurant for now.¡¯


    He decided to ignore it for the time being.


    Fortunately, it seemed that the security of Channel 1 was holding up well. Most of the regr Hunters were still blissfully unaware of Hong Yeseong¡¯s escape. They were more interested in who had won the auctioned weapons at the Artisan Exhibition. Neither Baewonwoo nor Honeybee showed up before Uijae closed up the restaurant for the day.


    After finishing all the preparations for tomorrow¡¯s service and closing the restaurant, it was already dawn. Uijae sighed briefly as he finished washing the dishes and peeled off his rubber gloves.@@novelbin@@


    Just then¡ª


    ¡°Cockoo.¡±


    A strange, familiar-sounding chicken crow echoed. It was too clear to be a hallucination. The sound wasing from outside.


    Uijae opened the door and looked around before his eyesnded on something below him. Next to the hangover soup restaurant''s door, in a blue Bhus box, sat a small, white, smooth object. It seemed to sense his gaze and looked up at him.


    Round, soulless ck eyes like beans. A smooth, porcin-like white body. It was a slightly dumb-looking ceramic chicken.


    It was Kokko.


    ¡°Cock?¡±


    Uijae quietly stepped back and closed the door.


    Screech. Click.


    *Cock? Cockoo?* Faint clucking noises of confusion came from behind the door, but Uijae ignored them and went to the kitchen to grab adle. Gripping thedle firmly, he stared into the air.


    ¡®Let¡¯s think this through.¡¯


    First, Hong Yeseong had disappeared while being transported to Bukhansan. Bukhansan was in Seoul, so it was physically close to the restaurant. It was entirely possible he could be found nearby. Second, Hong Yeseong was obsessed with magic stones. And those magic stones¡­ Uijae nced at his inventory.


    ¡®They¡¯re still in my inventory¡­¡¯


    He gritted his teeth, filled with regret. He should¡¯ve just handed them over! He clearly remembered seeing Kim, the secretary, just before Hong Yeseong was dragged away. Even though the memory was fuzzy, he was sure their eyes had met.


    Kokko was made by Hong Yeseong and followed his orders. So why was it sitting outside the hangover soup restaurant in a Bhus box, rather than by its owner¡¯s side?


    ¡°Cockoo, cockoo¡­¡±


    The faint clucking sounded strange. It wasn¡¯t a greeting, a call, or even a confused sound. It was more like someone clearing their throat before shouting¡­.


    ¡®Oh,e on!¡¯


    Uijae rushed to the door, grabbed the box, and brought Kokko inside. For a brief moment, Kokko seemed to wear an expression of mild disappointment. Uijae sighed and gently poked Kokko¡¯s blunt beak with his finger.


    ¡°Hey, where¡¯s your owner? Why are you here alone?¡±


    ¡°Cock.¡±


    ¡°¡­No, don¡¯t answer. I feel like knowing would just make things worse.¡±


    ¡°Cockoo?¡±


    Kokko tilted its head and looked out the door. Uijae followed its gaze.


    In the dim light of the early morning, with faint streetlights barely cutting through the misty air¡­ a figure stood in the middle of the street.


    Dressed in a bright blue hiking outfit, with sunsses, a hat, a ck mask clinging tightly to their face, and a colorful scarf around their neck¡ªeverything about them screamed they were the star member of some hiking club.


    ¡®Suspicious.¡¯


    It was 2:30 AM. Toote for a normal hiker to be out. Most people would¡¯ve descended the mountain before sunset. And this wasn¡¯t someone Uijae had ever seen before, certainly not ate-night customer.


    Uijae nced at Kokko, who was quietly nestled in the box. Kokko had suddenly appeared outside, and now this ¡°hiker¡± was here. The timing seemed too coincidental.


    ¡°Cock.¡±


    Kokko stretched its neck a little further. Uijae¡¯s sharp instincts, which had saved his life numerous


    times, began to tingle. He swiftly put Kokko down on the table and locked the door.


    *Click.* A strange standoff began, with only the door between them. The hiker adjusted their sunsses with one hand holding a hiking stick.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    Gripping hisdle tightly, Uijae quickly responded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe in anything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a cultist. I¡¯m not here to preach. I¡¯m an atheist.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a water purifier, newspapers, or hexagonal water either.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a salesman, not part of a pyramid scheme. I just need to ask you something.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re closed.¡±


    ¡°Please, just hear me out. I¡¯m looking for something urgently. If I don¡¯t find it, I¡¯ll die.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    sh! Lightning lit up the sky, making the hiker¡¯s words seem all the more persuasive. The sunsses glinted white. Momentster, a low rumble of thunder followed. A few raindrops began to fall.


    And then Uijae saw it.


    ¡®Oh, f*ck.¡¯


    ¡°Have you seen by any chance¡­?¡±


    The hiker drew out thest word as they pulled an egg from their pocket, peeled off the shell, and lowered their mask. The lower half of their face looked disturbingly familiar. They took a bite of the egg, neatly eating only the white, leaving the round yellow yolk exposed.


    Another sh of lightning struck. Behind the sunsses, a golden pattern spun in their eyes, glowing brightly.


    ¡°A magic stone as round and pretty as this yolk?¡±

 Chapter 83

    Uijae looked at Hong Yeseong,pletely unfazed by the rain soaking him, and mused to himself.


    ''Can every Hunter I meet really be a lunatic?''


    Back in the day, there weren¡¯t so many Hunters with such extreme personalities. Naturally, survival was the most important thing back then. But now, in the Great Hunter Era, a Hunter without a distinct personality can¡¯t survive! The meaning of ¡°survival¡± for Hunters hadpletely changed. And no matter how much he thought about it, Hong Yeseong¡¯s fame in this new era didn¡¯te from his crafting skills, but from something else...


    ''This guy is definitely insane¡­''


    The madness was unmistakable. A sh of lightning struck again behind Hong Yeseong¡¯s head.


    Before long, rain began pouring down heavily. Hong Yeseong, oblivious to the fact that his body was getting drenched, extended only the hand holding the boiled egg under the eaves. His obsession with mana stones was so severe that even anything vaguely resembling one had be precious to him. Uijae gripped thedle in his hand tightly.


    ''Should I report him to Jung Bin?''


    No. He quickly shook off the tempting thought. Calling Jung Bin would be like burning down the whole house to catch a bedbug. What if Hong Yeseong, in his madness, revealed that Uijae had a mana stone and suspicious weapons in his inventory?


    Besides, there was no guarantee that using a memory-erasing technique would actually work, and¡­


    ''Cleanup would be a hassle.''


    With his bizarre way of thinking, who knew what Hong Yeseong might do next? Uijae nced at him sideways. He was still holding out the yolk, probably intending to do so until Uijae opened the door.


    ''Tch.''


    Considering Hong Yeseong''s strange obsession, it was clear he''d keeping back until he got the mana stone. Rather than putting up with that, it was better to just hand over what needed to be given and get rid of him quickly. That was the original deal anyway. Uijae sighed and slowly opened the door.


    Hong Yeseong, acting as if he were a secret agent, crouched low and pressed himself against the wall, warily scanning the surroundings before swiftly darting inside. Once he''d checked that the coast was clear, he finally settled in a corner. Just as Uijae was watching, wondering how long this absurdity would continue¡­


    ¡°Coo!¡±


    Kokko called out to Uijae. ncing over, he saw the chicken nodding toward Hong Yeseong, then clucking again, as if asking to be returned to its owner. With a sigh, Uijae picked up the box containing Kokko and approached the uninvited guest.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Kokko! You¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Coo.¡±


    Hong Yeseong stretched his hands out toward the box, but before he could touch it, Uijae lifted Kokko high over his head. There was no point in ying dumb in front of someone who could see emotions, so Uijae didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Coo?¡±


    Ignoring the puzzled cry of the chicken, Uijae spoke coldly.


    ¡°Before you get your reunion, let¡¯s have a little chat.¡±


    ¡°Kokko!¡±


    ¡°If you want to see Kokko again, you¡¯d better answer my questions.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you wicked bastard!¡±


    Hong Yeseong immediatelyunched into his usual theatrics. Uijae looked down at him with cold eyes, watching as Hong Yeseong faithfully performed the role of the long-suffering father in a dramatic reunion. In this y, Uijae was the viinous employee preventing the father and child from reuniting. But this time, Uijae wasn¡¯t going to let him off so easily.


    ¡°How did you find this ce?¡±


    Even if he was going to give him what he wanted, this needed to be rified. Judging by the yolk, it seemed he was here for the mana stone, but how had hee straight to the hangover soup restaurant? Normally, the first step would have been to search the Wave Guild to find Kim, the secretary. Uijae narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Did you nt a tracker on me?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why would I do that?¡±


    Uijae could clearly see the blink behind Hong Yeseong¡¯s sunsses. As he pulled down his mask, Hong Yeseong replied casually.


    ¡°But a tracker sounds like a good idea. I should make one.¡±


    ¡°Answer the question.¡±


    ¡°Come on... You¡¯re holding it right now.¡±


    Holding it? Uijae¡¯s head shot up. At the same time, Kokko, who had been squirming in the Bhus box, poked its head out and stared down at him with its inscrutable ck eyes. Uijae muttered to himself.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­Does this thing have a tracking function?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. But it was made from a monster mana stone that eats memories, so I guess it remembers people well and can track them down. We¡¯re spiritually connected, somunication¡¯s easy. This little guy managed to find you in this huge city. Well done, Kokko!¡±


    ¡°Coo!¡±


    Kokko clucked loudly in triumph. Right, he had carried Kokko around at the Artisan Exhibition¡­. It was his fault for not considering that this half-finished chicken could track people. Uijae slowly lowered the box to the ground. Kokko sprang out and charged at Hong Yeseong.


    Then, *smack!* Kokko¡¯s ceramic wing pped Hong Yeseong across the face.


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    Hong Yeseong copsed, clutching his cheek in pain. Uijae instinctively covered his mouth with his hand. He needed to hide the smirk that was creeping up on his face.


    ¡°Kokko, why?¡±


    ¡°Coo-ooo!¡±


    Kokko let out a mournful cry as it stared at the boiled egg that had fallen on the floor. Both Hong Yeseong and Uijae let out a simultaneous sigh of understanding.


    Uijae quickly scooped Kokko up and covered its tiny head with his hand. He vaguely remembered something he¡¯d seen on a TV show about chickens¡ªcover their eyes, and they fall asleep.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    As expected from a science show. Kokko, who had been wailing like a siren, quieted down almost immediately. Hong Yeseong marveled.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s sleeping.¡±


    When Uijae red at him, Hong Yeseong quickly grabbed the fallen egg and stuffed it into his pocket. He looked up at Uijae and asked innocently.


    ¡°But why are you here? Do you work a second job? Why are you at a hangover soup restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my second job.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really dedicated. A model citizen! That¡¯s amazing.¡±


    Uijae calmly answered, and Hong Yeseong gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. Falling for this? Yep, this guy was definitely an idiot¡ªhis awakened abilities just masked it. Having an idiot in front of him made Uijae¡¯s brain spin faster. Could it be that Hong Yeseong had really managed to evade the Awakened Management Bureau?


    Uijae quickly locked the door and turned off all the lights in the restaurant. In a low voice, he asked,


    ¡°¡­So, didn¡¯t you get caught back then? Let¡¯s say you found this ce because of Kokko. But how did you dodge the Bureau?¡±


    And as soon as he finished asking, Uijae realized.


    ¡®Ah, I messed up.¡¯


    Because Hong Yeseong¡¯s chest puffed up like a rooster preparing to crow.


    ¡°Oh, you want to know about my escape?¡±


    His voice was brimming with pride. No, I don¡¯t. Uijae shook his head quickly, but Hong Yeseong ignored him, rubbing his temples dramatically as he sighed deeply.


    ¡°It was an incredible ordeal, you see. Let me tell you all about it.¡±


    The day Hong Yeseong was packed into a car like a yellow-checkered kimbap.


    He was supposed to be taken directly to Bukhansan, but because he had nned to enjoy some time in the world before entering the mountain, the preparations in the Artisan Vige weren¡¯tplete. As a result, Hong Yeseong was elegantly confined to a hotel suite.


    Despite being in a nice room, he felt hollow, as if something was missing. As he stared wistfully out the window, a bodyguard approached him cautiously.


    "Mr. Hong Yeseong, is there anything you need?"


    ¡°Mana stone.¡±


    The bodyguard shot him a look that said, *Here he goes again,* but his voice remained calm and professional as he responded.


    ¡°We¡¯re working hard to find it.¡±


    *Working hard.* They were always working hard! Hong Yeseong burst out in frustration, thrashing about. In this harsh world, nothing could be aplished through mere effort alone. As a result, Hong Yeseong grew to despise the word ¡°working hard.¡±


    From the first day of his confinement, he started expressing emotional distress, iming that the yolk of the fried egg he was served for breakfast looked like a mana stone. Then, when he saw the female lead in a drama wearing a yellow-flowered dress, he wailed that it reminded him of a mana stone.


    The bodyguards, who had to stick by his side and witness the whole ordeal, were at their wits'' end. It was as if Hong Yeseong had developed a new skill that drained people¡¯s mental energy.


    It got so bad that the Awakened Management Bureau even brought in a specialist psychiatrist for Hunters to counsel him, but the doctor could only shake his head in resignation before leaving. Meanwhile, Hong Yeseong grew weaker by the day.


    When he had no idea where the mana stone was, he could bear it. But after learning its location and seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn¡¯t hold out any longer. The mana stone he saw was more brilliant, radiant, round, and beautiful than anything he had ever seen. Hong Yeseong clutched Kokko tightly and wailed.


    ¡°Maaanaaa stooone¡ª!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re working hard to find it.¡±


    The absurd refrain continued. By the time the chandelier crystals in his hotel room started to look like mana stones, Hong Yeseong decided to make his escape. Besides, the biggest obstacle, Jung Bin, wasn¡¯t even there!


    Uijae, who had been only half-listening to his story, suddenly perked up.


    ¡°Jung Bin wasn¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Yeah.¡±


    Hong Yeseong casually replied as he chewed on a rice cake he had pulled out from somewhere.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him since the Artisan Exhibition. Oh, I did get a message. Something urgent came up that he needed to handle with Lee Sayoung.¡±


    Good thing I didn¡¯t use the memory-erasing technique, Uijae thought. This lunatic knew high-level information that wasn¡¯t even circting in the Wave Guild''s blind channels. Since things hade to this, he might as well get every bit of useful intel out of him. Uijae calmly asked,


    ¡°And Guild Leader Sayoung... What¡¯s going on with him? Is he okay?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? You don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Uijae recalled the blind post he had seen earlier that day. *Nice.* He shamelessly, yet with a tone of concern, muttered,


    ¡°The Guild Leader hasn¡¯t beening to the office since the Artisan Exhibition. He¡¯s been giving orders via email, and everyone¡¯s been wondering what he¡¯s up to.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Well, that makes sense, I suppose.¡±


    Thankfully, Hong Yeseong seemed satisfied with that exnation. He rubbed his swollen cheek with a new boiled egg as he answered.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. They went into some dungeon together. I think it had something to do with the apocalypse? ¡­Yeah, I think that was it. They said they found a lead or something.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    *The apocalypse.* That was way too big to brush off as ¡°nothing.¡± Uijae¡¯s eyes widened, and he was about to press for more information when¡ª


    *Knock knock.*


    An unexpected knock cut him off. Hong Yeseong mped his hands over his mouth and squeezed himself into a corner. Uijae stood in front of him, gripping hisdle like a weapon. Tension filled the hangover soup restaurant. Even their breathing was barely audible as they held their breath.


    Then came the voice.


    ¡°¡­Excuse me, is someone in there?¡±


    It was a familiar voice.

 Chapter 84

    ¡°Excuse me, is someone inside?¡±


    *Knock knock knock.* The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet hangover soup restaurant, apanied by a faint murmur.


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re sleeping¡­.¡±


    The voice alone was enough for Uijae to recognize the visitor¡ªit was Yoon Gaeul, the one who had shown him the fragment world. Under normal circumstances, she would have been a wee guest... but not now. Uijae nced at the corner. Hong Yeseong was lying t on the floor, his head craned up like a lizard, listening intently.


    ''Of all times for him to be here¡­''


    Uijae caught Hong Yeseong¡¯s gaze and mouthed silently.


    ''Do you know her?''


    Yeseong nodded solemnly. Uijae suppressed a sigh and twisted his lips in frustration. Damn it, do all high-ranking Hunters get together for regr meals or something?


    ''How does everyone know each other, for f---¡¯s sake.''


    Another hesitant knock followed. *Knock knock.* Hong Yeseong, still with his head extended, asked in a low voice,


    "Doesn¡¯t seem like she''s here for me. Do you know her, Secretary?"


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    "Come on, tell me."


    ¡°That''s a secret.¡±


    "Ugh, that''s so unfair. You think you can just brush it off with that?"


    Uijae pointed at the door with his thumb, ignoring Yeseong, who was muttering like a protester.


    ¡°Can I open it?¡±


    Hong Yeseong pressed himself even closer to the floor, probably trying to hide, though it wasn¡¯t much help given his bright blue raincoat was still slick with rain.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a possibility she was sent by the Bureau to find me. Give me a moment to think.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say she¡¯s not here for you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to leave room for possibilities in life.¡±


    Now that he thought about it, didn¡¯t this guy have a secret space somewhere with a fancy tiled house and a pnquin? Why was he rolling around on the floor instead of hiding there? Uijae crossed his arms and asked,


    ¡°Can¡¯t you go back to that space where you kidnapped me? The one with the fancy house.¡±


    ¡°Not right now. It¡¯s a delicate ce and needs time to repair after each use.¡±


    Despite Uijae¡¯s skeptical stare, Hong Yeseong shuffled around and pulled out a silver thermal mat, covering himself with it like a nket. Miraculously, the part of the mat covering him blended into the floor, leaving only his head sticking out. He waved his hand, signaling for Uijae to go ahead. With a sigh, Uijae trudged over to the door.


    *Click.* As soon as the door opened, Gaeul, who had been pacing outside, looked up quickly and smiled. She gave a small bow.


    ¡°Hello¡­.¡±


    ¡°Hold on a second.¡±


    Uijae swiftly cut her off, raising a finger to his lips. Gaeul mped her mouth shut. In the meantime, Uijae opened the memo app on his phone and typed out a message.


    **[There¡¯s someone else here. Call me Kim, the secretary from the Wave Guild.]**


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes flickered as she read the message. She cleared her throat.


    ¡°Ahem, I¡­ came at a reallyte hour, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Kim¡­ Secretary.¡±


    She nced up at him, as if to confirm if she was saying the right thing. Uijae gave a small nod and asked,


    ¡°No worries. What brings you here at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Gaeul hesitated for a moment before typing something on her phone and showing it to him.


    **[I had to tell you something important. This was the only time I could manage toe.]**


    If she hade at dawn, it must be something serious. Did she uncover an important piece of information? Uijae nodded, and Gaeul began typing again.


    **[For the past few months, new dungeons have started appearing, where the environment inside changes suddenly. These changes aren¡¯t part of the natural dungeon flow, but rather transform into entirely differentndscapes. What¡¯s eerie is that the description of the changes sounds a lot like the fragment world. White ash covering everything, and strange white monsters appearing.]**


    The fragment world. The apocalyptic world covered in white ash¡ªso familiar, disturbingly simr to the rift in the West Sea he had explored endlessly. Uijae clenched his fist.


    **[Guild Leader Nam Woojin calls this phenomenon dungeon erosion. He says it¡¯s like these dungeons are being invaded by another space. Only a few high-ranking Hunters know about the apocalypse, and since erosion doesn¡¯t happen often, investigations into it are being conducted secretly. I¡¯m in charge ofparing the fragment world to these eroded dungeons. And while doing so, I noticed something as I reviewed the fragments andpared them to this world¡­]**


    Gaeul pushed her sses up as her fingers flew across the screen.


    **[As you know, the fragment world and our world are simr yet different. But as I examined the fragments more closely, I realized there¡¯s a specific point where the two worlds start to truly diverge.]**


    Her fingers kept moving rapidly.


    **[In the fragment world, the rift in the West Sea never appeared.]**


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The West Sea Rift. Uijae bit his lip as he stared at the familiar term. Gaeul was about to type more when¡ª


    ¡°A-choo!¡±


    A loud sneeze shattered the silence. Gaeul¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Uijae whipped around to see Hong Yeseong rubbing his nose with an embarrassed smile. Damn, he hadpletely forgotten about him. If they continuedmunicating via text, even someone as oblivious as Hong Yeseong would notice something strange. It seemed Gaeul had the same thought.


    **[Who¡¯s the person inside?]**


    Gaeul knew Uijae was J. There was no need to hide it. Uijae gestured silently.


    **[It¡¯s Hong Yeseong.]**


    Gaeul¡¯s face lit up with shock. Well, of course¡ªshe had probably seen Jung Bin¡¯s broadcast, after all. Her typing speed increased dramatically.


    **[What¡¯s he doing here??? Uncle Jung Bin has been looking all over for him before heading into the dungeon¡­]**


    Uijae mulled over everything Gaeul had shared. Dungeon erosion had been happening for a few months, turning dungeons into apocalyptdscapes. The West Sea Rift also resembled these doomed worlds. Then, a thought shed through his mind.


    What if the dungeon erosion wasn¡¯t just making the environments simr¡­ but was actually connecting them to the same space?


    A chill ran down his spine. If that was the case, could the eroded dungeons and the West Sea Rift be linked? It was a far-fetched guess¡­ but still¡­


    He had to confirm it.


    Uijae steadied his trembling hands and quickly typed.


    **[Can I enter an eroded dungeon? Any location is fine.]**


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes widened before she folded her arms and pressed a fist against her lips in deep thought. After a moment, she nodded and showed him her phone.


    **[There¡¯s a recently eroded dungeon in Jongno 3-ga.]**


    Jongno 3-ga... Luckily, that was still within Seoul. If he moved quickly, he could go and return before the restaurant opened. As Gaeul continued thinking, she typed out more.@@novelbin@@


    **[But it might be difficult to sneak into an eroded dungeon. They¡¯re under strict control, and only authorized personnel are allowed inside.]**


    *¡®Is that really a problem?¡¯*


    If he knocked everyone out so that no one saw him, wouldn¡¯t that be stealth enough? As long as he covered his face, it should be manageable. However, it seemed Gaeul didn¡¯t share the same perspective. Then,


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Once again, Hong Yeseong let out a booming sneeze. Gaeul¡¯s face lit up with an idea.


    **[I think Yeseong could help. Uncle Jung Bin taught me how to handle him.]**


    Uijae checked the restaurant again. Hong Yeseong, whose head was now poking out from under the thermal mat, was currently locked in a staring contest with Kokko.


    *Him?*


    That guy?


    Noticing Uijae¡¯s doubtful expression, Gaeul gave a reassuring look. Then, without waiting for Uijae to react, she squeezed past his arm and leaned into the restaurant, calling out,


    ¡°Master craftsman Hong Yeseong! Please help! It¡¯s about dungeon erosion!¡±


    ¡°¡­Who calls for the master craftsman?¡±


    Before Uijae could stop her, Hong Yeseong had already lifted his head high.


    ¡°Who dares summon the master craftsman?¡±


    A dungeon. An unknown space that started appearing sporadically after the Day of the Rift.


    The vegetation inside dungeons consisted of things unseen on Earth, and dangerous monsters made their homes there. If the monsters inside weren¡¯t periodically exterminated, their numbers would rapidly increase, leading to an overload. As a result, unnecessary dungeons were closed, while those that produced valuable byproducts were managed by the state or guilds.


    And Lee Minhoon, a C-rank Hunter affiliated with the Rift Management Bureau, was assigned to manage the underground dungeon in Jongno 3-ga. To be honest, ¡°managing¡± mostly involved letting in only those with permits from the Wave Guild. It was, in other words, an easy gig. He smacked his lips.


    ¡®I thought I''d get booted out when the ownership changed.¡¯


    The underground dungeon in Jongno 3-ga had been state-owned before it was handed over to the guild. Normally, when a guild took over ownership, one of their guild members would take charge of management, but the Wave Guild, citing ack of manpower, left the Rift Bureau''s manager in ce. Truly, they were as generous as the sea. Thanks to that, Minhoon continued enjoying his slow, cushy job here.


    3 a.m. Minhoon yawned as he watched his phone, which was running an automatic farming game. This job had many perks, but the boredom was unbearable. He wiped away the tears that had gathered from yawning when he noticed figures approaching the management office from afar. *Who the hell are these lunatics at 3 a.m.?*


    Minhoon rubbed his eyes and adjusted his cap. As the figures kept drawing closer, he realized it wasn¡¯t his imagination. The dim streetlight illuminated them as they approached.


    ¡°¡­What the hell is that?¡±


    One person in a blue hiking jacket, fully covered with sunsses and a ck mask, another dressed like a student in a white baseball cap, beige hoodie, and pajama pants, and a tall man with a gray hoodie pulled low over his face. There was nomon theme among them¡ªit was an oddbination of people. Without hesitation, they walked toward the office where Minhoon was sitting. Flustered, Minhoon quickly turned on the microphone.


    ¡°Stop right there! Identify yourselves!¡±

 Chapter 86

    The subtle tremors, once faint enough for only the most sensitive to notice, began to intensify. Soon, even the rubble scattered around them started to shift and vibrate. The once still atmosphere now churned with unrest. Jung Bin, frowning deeply, drew his ck suppression baton.


    ¡°What in the world is going on¡­?¡±


    Sayoung removed his gas mask.


    ¡°Jung Bin, has there ever been a case of sudden changes urring inside an eroded dungeon?¡±


    ¡°None have been reported so far. Since this is still a dungeon type under investigation, anything could happen¡­ but this is definitely unusual.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°There must be some cause. Changes like this wouldn¡¯t just happen unless something was tampered with or discovered by ident.¡±


    ¡°¡­I agree with you on that.¡±


    Sayoung let out an irritated sigh. Then it happened. *Crack!* A thin ck fissure appeared in the pale sky. Both Sayoung and Jung Bin looked up at the same time.


    A white system window appeared before them.


    ---@@novelbin@@


    **[The dungeon is reacting to the title!]**


    **[The dungeon is being restructured!]**


    ---


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    *Boom!* A deafening thunderp reverberated through the sky, as though it were about to copse. *Rumble!* The ground beneath their feet heaved violently. Even the two S-rank Hunters, usually capable of maintaining their bnce, wobbled and stumbled. An overwhelming force, mysterious and powerful, surged around them. Jung Bin reached out for Sayoung¡­


    But he couldn¡¯t reach him.


    ---


    How much time had passed?


    Jung Bin slowly opened his eyes. *Blink. Blink.* His heavy eyelids moved with effort, and finally, his blurry vision focused on the ground¡ªwhite dirt.


    The ground? He realized he was lying face down, having passed out. Despite being able to withstand most pain, his entire body ached as though he¡¯d been beaten, and he furrowed his brow in difort.


    ¡°¡­Ugh.¡±


    He let out a short groan as he slowly pushed himself off the ground. Thest thing he remembered was¡­ dungeon restructuring. But what even was a "dungeon restructuring"? He had never heard of such a phenomenon. Could an already-opened dungeon even be restructured?


    ¡®I need to find Guild Leader Lee Sayoung immediately¡­.¡¯


    Moving alone in an unknown dungeon was suicide. Just as Jung Bin turned his head, he heard a soft groan.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    The sound caught his attention. Was it Sayoung? Jung Bin quickly turned toward the source of the noise.


    But instead of Sayoung, he saw¡ª


    ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯m dying here¡­ What the hell happened?¡±


    A man in a bright blue hiking jackety face-down on the ground, grumbling like a zombie. Next to him, a woman in pajama pants was on her knees, retching. And a round, silly-looking chicken clucked and strutted in circles around them. The whole scene felt oddly familiar¡­ and for once, Jung Bin found himself uncharacteristically flustered as he spoke.


    ¡°¡­Mr. Hong Yeseong? Ms. Yoon Gaeul?¡±


    ¡°¡­Hey, kid. Did I die and go to hell? Why do I hear Jung Bin¡¯s voice?¡±


    ¡°Urk¡­ Bluurgh¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ you think this is hell? Yeah, I¡¯m starting to think so too¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Coo-oo!¡±


    The ceramic chicken locked eyes with Jung Bin and let out a proud squawk. Jung Bin,pletely dumbfounded by the sight, could only stare in disbelief at the bizarre scene in front of him.


    J closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The familiar air filled his lungs¡ªcalm and devoid of any smell or taste, despite the surrounding corpses and blood. That was the nature of the rift. Because of this, the bodies within the rift didn¡¯t decay.


    In a way, it was a blessing. It made finding them among the undposed bodies easier.


    J began moving his body, starting with his fingertips, checking for any abnormalities. In the rift, where monsters could appear at any moment, the only thing he could trust was his own body. People died, weapons dulled. Blood, fat, and oil would make even the sharpest de dull over time¡­.


    Once he had confirmed everything was in order, J opened his eyes¡ªready to face hell once more.


    But.


    What he saw was not the familiar ruins soaked in dark red blood.


    "...What the hell?"


    J¡¯s face twisted in confusion as he looked around. There were no piles of corpses or monsters in sight¡ªjust heaps of white ash gently covering the rubble of copsed buildings. He frantically scanned his surroundings, but all that stood out was a slightly crumpled white baseball cap lying abandoned.


    He had seen that cap before. That belonged to...


    ¡®...Yoon Gaeul, didn¡¯t it?¡¯


    Nearby, there was also a long, sturdy staff lying on the ground.


    ¡®That¡¯s what Hong Yeseong received from me.¡¯


    Ah. Letting out a small exmation, Uijae stood up abruptly. His chest heaved as nausea churned his stomach. *Damn it.* Uijae pressed a fist against his chest, trying to steady his breathing.


    This wasn¡¯t the rift. Uijae quickly sorted through his scrambled memories. Yoon Gaeul, Hong Yeseong, and he had entered the underground dungeon in Jongno 3-ga, and then a system message had appeared¡ªsomething about unlocking a title. After that, the dungeon had begun to restructure itself, and before he could even process what was happening, a bolt of lightning had struck, and the sensation of the arms he had been holding disappearing was thest thing he remembered.


    Uijae picked up the baseball cap and the staff. The owners of these items were nowhere to be found, likely swept away during the dungeon''s restructuring.


    ¡®Where are Yoon Gaeul and Hong Yeseong?¡¯


    There was no sign of anyone nearby. Uijae bit his lip, then closed his eyes before opening them again.


    **<Eyes of the Tracker!>**


    His now-glowing blue eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. Monsters. Monsters. Monsters. Among the sea of monsters, a distinct, burning violet me flickered in the distance. Uijae knew whose me that was.


    Lee Sayoung.


    ¡®Why is he here?¡¯


    Before the thought could fully form, his feet were already moving. Uijae sprinted through the white ash, his glowing blue eyes catching glimpses of the ruins and the many mes scattered throughout the dungeon. Monsters. Monsters. Monsters. This restructured dungeon was crawling with them¡ªmonsters he had encountered countless times in the West Sea Rift.


    *Kieeeek!*


    With a shriek, a nearby monster charged toward him. Without breaking his stride, Uijae leaped into the air and skewered the monster¡¯s head with the staff. *Thunk!* Instead of blood, white ash spurted from its skull.


    His movements were swift and precise, conserving as much energy as possible for efficiency.


    Though not as powerful as Sayoung, Uijae could sense the fourrge mes clustered together in the distance. Two of them were undoubtedly Gaeul and Hong Yeseong. Given that Sayoung was here, it seemed they had entered the same dungeon as him and Jung Bin. The other me near Gaeul and Yeseong was probably Jung Bin¡ªit carried a warm, golden energy that only he possessed. The fourth, however, was unknown. Just as Uijae¡¯s thoughts started to drift toward this mystery, Sayoung¡¯s violet me grabbed his attention once more.


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t be certain until he saw it with his own eyes. It could just be his mind trying to make sense of things. But...


    *Damn it.*


    Every fiber of Uijae¡¯s being¡ªhis sharp instincts, his feet pounding against the ground, his body pushing forward¡ªwas telling him one thing.


    *He had to get to Sayoung.*


    The reason was unclear. Uijae swung his staff at the monsters charging at him, crushing their skulls like tofu. The familiar, dull thud and the vibration of the staff in his hands kept him breathing steadily. Uijae stopped thinking. He simply followed his instincts and ran.


    The dungeon had abruptly twisted and contorted, giving rise to unfamiliar ruins. Lee Sayoung, who had been methodically wiping out monsters, eventually settled in a partially intact building, its roof still holding despite the damage. The entire space, covered in white ash, stirred an ufortable feeling within him, and he found himself not wanting to look at it any longer. He leaned against the wall and exhaled sharply, trying to quell the frustration building up inside him.


    *''Jung Bin will find me eventually, damn it...''*


    Nothing was going as he wanted. Ever since Jung Bin had taken him to Nam Woojin after his copse at the Artisan Exhibition, Sayoung had been unable to attend to any of his other responsibilities, constantly dragged to investigate various eroded dungeons.


    *''This is why I never wanted to owe anyone anything...''*


    Nam Woojin, who delved into the world''s core itself, was the kind of man who, once he caught onto a clue, wouldn''t rest until he uncovered everything. While other members of the Seowon Guild were also involved in the investigation, there were areas they couldn''t reach, areas that required either Jung Bin or Lee Sayoung''s direct involvement. That was the contract they had entered.


    He clenched his fists anxiously. He had to finish up quickly and return to handle his other tasks.


    It was at that moment when he felt it¡ªa ferocious, wild aura barreling toward him, so powerful it made his skin crawl. He cautiously turned toward the opening in the ruins connected to the outside world.


    Sayoung''s eyes widened in shock. Through the swirling white ash that resembled a blizzard, he could see a grey figure charging straight toward him. His heart pounded uncontrobly. It couldn¡¯t be. He didn¡¯t want to believe it, but his body reacted with both doubt and anticipation. Why would *he* be here, in a dungeon of all ces? Confusion and suspicion swirled in his mind. But despite it all¡ª


    Sayoung called out his name.


    "...Cha Uijae."


    ¡°Lee Sayoung!¡±


    The voice that responded hit him like a bolt of lightning. Sayoung stood frozen, watching in disbelief as Uijae sprinted toward him through the ash.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°A¡­¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just me.¡±


    Cha Uijae burst into the ruins, scattering white ash in his wake. Without hesitation, he tossed the staff he''d been holding to the ground and grabbed Sayoung¡¯s face with his hands, tilting his head to check for any injuries. Sayoung, still stunned, didn¡¯t even think to push his hands away. He could only stare nkly at Uijae''s face.


    His rapid breathing, his pale and worn face, and those deep blue eyes that shone like the sea. Sayoung couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away from that blue light. Thoughts flooded his mind like crashing waves.


    *Why are you here?*


    *How did you get here?*


    *Do you even know where you are?*


    *Who are you to be asking if I¡¯m okay?*


    But¡ª


    ¡°You... you idiot. What are you doing in a ce like this after copsing? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    Uijae''s hands were so warm, and his voice asking if he was okay was so...


    Familiar.


    An inexplicable shiver ran through Sayoung''s body. The words he wanted to say surged up his throat only to sink back down. His entire body burned as if he were being dipped into moltenva. His mouth moved, but no words came out. There was so much he wanted to say, but nothing would leave his lips. The thoughts tangled up and buried deep inside his mind wed their way out, but only one sensation made it through.


    Joy.


    *I found him.*


    Sayoung opened his mouth to speak, but just then, Uijae''s firm hand covered it, silencing him. Sayoung¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. But Uijae wasn¡¯t looking at him. His sharp blue eyes were focused outside the ruins.


    ¡°...Stay quiet.¡±


    He¡­


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just be still.¡±


    *Thud, thud, thud.*


    The sound of enormous footsteps echoed throughout the ruins.

 Chapter 87

    Dust fell from the precariously stacked debris as a low rumble reverberated through the ruins. The massive footsteps that had shaken everything around them came to a halt nearby before slowly fading into the distance.


    *Thud... thud... thud...* The sound echoed until itpletely disappeared, leaving Cha Uijae ring out into the wreckage with a pale, cold expression. A quiet, deadly aura surrounded him, like a predator preparing to strike.


    It was a face Sayoung had never seen before.


    Sayoung tapped the fingers covering his mouth, a signal that caught Uijae¡¯s attention. Uijae turned toward him, realizing btedly that he had been covering Sayoung¡¯s mouth the whole time. He slowly lowered his hand, his face softening into a silent question.


    *¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯*


    Sayoung answered aloud.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Stay here.¡±


    Uijae remained silent, listening for sounds from outside the ruins before springing to his feet. He looked down at Sayoung, a smile tugging at his lips¡ªone Sayoung had seen before, back in the guild leader''s office.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t take long.¡±


    Uijae bent down to pick up the staff he had tossed aside earlier. Normally, he would have made up some excuse, said something about taking a breath of fresh air or needing to check the surroundings¡ªthings no one would have believed.


    Sayoung quietly observed him. On the surface, Uijae appeared calm, someone you wouldn¡¯t believe was in a dungeon at all.


    But the cold sweat trickling down his temple, the pale cast of his face, and the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped the staff tightly told a different story. Physiological responses were harder to hide than expressions.


    ¡°...¡±


    He was afraid.


    Afraid of what?


    Their eyes met again, and Uijae smiled, that same irritating smile.


    ¡°Seriously, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    Sayoung couldn¡¯t stand that smile.


    There had to be a reason for Uijae¡¯s reckless confidence and his tendency to charge ahead without looking back. People around him must have encouraged it¡ªpraised him for being a hero, for being powerful enough to save everyone. And they must have been pleased when he acted impulsively, because it made him easier to control.


    Sayoung reached out and gently tugged on the hem of Uijae¡¯s gray jacket. Despite the light pull, Uijae turned toward him, a curious look on his shadowed face.


    That was just the kind of person Cha Uijae was. Someone who couldn¡¯t ignore a hand reaching out for help. Someone who constantly burned himself out for others. Someone who wouldn¡¯t retreat, even if his own life was on the line. If that¡¯s the case...


    ¡°Hyung.¡±


    Someone had to be the chain that kept him from running off recklessly. Someone had to anchor him. And so, Lee Sayoung would dly be that chain.


    A chain made just for J, the one who was weak against the weak.


    "Hyung."


    "What''s up?" Uijae answered quietly, his voice low. But his attention was still focused entirely on the monster that had just appeared.


    Its footsteps, breathing, and cries were etched into his memory with brutal rity. That monster was a *Sasquatch*¡ªthe same type Uijae had fought and killed during the *Day of the Rift*.


    *¡®Still¡­ it¡¯s not the most dangerous one.¡¯*


    The Sasquatch was a massive creature with a powerful punch, but its size made it slow. Its shaggy fur also hindered its reactions, and it had a hard time noticing anything smaller than itself. As long as they hid their presence well, Hong Yeseong and the others could likely avoid detection. But...


    *¡®Maybe it¡¯s better to kill it before it gets too close...¡¯*


    The dungeon, having reacted to the newly unlocked title "Conqueror of Solitude," had restructured itself. Uijae nced around, noting how eerily simr the dungeon now looked to the West Sea Rift. When he first awoke here, he¡¯d even momentarily thought he was still inside the rift.


    Was the appearance of the Sasquatch a coincidence? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud, exasperated sigh from Lee Sayoung. For once, Sayoung lowered his gaze.


    "I''m in pain," Sayoung muttered.@@novelbin@@


    Uijae blinked, unsure if he had heard him correctly. Had Sayoung just said what he thought he did? He instinctively scanned Sayoung''s body, looking for any injuries. He half expected to see him bound by Jung Bin¡¯s chains again. Fortunately¡ªor unfortunately¡ªSayoung seemed fine, with no visible restraints.


    "In pain?" Uijae asked, incredulous.


    "Yeah¡­ I''m feeling dizzy," Sayoung mumbled, blinking his longshes slowly. His paleplexion seemed even more washed out now.


    Had he even had a chance to rest since the Artisan Exhibition? Uijae recalled how exhausted Sayoung had looked back then, as if he hadn¡¯t been sleeping properly. A knot of unease started forming in Uijae''s chest, and he tightened his grip on the staff in his hand.


    "That message you sent saying you were fine¡­ did you send it yourself?"


    Sayoung, staring at him for a moment, then nodded slowly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ why?¡±


    Relief washed over Uijae. At least that wasn''t a lie. He gave Sayoung a quick once-over.


    ¡°You received treatment from the Seowon Guild, right? Jung Bin took you.¡±


    Sayoung nodded again, but this time more sluggishly. ¡°Yeah, I did. But¡­ maybe this dungeon restructuring messed with me¡­.¡±


    He trailed off, resting his head against the wall.


    ¡°I just need to rest a little. After that¡­ we can move together. You need to get out of here too, right, hyung?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And we need to find Jung Bin as well.¡±


    ¡°¡­Jung Bin? He¡¯s here too?¡±


    Uijae yed dumb, and Sayoung gave a small nod in response. Good. The faint glimmer of light he had seen earlier must have been Jung Bin. That meant they had a little more time to wait for Sayoung to recover. If Jung Bin was around, they could trust him to handle the Sasquatch as well.


    Uijae, after observing the worn-out Sayoung for a moment, sat down beside him, resting his back against the wall. He cradled the staff in his arms and propped one knee up, sitting just a head''s distance away from Sayoung. He murmured, his gaze fixed beyond the ruins.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t wait too long. If you take too long, I¡¯ll carry you out of here.¡±


    ¡°Mmh¡­¡±


    Sayoungzily tilted his head toward Uijae.


    ¡°But¡­ hyung.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange?¡±


    ¡°What is?¡±


    ¡°How did you even get in here, hyung? What¡¯s your reason for being here?¡±


    "¡­"


    ¡°This dungeon isn¡¯t one you can just stroll into by shing your Hunter ID.¡±


    *Damn.*


    Uijae grimaced. Sayoung was way too sharp for his own good. It was a question Uijae should have anticipated from the start, but in his rush to act, he hadn¡¯t prepared an answer. Even if he¡¯d thought it through, there wasn¡¯t really a usible excuse for a non-Hunter like him to be in an eroded dungeon.


    Besides, this dungeon¡­ Uijae wracked his brain.


    *Isn¡¯t it under the Wave Guild¡¯s jurisdiction?*


    He was screwed. Uijae mentally gave up. He didn¡¯t even have a bluff to fall back on¡ªSayoung¡¯s questions were always the kind that couldn¡¯t be brushed off with a simple lie.


    As tension crept across his face, Uijae¡¯s expression twisted awkwardly. Avoiding Sayoung¡¯s intense gaze, he muttered vaguely.


    ¡°Well, you know¡­¡±


    ¡°Even though the dungeon manager isn¡¯t a Wave Guild member, they¡¯ve been here long enough to manage this ce properly.¡±


    That manager was probably still knocked out cold after getting smacked by Kokko. *Sorry, dungeon manager.* Uijae turned his head slightly, counting the cracks in the broken wall. When Uijae remained silent, Sayoung¡¯s probing questions only intensified.


    ¡°Running a business is hard enough. What brought you into such an insignificant dungeon? What¡¯s your excuse, hyung?¡±


    ¡°¡­The restaurant¡¯s been slowtely.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s short response clearly wasn¡¯t the right choice. Sayoung closed his eyes and smirked, clearly mocking him.


    ¡°Oh, is that so? For a moment, I thought maybe your secretary didn¡¯t get paid, so you came in to mine some mana stones or something¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Sayoung opened his eyes again, watching Uijae¡¯s face intently. His purple irises, devoid of their usual glow, scanned Uijae¡¯s crooked expression.


    ¡°Hyung, you¡¯re really¡­¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s gaze was too intense. Uijae braced himself, waiting for the inevitable string of insults¡ª*Are you crazy?* or *What the hell is wrong with you?* But instead, Sayoung let out a long sigh and muttered.


    ¡°Who did youe here with?¡±


    *Ah, damn it.*


    Lee Sayoung had a remarkable talent for asking all the questions Uijae couldn¡¯t answer. This wasn¡¯t even Uijae¡¯s fault¡ªevery one of Sayoung¡¯s questions poked exactly where it hurt. Even if Uijae *wanted* to give a straight answer, how could he when Sayoung''s questions hit so close to the truth?


    With his mouth mped shut, Uijae stared at the messy white footprints scattered on the floor. Momentster, he felt a firm, cold weight lean against him. Sayoung¡¯s soft hair brushed against his ear, sending a brief shiver down his spine.


    Uijae straightened up instinctively, but before he could react further, a quiet voice whispered in his ear.


    ¡°No way Nam Woojin woulde here himself¡­ that guy¡¯s practically a ghost haunting the library.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Did that guy ask you? To investigate this ce for him?¡±


    Sayoung was wildly off the mark, but Uijae didn¡¯t even get the chance to shoot back a sarcastic retort.


    Suddenly, a string of white system windows appeared in front of him.


    ---


    **[System checkplete.]**


    **[Dungeon restructuring is now finished.]**


    **[A new rank has been assigned to the dungeon.]**


    **[The new rank of the Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon is S+!]**

 Chapter 90

    Uijae frowned. However, Sayoung didn¡¯t seem inclined to stop talking or moving.


    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this conversation before we go any further. We¡¯ve got a little time, don¡¯t we?¡±


    Without answering, Uijae scanned the area. Thanks to the fact that they had already destroyed all the golems in sight, there was no longer any sign of movement nearby. Resting his spear on his shoulder, Uijae gave a slight nod.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In this gray world covered in white ash, only Lee Sayoung remained ck.


    ¡°What¡¯s your current job?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The question came out of nowhere. Uijae looked at Sayoung, wondering if he was about to spout nonsense again. But Sayoung¡¯s delicate face showed no emotion, as he quietly observed Uijae. He pressed further.


    ¡°Answer me. What¡¯s your job?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m a part-time worker at a hangover soup restaurant.¡±


    Uijae answered reluctantly. As if he had been waiting for this response, Sayoung twisted the corner of his mouth into a smirk.


    ¡°What do you think my job is?¡±


    ¡°A Hunter?¡±


    ¡°Bingo. So, between a Hunter and a part-timer at a hangover soup restaurant, who do you think should handle the boss?¡±


    ¡°Are you messing with me?¡±


    ¡°As if.¡±


    A strange heat flickered in Sayoung¡¯s low-saturation violet eyes.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say something this childish... but someone here keeps acting like they¡¯re all alone. I can¡¯t help it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°No matter how weak Jung Bin is against monsters, he can hold out. And I can fight well enough...¡±


    Sayoung let out a shortugh, pulled on his gloves, and took a step closer. His ck-gloved hand suddenly reached out and covered Uijae¡¯s hand, the one gripping his spear. Lowering his head slightly, Sayoung whispered.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for a part-timer with trembling hands to try to save everyone and take down the boss on his own.¡±


    It seemed Sayoung had seen Uijae¡¯s trembling hands when they first met in the dungeon. In truth, the anxiety that had gnawed at him had long since vanished, thanks to the man standing before him. But Uijae didn¡¯t respond. The thumb of Sayoung¡¯s leather glove brushed against the back of Uijae¡¯s hand before withdrawing. Sayoung took a step back, tilting his head as if he hadn¡¯t moved closer at all.


    ¡°You told me once, didn¡¯t you? That you wanted to live quietly.¡±


    ¡°I want to live quietly.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask why back then. Maybe I should have¡­ because from what I¡¯ve seen, it doesn¡¯t look like it.¡±


    Sayoung muttered softly, blinking slowly.


    ¡°Do you really want to live quietly, hyung?¡±


    Uijae was sure he had promised someone that he would live quietly. Who that person was¡­ that memory was foggy, like a mist, but one thing was clear. Uijae answered briefly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve got something confused here. Living quietly and saving people are two different things.¡±


    Sayoung frowned. Uijae didn¡¯t shy away from his confused and swirling gaze.


    Living quietly was someone else¡¯s wish for him, but saving people was something Uijae could do. Once, it had even been something he had to do. However¡­


    ¡°Saving people doesn¡¯t require a reason.¡±


    Why should I save people? Why should I sacrifice myself? Uijae had long since stopped asking himself those questions. His desire to live quietly, the trembling hands, and the churning nausea he felt every time he entered a dungeon or rift¡ªthey didn¡¯t matter when life was at stake. The most important thing was saving lives. Hesitating and losing someone he could have saved was the stupidest thing imaginable. And¡­


    ¡®This dungeon *is* my responsibility.¡¯


    Uijae swallowed his words and took a step toward Sayoung.


    ¡°And I told you, I made a rational decision. Like you said, Jung Bin is useless against monsters. And you¡ªaren¡¯t you a poison user? Judging by the state of this dungeon, the boss is probably a golem. Do you think you can melt that thing? Okay, let¡¯s say you can.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°But since it¡¯s an S+ grade boss, it¡¯s going to take you a long time to melt it down. It¡¯d be faster for the two of us to just beat it up, like we did before.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°And as for joining up with Jung Bin¡­ there are others inside, not just us. I¡¯m trying to save them too.¡±


    ¡°¡­Hah.¡±


    Sayoung raised his eyebrows as he listened silently. By now, Uijae could interpret all of Sayoung¡¯s expressions perfectly. The one on his face now was something like, ¡®Ah, I see you¡¯re finally saying it.¡¯ Letting out a short sigh, Sayoung asked.


    ¡°Who¡¯s in here besides you?¡±


    ¡°Hong Yeseong. And one other person.¡±


    ¡°...¡±@@novelbin@@


    Sayoung¡¯s longshes fluttered as he mulled over the words. Finally, his eyes narrowed slightly.


    ¡°What¡¯s that bastard doing here? And who¡¯s the other one?¡±


    ¡°He came looking for a mana stone.¡±


    ¡°F**k, just give him the damn thing and cut ties with him.¡±


    ¡°I tried, but¡­ circumstances prevented it. Anyway.¡±


    Uijae cleared his throat and nced sideways at Sayoung. The moment he mentioned Hong Yeseong¡¯s name, Sayoung¡¯s face had twisted into an outright scowl. Damn it. As expected, Hong Yeseong was only making things worse. It was time to lighten the mood. Uijae jabbed Sayoung¡¯s arm yfully and cracked a joke.


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried, just say you¡¯re worried. Don¡¯t act like a jerk about it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    So much for lightening the mood¡ªit had only gotten worse. An ominous silence descended.


    ¡®Sh*t, what went wrong?¡¯


    Uijae froze as he took in the sight of Sayoung¡¯s darkened, delicate face. This was not the reaction he had expected. In his mind, Sayoung should have¡­


    ¡®Worried? Who, me? For you?¡¯


    ¡®Are you crazy?¡¯


    ¡®No way.¡¯


    ¡®Did you go blind or something¡­?¡¯


    All of these were the sharp retorts he had expected to hear. But judging by Sayoung¡¯s pale face and tightly pressed lips, that didn¡¯t seem to be happening anytime soon. Uijae awkwardly withdrew the finger he had jabbed Sayoung¡¯s arm with and asked hesitantly.


    ¡°...Were you really worried?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s lips parted.


    ¡°Is that not allowed?¡±


    It was a question Uijae hadn¡¯t anticipated at all. Sayoung smirked.


    ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What if I told you I¡¯ve been waiting this whole time?¡±


    A flood of words came to Uijae¡¯s mind, but they kept sinking back down before he could voice them. As he opened his mouth to finally respond with thest words left, both of them suddenly froze and turned to look in the same direction. The air was sharply torn apart.


    *Boom¡ª!*


    A fierce gust of ashden wind swept through the area. Uijae pulled Sayoung toward him, shielding the back of his head with one hand as he held his breath. At the same time, a firm arm wrapped around Uijae¡¯s back and waist. When the wind finally subsided, Uijae surveyed their surroundings. Something enormous was moving slowly from the source of the sound. With each step it took, the entire dungeon trembled. That had to be the dungeon boss. Uijae closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.


    <Tracker¡¯s Eye!>


    Why did his ominous premonitions always have to be right?


    Biting his lip, Uijae tapped Sayoung on the shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s over there, where Jung Bin is.¡±


    ¡°¡­Hah.¡±


    Sayoung let out a breathyugh and unwrapped his arm from around Uijae. Their eyes met briefly. Without another word, they both started running.


    As they ran, the sight before them grew clearer through the ash. It was a colossal golem, crouching on all fours like a beast. It was so massive that its head was barely visible from their vantage point.


    *Gwooooh...*


    The golem let out a long, resonating cry. A chilling sensation ran down their spines. They were already standing in the shadow cast by the golem¡¯s immense body.


    ¡°¡­Tsk.¡±


    Sayoung clicked his tongue in irritation. Uijae¡¯s judgment had been correct. If Sayoung tried to melt something of that size, everyone except Sayoung would be dead from poison before the golem even began to dissolve.


    It would be a pointless waste of energy. Sayoung cracked his fingers, eyes fixed on the golem. There was no other choice. They¡¯d just have to keep hitting it until it shattered. Of course, his hands would likely break first, but there were potions for that. Just then, Uijae, running alongside him, muttered.


    ¡°There they are.¡±


    At the end of Uijae¡¯s blue gaze, a rectangr, transparent barrier with a golden border glowed in the distance. Inside, they could see Hong Yeseong, drenched in cold sweat, holding up a shield. Next to himy the copsed figure of Jung Bin, and a young girl was supporting him. It seemed like they had noticed Uijae and Sayoung too, as Hong Yeseong let out a groan.


    ¡°Ugh, damn it, we¡¯re saved...¡±


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    The girl screamed. Both Uijae and Sayoung looked up. A massive hand was descending toward them. Sayoung instinctively reached out to grab Uijae, but instead, Uijae shoved him away. Sayoung¡¯s eyes widened. Uijae was...


    Smiling.


    Sayoung¡¯s mouth fell open as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He found himself pushed toward the edge of the shield Hong Yeseong had created. Hong Yeseong gritted his teeth and shouted.


    ¡°Kid! Pull Lee Sayoung inside!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The girl grabbed Sayoung¡¯s arm and pulled him into the golden barrier. Just as Sayoung tried to get back on his feet, something wrapped around him¡ªa ck snare. He growled ferociously.


    ¡°Damn it, let me go right now!¡±


    ¡°What are you gonna do if you go out there? Can¡¯t you see Jung Bin?¡±


    Hong Yeseong shouted, out of breath. Only then did Sayoung look down. Jung Bin was lying there, battered and barely moving. The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only sign that he was still alive.


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 92

    *Bang! Crack! Gwooooh...*


    The sound of something massive and solid breaking, and the golem¡¯s wail echoed throughout the dungeon, mixing into an ear-splitting cacophony. The force of the sound alone seemed to shake the very ground. Apanying the noise was a dazzling light, followed by a storm of white ash and dust swirling through the air.


    Most Hunters fight monsters using every ability they have. Not only their weapons but also skills and attributes that, like special effects in movies or dramas, are shy and captivating. In the era of stable and powerful Hunters, their attack methods were brilliant and overwhelming. But...


    The one facing the golem now was a bit different.


    *Boom!*


    A sh of blue light pierced through the storm. Through the rough wind, shattered fragments of the enormous golem rained down like meteors.


    "Ah!"


    Hong Yeseong screamed, hastily adjusting the shield he had lowered a little earlier. The fallen piece was the golem¡¯s other hand.


    The one fighting the massive golem with nothing but a spear and his body didn¡¯t fight in a shy manner. Instead, it was more like a quiet, steady force¡ªunyielding and resolute, so much so that no one could take their eyes off it.


    Sayoung stood unwavering, watching the storm unfold.


    How much time had passed?


    *Gwooooh...*


    The golem¡¯s wail gradually faded, and everything fell silent. In the moment of stillness, the dust began to clear, revealing whaty beyond.


    ¡°...Wow.¡±


    Gaeul, who had been watching in a daze, couldn¡¯t help but let out a gasp of admiration. In the clearing, only the golem remained, clutching its broken hand near its heart.


    The golemy bent backward, leaning at an angle, and next to its shattered wrist, a massive spear was embedded more than halfway through. A perfect pration.


    And standing atop the golem was Cha Uijae.


    *Thud...*


    The heartbeat of the golem, which had reverberated beneath his feet, suddenly stopped. Confirming that there were no longer any signs of life, Uijae pulled the giant spear from the golem without hesitation. As the spear was removed, the area around its heart crumbled, leaving a massive hole.


    He slung the spear over his shoulder and lightly jumped down from the golem. With a dull thud, the golem copsed entirely, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.


    No one dared to speak as Uijae slowly approached them, dragging his worn-out sneakers across the ground. Even though the battle had ended, his hands were still trembling. The anxious emotions of survivor¡¯s guilt and regret for not even bringing back a part of the body of the deceased had long since be a part of him, entwined with Cha Uijae¡¯s existence. Those feelings would likely stay with him for a long time, dragging him down and breaking his spirit.


    Uijae had been sinking like this ever since he was thrown out of the West Sea Fracture. He had tried to close his eyes and shut his ears, submerged in still waters, because here, in a world without J, the peace that everyone had longed for had finally arrived. He couldn¡¯t disturb that peace.


    But now...


    Uijae looked around at the faces that seemed devoid of spirit, then cautiously spoke.


    ¡°¡­Are you guys okay? Any injuries?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s what we should be asking you! Don¡¯t steal my line!¡±


    "Huh?"


    Hong Yeseong spat blood before striding toward him. Kokko followed closely behind, walking in quick little steps. Yeseong pressed his fist against his chin, examining Uijae from head to toe with his golden eyes gleaming.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have any injuries, no broken bones, no scratches or cuts either. Wow, you¡¯re surprisingly tough. Any internal injuries? Secretary, are you really okay?¡±


    ¡°Um, yes. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Uijae nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. Yeseong clicked his tongue, then suddenly leaned in close, his face shining brightly. Instinctively, Uijae leaned back, and Yeseong whispered in a heated tone.


    ¡°¡­So, how was the spear?¡±


    ¡°Spear?¡± Uijae unconsciously raised the spear in his hand. Yeseong eagerly nodded.


    ¡°Yes, that. How was it to use?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ it was good.¡± @@novelbin@@


    Uijae answered honestly, nodding. From the moment he grabbed the spear, it had felt perfect in his hand, as if it were made just for him. Yeseong listened closely, then broke into a wide grin.


    ¡°Right? I told you, it¡¯s one of my masterpieces. Honestly, I was a bit worried when I heard Lee Sayoung won the bid for it...¡±


    Yeseong puffed out his chest like a rooster showing off,unching into self-praise. Gaeul, meanwhile, absentmindedly ran her fingers through her messy hair, giving half-hearted responses as she listened.


    Is it really okay to rx like this in a dungeon? Uijae thought absentmindedly as he looked at the now-lively Yeseong and Gaeul. It was as if their voices were beginning to echo, muffled, as if submerged underwater. His senses felt distant.


    No, I need to focus. Uijae deliberately shifted his gaze to regain hisposure. His eyesnded on Lee Sayoung. They made eye contact.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae expected Sayoung to immediately confront him, but surprisingly, Sayoung remained quiet. As Uijae waited for him to speak, he also silently stared back. The voices of Hong Yeseong and Yun Gaeul, who were still chattering, grew distant.


    It was as if they were both trapped in the gap of another world, caught in a moment where time had stopped. Uijae¡¯s senses slowly centered on Sayoung. His mouth felt dry, and he gripped the spear tightly, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.


    He didn¡¯t regret killing the golem. It was something he had to do. If he hadn¡¯t acted, they all might have died.


    ¡®But¡­ what should I say to Sayoung?¡¯


    His fingers, hidden behind his back, curled slightly.


    Sayoung knew that Uijae had been hiding his strength. However, it wasn¡¯tmon for an average Hunter to take down an S+ grade monster so easily and without a scratch. Jung Bin, who was weak against monsters, was one thing, but even someone like Sayoung, a former top-ranked Hunter, had struggled due to the type disadvantage.


    Should I lie again? What¡¯s going through his head right now? A storm of thoughts swirled in Uijae¡¯s mind. He nced at Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes, which had met his many times before. Yet even as he looked into Sayoung¡¯s eyes, they didn¡¯t reveal any answers.


    Sayoung didn¡¯t seem surprised, nor did he look like he wanted to confront Uijae. His expression was calm, as if he were observing something inevitable.


    ¡®Why?¡¯


    ...Could it be?


    Uijae stared nkly at Sayoung. As if answering Uijae¡¯s confusion, Sayoung, who had been gazing at Uijae¡¯s disheveled hair, finally spoke with a calm expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I said, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    Was he referring to the question Uijae had asked earlier about their well-being? Uijae felt the need to say something to Sayoung, so he did.


    ¡°I used it well.¡±


    ¡°How was it?¡±


    ¡°It was well-made.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Uijae responded, gripping the spear as if to hand it over. However, Sayoung merely stared at him, then instead of taking the spear, he grasped Uijae¡¯s hand and gently pushed it back. Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture. Sayoung then answered the unspoken question in Uijae¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°It was yours from the start.¡±


    At the Artisan Exhibition, Sayoung had been half-dead, tied up by Jung Bin¡¯s chains, yet he still caused trouble and ultimately won the bid for the spear before copsing.


    If it wasn¡¯t just to obtain an S+ grade weapon...


    A flood of words rose to Uijae¡¯s mind before sinking again. He brushed the words off his tongue against his teeth.


    ¡®Who the hell are you?¡¯


    Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes remained fixed on Uijae, bright and clear. It was as if he didn¡¯t care about anyone else in the world. Uijae¡¯s lips felt dry again, and before he knew it, he licked them.


    ¡°Ugh... did you really kill it? I feel like I¡¯m dying.¡±


    Hong Yeseong copsed onto the floor with a groan. He looked like a college student who had been out drinking all night and was now dragging himself to a morning lecture. His hair was flecked with white ash and dust, and he rolled around the floor like a zombie.


    Uijae checked on Yeseong and Yun Gaeul again. Yeseong¡¯s jacket was stained with blood, but since he keptining, he seemed fine enough. At least he still had the energy to groan.


    Yun Gaeul, aside from her messy hair, also looked unscathed. Uijae let out a small sigh of relief. Behind themy Jung Bin, still unconscious. Hesitating for a moment, Uijae asked Gaeul.


    ¡°How¡¯s Jung Bin¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Jung Bin? It was pretty dangerous earlier, but...¡±


    Gaeul shifted her gaze nervously, looking at Jung Bin once,


    then over at Sayoung, who was standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent. She continued.


    ¡°The Guild Master of Wave helped with emergency treatment, so he¡¯s doing better now. He still hasn¡¯t regained consciousness, though.¡±


    Naturally, Uijae¡¯s gaze followed hers, ncing between Jung Bin and Sayoung. Catching Uijae¡¯s look, Sayoung spoke casually.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you threw me over there?¡±

 Chapter 93

    Uijae kept his mouth shut. Honestly, the main reason he pushed Sayoung away was that he couldn''t afford to reveal everything during the battle, but it was also true that he sent Sayoung to protect the others.


    Through countless experiences, Uijae had learned one thing: if he was too honest¡­


    Lee Sayoung would get upset.


    To soothe him, every word Uijae said had to be wrapped in bubble wrap¡ªsoft and cushioned. Rubbing the back of his neck, Uijae answered as casually as possible.


    ¡°No¡­ I trusted you, that¡¯s why. I sent you on purpose to protect them. You did well.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ So you trusted me, huh? I didn¡¯t realize that.¡±


    Sayoung crossed his arms, his lips curling into a smile as his eyes narrowed yfully.


    ¡°You rejected me even when I reached out my hand. Made me wonder¡­ is that really all our rtionship amounts to? Right? I even started thinking maybe I wasn¡¯t good enough. My self-esteem took a hit.¡±


    ¡°Self-esteem? Really¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been rejected like that before.¡±


    Sayoung kept up the nonsense, smiling beautifully. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t seem genuinely offended, since he wasn¡¯t turning away or acting cold. Uijae grumbled under his breath, pouting slightly.


    ¡°You''re seriously ridiculous¡­¡±


    Sayoung looked over Uijae¡¯spletely unscathed face, then crossed his arms again and spoke in a low tone.


    ¡°Anyway, just try doing that again.¡±


    ¡°And what will you do if I do?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Sayoung seemed to think it over, but the silence dragged on longer than expected. Was he bluffing? Uijae narrowed his eyes, watching him. But Sayoung¡¯s expression remained surprisingly serious, his longshes casting thin shadows over his eyes.


    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­ there won¡¯t be a next time. That might be better.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After muttering this, Sayoung fell silent, as if lost in thought. The pretty smile he had been wearing earlier vanished, swallowed by the shadows.


    Uijae quietly observed him, noticing the ck blood staining Sayoung¡¯s pale lips. Reaching out, Uijae wiped the ck blood away with his thumb, clicking his tongue in disapproval.


    ¡°What happened to your lips? Did you get hit by debris or something?¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Startled out of his thoughts, Sayoung blinked wide-eyed. His gaze followed the ck liquid now smeared on Uijae¡¯s hand.


    Suddenly, Sayoung grabbed Uijae¡¯s hand tightly, unable to hide the panic in his expression. He hesitated for a moment, then let go, quickly rummaging through his inventory. Uijae frowned and asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Why would you just¡­!¡±


    Sayoung pulled out a vial, crushing the cap and pouring the purple liquid directly over Uijae¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Uijae groaned softly as a strange sensation crept up from his hand. The thick, sticky liquid covered his skinpletely. Sayoung firmly held Uijae¡¯s struggling hand in ce and poured another recovery potion over it. His movements were so swift that Uijae didn¡¯t even have time to stop him.


    Uijae stared nkly at Sayoung, now drenched in all sorts of potions, after just wiping his lips.


    ¡°What the hell¡­¡±


    Sayoung irritably tossed the empty vial aside. The ttering sound of it breaking echoed through the ruins. With a cold expression, Sayoung sneered.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn anything after almost dyingst time?¡±


    At this point, Uijae felt wronged. How many times had he told Sayoung? *I¡¯m fine. Your poison doesn¡¯t affect me.* He had said it over and over again, but clearly, it went in one ear and out the other. The one who hadn¡¯t learned anything was obviously Lee Sayoung.


    Shaking off his wet hand, Uijae sighed.


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m fine. You never listen, do you?¡±


    ¡°How can you be so careless¡­¡±


    ¡°At least pretend like you¡¯re listening, you jerk.¡±


    Suddenly, Uijae grabbed Sayoung by the cor, pulling him close. A sweet scent wafted over from Sayoung.


    At eye level, Uijae noticed Sayoung¡¯s split lip. For a moment, Uijae considered whether he should drink Sayoung¡¯s blood to put an end to his paranoia once and for all, but quickly dismissed the ridiculous thought.


    At that moment, arge ck hand suddenly covered Uijae¡¯s face. Scowling, Uijae grabbed Sayoung¡¯s hand.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°You looked like you were having weird thoughts, so I¡¯m blocking your view.¡±


    ¡°Weird thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Adrenaline makes everyone think weird things. I get it.¡±


    ¡°Shut up with that nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but you need to calm down. It¡¯s been a while since you fought a monster, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Uijae¡¯s heart was still pounding relentlessly, with no sign of calming down. It was loud enough that someone with good hearing would easily notice. Finally, Uijae slowly released the tension from his shoulders. As if to praise him, Sayoung gently massaged Uijae''s temple with his thumb.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Mm¡­ just like that.¡±


    Sayoung continued murmuring strange words for a while before finally removing his hand. He straightened his disheveled bangs and then let gopletely.


    ¡°So, let¡¯s wrap this up for now¡­¡±


    Sayoung casually sat on the rubble of a nearby building, crossing his legs. He looked at Uijae and patted the spot next to him, motioning for him to sit.


    ¡®Does he really want me to sit?¡¯


    Uijae hesitated, shaking his head. But Sayoung wasn¡¯t the type to give up easily. He grabbed Uijae¡¯s arm and started pulling him closer. Uijae could¡¯ve resisted if he wanted to, but with Hong Yeseong lying on the ground like a gleaming-eyed puppy and Yun Gaeul watching them wide-eyed, he didn¡¯t feel like starting a tug-of-war. With a short sigh, Uijae begrudgingly perched himself next to Sayoung.


    Only then did Sayoung tilt his chin towards the uninvited guests.


    ¡°You two had a reason foring into this dungeon, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Gaeul lowered her head in silence. Yeseong turned his face away as if looking at something else.


    ¡°You must have noticed that this dungeon belongs to the Wave Guild, assuming your eyes work properly¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Yeseong¡¯s bold lie was instantly cut down by Sayoung. Pouting like a child, Yeseong sharply turned his head. Uijae, who had narrowly avoided being treated as an unwee guest, leaned back slightly, trying to stay out of Sayoung¡¯s line of sight.


    Sayoung crossed his arms, then touched his lips with his thumb, brushing them thoughtfully. A beautiful smile spread across his face, which seemed out of ce in the ruined dungeon.


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and exin yourselves properly. I¡¯ll listen. It¡¯s best to tell the truth.¡±


    His tone suggested that he¡¯d listen, but only as a formality. His longshes fluttered as he blinked.


    ¡°Unless you want to face charges for illegal dungeon trespassing.¡±


    Wait, there¡¯s aw for that now? Uijae was shocked. He had always thoughtws changed at a snail¡¯s pace, but apparently, when it came to the awakened, it was a different story. The moment ¡°court¡± was mentioned, Yeseong copsed onto the ground, ying dead.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Gaeul bravely began to speak but, upon seeing Sayoung¡¯s face, quickly looked away. She picked up Kokko, who had been squashing Yeseong¡¯s face, and used the bird to shield herself as she continued.


    ¡°We had something urgent to investigate rted to the Corrosion Dungeon, and of the ces I knew, this one was the closest. I¡¯m really sorry for sneaking in.¡±


    ¡°No matter how urgent it was, you should¡¯ve followed the proper procedures, right? I assume you were taught basic protocol.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡±


    Sayoung coldly extended his hand.


    ¡°If it was so urgent, I¡¯m sure that famous Ham Seok-jung would¡¯ve written you some kind of clearance. Hand it over.¡±


    ¡°Well, uh¡­ wait, what?¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re just stalling¡­¡±


    ¡°No! I swear, it¡¯s really important. Just wait a second!¡±


    Suddenly, Gaeul jumped up and ran past Sayoung and Uijae, heading somewhere in the distance. Despite looking dazed, her steps were resolute, as if she were under some kind of spell. Kokko quickly followed her, bobbing along. Uijae started to get up to follow, but once again, Sayoung¡¯s ck-gloved hand caught his arm.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s headed towards the golem. Alone.¡±


    ¡°I shattered the core into pieces so thoroughly that there¡¯s no chance of iting back to life.¡±


    Sayoung scoffed, tugging Uijae¡¯s arm lightly. The strength behind the pull wasn¡¯t overwhelming, but it was just enough to make shaking it off difficult.


    ¡°There are no monster presences nearby, either. The dungeon boss is dead, so it should be safe for a while. She can handle herself.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Besides, we still need to investigate this dungeon. There has to be a reason why it was suddenly reconfigured. So¡­¡±


    Sayoung continued speaking reasonably, leaning his head against Uijae¡¯s arm. Uijae momentarily held his breath, Sayoung¡¯s low voice echoing in his ears.


    ¡°Stay here. Next to me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­One time is enough for leaving you behind.¡±


    The leather-d hand gripping his wrist tightened. Uijae didn¡¯t shake off the hand. Instead, he ced his own hand over the warmth on his wrist. Sayoung¡¯s long, ck fingers slid into Uijae¡¯s grip, as if they had been waiting for it.


    It was strange. Every time Sayoung acted like this, Uijae felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. In moments like this, a certain person always came to mind¡ªsomeone who had likely died a long time ago.


    Just then¡­


    ¡°I found it! Ahhh! I found it!¡±


    From the ck hole left in the golem¡¯s chest, Gaeul popped her head out.


    She wiped the dust from her face with her sleeve and waved something in her hand. In her hand was a shining fragment, like a kaleidoscope. Uijae recognized it immediately¡ªit was...


    ¡°A shard!¡±


    A shard of the world.

 Chapter 94

    The Fragment of the World. It¡¯s like a mirror shard that shows a fragment of a world that perished when the end came.


    But wasn¡¯t the fragment something that only appeared in Yun Gaeul¡¯s dreams? Why did a piece of the past worlde from the master of a reconfigured dungeon? Gaeul put the fragment into the pocket of her pajama pants and shouted below.


    ¡°Hey, is it okay if I look around a bit more?¡±


    A dungeon where the master has died enters a stabilization phase until a new master is regenerated, making it ideal for resource collection and investigation. So, it wouldn¡¯t be too dangerous to explore a little more. It seemed Sayoung came to the same conclusion as he tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Do as you like.¡±


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll be careful!¡±


    Gaeul disappeared back into the golem. Uijae silently stared at Sayoung, who was leaning against him. Sayoung was watching the ruins with an indifferent gaze. Soon, feeling Uijae¡¯s stare, he turned his head.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ Do you know what that thing Gaeul was holding is?¡±


    Rankers often shared information about the apocalypse, so it was possible Sayoung knew something. Maybe he had heard more about the fragments. When Uijae asked, pretending to be ignorant, Sayoung narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Gaeul?¡±


    Oh no. Uijae immediately felt he had made a mistake based on Sayoung¡¯s questioning tone. As Uijae secretly gritted his teeth, Sayoungzily murmured.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know her face or name, but you¡¯re calling her by name. You must be close. Right?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not close, you punk. Not close.¡±


    ¡°Am I supposed to believe that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m closer to you than to her. So shut up.¡±


    Uijae reached out, covering Sayoung¡¯s eyes and pushed him back. Sayoung, sliding backward, grumbled with a sulky expression.


    ¡°Why do people always flock to you, even when you¡¯re doing nothing¡­.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, do you know what that glowing thing is?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh¡­.¡±


    As if his eyes were rolling beneath his eyelids, Uijae could feel the subtle movement through his hand, making him almost pull it away because it tickled.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve heard of it¡­ Nope, can¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is.¡±


    For someone who remembers every little thing and holds onto grudges, how could he not remember something this important? Despite Uijae¡¯s incredulous expression, Sayoung simply shrugged his shoulders. His shameless face made it clear that he had no intention of giving a proper answer, even if pressed.


    Uijae sighed softly, resting his chin on his hand.


    ¡®Might as well just ask Yun Gaeul directly.¡¯


    ¡°As I said earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know everything.¡±


    At some point, Sayoung was staring straight at Uijae.


    ¡°Knowing means taking responsibility for it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure you¡¯re ready for that¡­.¡±


    Uijae, looking at Sayoung¡¯s blood-crusted lips, suddenly asked.


    ¡°And what about you?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s answer came without hesitation. He shed a confident smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a long time¡­ just waiting for the day to take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Since long ago.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s ck fingers lightly scratched Uijae¡¯s palm before slipping away. Unconsciously, Uijae flinched and clenched his hand.


    ¡°So, you can¡­ act a little more selfishly.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Uijae opened his mouth slightly but then closed it again. What was the source of this deep trust, so profound that it was like the depths of the ocean? Sayoung casually touched the crust on his lips.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t touch me like that again.¡±


    Oh, really?


    One day, Uijae swore to drink Sayoung¡¯s blood and remain unfazed. For someone as distrustful of humanity as Sayoung, only shock therapy from extreme actions could cure his bad habits.


    Grinding his teeth silently, Uijae stood up and started walking. Talking to Sayoung made him feel like his head might explode, so he decided to check on Jung Bin¡¯s condition again.


    Jung Biny on a silver foil mat, his hands neatly folded. His right arm was in a splint and awkwardly bandaged. Nearby, Hong Yeseong was lounging on his side like he was rxing by the Han River. When he saw Uijae approaching, he removed his wireless earphones and looked up.


    ¡°Oh, Secretary. Done with your lovers¡¯ quarrel?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a spear.¡±


    When Uijae pointed his spear at him, Yeseong grinned cheekily.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the one who started bickering sweetly first? I was just being considerate.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, are your eyes not working¡­ Oh, right.¡±


    Uijae rummaged through his inventory and pulled out a round mana stone. Yeseong¡¯s eyes widened, and he quickly sat up, kneeling with his hands outstretched.


    ¡°Mana stone!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s end our deal with this. And don¡¯te knocking at dawn again.¡±


    ¡°What about hangover soup?¡±


    ¡°Get it to-go.¡±


    ¡°But I wanted to try it too!¡±


    Yeseong pouted, waving his hands impatiently for the mana stone. Uijae was about to ce it in Yeseong¡¯s hands, but then he snatched it back. Yeseong¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°What, what the hell? Why¡¯d you take it back?¡±


    ¡°Since I didn¡¯t give it to you, it doesn¡¯t count as taking it back. Anyway, I have one more request.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Uijae crouched in front of Yeseong and leaned in to whisper.


    ¡°Answer quietly. In exchange for this mana stone, make me a mask.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°A mask?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. One that covers my entire face, alters my voice, isfortable to breathe in, and doesn¡¯t obstruct my vision. Keep the design simple.¡±


    Uijae listed the conditions, folding his fingers one by one. Yeseong scratched his head and casually responded.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a J mask? Are you nning to reveal it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Their eyes met. Yeseong¡¯s clear eyes sparkled. Uijae involuntarily opened his mouth slightly.


    This guy¡­


    Yeseong blinked innocently and tilted his head.


    ¡°Wait, hold on. Is this a vition of our contract? But I didn¡¯t pry on purpose. I just figured it out. That doesn¡¯t count as a vition, does it? I¡¯ve been trying so hard not to care.¡±


    How does he know?


    For a moment, the image of their hastily scribbled contract shed in Uijae¡¯s mind.


    ---


    **use 1 of the contract between Hong Yeseong and Secretary Kim**:


    The weirdo Hong Yeseong shall not be curious about nor investigate anything about Secretary Kim that he learned today. He shall not attempt to uncover anything, nor make anyone else do so.


    ---


    Damn it. The contract was entirely designed to prevent Yeseong from digging into Uijae¡¯s personal life. Of course, Uijae hadn¡¯t anticipated that they would end up entering a dungeon together just hourster!


    Yeseong was more perceptive than expected, and Uijae had shown too much of his abilities. Uijae clenched his fists without realizing it. Could he erase Yeseong¡¯s memories through some physical method?


    At that moment, Yeseong stretched and spoke.


    ¡°Well, making a mask won¡¯t take long, so don¡¯t worry. Just give me the mana stone!¡±


    ¡°Quickly?¡±


    ¡°How long do you think it takes? A week, max. I¡¯ll have it delivered by Gyu-Gyu when it¡¯s done.¡±


    Yeseong winked, giving a thumbs-up, striking the same pose as the photo hanging at the Artisan Exhibition. It was a pose that somehow inspired a strange sense of trust.


    Uijae handed the mana stone over to the world''s greatest artisan. Yeseong let out a monkey-like squeal of excitement. As he giddily yed with the mana stone, he suddenly called out to Gaeul.


    ¡°Hey, kid! Do you have any mana stones over there? I bet a dungeon like this would have some good ones!¡±


    ¡°Mana stones? Uh, what do they look like?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re usually round¡­ Eh, I¡¯lle find it myself.¡±


    Yeseong sprinted toward the golem and stuck to it like a frog, slowly climbing it. Watching his carefree figure, Uijae felt an inexplicable sense of unease.


    Doesn¡¯t he already know everything by now? Uijae ran his hand through his hair, wearing a confused expression. That¡¯s when Sayoung approached from behind, speakingnguidly.


    ¡°You came in here for a reason too, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Yeah.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until his excitement subsided that Uijae remembered his purpose. To investigate the Corrosion Dungeon. It resembled both the West Sea Rift and the world consumed by the apocalypse. Whichever it was, there had to be a connection.


    Moreover, the master of the reconfigured dungeon reacted to Cha Uijae and possessed a fragment of the world Gaeul had seen in her dreams.


    Yes, it was as if Cha Uijae himself was the trigger¡­.


    Just as Uijae was lost in thought.


    ¡°Cock-a-doodle-doo!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    The loud cry of Gyu-Gyu echoed as it flew away from the golem. Hanging from each of Gyu-Gyu¡¯s legs were Yeseong and Yun G


    aeul.


    Although it looked as if they were about to fall, the flight ended safely. Even though Yeseong ended up face-nting into the ground, Gaeul, flushed, pulled the fragment from her pocket.


    ¡°Here, take a look at the fragment!¡±


    The white shard had ck streaks swirling around it. Gaeul quickly exined.


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve found a fragment outside of a dream. None of the Corrosion Dungeons have had fragments before. The only difference with this dungeon was¡­.¡±


    Her gaze, which had been sweeping over the ruins, momentarilynded on Uijae before she flinched away as if burned. She seemed to have realized it too.


    A reconfigured Corrosion Dungeon that reacted to Cha Uijae, an interior reminiscent of the apocalyptic world, and even the monsters.


    All of it centered around Cha Uijae.


    Should he talk about it? There was too much tied to the apocalypse and the West Sea Rift for him to carry on his own. Gaeul hesitantly muttered.


    ¡°Well, since it¡¯s dangerous in here¡­ Should we take this outside?¡±


    Uijae gave a small nod and added.


    ¡°And once we get out of here, we¡¯ll have to report to the officials. Let¡¯s get our story straight. Tell Jung Bin when he wakes up.¡±


    ¡°What should I tell him?¡±


    Gaeul asked nervously. Uijae pulled up the hood that had long since fallen off and turned his back to Gaeul and Yeseong. Waiting behind him was Sayoung.


    Uijae looked at Sayoung quietly. The first day they met, when they made their contract, when he carried out Sayoung¡¯s request, the Artisan Exhibition they attended together, and even the time Sayoung copsed¡ªall those memories shed by. He also remembered how helpless he had been, cradling Sayoung in his arms after he copsed.


    Looking back, Sayoung had been there every moment after the West Sea Rift.


    Cha Uijae knew now that when Sayoung called, he woulde immediately. If Sayoung needed him, Cha Uijae would run to him. That much time had passed, and that much trust had been built. For Cha Uijae, who had lost everything and was rebuilding his life, this trust was as deep as the sea.


    How wonderful it was to have someone waiting for you. Cha Uijae, knowing more than anyone else how precious that was, couldn¡¯t turn away.


    Making eye contact with Sayoung, Uijae took a step closer and said,


    ¡°J has returned.¡±


    Sayoung smiled, as if he had been waiting for those words.

 Chapter 95

    "...So."


    "Yeah."


    "To summarize what I''ve heard so far..."


    "Yep."


    "Yun Gaeul went into the Corrosion Dungeon to find a Fragment of the World, and for some reason, Hong Yeseong, who had disappeared, went in with her. We don''t know why, but the dungeon reconfigured itself, and while that was happening, I ran into you guys. I protected everyone from the dungeon boss, then passed out, and suddenly, J appeared and took out the golem with one hit?"


    *Crunch, crunch.*


    "Exactly."


    "And J said to deliver the message that ''J has returned,'' right? Directly from J?"


    "Goodprehension! Wow, J is seriously strong. As expected from the number one ranker. The way he pierced through that giant golem with one blow, amazing."


    *Cock-a-doodle-doo!*


    "...Am I supposed to believe that?"


    "What can I do if it¡¯s the truth? It''s sad when people don''t believe the truth, you know."


    *Sigh...*


    A deep sigh, as if it came from the depths of the earth, escaped from Jung Bin. He was sitting on a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages.


    Around the bed were baskets of fruit, flower arrangements, and boxes of health drinks. A pink ribbon with the words "Get well soon" fluttered in the breezeing through the open window.


    With his rtively uninjured left hand, Jung Bin pressed his forehead and muttered.


    "How did the news that I copsed spread?"


    "Um, the Ranker Chat? But the story only circted in Channel 1. The ones who sent it were the HB Guild, the Wave Guild, and the Samra Guild¡ªbig names."


    "......"


    "In a country as information-driven as Korea, where''s the secrecy, Mr. Public Official?"


    Lying in the bed next to Jung Bin, staring nkly at the white ceiling, was Hong Yeseong, munching on a red apple. Next to him, Gyu-Gyu was curled up into a ball. Compared to Jung Bin, Yeseong looked much better.


    One serious patient, one mild case, and a chicken¡ªthe three of them were in a private room inside the Seowon Guild¡¯s hospital. It was a cozy and secretive space, essible only to those with permission from Guild Master Nam Woojin, but it wasn¡¯t exactly rxing. After all, Nam Woojin would soon being to inquire about the situation.


    The problem was that Jung Bin knew absolutely nothing about the current situation. Hisst memory was of a massive fist flying at him and the terrifying pain of his body being crushed. When he woke up, all he saw was the white ceiling of the Seowon Guild¡¯s infirmary.


    When he blinked his heavy eyelids and turned toward the sound of movement, there sat the very person he wanted to run away from¡ªHong Yeseong.


    Before Jung Bin could say anything, Yeseong shamelessly pressed the call button for him, and in no time, the marites had arrived, dragging Jung Bin¡¯s bed to the examination room.


    ¡®Something¡¯s wrong,¡¯ Jung Bin had thought, lying there hooked up to machines and IVs. After barely escaping a series of endless tests, he cornered Yeseong and questioned him about everything he could. He needed more information.


    But Yeseong hadn¡¯t been much help. The countless words Yeseong and Gyu-Gyu spewed could be summed up in one sentence.


    ¡®And then J appeared.¡¯


    What was this? Were they treating J like some sort of master key that solved everything? Admittedly, before the West Sea Rift, that had often been the case, but not anymore.


    It was exhausting. Yeseong, just by existing, drained Jung Bin¡¯s mental energy. Even with his head spinning, Jung Bin managed to tap into his public official mindset.


    "First of all... please don''t touch any of the gifts that came for me. I''ll have to return them. You''re wee to eat anything from the Awakener Management Bureau."


    "Eh, you¡¯re still under gift price restrictions?"


    "Yes, it¡¯s thew. It''s also better not to owe favors to guilds or hunters... so it''s best not to ept anything at all."


    "That''sme."


    "Indeed. Don''t be a public official. It''s a grueling job, especially when you also have to clean up after Hong Yeseong."


    Jung Bin smiled warmly as he quickly typed something on his phone with his left hand. It was a message to the security team, who were likely still on high alert. After wiping his hands with a wet tissue, Yeseong grumbled.


    "You''reining about me, right?"


    "Your intuition has sharpened. Yes, you''re correct."


    Just as Yeseong pursed his lips to properly start grumbling, there was a knock at the door. The soft white sliding door opened smoothly, and a man in a white coat walked in silently.


    "You seem lively enough to be chatting. That¡¯s good. I was startled when I saw a corpse being carried in."


    It was Nam Woojin. He adjusted his sses and crossed his arms. Jung Bin let out a small groan and straightened his posture.


    "You¡¯ve arrived."


    "Stay lying down. Even though the treatment is done, you still need rest. If it weren¡¯t for those chains, even my abilities might not have been enough to repair the damage."


    Nam Woojin''s pale eyes flicked toward Jung Bin''s cast-covered right arm. Jung Bin smiled bitterly.


    "Yes, thank you."


    "Right...."


    Nam Woojin massaged the back of his neck and let out a small sigh.


    "I can''t avoid hearing what happened. I''ve already received a formal report from Lee Sayoung. There was a sudden reconfiguration of the Corrosion Dungeon, and its rank was upgraded to S+. Is that correct?"


    "Yes, that''s correct."


    "And we don¡¯t know the cause of the reconfiguration?"


    "For now, we don''t."


    "J said it was because of him."


    "...What?"


    "Sorry?"


    Jung Bin and Nam Woojin''s eyes widened as they looked at Hong Yeseong. However, the one who had dropped the bombshell was busy peeling an orange.


    "J said it seemed like the reconfiguration happened because of him, but he didn¡¯t know why. He said until he figures it out, he¡¯ll only appear when absolutely necessary¡ªlike in this dungeon."


    "......"


    Yeseong¡¯s tone was unexpectedly calm, so it didn¡¯t seem like a joke. And based on what Jung Bin knew of J, he was someone who would say something like that. Nam Woojin murmured to himself.


    "So J actually showed up. It wasn¡¯t a system error; he really survived and escaped the West Sea Rift."


    Jung Bin nced at Nam Woojin, who was lost in thought. His pale eyes, lost in contemtion as he rubbed his lips, gleamed with a strange intensity. Even though he had lost the light in both his eyes and his mind, Nam Woojin¡¯s thirst for knowledge seemed endless. At this rate, it felt like he would burn himself outpletely.


    Jung Bin deliberately let out a rough cough. The white eyes turned toward him as his shoulders heaved. Fortunately, the strange intensity quickly faded, reced by concern for his patient.


    "Are you okay? Is the room too cold?"


    "No, I¡¯m fine. The temperature is just right."


    "Good.... I¡¯ll handle the contact with Ham Seokjung. Don¡¯t even think about leaving until your right arm heals."


    With that stern warning, Nam Woojin pped his coat and left the room. Jung Bin rubbed his mouth, taking a deep breath. The weather outside was surprisingly bright and clear. As the sunlight gently streamed in, it lit up the leaves outside in a soft greenish hue. Staring at them absentmindedly, Jung Bin spoke.


    "Hong Yeseong."


    "Hm?"


    "What was J like?"


    Hong Yeseong blinked in surprise. Jung Bin murmured again.


    "Did he seem alright? Was he hurt at all?"


    What had J been like in Jung Bin¡¯s memory? It had been so long since theirst encounter that the details had faded with time.


    Back then, everyone was on edge. Just surviving those days had been difficult. Whenever they crossed paths, the most they managed was a nod of acknowledgment.


    No, there had been a day when J had handed him a cigarette. There had even been a day when J had seemed to be in a good mood. Or at least, that¡¯s how it seemed. After all, J was just another person.


    Without saying much, Yeseong split the perfectly peeled orange in half and held it out. Jung Bin blinked and quietly stared at the orange''s flesh.


    After hesitating for a few moments, he finally epted it. Yeseong grinned.


    "He seemed fine."


    "......"


    "He was smiling after smashing the golem. Honestly, it was a little scary."


    "...I see."


    Jung Bin finally smiled faintly. He clumsily peeled a slice of orange with one hand and popped it into his mouth. His face twisted slightly.


    "...It¡¯s sour."


    "Of course it¡¯s sour, that¡¯s why I gave it to you."


    "......"


    *Coo-coo.* Gyu-Gyu let out a long cry. It sounded almost likeughter¡ªor perhaps mockery.


    The day before Jung Bin and Hong Yeseong were admitted to the hospital, at the entrance of the Jongno 3-ga Underground Dungeon.


    *Thud.* Trembling hiking boots stepped out of the dungeon and touched solid ground. The boots were a mess, covered with dirt, ash, and bloodstains, indistinguishable from one another. The early morning silence was pierced by a voice trembling like a goat.


    ¡°So¡­ so heavy¡­¡±


    Hong Yeseong, holding Jung Bin in a princess carry, looked as if he was about to cry. With Jung Bin¡¯s arm broken, carrying him on his back wasn¡¯t an option, and wrapping him in a tarp wasn¡¯t feasible either. The only solution was to carry him in his arms. Meanwhile, Lee Sayoung walked briskly past Yeseong, who was trembling like a newborn calf.


    ¡°Deal with it.¡±


    ¡°Sayoung, can¡¯t you carry him instead?¡±


    Sayoung turned around and twisted his lips into a smirk.


    ¡°Ah¡­ sure, if you want to watch Jung Bin die.¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡±


    Hong Yeseong¡¯s face crumpled as he whimpered. Uijae, who stood beside Sayoung, muttered awkwardly.


    ¡°Should I carry him instead¡­?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Sayoung immediately shifted his position, blocking Uijae¡¯s line of sight.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about meeting Nam Woojin.¡±


    ¡°Stop this madness, you lunatic.¡±


    Uijae pushed Sayoung¡¯s head back with a long sigh. The yful back-and-forth between them felt so natural, like something they had been doing for a long time. Watching them, Gaeul cautiously called out to Uijae.


    ¡°But¡­ J.¡±


    Uijae looked up, responding with a soft ¡°Hmm?¡± At the same time, Sayoung¡¯s sharp gaze also turned toward her, making Gaeul shudder slightly. She lowered her head, pretending to brush dirt off her pants, and murmured nervously.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s great that J has returned, but¡­ what about the hangover soup restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Huh? The soup restaurant? Why?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ if you¡¯re going to be working as J again, doesn¡¯t that mean you won¡¯t be able to manage the hangover soup restaurant anymore?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to do both.¡±


    ¡°Both¡­?¡±


    Uijae crossed his arms behind his back confidently and shed a grin.


    ¡°Hero J and Cha Uijae, the part-time worker at the hangover soup restaurant, are two different people. Right?¡±


    In this era of great Hunters, it wasn¡¯t umon for Hunters to hold multiple jobs¡ªwhether as models, actors, or even dungeon ASMR YouTubers.


    So, naturally, the number one ranker in the world announced his bold decision to juggle two jobs: being a Hunter and a part-time worker at a hangover soup restaurant.

 Chapter 97

    The reconfiguration phenomenon in the Corrosion Dungeon and the rank upgrade of the West Sea Rift. Both events urred as if they had been waiting for Cha Uijae to enter, changing the moment he stepped inside.


    Uijae swallowed hard. Deep down, he knew the truth¡ªthat he was somehow tied to all of this. He couldn¡¯t help but instinctively realize it.


    Letting go of the table, Uijae asked quietly.


    ¡°Is it possible for me to review the data from the Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon? Or perhaps, go back inside?¡±


    ¡°Oh, going back in is not an option. The Guild Master would be strongly against it. But essing the data is fine. That¡¯s actually one of the reasons I came today. Just a moment.¡±


    Mingeojeong pulled a thin file from his inventory and handed it over.


    ¡°These are the investigation reports on the reconfigured Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon. Vice Guild Master Baewonwoo personally handled the investigation, so you can trust it. Take your time reading it.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Uijae took the file and skimmed through it quickly. The dungeon had been a lucrative source of potion ingredients before the Corrosion began, but strange signs of erosion had been appearing over the past month. The reconfigured dungeon was now a ruinedndscape covered in white ash, and if the ash was brushed aside, broken Korean signs could be seen¡­.


    Uijae bit his lip. The West Sea Rift had shown simr signs with Korean letters, as did the fragments in Yun Gaeul¡¯s vision. The puzzle pieces of the information were starting to fit together. Mingeojeong dusted his hands off and stood up from the table.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll pass on any additional information as soon as ites in.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes. Could I also ask for information on other Corrosion Dungeons?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m at your service for anything. Infiltration, investigation, or even maniption is my specialty.¡±


    Mingeojeong boasted confidently about his illegal maniption skills, though Uijae couldn¡¯t deny he had benefited from them before. As questionable as his ethics were, his abilities couldn¡¯t be doubted. The only issue was that Mingeojeong always seemed to be a bit¡­ unhinged.


    ¡°I¡¯ve delivered everything I needed to today, so I¡¯ll take my leave. Here¡¯s my card; if you need anything, feel free to contact me.¡±


    With a polite gesture, Mingeojeong handed Uijae a business card. Uijae also politely epted it with both hands and read it: *Wave Guild Combat Support Team 1, Ajujageungeojaeng Mingeojeong, Seo Mingi*. Mingeojeong stood at the door with his hands behind his back and spoke earnestly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to contact me. Our support team is always on standby for your backup.¡±


    Uijae realized this was the third Wave Guild business card he had received¡ªone from the warning letter he¡¯d sent to Lee Sayoung, one from *Rangman Offner* Choe Goyo, and now Mingeojeong¡¯s.


    He fiddled with the business card for a moment before slipping it into the pocket of his apron. Mingeojeong gave a wave as he turned to leave, pushing the door open.


    At that moment, Uijae spoke up.


    ¡°By the way¡­ since you specialize in information gathering, can you also find people?¡±


    ¡°People?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Someone who might already be dead by now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re putting me to work right away! You really know how to make use of someone, huh?¡±


    With a creak, Mingeojeong closed the door he had just opened and turned back around. He pushed up his sunsses and pulled out a familiar-looking tablet from his inventory, blocking the doorway.


    ¡°If you have specific details and instructions, it¡¯s possible. However, if the person died on the day of the Rift, it might be difficult. The entire society was paralyzed that day, and there are still unidentified casualties.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t someone who died on the day of the Rift.¡±


    Uijae, touching his lips as he recalled the details, slowly added.


    ¡°It was about three years after the Rift. Or maybe eventer. Either way, it would¡¯ve been after the West Sea Rift.¡±


    At the mention of the West Sea Rift, Mingeojeong¡¯s hand paused for a moment. He scratched his temple with his tablet pen and asked,


    ¡°Are you certain this person died? Did you confirm it yourself?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. But¡­ they probably did.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Mingeojeong lowered his head slightly, only ncing up at Uijae. His pitch-ck eyes studied Uijae¡¯s face as he murmured.


    ¡°But from the way you¡¯re speaking, it sounds like you¡¯re not sure. I¡¯ll mark them as missing.¡±


    He scribbled something onto his tablet and then asked,


    ¡°What about their name, age, or appearance? Could you provide basic details or any distinguishing features?¡±


    Pen in hand, Mingeojeong waited for Uijae¡¯s response. But for once, Uijae found himself at a loss for words. After a long hesitation, he finally gave an awkward answer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know their name¡­ or their face. They were a bit younger than me.¡±


    ¡°So you don¡¯t know their exact age either?¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    Frowning in thought, Mingeojeong muttered,


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but¡­ what do you actually know about this person?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to me you. I¡¯m just asking so I can gather more detailed information. Did they live in a certain area? Graduate from a particr school? Any small clue will help us start the investigation. Anything at all.¡±


    Uijae crossed his arms, sinking into deep silence before finally speaking. His voice was lower than ever.


    ¡°I saved this kid in the Mangwon Rift¡­¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°They were the sole survivor of that Rift.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Their whole body was covered in poison, and they were so badly damaged that even their vocal cords were ruined. The only thing that still worked was their hearing, but they couldn¡¯t move, somunication was impossible. Everything that could have helped identify them had been melted away by the poisonous swamp. So¡­.¡±


    Memories he had quietly buried began to surface again. Uijae lowered his gaze. Something surged inside him, but he forced it down.


    A tall young man in a ckbat uniform stood with his arms crossed in front of the ss window. Beyond the ss was a stark white space.


    On the operating tabley a boy so disfigured that it was impossible to recognize his original form. At first nce, one might think he was already dead, but J knew that the boy was still barely breathing. The numerous machines connected to him were the only things keeping his fragile life intact.


    Just then, the door to the intensive care unit opened, and a doctor in surgical scrubs came out, wiping sweat from his brow. J spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°Doctor.¡±


    His voice was strangely distorted, making it impossible to determine his gender or age by sound alone. His tall, solid frame led one to assume he was an adult man, but that was all. The doctor approached him and replied.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting.¡±


    J¡¯s ck mask turned slightly toward the doctor.


    ¡°Can he be saved?¡±


    The doctor sighed deeply.


    ¡°J, to be perfectly honest... I can¡¯t make any guarantees.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°As you know, wounds caused by monsters... are difficult to treat with modern medical techniques. Simple physical injuries can be treated with abination of modern medicine and potions, but¡­¡±


    The doctor¡¯s gaze shifted to the boy.


    ¡°In a case like this, where he¡¯s been so severely poisoned... it¡¯s honestly a miracle he¡¯s still alive. If it weren¡¯t for the antidotes you¡¯ve been administering non-stop, he would have died long ago.¡±


    J silently turned his gaze back to the boy beyond the ss.


    That evening, a devouring-type Rift appeared in the middle of Mangwon-dong. The Rift suddenly appeared, sucking in everything around it¡ªpeople, buildings, nothing was spared. A 3-kilometer radius near the Rift had been reduced to rubble, as if some monstrous force had torn it all apart.


    J had gone straight to the Mangwon Rift after emerging from a dungeon in Chungju, and a full dayter, he came out with something cradled in his arms. The waiting Hunters had rushed toward him, but J took a step back, as if telling them to stay away.


    What he was holding¡ªwrapped tightly in a nket¡ªlooked like a small bundle.


    One of the Hunters, somewhat familiar with J, approached.


    ¡°They say it¡¯s a poisonous Rift. Are you alright, J? And that¡­?¡±


    J, in an unusually urgent tone, responded.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to disappear soon.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? Then, are there no other survivors¡­?¡±


    J¡¯s gaze lowered to the small figure he held. He muttered softly.


    ¡°There¡¯s only this child. No other survivors.¡±


    With that, he disappeared, still clutching the child in his arms. Momentster, the entrance to the Rift was filled with corpses, their bodies ckened and melted away by the poison.


    J tapped his mask lightly with his fingers before speaking.


    ¡°If there¡¯s poison¡­¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°If that kid¡¯s been covered in poison¡­ is it possible to create an antidote using it?¡±


    The doctor sighed again, falling into thought. It wasmon practice to analyze the venom from poisonous creatures to create antidotes. And recently, many Awakeners had emerged who specialized in potion-making. If they gathered the right people, it would be possible. But...


    ¡°It might be possible¡­ but the question is whether the boy will survive long enough for us to make the antidote. And whether we can collect enough poison¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    J turned to leave. The doctor, surprised, grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Wait, what are you¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll gather the poison. I know what kind of monster it came from.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the cost, time, or manpower. I¡¯ll supply everything you need.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    ¡°In the meantime, treat him with the general antidote I¡¯ve been providing.¡±


    J stepped out of the suffocating room and continued down the hallway. He was now in the hospital corridor, and people¡¯s eyes followed his straight back. Expectation, admiration, reverence, fear... His watch beeped loudly on his wrist, signaling an iing call. J ced his earpiece in and pressed the answer button.


    ¡°This is J.¡±


    ¡ªAh, you¡¯re connected. Just a moment.


    A calm woman¡¯s voice came through. It was Ham Seokjung, the Director of the Awakener Management Bureau.


    A Rift has appeared in Mokpo. It¡¯s a Grade 4 Rift. Can you head over there? We don¡¯t have any Hunters in the area who can handle a Grade 4 Rift.


    ¡°Yes, understood. Will I be going in alone?¡±


    ¡ªIt seems so. Jung Bin is currently involved in a suppression operation.


    ¡°Got it. Please prepare transportation for me.¡±


    ¡ªI¡¯ll have a helicopter ready at headquarters.


    Ham Seokjung ended the call quickly, clearly busy with her tasks.


    J hurried his steps and exited the hospital. The world outside was still quiet, the aftermath of the Rift Day still hanging over everything. It had been a long time since the sounds of childrenughing, ying, and people chatting in the streets had been heard.


    In that silence, a voice echoed in his mind¡ªa voice, hoarse and cracked from the poison, whispered faintly.


    ¡°Please¡­ save me.¡±


    J stopped walking.


    Inside the Rift, where everything had been melted away by the poison, J had searched desperately for the faintest trace of life. He hoped, with every step, that the presence he sensed wouldn¡¯t vanish before he reached it, that it could hold on just a little longer.


    And finally, hidden in the debris of a copsed building, after tearing apart the outer walls, he found the boy¡ªdying, covered in poison, clinging to the bodies of two melted corpses. Even with his vision clouded by the poison, the boy had somehow managed to look up at J. His small lips had moved.


    ¡°Please save me.¡±


    That image, so much like the 17-year-old Cha Uijae, who had once begged for help¡­


    J couldn¡¯t help but take the boy¡¯s hand.


    For he was the only one who truly understood the weight and responsibility that came with holding that hand.

 Chapter 98

    That day, Uijae had never once regretted taking the hand of that boy in the Mangwon Rift. However...


    With his hands in the pockets of his apron, Uijae muttered nonchntly.


    ¡°He was getting a lot better with the ongoing treatment. But he wasn¡¯t fully healed. He needed regr antidote treatments, and... I didn¡¯t return from the West Sea Rift. So, they couldn¡¯t continue to supply the antidote.¡±


    It was the fact that he couldn¡¯t take responsibility until the end that bothered him. The thought of the boy, who must have quietly passed away in J''s absence, had always lingered in a corner of his mind.


    Did J, who had left the boy behind to enter the West Sea Rift, save everyone? No. He had saved no one. And on top of that, he was now living in a world that had been thrown into a peace he could no longer partake in. The hero, once celebrated, was now marked by failure.


    Maybe that was why the people he saved from the Jongno 3-ga Underground Dungeon felt all the more precious to him. They were the ones he managed to rescue after so many failures.


    As Uijae talked about this fragmented, weary story he had long buried, he didn¡¯t really understand why he was sharing it. It wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d ever spoken about this to anyone before. He continued clumsily, as ifpelled by the situation.


    He rubbed the sole of his shoe against the floor and added,


    ¡°I went into a Rift and came out eight yearster. That¡¯s how it was.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Mingeojeong listened quietly, without any sign of sympathy or offering any unnecessary words offort. That actually made Uijae feel at ease. As Mingeojeong tapped his pen on the tablet, he spoke.


    ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be offended by my question. Have you tried hiring a private investigator? These days, there are many errand services run by Hunters.¡±


    ¡°I did, but as soon as I mentioned the conditions, they kicked me out. Which, to be fair, is understandable.¡±


    ¡°And what about requesting ess to medical records? Even though it¡¯s from eight years ago, the hospital might still have them on file.¡±


    ¡°I tried that too. They said unless I¡¯m the patient, a family member, or a legal guardian, I can¡¯t ess the records.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, if I were J, they might have let me, but Cha Uijae isn¡¯t J.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s gaze shifted briefly to the calendar.


    ¡°And to begin with... I didn¡¯t even admit him to the hospital through official procedures.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    Mingeojeong looked puzzled. Uijae hesitated for a moment, as if confessing a long-held secret.


    ¡°I¡­ I snuck him in using J¡¯s name. I had a bit of an arrangement with the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Mingeojeong¡¯s voice rose by a pitch. Uijae shrugged.


    ¡°At that time, they rarely epted people who were sure to die. There were so many people injured by monsters... and both medical personnel and hospital beds were in short supply. Most people believed that instead of holding on to someone who was on the brink of death, they could save more than ten others. Especially at Hunter hospitals.¡±


    Three years after the Rift Day, South Korea, thanks to the efforts of J and Jung Bin, had regained stability more quickly than other countries. But the chaos hadn¡¯t fully subsided.


    There were no Rift detectors, no healers. Treating injuries from monsters relied entirely on the few rare potions avable. In such a situation, there was no ce that would give a bed to a civilian dying from poison. It was too obvious that they would die soon.


    As Uijae reflected on his memories, he added,


    ¡°And I also worked it out with the hospital to keep that boy¡¯s existence hidden. It... could¡¯ve caused some problems.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that I understand. It could have been a weakness. Especially for someone like J.¡±


    Mingeojeong nodded, then nced cautiously at Uijae.


    ¡°Forgive me if my words were too blunt.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re just stating the facts.¡±


    A short silence followed. What meaning was there in trying to find someone who was probably already dead? Even so, Uijae felt he needed to search for some trace. That was the duty of a survivor.


    With a low, drawn-out sigh, Mingeojeong finally nodded and tucked the tablet away.


    ¡°To be honest, there aren¡¯t many leads, so I can¡¯t guarantee we¡¯ll find anything. But I¡¯ve got a sense of where to start.¡±


    He pushed up his sunsses and spoke earnestly.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡¯ll start bybing through the hospital records. Leave it to me, sir. Which hospital was it?¡±


    He extended his hand as if asking for a handshake. Rarely did a statement aboutmitting an illegal act sound so reliable. In fact, this was the first time Mingeojeong had ever seemed this trustworthy. Uijae took his hand out of his pocket and shook it slowly.


    ¡°It¡¯s now the National Hunter Hospital. It used to be a private hospital.¡±


    ¡°...Pardon? The National Hunter Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes. National.¡±


    Mingeojeong¡¯s face turned pale as if he¡¯d just seen a ghost. His fingers twitched as if he was trying to pull his hand away. But¡­


    [Special Trait: Strength Enhancement (S+) has been activated.]


    Cha Uijae didn¡¯t let go once he had a grip on something. His hold tightened until Mingeojeong¡¯s hand turned white. In a voice that trembled like a goat, Mingeojeong stammered,


    ¡°C-customer? You¡¯re... really strong, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t we just shaking hands?¡±


    *Crack.*


    ¡°Ack, ack, ack!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll do it, right?¡±


    ¡°W-well, d-did you know that the National Hunter Hospital has close ties to not only the Bureau but also the three major guilds and most of therge guilds?¡±


    ¡°They must have grown a lot in eight years.¡±


    ¡°And did you also know that their security is top-notch?¡±


    ¡°I know that now.¡±


    ¡°...Agh. Okay, okay! I¡¯ll give it my best shot.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Finally, Uijae smiled brightly and let go of Mingeojeong¡¯s hand. Mingeojeong winced as he poured a potion over his aching hand from his inventory. Uijae also pulled out the beginner hunter¡¯s potion kit that had been gifted to him and sprinkled some on Mingeojeong¡¯s hand.


    Once the color returned to Mingeojeong¡¯s whitened hand, he dejectedly grabbed the doorknob.


    ¡°Please understand that it might take some time to crack into a national hospital¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m used to waiting.¡±


    ¡°I see. If you need anything else, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. And if you¡¯re nning to move as J, please contact me or the Guild Master.¡±


    Thatst request was unexpected. Uijae blinked.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, why? It¡¯s to back you up, of course.¡±


    Mingeojeong blinked back, equally confused. Uijae, with his mouth slightly open, was briefly stunned as if struck by something.


    The contract he had made with Lee Sayoung had been based on the assumption that Cha Uijae and J were two different people. Now that they knew the truth, they could easily exploit it... so why weren¡¯t they?


    As one question arose, others quickly followed like a cascade of ropes tying him down. Uijae suddenly asked,


    ¡°Why are you helping me so much? This isn¡¯t part of the contract.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not really sure myself¡­¡±


    Mingeojeong awkwardly adjusted his slipping sunsses, revealing his dark under-eye circles. After pondering for a moment, he grinned and slid the door open.


    ¡°Maybe... it¡¯s just your good deedsing back to you?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°You may not think of it as a good deed, but to someone else, it might have been salvation.¡±


    With that, Mingeojeong waved and disappeared into the shadow beyond the door. Uijae stared after the dark figure for a long while, before finally letting out a deep sigh.


    *Bang!* The fist mmed down on the metal desk, making the files on it rattle.


    ¡°I told you already, I don¡¯t know who it was! How the hell am I supposed to recognize someone wearing a mask? You keep asking the same question!¡±


    A man sitting in a room full of monitors was biting down on a paper cup in frustration. The screens disyed different rooms that all looked very simr.


    On the leftmost monitor, Hong Yeseong was sprawled out in the interrogation room, slumped in his seat like a melting slime. The Hunter sitting across from him looked perplexed but pressed on with his questioning.


    ¡°But Hunter Hong Yeseong, if you didn¡¯t see his face, how are you so sure it was J?¡±


    Hong Yeseong scoffed.


    ¡°You know J logged into Channel 1, right? That¡¯s how we confirmed he¡¯s alive. The Bureau Chief personally certified his survival too. He took down an S+ grade golem in one hit, and he was wearing a mask. And then he said he¡¯s J. How could I not believe that? Honestly, I thought a savior hade. He showed up just when I was about to die.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you escape?¡±


    ¡°I was called by fate.¡±


    Hong Yeseong pouted his lips dramatically, spewing out nonsense. The Hunter questioning him couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    A dungeon reconfiguration and an unprecedented S+ grade dungeon ranking had taken ce. Just that alone was enough to turn the world upside down, but on top of that, J had appeared and taken down the dungeon boss in one blow.


    Oh, the chaos! J had done it again! The Awakener Management Bureau and the Rift Management Agency had both gone into full emergency mode. With Jung Bin lying half-dead at the Seowon Guild, the Awakener Management Bureau had started grilling every other ¡°Super Hamster¡± they could get their hands on, desperate for any bit of information.


    But¡­


    ¡°Can you handle this?¡±


    It was the Management Bureau that was struggling, not the Hamsters.


    The Super Hamsters were far too formidable to easily intimidate. They thought Yun Gaeul would be the easiest to coax, but she pulled the high school senior card and escaped. Lee Sayoung invoked his right to remain silent and exuded such a menacing aura toward the interrogating Hunter that a restraining order had to be ced.


    The only one who had actually spoken was Hong Yeseong, but all he¡¯d done so far was spout nonsense. Looking up at the ceiling with his clear eyes, Hong Yeseong suddenly shrieked.


    ¡°Hey! When are you letting me go? I¡¯ve got work to do. There¡¯s an idea floating around in my head, and if it dies, it¡¯s on you! I need to get to the Artisan Vige in Bukhansan, like, now!¡±


    The Hunter questioning him awkwardly nced at the CCTV camera in the corner of the ceiling, a silent plea for help. But the person watching through the monitors couldn¡¯t assist him.


    Because of the low,manding voice that had suddenly filled the room.


    ¡°Well, well. It¡¯s rare to see such distinguished guests all gathered here.¡±


    The voice belonged to a man who had just entered the monitoring room. His ck hair, streaked with a few strands of gray, and his wrinkled face gave him a fierce, tiger-like expression despite his age. He silently observed the screens before standing tall.


    With a *tap* of his cane on the floor, the Hunter who had been gnawing on his paper cup hastily stood up and bowed.


    ¡°Ah, Hunter Song Joheon! I didn¡¯t expect you here! How did you¡ª?¡±


    Song Joheon, the head of *Samra Guild*, one of South Korea¡¯s three major guilds, gave a warm chuckle and waved his hand dismissively.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here with the Bureau Chief¡¯s permission.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see, understood.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been briefed on the situation¡­¡±


    Song Joheon¡¯s gaze shifted to the central monitor. On the screen, Lee Sayoung sat alone in an interrogation room, legs crossed, eyes closed, as if meditating. A slight smile tugged at the corner of Song Joheon¡¯s lips.


    ¡°So, J has returned, has he?¡±

 Chapter 100

    A sweet scent tickled Uijae''s nose as soft strands of hair and the cold surface of Sayoung¡¯s gas mask brushed against the back of his neck. Uijae shuddered involuntarily. He wasn¡¯t slow at grasping situations, but for some reason, his brain wasn¡¯t working right.


    Thud, thud, thud¡­ The rapid beating of an unknown heart echoed loudly. Through the half-open door, faint red light and the sound of the TV drifted out.


    In a corner untouched by the light, Cha Uijae was held in Lee Sayoung''s arms. To be precise, he was awkwardly kneeling, half-climbing onto Sayoung¡¯sp. Uijae blinked slowly.


    ¡®...What the hell is this?¡¯


    Despite grasping the basic situation, that was the only thought that popped into his head. More questions followed. Why had Sayoung been crouching in front of the door? Why had he pulled Uijae in for a hug? Why now? The only other time this guy had initiated physical contact was during the Artisan Exhibition when he was in pain.


    Could he be injured? But there was no smell of blood. Was it internal?


    Just as Uijae¡¯s head began to spin with thoughts, he felt the leather-d thumb of Sayoung gently brush over the back of his hand. It seemed Sayoung hadn¡¯t let go of the hand he¡¯d grabbed earlier. Uijae voiced his thoughts aloud.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Are you hurt?¡±


    Sayoung''s indifferent response echoed in his ear.


    ¡°Just ¡®cause.¡±


    ¡°You think that exins everything? Get up. What the hell are you doing, sitting here all miserable?¡±


    Since Sayoung didn¡¯t seem to be injured, there was no reason to stay in this awkward position. With a gruff response, Uijae shook his hand free. But instead of letting go, Sayoung squeezed tighter, intertwining their fingers.


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the top of Sayoung''s head, which was pressed against his neck.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s voice came out low, almost like a childishint.


    ¡°Just stay like this for a bit.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®stay¡¯? You can¡¯t just¡ª¡±


    Though he grumbled, Uijae stopped trying to free his hand. Sitting like this, with Sayoung holding onto him, he felt like a bamboo pillow. Sayoung¡¯s fingers lightly grazed the knuckles of his hand, sending a subtle tickling sensation through his skin.


    Sighing softly, Uijae stared at the swirling ck hole in the night sky before speaking again.


    ¡°So, why were you sitting here in the first ce?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°If you came by, you could¡¯ve knocked likest time.¡±


    He recalled that night¡ªlike something out of a horror movie¡ªwhen Sayoung had burst into the restaurant uninvited, making demands. Back then, he was nothing but an insufferable lunatic. When had things started to change between them? Uijae¡¯s thoughts wandered.


    Time had a way of changing things. Nothing could remain unchanged in the face of time¡ªpeople, rtionships, everything shifted over time.


    Even Uijae, who had been absent from the world for eight years, wasn¡¯t an exception. The insufferable lunatic had be a reliable, trustedpanion. In the past, Uijae would¡¯ve kicked him into a trash heap without hesitation.


    Just then, Sayoung spoke.


    ¡°If I stayed here like this¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I thought you mighte out.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened. Sayoung lifted his head slightly. Through the lenses of the gas mask, Uijae could see the faint curve of his narrow eyes. There was a hint of amusement in his voice.


    ¡°And you really came out.¡±


    His eyes seemed genuinely happy.


    Watching Sayoung¡¯s eyes behind the lenses, Uijae averted his gaze and changed the subject.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we came out of the Corrosion Dungeon. Why show up now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d show up with a bunch of questions¡­.¡±


    ¡°It turned out this way for various reasons.¡±


    ¡°What took you so long? Were you busy?¡±


    The movement of Sayoung¡¯s fingers stopped. After a brief silence, he responded.


    ¡°I was tied up in an investigation.¡±


    ¡°An investigation?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, trying to bluff my way through, saying I hadn¡¯t seen a certain ¡®important¡¯ someone. Though it was a lie that no one believed in the first ce.¡±


    The Awakener Bureau must¡¯ve been pressing him hard for information about J.


    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t have let him go easily. Given the unprecedented event, they were probably desperate for any leads, even if it meant holding someone like Lee Sayoung for questioning. Uijae asked.


    ¡°What about Hong Yeseong and Gaeul?¡±


    ¡°Yun Gaeul was given leniency since she¡¯s a high school senior. As for Hong Yeseong¡­ well, he¡¯s around somewhere.¡±


    So that¡¯s why the mask hadn¡¯t been delivered. Uijae let out a short sigh.


    ¡°The Bureau is still the same, huh.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sayoung didn¡¯t reply, only shrugging, looking more tired than usual.


    ¡®...Is this okay?¡¯


    Hesitant, Uijae raised his free hand and started to gently pat the top of Sayoung¡¯s head. Honestly, Sayoung¡¯s hair was soft, and it felt nice to pet. Sayoung, who had lifted his head as if to say something, slowly responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I managed to take care of some things while I was tied up¡­ and Jung Bin got discharged.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Though he¡¯s still in a cast, he¡¯s moving around just fine.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s tone was indifferent. The way he switched between being disinterested and suddenly animated made it hard for Uijae to keep up.


    As he petted Sayoung¡¯s head, his fingers brushed against another strap¡ªprobably the one securing the gas mask. Uijae hooked his fingers through the strap and tugged it upward. Sayoung¡¯s head lifted in response. The strap slid off, revealing his face, which was twisted slightly in a frown.


    Satisfied, Uijae twirled the strap around his finger.


    ¡°What are you doing¡ª¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re talking to people, take off the gas mask.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sayoung silently released his grip from Uijae¡¯s waist and leaned back against the door, though there wasn¡¯t much room to retreat. He hadn¡¯t let go of their intertwined fingers, though. Uijae clicked his tongue.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t worry about the poison. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°What, does J have an S-rank detoxification trait or something?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s sarcasm often hit the mark. When Uijae mmed up, Sayoung squinted at him.


    ¡°...Do you?¡±


    ¡°...Well¡­¡±


    ¡°Then why did you cough up blood?¡±


    The conversation circled back to that incident. Uijae grimaced and told the truth.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t kick in that time. Maybe it was because it was the first time I encountered your poison.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really¡­? And you expect me to believe that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡±


    ¡°Does it even make sense for a trait to not activate?¡±


    It was the truth, but how could he exin it? The real issue was that Sayoung¡¯s poison was so potent that Uijae¡¯s detoxification trait couldn¡¯t handle it in one go. But Sayoung¡¯s deep-rooted distrust didn¡¯t seem to be going anywhere.


    Sayoung continued eyeing him suspiciously, as if trying to solve a mystery. He looked like a detectiveparing a suspect¡¯s face to aposite sketch. Uijae nced at the rusty door Sayoung was leaning against and spoke again.


    ¡°Do we really need to sit out here like this?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°We could go inside and talk. Why are we sitting in a corner like this?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted some fresh air.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit¡­ Get up, get up.¡±


    Uijae flicked his knee, stood up, and gave Sayoung¡¯s hand a sharp tug. Sayoung resisted for a moment, but Uijae¡¯s strength was greater. Sayoung stumbled as he stood.


    Once Sayoung was on his feet, Uijae peeled his fingers off one by one, finally breaking the grip. Sayoung, scowling, stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. Uijae raised his hands in surrender.


    ¡°There, done. We¡¯re good, right? We had fun.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure¡­¡±


    Sayoung gestured toward the restaurant with a nod.


    ¡°Since closing the shop is more important than me, I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    For a moment, Uijae froze. He couldn¡¯t deny that, deep down, Sayoung¡¯s snide remark felt oddly¡­forting.


    ¡®Am I losing my mind?¡¯


    Quickly, Uijae dashed back inside and grabbed the broom. Just as he was about to head back to the door, he heard Sayoung¡¯s low voice drift in.


    ¡°Cha Uijae.¡±


    Uijae stopped in his tracks. Through the ss in the iron door, he could see Sayoung staring straight at him, his posture slightly hunched. His plump lips moved slightly.


    ¡°Uijae. J. Uijae, J, Uijae¡­¡±


    Sayoung repeated the names several times before looking at him with a faint smile. His voice was slow, deliberate.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered why you chose that hunter name.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Now I get it.¡±


    Sayoung chuckled.


    ¡°You just reversed your own name to get ¡®J.¡¯¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°So simple.¡±


    Annoyed, but with no room to argue, Uijae could only re. Sayoung was right, after all. It was obvious to


    anyone who knew both Cha Uijae and J. The fact that no one had figured it out until now was only because no one knew both identities. Until now.


    Still smirking, Sayoung waved.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡¯ve been curious for a while. I just wanted to check.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I came by today.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Because now I can.¡±


    With a final nce, Sayoung pushed the door closed. Just before the door clicked shut, Uijae heard his soft voice slip through the crack.


    ¡°Goodnight, hyung.¡±


    Click, the door closed. Uijae stood there, reying thest few words in his mind, the ones that hadn¡¯t been loud but still rang clearly in his ears.


    ¡°That was something I wanted to say, too.¡±


    A cheer erupted from the TV. Only then did Uijae snap back to reality. He reached into his apron pocket and pulled out his phone and Minggijeok¡¯s business card. Just as he was about to enter Minggijeok¡¯s number into his phone, a text message arrived.


    **010-XXXX-XXXX: This is Seo Min-gi. I have some information for you and will visit tomorrow.**


    It was a message from Minggijeok, the elusive miracle worker.


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 101

    *Tap, tap.* The sound of shoes echoed quickly down the long corridor, as if moving at a running pace simr to that of a regr person¡¯s sprint.


    People in the hallway scrambled aside as the figure rapidly approached. However, upon recognizing the owner of the shoes, their expressions shifted from irritation to surprise and relief. One Hunter, shaking spilled coffee from their hand, called out.


    "Team Leader Jung Bin! Are you back?"


    "Yes, it¡¯s been a while. Have you been well? Oh, did I cause you to spill that?"


    "No! I¡¯m just a little shaky!"


    "How¡¯s your health, Team Leader?"


    "Haha, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll recover soon, so don¡¯t worry."


    "Please take care!"


    "Thank you."


    Jung Bin, despite having his right arm secured in a cast and several bandages stered over his face, still maintained his usual soft smile.


    But it didn¡¯tst long. As he moved past the crowded corridor and descended into the lower levels, his smile gradually faded. His pace quickened, almost to a run.@@novelbin@@


    Within the Awakener Management Bureau, there were special confinement and interrogation rooms designed to hold awakened criminals. Only authorized personnel could enter, and the rooms were located deep within the building, essible only by elevator.


    Jung Bin pressed his Hunter ID to the elevator scanner.


    [Authorization confirmed. Wee, S-rank Hunter Jung Bin, of the Awakener Management Bureau.]


    Jung Bin, a diligent civil servant of the Bureau, had returned immediately after being discharged from the hospital earlier than expected. He hadn¡¯t been able to sleep well due to a foreboding sense of unease.


    And as the saying goes, bad premonitions never fail. Upon his arrival, the first thing he encountered was a shattered interrogation room desk and, sitting slouched in front of it, Lee Sayoung.


    Even though a significant amount of time had passed since his hospitalization, Sayoung was still detained here. Other than breaking the desk, he hadn¡¯t put up much resistance!


    Jung Bin smiled wryly.


    *This is bad.*


    That only made him more afraid. He might¡¯ve felt more reassured if the interrogation room had beenpletely wrecked. Sayoung was always scarier when he was quiet.


    Jung Bin quickly jumped into action. He burst into Sayoung¡¯s interrogation room, urging him to leave the Bureau immediately and promised to visit the Wave Guildter.


    But Sayoung didn¡¯t seem particrly angry. He didn¡¯t berate or mock Jung Bin for beingte. Instead, he gestured for Jung Bin toe closer and whispered in his ear.


    "Hong Yeseong''s presence has been hard to detect since a day ago."


    "What do you mean¡­? Is Hong Yeseong still here?"


    Jung Bin frowned. He had specifically ordered for Yeseong to be transferred to the Bukhan Artisan Vige after a brief questioning. Sayoung responded calmly.


    "He was here. Not anymore."


    His tone was ominous. With a light tap on Jung Bin¡¯s shoulder, Sayoung walked out of the room.


    "You should pay more attention to internal management."


    *Ding,* the elevator light came on as the doors opened. Jung Bin straightened his posture and walked down the dimly lit hallway.


    At the end of the corridor was a tightly sealed iron door. Two Hunters stood with their hands sped behind their backs, guarding it. They were familiar faces, his subordinates. They bowed their heads as Jung Bin approached.


    "Greetings, Team Leader."


    "I didn¡¯t expect to find you here. As far as I know, there shouldn¡¯t be any awakened individuals in detention right now. I haven¡¯t received any special reports, either."


    "¡­¡­."


    "I don¡¯t recall giving any orders to guard this area. Who instructed you to?"


    "¡­¡­."


    The Hunters didn¡¯t respond, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Jung Bin smiled faintly.


    "Would you mind opening the door for me?"


    "That¡¯s not possible."


    "Strange."


    "¡­¡­."


    "There shouldn¡¯t be any part of the Bureau that I can¡¯t ess¡­."


    Just as one of the Hunters was reaching for something at their waist, Jung Bin swiftly kicked the door before they could react.


    *Bang!*


    The massive iron door crumpled inward, flying into the room. At the same time, a scream echoed.


    "Whoa! What the hell?!"


    "Oh, there you are."


    "Whoa, civil servant hero! Have youe to rescue me?"


    Hong Yeseong, who was tied to a chair with chains, looked up tearfully. However, upon seeing the bandages on Jung Bin¡¯s face and his casted arm, he tilted his head.


    "Or are you caught too?"


    "Ha¡­."


    Thankfully, Hong Yeseong didn¡¯t show any signs of being beaten or tortured. He was simply bound in the confinement room. But even that was a problem. Jung Bin sighed and turned around. The two Hunters who had been guarding the door were now standing there, expressionless, staring at him. Jung Bin brushed his disheveled hair back and asked.


    "Why is Hong Yeseong still here?"


    "¡­¡­."


    "He should have been transferred to the Bukhan Artisan Vige by now. Who ordered him to be kept here?"


    "¡­¡­."


    "I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯re not answering."


    "¡­Heh."


    At that moment, one of the Hunters'' heads twisted unnaturally. The light in their eyes dimmed, blood vessels bursting and turning their eyes a strange, glowing red.


    Jung Bin sighed again. A chilling, metallic sound apanied the ck chains that wrapped around his left arm.


    "I swear¡­ I leave for just a moment, and things fall apart. Seems like I owe someone again."


    "W-What¡¯s happening? Aren¡¯t they Bureau Hunters?"


    "I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll have to figure out whether they''re just shells, swapped bodies, or if someone¡¯s tampered with my subordinates. I suppose I¡¯ve been underestimated."


    Jung Bin spoke coldly as he stepped forward. The Hunters'' bodies twisted even more grotesquely. The metallic shing sound became clearer. Without turning around, Jung Bin spoke.


    "Hong Yeseong, please move as far back as you can."


    "Huh? But I¡¯m still tied to the chair?"


    "You can still move your legs, can¡¯t you? Press yourself against the wall."


    "Geez."


    Grumbling, Hong Yeseong shuffled awkwardly toward the corner of the room.


    In that moment, the Hunter¡¯s suit tore as ck spikes erupted from their body.


    The unsettling sound of metal scraping together, like the wings of insects, filled the room. The spikes nged ominously as they collided.


    *Crash!*


    The spikes surged toward Jung Bin.


    In the afternoon, just before the time to prepare ingredients, only two customers remained in the hangover soup restaurant.


    *Beep.*


    "That will be 60,000 won."


    "Here you go."


    Honeybee handed over a card. Uijae, with his usual quick and adept hands,pleted the transaction and returned the receipt along with the card. However, Honeybee didn¡¯t seem inclined to leave just yet. Instead, she lingered at the counter, clearing her throat softly.


    Uijae nced at her, curious. What came next was an unexpected question.


    "How¡¯s your grandmother doing?"


    "Sorry?"


    "You know, you posted a sign on the door before. Said you were closing for a day to take your grandmother to the hospital."


    It must have been referring to the fake notice he put up while attending the Artisan Exhibition. Uijae continued tidying the counter as he responded.


    "Oh, she¡¯s doing fine now."


    "Oh, really? That¡¯s good to hear."


    "Why do you ask, though?"


    "It¡¯s nothing big. Our guild is in the middle of signing a contract with a pharmaceuticalpany."


    "Honeybee."


    Team Leader Han, standing next to her, quietly reprimanded her. Honeybee nced at Han and teased.


    "What¡¯s with the secrecy? It¡¯s pretty much a done deal. Everyone will know in a few days anyway."


    "The less we talk about it, the better. Besides, this ce is frequented by a lot of Hunters¡­"


    "We¡¯re thest customers, and it¡¯s almost prep time for the restaurant. I¡¯ve checked everything, so it¡¯s fine."


    Team Leader Han sighed, massaging his forehead as he shook his head. Honeybee slipped the card and receipt into her wallet and shed a grin at Uijae.


    "Hey, if you¡¯ve got any spare cash, you might want to buy some stock. It¡¯s a big deal, and I bet it¡¯ll skyrocket. You could probably cover those hospital bills with the profits."


    "Ugh¡­"


    "If you make a good return, you¡¯ll have less to worry about for medical expenses. Anyway, I¡¯m off!"


    Waving her hand cheerfully, Honeybee exited the restaurant. Team Leader Han gestured for Uijae to keep quiet about what they had discussed before quickly following her out. The door creaked and then clicked shut behind them. Uijae nced at the sales figures and mulled things over.


    *Did she just give me ssified information on purpose?*


    If Team Leader Han had gone so far as to demand secrecy, it must¡¯ve been a major deal. Did Honeybee share it out of concern, knowing he was struggling with medical bills? He appreciated the gesture. As Uijae absentmindedly rubbed the back of his neck, a familiar voice piped up from behind him.


    "Hmm, you heard some useful information just now. The hangover soup restaurant really is a treasure trove of valuable intel."


    Uijae immediately swung a punch, but thankfully nothing was broken this time, save for the shaky voice that followed.


    "Whoa, such quick reflexes¡­ Good day, sir¡­."


    The voice came from beneath a chair behind the counter. Uijae crouched in front of it and responded.


    "I¡¯m letting it slide this time, but don¡¯t pop out like that again."


    "Thanks to your boundless generosity, I get to keep my life. One must always be cautious."


    Ming-gi-juk crawled out from under the chair, straightened up, and bowed politely.


    "Before we talk, just a moment."


    He retrieved something small and round from his inventory and pressed it. A misty white fog spread, clinging to the windows, obscuring the view from outside. Ming-gi-juk casually put on his sunsses.


    "Though I doubt anyone¡¯s trying to peek inside, it¡¯s always better to be overprepared, considering the matter at hand."


    "Like how you were eavesdropping earlier?"


    "Exactly."


    Ming-gi-juk replied shamelessly, then pulled out a tablet from his inventory. Uijae shoved his hands into his apron pockets and asked.


    "Did you find some valuable information?"


    "Hmm, to get straight to the point¡­ I had the help of Mr. Romantic Opener, and we scoured the records of the national hospital, but¡­"


    With a tablet pen between his fingers, Ming-gi-juk massaged his temple as he spoke.


    "There are no records. None at all."


    "¡­What?"


    "There¡¯s no record of that person in the national hospital system. It¡¯s suspiciously clean."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s odd? Older patients¡¯ records are still there, but the records of the friend you asked me to look into arepletely missing."


    Is that even possible? Uijae frowned deeply, his mind racing. It had been a chaotic time, so maybe the records had been lost. After pondering for a while, he spoke.


    "Could they have been omitted from the start?"


    "That friend of yours helped the hospital develop an antidote and even received funding from you, didn¡¯t they? There¡¯s no way no record would have been left. Money and goods were exchanged. Especially with money, there¡¯s always a trace. Yet everything is this clean."


    "¡­¡­."


    "The conclusion is obvious, isn¡¯t it?"


    Ming-gi-juk¡¯s eyes gleamed as he pointed the tablet pen at Uijae.


    "Someone deliberately erased their records. Completely. As if that person never existed."

 Chapter 102

    "Someone deliberately erased their records. Completely. As if that person never existed."


    Someone erased the records. But who? And for what reason? What could that child have done to warrant such a drastic measure?


    Uijae stared nkly at the pen pointing at him. Minggijeok, arms now crossed, mumbled to himself.


    "But there¡¯s definitely something fishy going on here. I mean, why would anyone go to such lengths to erase the information? It¡¯s too clean, almost unnaturally so. Only a very select few individuals or organizations could pull off suchrge-scale data maniption. And this was a kid entrusted to J himself, right? I wouldn¡¯t dare touch that, not even out of fear."


    Minggijeok shuddered dramatically, but Uijae only half-listened to the exaggerated statement. His mind was snagged on a particr phrase, like a splinter under his skin: *someone or some organization capable ofrge-scale data maniption*.


    Mulling over the implications, Uijae crossed his arms and asked, "What kind of individuals or organizations could pull off such arge-scale data erasure, as you mentioned?"


    "Oh, give me a second." Minggijeok muttered as he switched on his tablet.


    "To clean things up this thoroughly¡­ It would need to be at least on the level of the Awakener Management Bureau or one of the top three guilds. Maybe someone like ''Mackerel''... Yeah, let me simplify it for you."


    *Awakener Management Bureau, Korea¡¯s top three guilds: Wave, Samra, and Seowon... And Mackerel, let¡¯s go.*


    Uijae grimaced at the sudden mention of a fish. This wasn¡¯t a market, so why was "Mackerel" being brought up here?


    However, his expression slowly changed to one of shock as an old conversation between Hunters resurfaced in his mind. It was from the time of the *maseok* incident.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Noryangjin Fish Market today to make a request from Mackerel.¡±


    "Do you think Mackerel can find it?"


    "If not, they¡¯ll have to give up their title as Korea¡¯s top informant."


    Wait, so *Mackerel* was a person¡¯s name...? Uijae massaged his forehead, feeling like he had stumbled onto information he would have preferred not to know.


    What was it with Hunters these days and giving themselves strange names? But he calmed down, watching Minggijeok¡ªstill seriously scribbling something¡ªwith some sense of relief. After all, "Mackerel" wasn¡¯t too bad inparison. At least it was a noun.


    Just then, Minggijeok lifted his head.


    "Strange... Did you say something just now?"


    *Sharp bastard.*


    "No."


    "Alright then. Maybe it was the Guild Leader cursing me. Anyway, I¡¯ll continue."


    Uijae nodded as Minggijeok handed him the tablet. On the screen, an all-too-familiar red Gothic font greeted him with the title:


    *Summary of Power Structures ¨C Simplified Version*


    Aside from the title, there was nothing else. Uijae had expected some sort of summary, but instead, he found himself in a staring contest with the gothic font. Meanwhile, Minggijeok adjusted his sunsses and straightened his posture.


    "As I mentioned before, there are very few ces that could manipte data this cleanly. And if we¡¯re talking about the national hospital, it¡¯s even rarer. It would require intervention from the Awakener Management Bureau, or one of the top three guilds¡ªWave, Samra, or Seowon. At most, the HB Guild might also have some influence."


    Minggijeok gestured for the screen to be swiped again. Uijaeplied, and the next screen disyed a lively image of a blue-backed fish, specifically a mackerel.


    "Organizations are this limited, but individuals are even fewer. As for individuals, there¡¯s no one else but Mackerel, Korea¡¯s top informant. They¡¯ve set up shop at Noryangjin Fish Market and the information they sell is always top-notch. However¡ª"


    Minggijeok paused dramatically, then gestured for Uijae to swipe the screen again. An animated clip appeared, showing bundles of cash spinning around a mackerel wearing sunsses.


    "That guy operates by one simple rule: he only does what¡¯s profitable. So if Mackerel was involved in erasing those records, it means someone else is backing them with serious money."


    "¡­¡­."


    Uijae clenched his fist as his heartbeat quickened. Minggijeok¡¯s professional, detached tone continued to drone in his ears.


    "And back then, the research on Awakeners wasn¡¯t nearly as advanced as it is now. If they found someone with unusual traits, they would¡¯ve taken them for experiments. It¡¯s possible that such interests were at y here."


    "Unusual traits?"


    "Yes. People who were involved in rift-rted incidents or had injuries from monster attacks. Anything peculiar rted to rifts, really. Back then, society was in a near-anarchy state, so kidnapping test subjects for research wouldn¡¯t have been too hard."


    Uijae¡¯s mouth felt dry. As much as he wanted to deny it, his instincts screamed at him not to let this opportunity slip by. Slowly, he spoke again.


    "What are the chances that Prometheus was the one who took them?"


    Minggijeok, who had been flicking his pen casually, froze mid-motion. He stiffly turned his head toward Uijae. Beneath his sunsses, his eyes were wide with shock.


    "Sir, what did you just say¡­?"


    Uijae met his gaze, his voice cold and deliberate as he repeated the word.


    "Prometheus."


    "W-wait a moment. How do you know about Prometheus? That¡¯s highly ssified information. Didn¡¯t you only hear about drugs from the Guild Leader?"


    "Answer the question."


    Facing Uijae¡¯s icy re, Minggijeok shut his mouth. Furrowing his brow and muttering under his breath, he finally spoke.


    "I don¡¯t know how you came to know about Prometheus, but the reason I didn¡¯t mention it directly is simple. If they¡¯re the culprits¡­ the conclusion is pretty straightforward."


    "¡­¡­."


    "That child¡ªthere¡¯s no doubt¡ªthey¡¯re dead. Absolutely."


    For a moment, Uijae¡¯s breath caught in his throat. He pressed a fist to his chest, taking deep, steady breaths. Minggijeok rubbed his temples before continuing.


    "What I¡¯m about to tell you is highly confidential. I¡¯m only sharing this because it¡¯s you."


    "¡­¡­."


    "There are three main organizations in Korea actively tracking Prometheus."


    Minggijeok held up three fingers.


    "The Awakener Management Bureau, Wave Guild, and Seowon Guild. These three groups have been closely monitoring the flow of drugs and tracking Prometheus. Of course¡­ after J appeared, the Bureau shifted their focus to finding J. They considered him the higher priority."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Well, we only recently resumed tracking Prometheus ourselves¡­ Anyway, I¡¯ve conducted quite a bit of research on them. That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you this."


    Adjusting his sunsses, Minggijeok continued.


    "Prometheus distributes drugs and conducts experiments to artificially create Awakeners¡­ But they¡¯ve never had a single sess. ording to all known reports, every test subject has died."@@novelbin@@


    Minggijeok¡¯s sunsses glinted ominously.


    "To this day, without exception."


    The Guild Leader¡¯s office in the Wave Guild was pitch dark, even in the middle of the day. On the long sofa in the center of the room, a figurey sprawled out. He wore a ck eye patch, his hands sped together over his stomach, breathing slowly in and out.


    *Tap, tap, tap¡­* The sound of footsteps, growing louder as they approached, unmistakably belonged to one person.


    *Bang*¡ªthe door swung open.


    "Hey, Guild Leader! Jung Bin just contacted us."


    Instead of responding, Lee Sayoung raised his hand, signaling for the door to be closed. Baewonwoo, who had stepped into the dark room,plied, closing the door behind him and peering at Sayoung with concern.


    "What¡¯s going on? Is it your eyes again? Are they hurting a lot?"


    "No."


    "Have you taken your medicine? Should I call Nam Woojin?"


    "It¡¯s not necessary. Just give me the report."


    "Man¡­ fine."


    Baewonwoo muttered under his breath and turned on the tablet he was carrying under his arm.


    "Uh¡­ first off, Jung Bin says thanks. They managed to rescue Hong Yeseong. He was being held in the underground confinement cell. And¡­"


    As he read further, Baewonwoo gasped softly.


    "What the¡ª? A dummy wearing a subordinate¡¯s body?"


    "...What?"


    Sayoung, who had been quietly listening, lifted the edge of his eye patch with his thumb. In the darkness, only the tablet screen and Baewonwoo¡¯s face, illuminated by its glow, were visible. Baewonwoo stammered, clearly rattled.


    "No, I mean, that¡¯s exactly what it says! The subordinates guarding the confinement room¡ªone of them attacked with ck spikes. After they subdued him, they had the Seowon Guild analyze him, and¡­ it wasn¡¯t the real person inside."


    "......"


    "But the body was the subordinate¡¯s, no mistake."


    A heavy silence followed. Sayoung sighed softly and slid the eye patch up to his forehead. When he extended his hand, Baewonwoo automatically passed him the tablet. Sayoung quickly skimmed through the details, his lips twisting.


    "They¡¯ve been busy while I had my eyes off them, it seems¡­"


    "Wait, this can¡¯t be real, can it? Does that mean those subordinates are already dead?"


    "They probably are. Once the shell is peeled off."


    Sayoung replied coldly as he sat up, while Baewonwoo cursed under his breath. At the end of Jung Bin¡¯s message, there was an address. Sayoung wiped a hand over his face and handed the tablet back to Baewonwoo.


    "Get Minggijeok to check the address."


    "Yeah, sure."


    "Once it¡¯s confirmed, I¡¯ll go there myself."


    "By yourself?"


    "Yes."


    Sayoung stood up and removed the eye patch, cing it into a ck pouch. Baewonwoo grimaced as he caught a glimpse of the inside¡ªit waspletely ckened and corroded. He frowned and spoke up.


    "Hey, let me go with you. I know your situation better than anyone."


    "We can¡¯t both leave at the same time¡­ especially not now."


    Sayoung turned to Baewonwoo and pressed a finger to his lips.


    "Keep quiet about this."


    *Bzzz.* The phone vibrated. Minggijeok, excusing himself briefly, pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered the call.


    "Yes, this is TinyMiracleMinggijeok speaking."


    "Hey, it¡¯s me."


    A familiar voice¡ªBaewonwoo. Minggijeok nced back at Uijae, lowered the volume to the minimum, and whispered into the phone.


    "Yes, what¡¯s going on?"


    "Orders from the Guild Leader. I¡¯m sending you an address. Go check it out. See if there¡¯s an actual building there or if there¡¯s something underground."


    "Hmm, understood. I¡¯ll head over immediately."


    Minggijeok mouthed "Sorry" to Uijae, clearly signaling that it was guild business. Fine, Uijae thought¡ªit seemed like Minggijeok had work to attend to, and he needed time to process everything anyway. Just as Uijae was about to step away and give him space, Baewonwoo''s voice came through the phone again,ced with a sigh.


    "This info came from Jung Bin. It¡¯s rted to Prometheus, from the looks of it. Make sure you dig up everything."


    Minggijeok froze, his mouth hanging open. No matter how much he lowered the volume, the damage was done. He felt a cold chill run down his spine. Slowly, like a malfunctioning robot, he turned his head.


    Two piercing blue eyes were already locked onto him, glowing faintly. Their owner¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. Without uttering a sound, J mouthed the words:


    *"Prometheus?"*


    Minggijeok squeezed his eyes shut in resignation.

 Chapter 103

    "The deputy guild leader always seems to have a problem with thest word..."


    Minggijeok muttered under his breath as he covered the microphone with his palm. His face looked as though he had just lost a country. On the other end of the phone, Baewonwoo replied with a confused, "Huh?"


    "What did you say? I couldn''t hear you."


    "Nothing. I¡¯ll contact you after the investigation. Should I report directly to the guild leader?"


    "Yeah, and make sure to report this to me as well. But keep it a secret from Sayoung."


    "You know this kind of independent move will also be reported, right, Deputy Guild Leader?"


    "Just turn a blind eye this once, will you? I''m only doing this for his sake."


    With that, Baewonwoo hung up the phone without hesitation, throwing a bomb in Minggijeok¡¯sp. Minggijeok, who had been left holding the bomb, lowered his phone and nced sideways at Uijae. Uijae was still standing with his arms crossed, smiling gently. The sight made Minggijeok feel an even colder chill down his spine.


    "I have to defuse this bomb somehow!"


    Minggijeok let out a long sigh and adjusted his sunsses so that his dark circles were more visible. If Uijae were human, surely he¡¯d feel some pity for this face. Before Uijae could say anything, Minggijeok quickly cut him off.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°No matter how much you''re my client, this is impossible.¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Even if you look at me like that, it''s absolutely not happening¡­¡±


    "No, go back!" Minggijeok dramatically raised his hand as if he were a judge handing down a verdict. However, his opponent was just as firm. Uijae uncrossed his arms and ced his hand on Minggijeok''s, giving him what could only be described as a high five.


    *SMAACK!*


    ¡°Gah!¡±


    Of course, it was a little too powerful for a high five. The unexpected force caused Minggijeok¡¯s hand to shrink back like a mimosa nt. His shoulder trembled as he winced from the sharp sting. Uijae awkwardly pulled out a potion from his inventory and sprinkled it on Minggijeok¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I mean, how could you say no before even hearing what I wanted to ask?¡±


    ¡°Because I already know you''re going to ask if you cane with me to the investigation. Do you think I don¡¯t know? You act just like the guild leader in his prime!¡±


    Minggijeok pushed up his fallen sunsses and shouted in frustration. Uijae, having beenpletely called out, coughed awkwardly. Minggijeok muttered gloomily to himself.


    "...Looks like I''ll have to brainwash you too. Fine."


    ¡°What? Who¡¯s brainwashing who here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you''re J, you still can''te with me on this investigation.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re my client.¡±


    It was an unexpected reason. Uijae blinked in surprise. Minggijeok grumbled as he began packing his tablet and pen back into his inventory.


    ¡°This ties into my pride as a Hunter, ranked 36th in the nation and a specialist in stealth and infiltration, client. Have you ever seen a guide take their client into a dangerous area without ensuring their safety first?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re on the topic, there are a few more things I¡¯d like to address.¡±


    Minggijeok wiped his potion-dampened hands with a handkerchief and spoke with a determined tone.


    "Whenever you go somewhere, you need to do some preliminary reconnaissance and secure the area¡¯s safety beforehand. I know you''re incredibly strong, but you can''t just charge in recklessly relying on your strength alone.¡±


    Preliminary reconnaissance? Securing safety? Uijae stared nkly at Minggijeok. He¡¯d never in his life done anything like that. His way had always been to assess the situation, secure safety, and resolve the issue all in one go as soon as he entered. Why would anyone want toplicate things?


    The old man inside him nearly voiced this thought, but Uijae swallowed it back down. He had a feeling that if he said something like that out loud, he might witness Minggijeok get angry for the first time ever. He had at least that much awareness.


    Minggijeok kept talking rapidly, like he was rapping.


    ¡°Even if you¡¯ve never done it before, you should start now. Why? Because I, along with the Wave Guild, will be doing the reconnaissance and ensuring safety ahead of time.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Uijae started to protest, but Minggijeok firmly shook his head.


    ¡°If you want to argue about this, please take it up directly with the guild leader. I''m sure the guild leader agrees with me.¡±


    That guy? Uijae rolled his eyes. Of course, Uijae didn¡¯t know everything about Lee Sayoung. But from what he¡¯d seen so far, Sayoung preferred to personally take charge rather than leave things to others.


    While Uijae hesitated, Minggijeok spoke in a haughty tone.


    ¡°The guild leader also went through a simr brainwashing process. When he scouted me but gave me no work, I made sure to scold him thoroughly.¡±


    Never mind, that wasn¡¯t the issue. Minggijeok was clearly digging his own grave. Uijae looked at him with a mixture of pity and disbelief as the man continued to bury himself. Fortunately or unfortunately, Minggijeok seemed quite pleased with himself now that he¡¯d finished speaking.


    ¡°You heard the phone call, right? Just work me at least half as hard as the guild leader does.¡±


    ¡°Ah, sure.¡±


    Minggijeok¡¯s phone buzzed briefly in his hand. He checked it, then nodded toward Uijae.


    ¡°The address has arrived. I¡¯ll see you againter.¡±


    ¡°Wait a second.¡±


    Uijae, who had been lost in thought, suddenly called out to him. Minggijeok, who had nearly vanished into the shadow of the chair, poked his head back out.


    ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Once the investigation is done, report everything to me as well. All information about Prometheus, the address¡ªeverything.¡±


    Minggijeok sighed and asked in a resigned tone, ¡°Do you want me to keep it a secret from the guild leader?¡±


    Uijae grinned.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Minggijeok nodded so slightly it was almost imperceptible, then disappeared into the shadows. Silence quickly filled the small shop. Whenever Uijae found himself suddenly alone in such quiet, it inevitably brought down his mood. He sped his hands together and brought them to his mouth.


    "Sigh¡­"


    He knew it was pointless to chase after the traces of someone who was already dead. But he couldn¡¯t help himself¡ªhe was powerless to do anything else.


    After all, that child...


    His hand, which had been roughly scrubbing his face, turned on the TV. The irregr noise was enough to ease his nerves a little.


    Holding a couple of trash bags in his hands, Uijae stepped out of the shop. Someone had apparently been smoking there for quite a while¡ªthe lingering smell of smoke pricked his nose. He looked up at the gray sky above.


    *Click*¡ªa me flickered from the old, lime-green stic lighter. Beyond the wavering me, the sky was covered in heavy clouds, overcast and gray.


    The young man stared at the me for a while before shoving the lighter back into his pocket. His fingertips brushed against the cigarette pack, reminding him of its presence, but he didn¡¯t take one out. There were simply too many people around the building.


    Crowds of people meant noise. Sometimes, it was hard to tolerate.


    ¡°¡­¡­!¡±


    The heightened senses that came with awakening¡ªwere they a blessing or a curse? Sometimes, they let you hear things you didn¡¯t want to. Ignoring the noise that buzzed in his ears, the young man stretched his legs, cing them on a step a few down from where he was seated. He was perched in the middle of a weathered outdoor staircase.


    The Awakener Management Bureau had been hastily formed to deal with the flood of awakening-rted crimes, and it was housed in one of the police stations that had been rendered mostly useless since the Day of the Rift. They hadn¡¯t had the money or time to build a new structure.


    On the wall, posters for traffic safety and no-smoking campaigns were stered, as if to remind everyone that this ce had once been a police station. The campaign posters had dates from three years ago and had been stuck in time ever since.


    The sound of footsteps grew closer. Clicking his tongue in a nearly inaudible sound, the young man squeezed his eyes shut.


    ¡®Not here, too.¡¯


    The footsteps finally arrived just below the stairs. Along with the sound came a cheerful voice, full of excitement.


    ¡°J! There you are!¡±


    J slowly opened his eyes and nced down the steps. A Hunter from the Awakener Management Bureau, whose face he¡¯d seen a few times whileing and going, was looking up at him.


    A rookie, wasn¡¯t he? It seemed like it. The guy had only been here for about three months. His eyes still sparkled with the enthusiasm of someone new to the job. J responded indifferently.


    ¡°Summoned?¡±


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s correct.¡±@@novelbin@@


    J shifted his gaze away from the rookie Hunter and back up to the cloudy sky. In the middle of the sky, a ck hole swirled ominously.


    ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°Uh, but I think you shoulde right away¡­¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    J didn¡¯t reply, just stared down at the Hunter. Although his expression was hidden behind his mask, the meaning behind his gaze was unmistakable. The rookie, feeling the weight of that cold stare, stumbled over his words.


    ¡°They, they said it was urgent¡­ they told me to bring you right away¡­¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°S-Song Hunter¡­¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    A short sigh escaped J¡¯s lips. He slowly rose to his feet.


    *Thud, thud*¡ªhis boots echoed rhythmically on the steps as he descended. With his face still hidden beneath his mask, J shoved his hands into his pockets and walked past the rookie.


    At that moment, a thick scent of blood filled the air, pricking the rookie¡¯s nose. He winced involuntarily before quickly covering his mouth in shock.


    Pretending not to notice, J gave a small nod. It had already been three years since he had been hailed as a hero after awakening.


    ¡°Thanks for the message.¡±


    Looking back now¡­


    ¡°Get to work.¡±


    He realized how exhausted he was. So very tired.

 Chapter 106

    The faint sound of a small heartbeat. J followed it as if he were under a spell, barely noticing when his feet sank into the swamp.


    He didn¡¯t know how long he had walked, but eventually, a building that had remained mostly intact, despite some damage, came into view. The sound wasing from there. J began to clear away the debris.


    ¡®Why?¡¯


    His rational mind questioned him. Even if he saved this person, they would likely die soon anyway. Did he really want to experience another death in his arms? Yet, his hands didn¡¯t stop clearing the wreckage. In fact, they moved faster.


    Even so, J couldn¡¯t ignore the sound.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    A small gasp escaped him. Beneath the crisscrossing debris was a tiny space, justrge enough for one or two people to huddle in. And in that space¡­


    A boy was there, clutched tightly by something that had likely once been his parents, though they had melted away from the poison.


    The boy¡¯s eyes, clouded by the toxic fumes, met J¡¯s. His lips moved soundlessly.


    ¡®Save me.¡¯


    J gritted his teeth. He quickly pulled out an antidote from his inventory and reached out to the boy.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    A lie he had told countless times,


    ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    This time, he hoped it wouldn¡¯t be a lie.


    Time passed quickly.


    Kill the dungeon boss, kill the rift boss, kill the dungeon boss, kill the rift boss, again and again. Eventually, he was no longer tasked with rescuing people but only with killing monsters. It was an endless cycle. J¡¯s daily routine didn¡¯t change easily.


    However, something new had recently been added to his routine.


    *Thud, thud, thud.* ckbat boots strode down the hallway without hesitation. The eyes of passersby followed the tall young man dressed all in ck. Someone gathered the courage to greet him, "Hello," but J, wearing his ck mask, only gave a small nod.


    He reached the iron door at the end of the hallway and opened it. Inside, people dressed in safety suits bustled about; it was a researchb attached to the hospital.


    J walked through theb with familiarity, opening another, thicker iron door. Inside, people wearing even heavier protective gear were observing a sk filled with a purple liquid. A researcher standing near the door bowed deeply.


    ¡°Ah, J! It¡¯s been a while! Thank you foring, even though you''re so busy!¡±


    The researcher beamed as they handed over a metal box. J dropped a heavy pouch into it. The pungent smell of dark liquid seeped from the pouch. The researcher, tense, hurried toward the back storage area. J asked,


    ¡°Is there enough poison?¡±


    ¡°We still have some left from thest batch you brought, so we¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°And the research?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s progressing well. Will you be seeing the boy today?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Ah, J!¡±


    One of the researchers hurried over. J stopped and turned. It was a familiar face, someone introduced by the hospital director¡ªa potion-making Awakener named Ga-young, dressed in a whiteb coat, with her brown hair pinned up. She looked excited as she approached him and spoke quietly.


    ¡°The boy¡¯s condition is improving. The antidote you provided seems to be working. It¡¯s all thanks to you, J!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    J didn¡¯t respond, just stared at her nkly. Ga-young awkwardly cleared her throat.


    ¡°Uh, maybe I¡¯m being too optimistic? We¡¯re still focusing on detoxification, so other treatments have taken a back seat for now¡­ But at least he¡¯s not at the point where visits arepletely restricted anymore.¡±


    Ga-young hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°I was wondering if maybe today, instead of looking through the ss, you might want to go into the room and see him directly?¡±


    ¡°¡­Can I do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course! After all, none of this would have been possible without you.¡±


    Ga-young waved her hand dismissively. Whether it was a brief moment of curiosity or a fleeting indulgence, J wasn¡¯t sure. It didn¡¯t really matter.


    Following Ga-young¡¯s lead, J walked toward the boy¡¯s room, which was in a secluded part of the hospital. The only sound in the quiet corridor was the echo of their footsteps. After a while, Ga-young spoke again.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve seen through the window, the boy is still mostly unconscious. He wakes up asionally, but never for long. We¡¯re giving him regr doses of painkillers and anesthetics.¡±


    ¡°Is that really necessary?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we don¡¯t want to do it either! But¡­¡±


    Ga-young sighed, waving her hand in resignation.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t, the boy passes out from the pain. That happened once before, and ever since then, we¡¯ve had to keep him sedated. Unfortunately, until we fully detoxify him¡­ Ah, here we are.¡±


    Ga-young pressed her keycard to a device, unlocking the door. After walking down another hallway, they reached a white door. She opened it, revealing arge, white room. In the center of the roomy the boy, wrapped in bandages and connected to numerous machines.


    Ga-young stepped back.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. Stay as long as you need.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t take too long.¡±


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no rush! Stay as long as you want!¡±


    *Thud.* The door closed behind him, leaving J alone. He slowly scanned the room.


    *Beep, beep, beep.* The rhythmic beeping of the machines felt like an extension of the boy¡¯s heartbeat. J moved closer to the bed.


    Through the bandages, only the boy¡¯s nose and mouth were visible. His chest rose and fell slowly, and faint groans escaped his lips. J¡¯s cold eyes scanned the boy from head to toe.


    ¡®This is what improvement looks like¡­¡¯


    Sure, the fact that he no longer needed a respirator was progress, but to J, the boy still looked like a corpse.


    J dragged a round chair over and sat a short distance from the bed. He quietly observed the boy¡¯s breathing, watching for even the slightest movements.


    "......"


    He wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed when J rested his elbows on his knees and cupped his chin in his hands. Ever since he had saved the boy, a single question had gnawed at him, refusing to go away. He bit his lip.


    ¡®Was saving this boy the right thing to do?¡¯


    Sure, the boy had asked to be saved. But he couldn¡¯t have known that the price of survival would be a body ravaged by poison, unable to move, slowly rotting away.


    Was it right to let him endure such pain? Pain so intense that he had to be sedated to the point of unconsciousness. Was this all because of J¡¯s selfish desire to save people?


    ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be kinder to just end it for him?¡¯


    At that moment, the boy¡¯s fingertip twitched. J immediately rxed his grip on the chair. He straightened up, fixing his gaze on the boy¡¯s hand. Amidst the steady beeping of the machines, the finger twitched again, this time more noticeably.


    ¡°You.¡±


    The word slipped out before he realized it. As if in response to his voice, the boy¡¯s bandaged finger curled slightly. J¡¯s eyes widened, and he tapped his knee with his finger. Could the boy hear him? J asked again,


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    The boy¡¯s head slowly turned toward him, as if he were looking at J. Maybe it was just J¡¯s imagination, but it felt like the boy was watching him. The boy¡¯s cracked lips parted, but only a faint breath came out.


    But to J, it felt like an answer.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re awake.¡±


    J voiced his realization. In that moment, a feeling he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time surged through his body. He knew the name of this feeling.


    Joy.


    J hurriedly pulled his chair closer to the bed. The boy¡¯s head remained turned toward him. His movements were still subtle, but they were growing more pronounced. J asked,


    ¡°How long have you been awake?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°How are you feeling? Does it hurt? Are you okay?¡±


    J¡¯s voice grew louder, a rare urrence. The boy didn¡¯t respond verbally, but his fingers continued to twitch slightly.


    J wondered if the boy was trying to write something with his fingers, but it didn¡¯t seem like that. It felt more like the boy was simply proving that he was awake. A small groan escaped the boy¡¯s lips. J frowned slightly behind his mask.


    ¡°Do you need painkillers? Should I ask them to give you some?¡±


    The moment J mentioned painkillers, the boy turned his head to the other side, much faster than before. It was probably the best he could manage, even if it was still slow.


    ¡°...Hah.¡±


    J let out a smallugh as he watched the boy. Slowly, the boy¡¯s head turned back to face him. Without realizing it, the corners of J¡¯s mouth had lifted into a grin beneath his mask.


    All the doubts that had gued him, the fatigue that had consumed him, and the sensation of sinking into a dark abyss¡ªall of it had evaporated.


    J¡¯s eyes, gleaming yfully, locked onto the boy. Leaning closer to the bed, J rested his chin on his hands and smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re funny, kid.¡±


    It seemed that the boy J had saved¡­


    "......"


    Had quite a strong will.


    Very strong, indeed.

 Chapter 107

    J carefully studied the boy. His pale, cracked lips were tightly pursed, clearly showing his difort.


    How could someone express their emotions so clearly with just the shape of their lips? Despite being on the verge of fainting from the pain, the boy remained defiant, making his feelings known even in such extreme circumstances.


    ¡®They say pain makes people more irritable.¡¯


    Was the boy¡¯s sharpness due to the pain, or was that his personality from the start? J¡¯s curiosity piqued. As he pondered, he suddenly asked,


    ¡°Do you remember me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I brought you here. From there.¡±


    Although his words were vague, the boy seemed to understand, as his tightly pursed lips rxed a little. His head turned slightly toward J, as if recalling that moment.


    ¡®It¡¯d be better if he didn¡¯t remember that.¡¯


    If the melted figure that had been holding the boy was really his parent or family¡­ all the more reason to forget. J bit the inside of his cheek. Memories don¡¯t always cooperate. The more you want to forget, the clearer they be over time. Staring at the boy¡¯s face, wrapped in bandages, J spoke again.


    ¡°They said you can¡¯t speak yet¡­ but how about your fingers? Can you move them?¡±


    As if in response, the boy¡¯s fingers twitched. J propped his chin on his hand and mumbled,


    ¡°Then just move your fingers. I¡¯ll do my best to understand.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good at talking to myself. And I¡¯m good at reading people.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Got it? Now, try moving your fingers.¡±


    The boy¡¯s fingers twitched slightly. J smiled.


    ¡°Yeah, just like that.¡±


    *Beep, beep, beep¡­.* The sound of the boy¡¯sbored breathing mixed with the quiet hum of the machines. The room, which had previously echoed with only one person¡¯s breath, felt a little fuller now. It was a long-awaited moment of peace. With his eyes closed, J whispered,


    ¡°My name is J.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not my real name, but that¡¯s what people call me. I¡¯m a Hunter, pretty high-ranked, and I work for the Awakener Management Bureau. That¡¯s about it. Ah, damn¡­ now that I¡¯m saying it, there¡¯s not much else to tell.¡±


    The boy¡¯s fingers twitched again. J stared intently at the movement, though truth be told¡­


    ¡®I have no idea what he¡¯s saying.¡¯


    It was impossible to decipher. J felt a bit sheepish, and his smile twisted awkwardly.


    Well, with time, he figured it would be easier. Spending more time together would help him understand the boy¡¯s signals better. J had always been a quick learner. Tapping his mask with his finger, he responded casually,


    ¡°You¡¯ll never see my real face, even when you¡¯re healthy. I¡¯m always wearing this mask, so don¡¯t feel too bad about your eyes. They¡¯ll heal eventually.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°And the voice you¡¯re hearing? It¡¯s not my real voice either. The mask changes it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Oh, do you want to feel it? Can you move your arm?¡±


    J leaned closer to the bed and gently pulled up the boy¡¯s sleeve.


    But the boy¡¯s arm, wrapped in bandages, was covered in tubes and connected to various machines. It was clear that any attempt to move him would bring a swarm of researchers or doctors rushing in.


    J scratched the back of his head and looked away.


    ¡°¡­Yeah, that¡¯s not gonna work.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°If I touch anything, it¡¯ll be a big mess. Sorry.¡±


    The boy¡¯s fingers stopped moving, and his lips tightened into a pout. J cleared his throat and quickly looked away.


    ¡°When you¡¯re stronger, I¡¯ll let you touch it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s head slowly began to turn away. J hurriedly added,


    ¡°No, really. I¡¯m not lying. I promise, I promise.¡±


    J quickly reached out, gently touching the boy¡¯s pinky with his own. It wasn¡¯t possible to link their fingers, given the boy¡¯s fragile condition. After all, he was a weakened civilian, while J was a top-ranked Awakener.


    Thankfully, the boy seemed to ept it, as his head turned back toward J. With a relieved sigh, J carefully touched the boy¡¯s fingers, handling them as if they were made of delicate porcin.


    ¡°If it hurts, scratch my hand to let me know.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t scratch too hard. Your fingers might break.¡±


    Every time J¡¯s hand touched the boy¡¯s bandaged fingers, they flinched like a mimosa nt folding its leaves. It was strangely satisfying to watch. As J fiddled with the bandaged fingers, he muttered,


    ¡°It must be boring being alone.¡±


    Just then, his watch buzzed loudly. He was being called.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    How much time had passed? Realizing he had lost track of time, J quickly let go of the boy¡¯s hand, but not before the boy¡¯s fingers brushed against the back of J¡¯s hand. J blinked in surprise. The boy¡¯s fingers reached out toward him again. Confused, J gently held the boy¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Hey, does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s fingers twitched slightly as if to say yes. J sighed in frustration.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­But I¡¯m being called. I really have to go. I¡¯ll call the doctor for you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s lips pouted again. Without thinking, J blurted out,


    ¡°I¡¯lle back.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s lips remained pursed. J groaned, staring up at the ceiling as he spoke,


    ¡°I¡¯ll try toe as often as I can. But I don¡¯t know how often that¡¯ll be.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s lips seemed to pout even more. Damn it, I shouldn¡¯t have been so honest. J was never good at lying. He sighed.


    ¡°Sorry. Just wait a little, okay?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. Promise.¡±


    Finally, the boy¡¯s fingers gave J¡¯s palm a light tap before pulling away. Though he still didn¡¯t look entirely happy. J gently patted the boy¡¯s bandaged cheek before standing up.


    ¡°See you next time.¡±


    J turned and headed for the door. When he opened it, he saw Ga-young sitting in a chair, arms crossed, her eyes closed. She snapped awake the moment the door opened, quickly wiping her mouth and standing up.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re done already! You could¡¯ve stayed longer, you know.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been called by the Bureau.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you overworked? With all these dungeons and rifts¡­ and on top of that, bringing us the poison.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    J shrugged as he closed the door. They walked back in silence until they neared the researchb. Then J spoke up.


    ¡°By the way.¡±


    ¡°Yes! What is it?¡±


    ¡°Could you make me a keycard for the boy¡¯s room? A personal one.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ what?¡±


    Ga-young looked at J with wide eyes. J, hands behind his back, spoke with a smile in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made a few generous donations¡­ Surely that¡¯s enough for a keycard, right?¡±


    Time continued to pass swiftly, though J was somewhat grateful that it felt lighter than before.


    *Stter!* As J swung his spear through the air, droplets of blood rained down. He shook the blood off the de and headed toward the dungeon''s exit. His body felt weightless as the familiar scenery appeared before his eyes.


    He was standing at the entrance of a shabby house. This was one of those rare cases where a house itself had be a dungeon, so J had entered directly. Fortunately, it was a rtively peaceful situation. A Hunter waiting by the entrance handed him a damp white towel. J wiped the blood from his hands and pressed the button on his earpiece.


    ¡°J here.¡±


    A calm voice responded.


    ¨DHow did the dungeon go?


    ¡°It was fine. It was a forest-type dungeon with some useful resources. I¡¯ve taken care of the dungeon boss and all the monsters. It might be worth sending in a research and investigation team.¡±


    ¨DGot it. But¡­


    There was a brief silence. J furrowed his brow, checking his earpiece to see if the connection had been lost. It wasn¡¯t. It was unusual for Ham Seok-jung to trail off like this. After a few moments of quiet, she asked,


    ¨DDid something good happen to you?


    ¡°¡­Pardon?¡±


    J stopped in his tracks, ncing at his watch. He thought for a moment that maybe he was speaking to his aunt instead of the director, but no¡ªit was definitely the director. Since when did the director ask such questions? Just as J was about to get lost in confusion, Ham Seok-jung continued quickly.


    ¨DNo, it¡¯s just that you¡¯ve seemed happiertely, that¡¯s all.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¨D¡­It¡¯s not a bad thing. I might be overthinking it. Just forget I said anything.


    ¡°Ah, no.¡±


    J replied, sounding a bit dazed.


    ¡°Um¡­ thanks for asking.¡±


    ¨D¡­Alright. Things are rtively calm today, so take some time to rest.


    ¡°Y-yes¡­.¡±


    Themunication ended. Had something really changed about him, enough for Ham Seok-jung to notice? J scratched his head and nodded to the Hunter standing nearby.


    ¡°Thank you. You should head back too.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you returning to the Bureau with us?¡±


    ¡°No, I have somewhere else to go.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Take care, and thanks for your hard work.¡±


    The Hunter bowed and left. J also started walking, but his pace picked up as he reached familiar streets. By the time the white building came into view, he was practically running.


    He entered through the staff entrance, took the elevator, climbed the stairs, walked through the corridor, and finally scanned his ID card at the machine. *Beep.* The familiar sound was followed by the sight of the hospital room door. With a wide grin, J swung the door open.


    The bed in the center of the white hospital room was still surrounded by machines, but the room no longer felt as cold and empty as before.


    The boy, now sitting up in bed, slowly turned his head. His bandaged face had changed as well. Whereas before only his nose and mouth were visible, now his entire face, including his eyes, was exposed. Although his eyes were still clouded and blurry from the toxins, they were undeniably focused on J.


    J spread his arms wide.


    ¡°Your big brother¡¯s here!¡±


    The boy¡¯s clouded eyes narrowed slightly, as if smiling.

 Chapter 108

    ¡°Hyung is here!¡±


    J folded his wide-open arms and, after closing the door behind him, strode quickly towards the bed. The stagnant air swirled around him as he entered. With a slight bend of his waist, J asked softly,


    ¡°What were you doing?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    No answer came. Only the faintest reaction¡ªa slight curve of the pale lips beneath the bandages and tired eyes that barely opened. Even that hint of expression soon faded. Under the boy¡¯s emotionless face, his fingers twitched slightly atop the nket. J hade to understand most of the meanings behind these small gestures by now.


    ¡°You were waiting for me, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    He pulled a folding chair closer to the bed and sat down. J leaned in, his masked face nearing the boy¡¯s. The boy leaned back a little. In a voiceced with humor, J asked,


    ¡°You missed me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    The boy blinked slowly and turned his head away. His tightly sealed lips hinted at a displeased mood. J had learned that the boy, who had a strong will, often changed his emotions as quickly as flipping a coin. But this time, J had a good guess about the cause.


    Crossing his arms, J sighed.


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m really sorry. I tried toe sooner, but there was too much going on.¡±


    Since the boy had regained consciousness, J had made regr visits to the hospital. After receiving his keycard, he sometimes slipped in like a phantom,ing and going quietly. Despite his irregr schedule, he always found time to obtain the necessary medicine, check on the boy, and carry on conversations that were often one-sided. Months passed like this.


    Although the boy¡¯s head was turned toward J, his eyes seemed to be focused somewhere off to the side, staring into empty space.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°There have been more riftstely¡­.¡±


    Oops. J suddenly stopped himself mid-sentence, bringing his hand to the mask¡¯s mouth area, as if to cover up the slip. He scanned his surroundings, wary of being overheard. A ck CCTV camera in the corner of the ceiling was watching them. While he was sure the model didn¡¯t record audio, it wasn¡¯t a time to speak carelessly.


    ¡®Nothing¡¯s certain yet¡­¡¯


    Recently, the number of sudden rifts had been increasing. The change was so subtle that only a handful of Hunters could detect it. But moving without solid evidence was dangerous. His words carried more weight than most.


    ¡®I should discuss this with Jung Bin, too.¡¯


    The boy tilted his head as if wondering why J had suddenly gone quiet. J clenched his fist and spoke.


    ¡°I missed you, too.¡±


    Perhaps because it was blurted out so quickly, J¡¯s hidden feelings slipped out. The man who usually concealed his face, voice, and emotions had, in this rare moment, let an honest sentiment escape. The boy¡¯s fingers clenched the nket lightly.


    Now, the sound of the boy¡¯s breathing and heartbeat was more noticeable than the beeping of the machines. The tubes that once connected to his frail body had significantly decreased. Compared to when he had been lying there like a corpse, the boy¡¯s condition had improved drastically.


    ¡®You can sit up now, at least.¡¯


    Although he still needed help from both the bed and people to sit up, his health was improving day by day. J now found himself thinking not just about tomorrow, but even further into the future.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    After fiddling with the nket for a while, the boy slowly stretched out his hand. Without hesitation, J took it. His firm handspletely covered the small one. As he gently rubbed the back of the boy¡¯s hand, he asked,


    ¡°How¡¯s your body? Not in pain, I hope? I heard they adjusted your medicine mix.¡±


    The boy nodded faintly.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Seeing you sitting up like this¡­ you might even be able to walk one day.¡±


    One day, the boy might be able to express himself by writing, leave the bed on his own, and even walk out of this hospital room.


    ¡®Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll be able to speak someday.¡¯


    The thought popped up unexpectedly. Since bing a Hunter, J had never really thought about a distant future. He had been too focused on surviving each day.


    He left the thinking to others, repeating to himself that things were fine as he swung his spear, always trusting that peace would eventuallye, that it would be built upon the foundation he hadid.


    But this boy made J dream of a different kind of future¡ªa more personal one. Looking down at the small hand moving in his grasp, J spoke up.


    ¡°Have you ever been to the sea?¡±


    The boy¡¯s dull eyes rolled over to look at J. His lips pouted slightly as if questioning what kind of nonsense he was spouting, or perhaps feeling like he was being mocked. J smiled softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not making fun of you. I was thinking, once you¡¯re better, maybe we could go to the sea.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a ce in Gangneung where I once had to hunt a Kraken¡­ or maybe it was a giant squid? Anyway, the suction cups were huge. That¡¯s not really the point, though¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Clearing his throat, J patted the boy¡¯s hand.


    ¡°The ocean there is beautiful. Once you¡¯re better, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°If you like the idea, blink.¡±


    Of course, a person can¡¯t help but blink¡ªit was a biological reaction. It was just a suggestion. Yet, without hesitation, the boy blinked. J¡¯s face reflected in the boy¡¯s cloudy eyes, and a small smile tugged at the corners of J¡¯s lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s a promise. Even if you don¡¯t want to goter, I¡¯ll carry you there if I have to.¡±


    J held up his pinky finger, gently linking it with the boy¡¯s bandaged hand. The boy let out a small sigh. J chuckled softly.


    ¡°Look at that, you¡¯re even sighing now.¡±


    The boy¡¯s lips curled upward under the bandages.


    Where do the riftse from? Where are the dungeons connected to? Where do the monsterse from? What is the system that chooses humans and grants them power?


    The world that had changed since the day of the rift was still full of mysteries, too chaotic to make clear judgments about right and wrong. But that chaos had be J¡¯s everyday reality.


    In this ever-changing world, one thing remained constant: the boy who waited for him. The one ce he felt he could return to. J closed his eyes and lowered his head.


    Strange, isn¡¯t it? It feels like you¡¯re the one showing me the way, telling me that I haven¡¯t been wrong.


    What happens when two lonely people meet? J now knew the answer. When lonely people find each other, they be each other¡¯s only. The boy had be someone so important to him that no words could fully capture it.


    Time passed, and as J continued to chatter aimlessly, the boy slowly closed his eyes. His uneven breaths became steady, and the hand in J¡¯s lost its strength. J watched the gentle rise and fall of the boy¡¯s chest.


    Eventually, J rose from his seat. Still holding the boy¡¯s hand, he leaned down and gently cupped the boy¡¯s cheek. His fingers brushed against the bandages as he whispered quietly,


    ¡°You know something?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my only sess.¡±


    J removed his hand from the boy¡¯s cheek. The air between them was calm and still. Only the sound of quiet breathing and a steady heartbeat remained. Staying like this forever didn¡¯t seem so bad. Like a family.


    There had been days when he¡¯d thought that way.


    After staying by the boy¡¯s side for a while as he slept, J sensed a small presence and stepped outside the hospital room. Ga-young stood there, holding a file to her chest with one hand while the other was tucked into her coat pocket. She gave him a small nod and whispered in a low voice.


    ¡°Hello, J! I have something to update you on.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about the antidote and the boy¡¯s condition. Oh¡­ uh, should I exin briefly?¡±


    Ga-young nced awkwardly at J¡¯s wrist. The screen on his watch was blinking. It seemed the Awakener Management Bureau had sent him a message. The sender was¡­


    Jung Bin.


    ¡°One moment,¡± J said.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    J turned halfway and checked his watch. The message disyed on the small screen was concise.


    **Jung Bin:** I¡¯d like to meet with you. Please let me know if you¡¯re avable this evening.


    What could Jung Bin want? J was curious but also felt that this might be a good opportunity. He needed someone discreet to discuss the recent changes in the rifts with. Lowering his gaze, J fell into thought before responding to Ga-young.


    ¡°I have a little time. Please go ahead and give me a brief summary.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes! Well, the boy¡¯s recovery is progressing smoothly. He still needs regr antidote injections, but the detox process is almostplete. Once that¡¯s done, we¡¯re considering starting research on restoring his damaged body.¡±


    ¡°Will he be able to walk eventually?¡± J asked.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s possible,¡± she replied, though with a note of hesitation. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure about his eyes or vocal cords¡­ but we¡¯ll do our best.¡±


    J fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Ga-young, who had been nervously watching him, spoke up again after a quick nce at his expression.


    ¡°By the way, are you going to keep calling him¡­ ¡®the boy¡¯?¡±


    ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡±


    J blinked, surprised. Ga-young shifted the file under her arm and spoke awkwardly.


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know his name, do we? He can¡¯t write, and he can¡¯t speak¡­ And there¡¯s no way to find his family.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The image of the toxic ruins shed in J¡¯s mind. He remembered the two melted bodies that had been surrounding the boy. Identifying anyone in that poison-filled wastnd had been impossible. There was neither the time nor resources to even try. It was a harsh reality. Ga-young murmured softly.


    ¡°Well, since you were the one who brought him in¡­ I was thinking maybe you could give him a name?¡±


    ¡°A name?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Yes. Names are important for people. I think he¡¯d like it too.¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    J nced briefly into the hospital room and muttered.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. He must already have a name of his own.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°One day, he¡¯ll tell me his name himself.¡±


    ¡°¡­But what if he can¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    J looked at Ga-young, surprised by the sudden question. Feeling his gaze, she straightened up and exined quickly.


    ¡°I mean, what if his vocal cords don¡¯t recover? Or what if he¡¯s forgotten how to write?¡±


    J shrugged casually, as if the question didn¡¯t bother him.


    ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯ll just give him a name myself when the timees.¡±

 Chapter 109

    As the deep red sunset faded and the bluish night sky began to settle in, J found himself leaning casually against the outdoor stairs of the Awakener Management Bureau''s headquarters. It was rare for him, but he was scrolling through the rankings provided by the system. Each time he swiped upward, the names on the leaderboard refreshed quickly.


    ¡°His vocal cords might not heal, and¡­ well, he might have forgotten how to write.¡±


    ¡®...She¡¯s right.¡¯


    Ga-young¡¯s opinion was valid. The boy¡¯s injuries were not something that could easily be healed. The fact that they had detoxified him and that he was still alive was nothing short of a miracle.


    Even with treatment, there was a good chance he might never speak again or see anything. The best-case scenario would be for the boy to one day tell J his own name, but¡­


    Most of J¡¯s wishes hadn¡¯te true so far.


    ¡®Might as well start thinking of some name options.¡¯


    Things like phone books or graduation albums had long since disappeared on the Day of the Rift. The names he could recall were few, and the inte, though partially restored, was a far cry from its former speed. As for the system rankings¡ªwere they of any help?


    J rested his chin in his hand and nced at the newly updated list.


    - Baekdusan Tiger


    - Unbeaten Glory


    - Berserker


    - Heroic Legacy


    ¡®None of this is useful¡­¡¯


    Why do Hunters love these kinds of names so much? It¡¯s impossible to understand. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just use their real names, like Jung Bin or my aunt? As the first to adopt a Hunter name, J sighed in disappointment. Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.


    ¡°There you are, J.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±


    Jung Bin was dressed in a ckbat uniform simr to J¡¯s, likely having just captured another Awakener. He gave J an apologetic bow.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. I said we¡¯d meet, but I¡¯m the one who¡¯ste¡­.¡±


    ¡°No worries. Looks like you caught a bad guy. What was it this time?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I caught an Awakener with mind-control abilities who was threatening civilians.¡±


    J leanedzily against the wall and patted the space next to him. Jung Bin hesitated before taking the seat beside him. The space felt cramped with the two adult men sitting so close together. J turned off the system screen and sped his hands together.


    ¡°So, why did you want to meet? Is there something on your mind?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there is,¡± Jung Bin cleared his throat before continuing.


    ¡°You may have heard, but did you know there¡¯s a rift near the west coast?¡±


    ¡°I saw it on the list. It seemed like the Incheon branch could handle it. Isn¡¯t it a Level 5 rift?¡±


    ¡°It is, but¡­.¡±


    Jung Bin rubbed his chin as he replied.


    ¡°It appeared over the sea. We sent some of our best Hunters in, but we¡¯ve had no contact from them.¡±


    ¡°When did they go in?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been 18 days since they entered.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    J¡¯s fingers, which had been absentmindedly rubbing together, froze. A Level 5 rift. Normally, with enough manpower, such rifts could be cleared in under a week. Even in the rare case of an ident, it usually didn¡¯t take longer than that. But 18 days had passed?


    Jung Bin continued, still rubbing his chin.


    ¡°After 14 days, we sent in a second team for reinforcement¡­ but we lost contact with them as well.¡±


    Something had definitely gone wrong. J leaned forward, resting his sped hands near his mask, his voice tinged with tension.


    ¡°¡­What about my aunt?¡±


    ¡°Hunter Park Hye-kyung hasn¡¯t entered the rift yet. She¡¯s one of the Incheon branch¡¯s top Hunters, so she¡¯s still managing things there.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°But if things keep going like this, not just her, but¡­.¡±


    Jung Bin trailed off. Both of them knew exactly what was left unsaid and the weight of those words. J spoke up, cutting the tension.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±


    Jung Bin lowered his head. Silence hung heavily between them. J watched the streetlights flicker on one by one, then rose with exaggerated movements, cing a hand on the back of his neck as he stretched.


    ¡°Thanks for telling me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, at least now I can prepare.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°No need for apologies¡­ Just don¡¯t overthink it. Instead, if you¡¯ve got time, why don¡¯t youe up with a name?¡±


    ¡°A name?¡±


    ¡°For a boy.¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s head snapped up, his face transforming from guilt-ridden to shocked.


    ¡°¡­Are you nning to have a child? You¡¯re still too young for that, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    J stared at him, equally shocked, though his expression was hidden behind his mask. Jung Bin quickly tried to backtrack.


    ¡°I mean, I¡¯d heard that you¡¯ve been visiting someone regrly recently¡­ Not that I¡¯d interfere if it¡¯s something mutual, but¡­.¡±


    ¡°What on earth are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Should I inform Park Hye-kyung¡ª?¡±


    *Thwack!* A sharp sound echoed. That day, for the first time in his life, J struck an S-rank Hunter.


    He was sturdy.


    As always, good moments are fleeting. Misfortune, however,sts.


    J, withposed steps, found himself standing in front of the director¡¯s office. After two knocks, he opened the door to reveal a spacious room.


    Behind a heavy brown desk sat a middle-aged woman with short hair neatly cut just above her neck, giving her the sharp look of a bird of prey. The ck namete glowed under the fluorescent light.


    **Awakener Management Bureau Director Ham Seok-jeong.**


    Ham Seok-jeong gestured for him to enter.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. Have a seat.¡±


    She adjusted her sses and pressed her fingers to her furrowed brow. Her face showed visible signs of fatigue. J sat down on the sofa and nced at the documentsid out on the table. They were personnel files of Hunters affiliated with the Bureau, as well as frence Hunters.


    As J flipped through the files, scanning the faces, he froze when he came across one he recognized. It was Park Hye-kyung.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Park Hye-kyung, 45, A-rank Hunter, Awakener Management Bureau, Incheon Branch. Her confident smile was marked with a red stamp.


    **Status: Missing.**


    The corner of the file crumpled slightly in his hand. Ham Seok-jeong rose with a sigh and asked,


    ¡°Would you like something to drink? I have green tea and coffee.¡±


    ¡°So, in the end, my aunt entered the rift, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Though J¡¯s tone was sarcastic, Ham Seok-jeong stared back at him impassively. She mouthed the word silently, ¡®Missing.¡¯ No matter how many times she repeated it, the reality didn¡¯t seem to sink in. It was as if she were wandering through a dream.


    J threw the documents down on the table. The files scattered in disarray.


    ¡°Well¡­ Since the rift is close to the Incheon branch, of course, she¡¯d go in.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°Even the headquarters sent reinforcements.¡±


    ¡°They did.¡±


    ¡°But no one came back.¡±


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Are you testing me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Ham Seok-jeong let out a long sigh. She removed her sses and buried her face in her hands. Heavy silence fell once again. Neither J nor Ham Seok-jeong spoke.


    After a while, J spotted another familiar face among the scattered files. A rookie Hunter he had encountered in a few rifts. He bit his lip.


    **Status: Missing.**


    He crossed his legs and leaned back against the sofa.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Director?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    **Missing.**


    ¡°You can just give the order.¡±


    **Missing.**


    ¡°You have no one else to trust but me, right? I¡¯m thest line of defense.¡±


    **Missing.**


    ¡°So just tell me to go into the rift.¡±


    **Missing.**


    ¡°Tell me to die there¡ª¡±


    Ham Seok-jeong¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes wide as if she had just seen a ghost. Only then did J notice her eyes were swollen and red. He let out a short sigh.


    He regretted it instantly. He should have looked at her face first. If only he¡¯d made some light conversation, things might have been different. A cold chill crept down his neck. From the moment he¡¯d seen that ¡°Missing¡± stamp on his aunt¡¯s photo¡­


    ¡®Where did it go wrong?¡¯


    J clenched his fist. He swallowed hard.


    ¡®When did it all start going wrong?¡¯


    Once words are spoken, they can¡¯t be taken back.


    ---


    After leaving the director¡¯s office in what felt like an escape, J found himself standing in front of the familiar hospital room door. He wasn¡¯t sure how he had even made it here. He rested his forehead against the cold door.@@novelbin@@


    Should I tell the boy that I¡¯m going into a rift?


    The question shed through his mind, but he dismissed it. No. He went into rifts like it was routine¡ªthere was no need to mention it now. It wouldn¡¯t take long toe back.


    All he had to do was rescue the people, kill the rift¡¯s boss, and it would be over. Just like always. The only difference this time was that the people he needed to rescue were Hunters.


    And this time, the person he had to rescue was his aunt.


    **Missing.**


    ¡®¡­¡­¡¯


    J clenched his fist tightly. A desire to destroy something surged through


    him. His insides churned with frustration.


    **Missing.**


    ¡®It might be better if¡­¡¯


    **Missing.**


    ¡®If I died in the rift¡­.¡¯


    At that moment, a rustling sound caught J¡¯s attention. It came from inside the hospital room. Instinctively, he threw the door open. His eyes widened at the sight before him.


    The boy, still wrapped in bandages, was struggling to sit up in bed. Weakly, he pulled at the tubes connected to his body and made an effort to move into a sitting position.


    *Cough, cough...* But the effort was too much. Harsh coughing echoed through the room. The boy quickly covered his mouth, curling up and shaking as his shoulders heaved. The smell of blood filled the air. Dark red blood stained the fingers he used to cover his mouth. J rushed to the boy¡¯s side, wrapping his arms around his trembling shoulders.


    ¡°Hey, why are you trying to get up?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Why¡­!¡±


    J¡¯s voice faltered as he saw the boy¡¯s blood-stained hand gripping his clothes tightly. The rough bandages brushed against J¡¯s neck, and beyond them, he could feel the warmth of a person¡¯s touch.


    Human warmth.


    J clenched his teeth. He didn¡¯t know how to reject that warmth, so he could only hold the boy close.

 Chapter 110

    *Beep, beep, beep...* The rm red loudly. J carefully, but gently, embraced the boy¡¯s frail back, trying not to exert too much force. The boy, nestled in J''s arms, coughed intermittently.


    The scent of blood hung in the air. J tenderly stroked the boy¡¯s bony back. The body leaning against him felt unnaturally light, and while the boy¡¯s heartbeat was faint, it was quick¡ªproof that he was alive.


    ¡®He¡¯s alive.¡¯


    I saved him. This child.


    J repeated this fact to himself, and with it, the tension in his body finally eased. He let out a sigh. The boy, whose coughing had only just subsided, flinched slightly, as if aware he had done something wrong. But J didn¡¯t feel angry. He was grateful instead¡ªgrateful that the boy had snapped him back to his senses.


    ¡®Why would you die? You need to live¡­ all the way to the end.¡¯


    That was the only way he could continue to care for this stubborn, strong-willed boy who had such a fierce determination to act on his own. J sighed again, much deeper this time. The boy''s hand, which had been clutching his clothes, slowly loosened its grip. J pressed his cheek to the top of the boy¡¯s head and murmured softly.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It must hurt¡­ Why did you do that all of a sudden?¡±


    As always, there was no reply. But over time, J had learned to find answers in the boy¡¯s small reactions.


    His breathing had grown noticeably rough, and his body trembled slightly. Rather than admitting to pain, the boy had learned to endure. J gently patted the boy¡¯s back, feeling a warmth he weed.


    ¡°You can do whatever you want, just¡­ don¡¯t scare me like that, okay?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°The doctors will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy, who had been silently listening to J, suddenly shook his head. Then, as if trying to free himself, he began to push against J¡¯s chest. Startled, J grabbed the boy¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like the doctors?¡±


    The reaction was unclear. He didn¡¯t seem to like or dislike them. At times like these, J knew it was best to ask another question. After a moment of thought, he rubbed his cheek against the boy¡¯s head yfully and asked,


    ¡°Or¡­ do you just want to stay alone with me?¡±


    The boy, whose head had been resting under J¡¯s cheek, began to nod vigorously. The response was so clear that it startled J. He looked at the boy in disbelief before a smile slowly spread across his masked face. Then, almost instantly, the smile turned intoughter.


    ¡°Hahaha! Oh,e on.¡±


    The boy, now squirming as if embarrassed, tried to pull away. J quickly held him closer, soothing him.


    ¡°Wait, wait. I¡¯m notughing at you, I promise.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay, okay. Just a moment.¡±


    J reached into his inventory and pulled out a small bottle filled with a translucent blue liquid. The liquid squirmed on its own inside the bottle, like a living thing. It was a piece of slime that J had picked up after seeing Hunters ying with it. He had thought it might be fun for the boy to y with, but now it had a different use.


    J tore off a small piece of the slime and tossed it toward the crack of the door. With a squelching sound, the slime stuck to the door and expanded, sealing the gappletely. Now, no one would be able to open the door easily.


    ¡®While I¡¯m at it¡­¡¯


    He tore off another piece and tossed it at the CCTV camera on the ceiling. The slime slithered over the camera, covering it entirely. J dusted off his hands with satisfaction.


    ¡°There. Now no one cane in. Happy?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so much trouble, you know that?¡±


    Though his words were meant to scold, J¡¯s voice was full of warmth. The boy leaned even closer, his body pressing fully against J¡¯s. Now, the boy could likely hear J¡¯s heartbeat. As he gently patted the boy¡¯s back, J suddenly said something he hadn¡¯t intended to.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m going to be away for a while.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°This time, it might take a long time. I don¡¯t know how long¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s frail hand, which could barely grip anything, once again clutched at J¡¯s clothes. J stared at the hand for a moment before asking,


    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t want me to go?¡±


    The boy nodded slowly. How great it would be if he could stay. Truthfully, J didn¡¯t want to head into danger either. In the past, he would have gone without a second thought, following orders without hesitation, without considering his own life.


    But now, the reason he remained here...


    J lifted his mask slightly, revealing a sharp jawline that, though still youthful, had the markings of a grown man.


    ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    He took the boy¡¯s hand, which was gripping his clothes, and guided it to his face. The moment the boy¡¯s fingertips touched his bare skin, they flinched as if burned. J chuckled softly.


    ¡°Go ahead, touch it properly.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°We made a deal, remember? I said I¡¯d let you touch my face. Well, it¡¯s my face, not the mask, but still¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡±


    At his gentle urging, the boy¡¯s frozen fingers slowly began to explore J¡¯s face. J closed his eyes, allowing him to continue. As the boy¡¯s fingers traced his cheek and moved down to his jaw, the hesitation in his touch melted away. His fingers stopped at J¡¯s lower lip.


    J¡¯s lips curved slightly into a smile. He deliberately opened his mouth and asked,


    ¡°Why¡¯d you stop?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy¡¯s fingers jerked back, startled, pulling away from J¡¯s lips. The sudden cautiousness in the boy¡¯s movements stirred J¡¯s yful side. How could he not find the reaction amusing? With a teasing tone, he said,


    ¡°You¡¯re the first person to touch my face like this.¡±


    The boy¡¯s hand froze. J gently pressed his cheek against the boy¡¯s bandaged palm. The warmth of their skin touching was a source offort, a reminder that they were both alive. J¡¯s lips moved softly.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    J knew. He knew the chances of returning were slim. The odds of finding survivors inside the rift were low. But he had to go. Everyone expected it of him. Everyone wanted J to enter the rift and eliminate it.


    That¡¯s how it always was for heroes. A hero had no choice.


    J agreed with them. Those who could be saved had to be saved. There was no need for any other reason. He believed that, and because of that belief, nothing could hold him back.


    ¡®Everyone thinks that way¡­ except you.¡¯


    J looked at his one exception. The boy¡¯s face was slightly twisted, as if on the verge of tears. What could be more selfish than asking someone to wait for you when you know you may never return?


    And yet¡­


    Couldn¡¯t he be a little selfish, just this once? J let his unspoken feelings slip out, cautiously.


    ¡°Will you wait for me?¡±


    There was no answer. The boy pulled his hand away from J¡¯s cheek. Of course. J understood. He was about to close his eyes when¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy extended his pinky finger.


    ---


    The events that unfolded inside the rift afterward are hazy in J¡¯s memory. Even when he tries to recall them, only fragments, fleeting scenes,e to mind.


    He remembers thinking the sight of white ash falling like snow was beautiful. And before that thought could even finish, he saw blood sttering on the ash-covered ground.


    Killing monsters, finding parts of Hunters who had entered before him, witnessing fellow Hunters being torn apart by monsters, hearing the screams of those begging for their lives, and the indistinguishable sounds of both humans and beasts... and the final words of his dying aunt.


    Digging through piles of corpses, trying to carry out just one arm or one leg. Plunging the Basilisk¡¯s fang into the head of a monster, only for a deathly silence to follow.


    ¡®And then I woke up in a pile of garbage.¡¯


    Cha Uijae let out a bitterugh as he tossed the bags in his hands onto the trash heap. He pulled off his stic gloves and ran a hand through his messy hair.


    They say extreme stress can cause you to erase parts of your memory. Maybe that¡¯s what happened. He could only specte. Even thinking back to the fragmented memories, he knew that ce had been hell.


    Yes, that ce was like a *gu poison*¡ªa deadly test of survival where countless lives are trapped, and only one victor emerges.


    After realizing that the rift was a *gu*, Cha Uijae stopped trying to piece together the scattered fragments of his memory. Instead, he simply repeated the names and faces of those he had failed to save.


    Even though Cha Uijae¡¯s body was out here, it felt as if J had never left that rift, still searching through the corpses of hisrades, wandering the void in search of survivors. Forever dwelling on those he couldn¡¯t save.


    He kept the promise to save everyone close to his heart, even though he was now alone.


    ¡®And now, finally...¡¯


    He had escaped from that istion.@@novelbin@@


    Uijae moved without hesitation. The warm orange glow of lights danced at the entrance of the hangover soup restaurant. Standing in front of the closed metal door was something shiny


    and familiar. It was a wee guest. Uijae smiled brightly.


    ¡°Coco!¡±


    ¡°Coo?¡±


    The ceramic chicken turned at the sound of his voice. With a box on its back the size of a human head, Coco bounced on the spot.


    ¡°Coo!¡±


    At the same time, his phone buzzed in the pocket of his apron. It was a message.


    The sender was...


    **010-XXXX-XXXX:** Your order has arrived, dear customer. Please check the attached file.


    **A Very Small Miracle Mingeojeok.**


    ________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars and likes of the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 111

    In the mid-slopes of Odaesan Mountain, Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, a dark brown wooden door appeared under the shadow of the trees. The door creaked open slowly, emitting a chilling sound, as if echoing the person¡¯s emotions.


    Soon, a young man in a ck baseball cap and jacket stepped out. His face was barely visible under the hat, obscured further by a mask.


    His worn sneakers crunched on the overgrown grass as he stood still, surveying his surroundings. Once he confirmed that no one else was around, he crouched down in front of the door. His voice, distorted in an odd manner, spoke up.


    ¡°Thanks for opening the door. It helped me get here faster.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ problem¡­.¡±


    Romantic Opener, Choi Goyo, responded in a dying voice. Hey sprawled out on the floor of Uijae¡¯s cramped room, his cheek pressed against the ground. The space was far too small for a grown man, forcing him to curl up like a frog. It was quite a pitiful sight.


    Uijae nced at him with sympathy.


    ¡°Should I move you to a bigger space?¡±


    ¡°A bigger¡­ space? Where?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Uijae cautiously suggested.


    ¡°The floor of the restaurant seems too dirty¡­ How about I push a few tables together andy you down there?¡±


    ¡°No¡­.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Just drag me out to the grass¡­ please¡­.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you''ll be okay? We¡¯re in the middle of the mountains.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ be fine. Mingeojeok will¡­ probably pick me up¡­ I think.¡±


    His answer didn¡¯t sound convincing. Uijae looked at him doubtfully, but then he hoisted Choi Goyo onto his back and carried him out,ying him down under the shade of the trees. Choi Goyo weakly waved his hand in what seemed to be a feeble attempt at a goodbye.


    ¡°Have a safe trip¡­. And when you¡­.¡±


    ¡°When I?¡±


    ¡°¡­Ack.¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Choi Goyo¡¯s head lolled to the side with a pitiful groan. It looked as if he were dying, but fortunately, faint snoring followed soon after.


    Uijae squatted next to the unconscious Romantic Opener, watching him for a while. After some time, a low voice emerged from Uijae¡¯s shadow.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve arrived. I¡¯m sorry for beingte. Please excuse me for a moment.¡±


    The voice was familiar. Mingeojeok crawled out from the edge of Uijae¡¯s shadow. Seeing Choi Goyo snoring peacefully, Mingeojeok nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°You followed the instructions from the attached file perfectly. Well done.¡±


    Uijae had opened the attached file from the box Coco had delivered earlier. It not only included the address and map of Prometheus¡¯ branch but also detailed instructions on how to reach the location. The file could be summarized in three lines:


    - Contact Romantic Opener and have hime quickly.


    - Tell him to open the door.


    - I¡¯ll handle the rest.


    ¡®The manual is quite something¡­.¡¯


    Now he understood why Lee Sayoung trusted Mingeojeok with everything. The n he hadid out was as efficient as it was convenient. Uijae nced at Mingeojeok with a mixture of admiration and surprise. Today, the man¡¯s sunsses seemed more reliable than ever.


    Mingeojeok dusted off the leaves clinging to his suit.


    ¡°Now then, before we proceed, let¡¯s briefly go over the n. I¡¯ll exin a few key points and things you should be cautious about.¡±


    With a snap of his fingers, something dark pooled on the ground. It was a shadow.


    The shadow rippled before forming a rectangr shape. Using a branch, Mingeojeok drew lines through it until it resembled the map Uijae had seen in the attached file.


    ¡°Prometheus has branches scattered everywhere. The information about this one was provided by Jung Bin, and after some investigation, it turns out it¡¯s quiterge.¡±


    Still crouched down, Uijae muttered.


    ¡°I thought the Awakener Bureau and the guilds were cracking down on Prometheus. How is it still this big?¡±


    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s a sad story behind that. In short, it¡¯s because of you.¡±


    Suddenly used of being the culprit, Uijae stared at the shadow, bewildered. How hard had he worked to live quietly as a hangover soup restaurant owner?


    ¡°What did I do? All I¡¯ve done is serve soup quietly.¡±


    The self-proimed hangover soup restaurant worker, who had fought Hunters at Masok, crushed them at Incheon Port, attended the Artisan Exhibition, and taken down an S+ grade dungeon boss, carefully asserted his innocence. Fortunately, Mingeojeok shrugged.


    ¡°I may have summarized it too briefly. It¡¯s not that you did anything wrong, nor am I ming you. I was just exining the flow of events. So, let me rify.¡±


    Mingeojeok drew a circle and split it into three pieces. The shadow inside the circle thickened.


    ¡°As I mentioned before, the investigation into Prometheus was a coborative effort between the Awakener Bureau, Wave Guild, and Seowon Guild. However¡­¡±


    He tapped one of the segments, pulling it away from the others, leaving two pieces behind.


    ¡°Once J appeared in the rankings, the Bureau shifted its focus to tracking him down. They pulled resources away from the Prometheus investigation and directed them to finding J.¡±


    Uijae, forcibly resurrected and thrust back into the rankings, said nothing. He had expected people to start searching for him, but he hadn¡¯t realized they were this serious about it.


    Mingeojeok poked the remaining two pieces with his stick. One of them morphed into the shape of a tiny person moving around, as if it were carrying something.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been an issue if only the Bureau pulled out. But the Wave Guild also diverted its resources to tracking and confusing the Bureau¡¯s efforts to find you. The Wave Guild, which had been aggressively hunting Prometheus, left an opening.¡±


    One word in that exnation caught Uijae¡¯s attention. He looked up sharply.


    ¡°Confusing? Wait, the Wave Guild was looking for me too?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that was supposed to be a secret.¡±


    Mingeojeok didn¡¯t seem too concerned about his slip-up.


    ¡°But since that¡¯s already over, I suppose it¡¯s fine to tell you. Yes, the Wave Guild was also searching for you, and they ran interference to stop the Bureau from finding you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Why?¡±


    Why had the Wave Guild been looking for J? From the sound of it, they hadn¡¯t been cooperating with the Bureau either. The Wave Guild was established after J disappeared into the rift, wasn¡¯t it?


    As if he had anticipated Uijae¡¯s confusion, Mingeojeok responded dryly.


    ¡°As always, it was under the guild leader¡¯s orders. We don¡¯t know the exact reason.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°When he gives an order, we follow it. Anyway¡­¡±


    Why would Lee Sayoung do that? Uijae was full of questions, but Mingeojeok interrupted his thoughts with his usual professionalism.


    ¡°To get inside, you¡¯ll need an authorized key card. Most areas require some form of clearance to ess, and the security here is quite strict.¡±


    Uijae, now back to focusing, nodded. A key card. The researchers would likely each have one. Rubbing his chin, he asked,


    ¡°Do the ess levels differ by rank?¡±


    ¡°An excellent question. Yes, you¡¯ll need at least a senior researcher¡¯s key card to enter the core areas of the facility.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Uijae studied the shadow map closely, murmuring to himself.


    ¡°So all I need to do is find someone who looks like a researcher, beat them up, and take their card, one by one¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Despite having the right answer, Mingeojeok didn¡¯t respond. When Uijae nced up, he was met with a look of utter shock on Mingeojeok¡¯s face¡ªlike Munch¡¯s *The Scream*. The expression was so extreme that even Uijae hesitated.


    ¡°¡­Is that not the n?¡±


    ¡°¡­Absolutely not.¡±


    Mingeojeok muttered gloomily as he handed Uijae something from his coat pocket. It was a stic card sttered with a few drops of blood. A photo of a bespectacled man was printed on it. Uijae epted the card with both hands, bowing slightly as he did so. Mingeojeok¡¯s sunsses glinted.


    ¡°Please trust me more! Do you think I wouldn¡¯t have secured something like this? I¡¯m Mingeojeok! A specialist in stealth and infiltration, ranked 36th in Korea!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Thank you very much.¡±


    Korea¡¯s number one Hunter bowed his head to the 36th-ranked Hunter. Still quietly fuming, Mingeojeok sighed and ran a hand through his hair.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s settled¡­ let¡¯s rify your objective. What exactly are you hoping to find or confirm here?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°A clear goal will help us save time.¡±


    Uijae fiddled with the key card before answering.


    ¡°First, I want to check the list of test subjects and find out what experiments they¡¯re conducting here.¡±


    ¡°The chances of your target being on that list are extremely low.¡±


    ¡°I know. But if I start here and trace things back¡­¡±


    The air around them rippled. A sharp aura swirled, disturbing the surrounding area. Without realizing it, Mingeojeok took a step back. The branches of the nearby trees swayed violently.


    Uijae pocketed the key card and continued.


    ¡°¡­I might find a clue.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°A tiny clue. That¡¯s all I need.¡±


    ¡°¡­Very well. If that


    ¡¯s your goal.¡±


    Mingeojeok pointed deeper into the forest.


    ¡°Keep walking along this path, and you¡¯ll find the entrance. I cleared the foliage covering it, so you should be able to go right in.¡±


    As Uijae nodded, Mingeojeok hesitated, his expression uneasy.


    ¡°¡­The ce might be a bit of a mess, though.¡±


    *Beep.* The door opened when Uijae scanned the key card. *Squelch, squelch.* His worn sneakers stepped into a puddle. The sharp, metallic scent of blood slipped through the gap in his mask. The dark, wide space was eerily silent. Uijae scanned his surroundings and let out a long sigh.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t kidding when they said it might be a mess¡­¡±


    Feeling along the wall, he pressed a button. With a loud flick, the lights illuminated the room, revealing¡­


    ¡°This is beyond ¡®a mess¡¯.¡±


    Corpsesy sprawled on the floor, blood flowing from every hole in their faces, covering the entireb in crimson.

 Chapter 112

    Uijae shoved his hands into his pockets and slowly surveyed his surroundings. This ce seemed to be a research facility, and the area he had stepped into appeared to be the lobby connected to a hallway. From the lobby onward, corpses were scattered everywhere.


    The whiteb coats they wore were so soaked in dark red blood that it was nearly impossible to distinguish their original color. Uijae nced up at the ceiling. The white fluorescent lights flickered ominously. It was an eerily silent space, devoid of the sound of breathing or even heartbeats. White walls and red blood.


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to die.¡¯


    Someone¡¯s desperate scream echoed in his mind. A sharp headache struck him. Uijae, out of habit, bit his tongue. The dull pain spread through him, and only then did he begin to regain hisposure. There was no time to waste standing still.


    He nced at a corpse slumped against the wall, its head pressed against the surface. Judging by the handprints wing vertically across the wall, the person had likely scratched it in agony before dying.


    When he flipped the body over, the blood-covered face had wide, bloodshot eyes. Uijae¡¯s cold, dark gaze swept over the body. At first, he wondered if this had been Mingeojeok¡¯s doing. But upon closer inspection¡­


    ¡®There¡¯s no external trauma...¡¯


    Uijae had never seen Mingeojeok fight, but killing arge number of people without leaving any external wounds required a special kind of power. After all, Mingeojeok had imed to be a specialist in stealth and infiltration, not assassination.


    Despite theck of external wounds, there was an abnormal amount of blood loss. The corpses had died coughing up blood, their dark red blood pooling around them.


    It felt oddly familiar. Uijae instinctively rubbed the back of his neck.


    Yes, it was simr to the symptoms he experienced when he had been poisoned by Lee Sayoung. The sweet scent that lingered in the air was also familiar, the same scent that always tickled his nose when he was around Sayoung.


    Mingeojeok knew that someone was inside this facility. And yet, he had only warned Uijae that the ce might be ¡°a mess,¡± implying that whoever was inside wasn¡¯t a threat to him.


    With a wry smile, Uijae ced his hand on the corpse¡¯s neck and examined the face. There was still warmth, and rigor mortis hadn¡¯t set in yet. It hadn¡¯t been long since these people had died.


    ¡®They¡¯re still here.¡¯


    If he kept moving, he¡¯d likely run into them. Uijae scraped the blood from his sneaker against the floor and continued walking.


    The ones tracking Prometheus were the Wave Guild, the Seowon Guild, and the Awakener Bureau. Lee Sayoung had once been one of Prometheus¡¯ test subjects. Whoever had turned this facility into a bloodbath and ughtered the researchers was most likely Lee Sayoung as well.


    ¡®Could it be out of revenge against Prometheus?¡¯


    As Uijae stepped through the hallway, avoiding the bodies and pools of blood, his thoughts continued to spiral around Lee Sayoung.


    Mingeojeok had been adamant¡ªno one survived the experiments conducted by Prometheus. However, Nam Woojin had said that Lee Sayoung was a survivor of those very experiments. One of them had to be lying.


    ¡®Judging by the state of this ce, Nam Woojin¡¯s story seems more likely¡­¡¯


    No ordinary grudge could drive someone to kill so mercilessly, leaving no one alive.


    Just then, a faint light leaked from a half-open door. Uijae leaned in to peek inside. It appeared to be a monitoring room with severalrge screens. The monitors disyed empty, cell-like spaces.


    The room was as much of a mess as the rest of the facility, with the floor and walls scratched and torn up by thrashing researchers. Yet, oddly enough, the items on the desks and the documents remained untouched, almost as if they had been left in pristine condition for someone.


    Uijae picked up a blue file. Thebel read:


    **#707 Experiment Records**


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    He cautiously opened the file and began reading through it, page by page. The subject of the file, #707, was a survivor rescued from a rift. The researchers had injected him with enhancement drugs, transfused him with the blood of Awakeners, grafted monster parts onto his body, and conducted numerous experiments.


    And they failed.


    Failure.


    Failure.


    Failure.


    Failure.


    Failure.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The final page indicated that the subject was deemed no longer valuable, and the decision had been made to dispose of him. Thest sentence read:


    *Let us be grateful to all those who sacrifice themselves to prevent the end.*


    Uijae¡¯s grip tightened around the file. He gritted his teeth. The stic folder crumpled in his hand as easily as paper. They had taken survivors of rifts, experimented on them, and when the experiments failed, they discarded them like garbage. A surge of anger welled up inside him. He grabbed another file and quickly skimmed through it.


    Failure. Failure. Failure. Disposal. *Let us be grateful to all those who sacrifice themselves to prevent the end.* Failure. Failure. Failure. Disposal. *Let us be grateful.* Failure. Failure. Failure. *End.* *Gratitude.* *End.*


    *Bang!*


    His fist mmed into the desk, splitting it in two. His shoulders, which had been trembling with anger, slowly stilled. Uijae reached up to p his own face but stopped short when his hand met the cold surface of his mask.


    It had been a mystery from the start. Why was Prometheus so intent on creating artificial Awakeners? Were they angry that they hadn¡¯t been chosen by the system?


    If that had been the case, they wouldn¡¯t have been such a serious threat. People driven by greed are often torn apart by their own desires.


    But Prometheus was different. They weren¡¯t driven by selfish desires. They truly believed they were preventing the end. They believed that small sacrifices were justified, like fanatics. They were neither researchers nor scientists. They were insane zealots.


    To prevent the end, they were creating artificial Awakeners? How foolish¡­


    Suddenly, a faint groan echoed. Uijae¡¯s head snapped up. The sound hade from beyond the door at the far side of the monitoring room. He hadn¡¯t sensed any survivors earlier. Uijae hurriedly pushed the door open.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Ugh, aaah!¡±


    Inside was a man in a whiteb coat, curled up and trembling. The man covered his mouth and began banging his head against the wall, over and over.


    ¡°Please, save me, save me, save me¡­.¡±


    ¡®Where did this guy suddenlye from?¡¯


    There were too many questions, but Uijae¡¯s body moved instinctively, prepared to rescue a survivor. He assessed the man¡¯s condition, trying to determine ifmunication was possible.


    But only for a moment. Uijae withdrew his hand as he noticed the card key hanging around the man¡¯s neck, confirming he was part of this research facility.


    *A Prometheus member¡­.*


    Failure, failure, failure. *Let us be grateful to all those who sacrifice themselves to prevent the end.*


    With his hands still in his pockets, Uijae bent down slightly, staring down at the researcher. The man seemed to realize that Uijae wasn¡¯t going to harm him, so he slowly stopped banging his head against the wall. His half-closed eyes gazed up at the ck mask in front of him.


    The man¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with joy.


    ¡°That, that mask¡ªare you J? You¡¯re J, right? Yes, I¡¯ve heard that you were still alive! How did you¡ªno, wait!¡±


    The man scrambled toward Uijae on his knees, grabbing his leg. His hands shook pitifully.


    ¡°Please, please spare me. There¡¯s a madman who turned the entire facility upside down, killing innocent people left and right¡­!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t respond. The man, biting his lip in desperation, suddenly looked up as if a light had gone off in his head. His eyes, once filled with fear, now glimmered strangely.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ve been wanting to speak with J for so long! I¡¯m your fan! What was it like inside the West Sea Rift? I had a revtion that the rift was connected to the end! Everyone, everyone¡­!¡±


    ¡°What? What are you saying¡­?¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Aaaaah! Gah!¡±


    The researcher clutched his throat, screaming, before violently coughing up dark red blood. His trembling hand reached out toward Uijae.


    ¡°Please, J, save, save me¡­!¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    *Thud, thud.* Footsteps echoed clearly from the darkness, followed by anguid voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the wrong thing.¡±


    ¡°Save me¡­.¡±


    ¡°At the very least, you should be saying, ¡®I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong,¡¯ shouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°S-sorry¡­ ugh¡­ ah¡­.¡±


    The researcher¡¯s body twisted as he scratched at the floor, but his movements soon slowed. Instead of final words, he coughed up blood onest time before his body went limp. From the shadows, thezy voice murmured,


    ¡°I thought I killed everyone, but there was one still alive.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°My bad¡­ Are you alright?¡±


    A hand, its fingertips ckened, appeared from the darkness. When it touched the researcher¡¯s head, a chilling sound filled the air as the body began to melt into ck goo.


    ¡°Looks like Hong Yeseong added some filtration functions to the mask. Lucky for you.¡±


    The corpse had turned into a pool of ck liquid, which quickly disappeared into the hand that had touched it. Afterpleting its task, the hand retreated back into the shadows.


    Uijae responded with a shortment.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get the facts straight. You left him alive on purpose, didn¡¯t you? Just him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    A short chuckle echoed from the darkness. The voice,ced with amusement, whispered back,


    ¡°You¡¯re sharp when ites to things like this. But not much else.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. I figured you¡¯d be curious about him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Though in hindsight, I probably shouldn¡¯t have left him alive. He just spouted nonsense until the end.¡±


    From the darkness emerged a pair of ckbat boots. Long legs, the hem of a ck coat reaching mid-calf, and hands stuffed into coat pockets. Messy curly hair framed eyes that glinted in the dim light, as longshes blinked slowly. Full lips curled slightly.


    ¡°So¡­ did you find what you were looking for?¡±


    Violet eyes narrowed slightly, as if in a smile.


    ¡°J.¡±


    It was as if the person wasughing.

 Chapter 113

    ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°J.¡±


    There was no hint of surprise on his delicate face. It was as if he had known he would meet J here. A faint glint of mischief flickered in his narrow violet eyes. Lee Sayoung muttered as he slid his gloved hand, the ck fabric disappearing over his fingers.


    ¡°I deliberately left some things behind, didn¡¯t clear everything out.¡±


    The neatly arranged files, the monitors turned on as if guiding him, and the survivor¡¯s voice he heard just as he finished reading the files¡ªit was all prepared for one person.


    And the gift¡¯s owner...


    ¡°Did you read it?¡±


    Cha Uijae.


    Of course. The files on the desk and the disyed corpses were indeed left there for show. Uijae thought cynically, seeing how everything had been handled so cleanly. He nced at where the man had fallen. There was nothing left but a faint bloodstain on the floor. In a voice that had been altered beyond recognition, Uijae responded.


    ¡°Yeah. I read it. Is this record from the facility?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it''s just a part of the records.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I filtered it down. If there was too much, you might not havee to me.¡±


    ¡°Minggijeok must have told you I¡¯de here.¡±


    Sayoung only responded with a quiet smile. Minggijeok, that so-called ¡°Tiny Miracle,¡± and Romantic Opener¡ªthey might have helped Uijae, but ultimately, they were Lee Sayoung¡¯s people. Considering the ambush at Incheon Port, it wasn¡¯t that surprising. Uijae answered his own question instead of waiting for a reply.


    ¡°Of course. You didn¡¯t seem surprised by my sudden arrival. And you even prepared these materials.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was surprised. I just didn¡¯t expect J¡¯s first activity after returning in eight years would be...¡±


    Sayoung shrugged as he looked around.


    ¡°...raiding a Prometheus research facility.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s not like I asked you to do it, either.¡±


    Sayoung silently took a few steps closer. His ck-gloved hand reached out and gently removed the ck cap Uijae was wearing. Uijae didn¡¯t swat the hand away. Sayoung tidied Uijae¡¯s slightly tousled hair as if arranging it, whispering.


    ¡°When we made that contract, I only mentioned a group luring people in with drugs, said I was chasing them. That¡¯s about all I remember telling you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°And yet, you went and mentioned the name Prometheus first, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Sayoung lightly flicked the brim of the cap with his fingers. His long eyshes fluttered slowly, and the corners of his mouth stayed lifted in a subtle smile.


    ¡°Where did you hear it from... and why did youe all the way here?¡±


    Though it sounded like he was interrogating Uijae, the mood was different from usual. The Lee Sayoung Uijae knew would have been irritable by now, pressing his opponent down until his mood improved. But this Lee Sayoung...


    ¡°It¡¯s a skill, keeping secrets every time.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    In his violet eyes...


    ¡°How about we have a Q&A session for old time¡¯s sake? Ask each other questions, give answers. Guess what we¡¯re hiding.¡±


    Those eyes, void of any light, feigned indifference, but beneath the calm surface, something fierce was thrashing violently.


    And instinctively, Cha Uijae realized it¡ªLee Sayoung wouldn¡¯t let him go. One wrong move, and he¡¯d be swept away by the current.


    Catching a raging monster or dealing with an angry Sayoung would be easier. At least there were clear strategies for that. This calm Sayoung was a different challenge entirely. His gaze met Sayoung¡¯s, and it made Uijae¡¯s insides itch.


    He clenched his hand in his pocket, pressing his fingernails into his palm. He was d his mask hid his expression.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡¯m not curious about anything.¡±


    ¡°Hm, but you don¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s voice came back with augh, his head tilting slightly. His curly hair swayed softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m really curious about you... Hyung.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Shall I make the first guess?¡±


    Arge gloved hand wrapped around the back of Uijae¡¯s neck. Sayoung¡¯s soft voice whispered.


    ¡°You know, don¡¯t you? That I¡¯m a former test subject of Prometheus.¡±


    The sudden question made Uijae¡¯s fingers twitch. Sayoung, still tilting his head, murmured.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious who told you. Very few people know that fact, and they¡¯re all dead.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°The only ones left alive are Ham Seokjeong, Jung Bin, Nam Woojin, and Baewonwoo. You¡¯ve avoided Ham Seokjeong and Jung Bin, so it can¡¯t be them. Baewonwoo is too clueless to realize you¡¯re J. That leaves...¡±


    His thumb gently brushed behind Uijae¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Nam Woojin. That bastard.¡±


    Sayoung was sharp, his information-gathering skills exceptional. There was no longer any reason to hide the truth. Uijae had revealed the secret he had once tried to keep. He nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°You must have heard it when you took his grandmother to safety, along with the story about Prometheus.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Sayoung clenched his teeth for a moment before letting out a small sigh. He pulled his hand away from Uijae¡¯s neck, the warmth fading.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After a pause, Uijae asked.


    ¡°I heard there were no sessful cases with Prometheus experiments. They all died.¡±


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Sayoung let out a slow, drawn-out sound, lifting his head with a calm smile. The corners of his mouth rose slightly in a mocking grin.


    ¡°Did Seomin say that? Well... it¡¯s not wrong. Prometheus never seeded. Not once. All the subjects either copsed from the strain or became something less than monsters.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°But I guess you¡¯re curious about this¡ªhow am I still alive, after being one of their test subjects?¡±


    Sayoung ced a hand over the center of his chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I Awakened.¡±


    Hiszy voice continued.


    ¡°Not because of their experiments, but because the System chose me.¡±


    The conversation they¡¯d once had over a hangover soup, after a messy contract and a bloody battle, shed through Uijae¡¯s mind. The small ck figures that had followed Sayoung¡¯s every move...


    ¡°So, what does the System look for in an Awakener?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s voice,zily drifting again.


    ¡°The System responds to desperate wishes...¡±


    That knowledge had bemon after the Day of Cracks.


    ¡°When a human has a desperate wish, the System is drawn to that energy and finds the person.¡±


    From out of nowhere, a pair of burning white eyes stared at Uijae. The surrounding area had shifted into a forest. Uijae remembered the conversation he¡¯d had with Nam Woojin in the Seo-won Guild. Woojin, in his whiteb coat, whispered to him.


    ¡°Was it Prometheus¡¯ experiment that Awakened Sayoung, or did the System respond to his desperate prayer?¡±


    Again, the surroundings morphed, and Uijae found himself in a devastated ruin, clutching his parents¡¯ bodies, huddled in the wreckage. The acrid smell of blood and smoke filled the air, the coldness of their bodies unbearable. Boom, boom¡ªthe monstrous footsteps of a creature echoed in his ears.


    At that moment, what had Uijae thought while teetering on the edge of death?


    ¡®I want to live.¡¯


    He wanted to live.


    ¡®I don¡¯t want to die.¡¯


    He didn¡¯t want to die.


    And then, a brilliant white light burst before his eyes. It was the moment he met the System.


    Uijae lifted his head. The room was dark and small, with only a sliver of light streaming in from a half-open door. Sayoung was watching him silently. A question suddenly came to mind¡ªwhat had been Sayoung¡¯s desperate prayer? What had driven him to Awaken?


    Strangely, Uijae felt like he knew the answer.


    As if someone were telling him. His heart raced. Was it excitement, expectation, fear, or confusion? He couldn¡¯t tell. Slowly, he opened his mouth.


    ¡°You...¡±


    The words caught in his throat. He couldn¡¯t say it easily. He wasn¡¯t sure. He didn¡¯t want it to be true, but at the same time, he hoped it was. Conflicting emotions crashed within him.


    The boy who had been poisoned and was dying, and the man who wielded poison¡ªLee Sayoung. The boy erased from Prometheus¡¯ records, and the man who escaped as a test subject¡ªLee Sayoung.


    ¡®It couldn¡¯t be...¡¯


    Uijae looked at Sayoung with bewildered eyes. In that moment, Sayoung smiled. His eyes narrowed, gleaming like a child waiting to open a present he had prepared.


    ¡®This is too strange.¡¯


    Uijae swallowed all the words he wanted to say.


    ¡®It¡¯s too convenient...¡¯


    Miracles didn¡¯t happen to people like him. He knew that. He had long abandoned the hope of miracles. Yet, despite everything, he barely managed to whisper a single word, his voice cracking.


    ¡°...Is it you?¡±


    The ck boots stepped forward, closing the distance between them. There was only a small space left between them now. Sayoung extended his hand. Uijae, as if hypnotized, took it. Just like he had eight years ago.


    The ck-gloved hand gently pulled Uijae


    ¡¯s hand to his cheek. The warmth of his skin was soft, far different from the rough texture of the bandages.


    Sayoung rubbed his cheek slowly against Uijae¡¯s palm. His gloved hand covered the back of Uijae¡¯s hand. A soft voice whispered.


    ¡°Yes, Hyung.¡±

 Chapter 115

    Sayoung withdrew his hand from Uijae''s prominent shoulder des and back muscles, lightly tapping the arms wrapped around him. Uijae slowly loosened his embrace. Sayoung picked up the mask that had fallen on the floor and handed it over.


    ¡°Sorry for dropping it, hyung.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It was made by a madman, so I¡¯m sure it¡¯s sturdy.¡±


    Uijae dusted off the mask. The face that had almost seemed on the verge of tears was now calm, regaining its usual cold expression. Maybe I should have looked longer. Sayoung ignored the surge of regret and watched as Uijae¡¯s red-rimmed eyes disappeared beneath the ck mask. He wanted to touch him a little more, but there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. ncing briefly at the light spilling through the door, Sayoung spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, hyung.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to investigate further? This ce seems pretty big.¡±


    A voice, distorted by the mask, asked. Each syble was deliberate. How much had he missed hearing this voice? Sayoung smiled, his eyes narrowing as he sped his hands behind his back.


    ¡°Well... the investigation was finished a long time ago. Min-gi already took care of the materials.¡±


    ¡°And the remaining data?¡±


    ¡°That was left on purpose. For you to see.¡±


    Sayoung reached out and touched Uijae¡¯s fingers, as if urging him. But Uijae didn¡¯t move. Sayoung quietly stared at the ck mask. It seemed like Uijae had something to say. After a long silence, Uijae finally spoke.


    ¡°We¡¯re not done talking yet.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What kind of experiments were done on you? How did you end up being dragged into this?¡±


    ¡°...¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°How did Prometheus get you out of the hospital and...?¡±


    A grinding sound came from behind the mask. Despite expecting the question, there was no sense of satisfaction in getting it right. Only sadness. Cha Uijae was kind and upright. Too much so¡ªalmost to a fault.


    ¡®He doesn¡¯t realize that kindness is eating away at him...¡¯


    After a long silence, Sayoung lowered his gaze, his long eyshes flickering. His gloved fingers intertwined with Uijae¡¯s. The solid hand flinched. Sayoung bowed his head and muttered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it here. That¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t we talk about itter? Hyung.¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he gripped Sayoung¡¯s hand firmly. The other hand wrapped around the back of Sayoung¡¯s head, gently stroking his hair. In a softened, distorted voice, Uijae spoke with warmth.


    ¡°Okay. Tell meter. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Sayoung closed his eyes, feeling the soothing touch on his head, and responded differently from what he had originally intended.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    No.


    ¡°I will...¡±


    This is a story you don¡¯t need to know.


    ---


    A weekter. The hangover soup restaurant was bustling, just like any other evening.


    Customers squeezed into the narrow space, and a line formed in front of the automatic self-serve station for kimchi and side dishes. The mana stone embedded in the self-serve bar shimmered, continuously dispensing kimchi into empty bowls. Hands shot up from all directions.


    ¡°Two hangover soups here!¡±


    ¡°Just a moment, please.¡±


    ¡°Can I grab a bottle of soju?¡±


    ¡°Take just one. I saw you drink a bottle earlier.¡±


    ¡°Our part-timer¡¯s eyesight has improved since bing a Hunter.¡±


    The grumbling Hunter stood up and made his way toward the industrial refrigerator, intentionally taking a detour around the tables instead of the direct path. The reason was obvious.


    ¡°...¡±


    A gas mask-wearing figure sat cross-legged at the nearby table.


    Perhaps Lee Sayoung had developed a conscience. Unlike the past, when he would take the central table without hesitation, he now upied a corner seat with a full view of the restaurant. The issue was that this had been going on for days. It wasn¡¯t just a one-off urrence¡ªhe was showing up daily.


    The regrs were on edge. Wasn¡¯t the number two-ranked Hunter in South Korea busy? Why wasn¡¯t he at the Wave Guild and instead showing up at this hangover soup joint every day? Desperately, they looked at the part-timer. Please, do something and kick him out. After all, the part-timer was the supreme authority at this restaurant.


    But today, unlike usual, the part-timer, Cha Uijae, didn¡¯t react to the disruption. Not only did he refrain from confronting the situation with adle, but he also exchanged nces with the gas mask. Every time their eyes met, Sayoung would wave his hand with a casual smile.


    *That* part-timer and *that* Lee Sayoung!


    Who was Lee Sayoung, after all? The most unwanted guest of them all! And yet, here they were, sharing such a friendly exchange.


    ¡°Ah, crap, I can¡¯t stand this anymore.¡±


    Thunk! Chopsticks stabbed through a piece of radish kimchi. Three people were seated around a green table. Baewonwoo, who had already finished two bowls, Team Leader Han with his sses fogged up from the steam, and Honeybee, who was taking out his frustrations on the poor radish kimchi.


    Honeybee sighed briefly and red at Baewonwoo with a sharp look.


    ¡°Shield Guy, be honest.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t call me that. What is it?¡±


    Honeybee hissed quietly.


    ¡°What the hell did your guild leader do?¡±


    Baewonwoo, scooping rice into his soup, nced around. There were too many things Sayoung had done, and none of them made sense. With a resigned look, Baewonwoo muttered darkly.


    ¡°He does something crazy every other day... Can you be more specific?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. We made an agreement behind the shop, remember?¡±


    Team Leader Han adjusted his foggy sses, chiming in.


    ¡°This is clearly a vition of the agreement. The fact that the Wave Guild leader is here every day, disrupting business, and Cha Uijae isn¡¯t saying anything about it¡ªthere must be some deal behind the scenes, right?¡±


    ¡°What kind of deal?¡±


    ¡°A renovation for the soup restaurant, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. That¡¯s a conspiracy theory.¡±


    ¡°What could possibly have happened between them for them to be like this...¡±


    ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t know...¡±


    While Team Leader Han continued pressing the issue, Honeybee sneaked a nce at Sayoung. Sayoung, not satisfied with just waving, had now ced both hands under his chin, watching Uijae¡¯s every move with an adoring gaze.


    ¡®What the hell is he doing?¡¯


    Just as Honeybee was pretending to gag, their eyes met. Sayoung folded one hand and raised his middle finger in a perfect execution of a silent insult while still keeping his hands under his chin.


    Not to be outdone, Honeybee responded with both hands raised in a simr gesture. But it was brief; as soon as Uijae emerged from the kitchen, Sayoung¡¯s hands returned to a flower-like position. Honeybee slouched in his seat, watching the interaction.


    The part-timer with a tray tucked under his arm approached Sayoung. They began whispering to each other, their conversation mundane¡ª¡®Want a bowl of soup?¡¯ ¡®No, thanks.¡¯ ¡®When¡¯s your shift over?¡¯ But what was unusual was Uijae¡¯s soft smile.


    ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen him smile like that...¡¯


    There was a smallugh. The atmosphere around the two of them seemed different. Honeybee frowned as he watched them. What could have possibly happened to make them so inseparable?


    But then, his sharp senses, which had saved him many times before, kicked in. There was something hidden beneath the friendly surface. Don¡¯t be fooled by the smiles.


    Honeybee blinked. Underneath the smiling side profile... was tension.


    ---


    11:53 p.m. Despite it being well past the end of the shift, and with the clock nearing midnight, the lights in the Awakener Management Bureau¡¯s First Response Team office were still on. Almost no one had left. With the team leader still hunched over his desk, no one dared to move.


    No one had even considered going home. A state of emergency had been dered across the entire bureau.


    ¡°A Hunter affiliated with the Awakener Management Bureau was reced, leaving only an empty shell.¡±


    This unprecedented incident had never urred since the bureau¡¯s founding. It was clearly the work of Prometheus, but when and how the recement had been made was still unknown. With no clues to follow, the investigation was at a standstill. Sayoung had destroyed one research facility and sent over some data, but...


    ¡°Phew...¡±


    There wasn¡¯t much useful information. Just a mountain of experimental records to sift through.


    Another long sigh escaped. The Hunters at their desks hunched their shoulders. Jung Bin, the First Response Team leader, had his hands sped together as if in prayer, his forehead resting on them.


    His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the usual gentle smile on his face was reced with deep worry. A long scar remained on his right arm, recently freed from a cast.


    At that moment, his phone buzzed. Without looking, Jung Bin groped for his phone and pressed the call button. His voice, tired and mechanical, spilled out.


    ¡°Yes, this is Jung Bin, First Response Team Leader at the Awakener Management Bureau. What¡¯s your business?¡±


    ¡°Jung Bin.¡±


    A voice, strangely distorted. It was a little different from the one he remembered, but the way it addressed him was unmistakable. A chill ran up his spine


    .


    ¡°Can we talk for a moment? I¡¯ve got something to say.¡±


    The voice was polite, but with a hint of swagger. There was only one person he knew who spoke like that. As if to confirm, the voice followed up.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, it¡¯s J. Just in case you were confused.¡±

 Chapter 116

    J.


    Jung Bin adjusted his grip on the phone and looked around. None of his team members were paying attention yet, but if he acted strangely, it was obvious they''d notice immediately. He needed to remain as natural as possible.


    "...I see. Please wait a moment."


    He wiped his face with one hand before standing up, grabbing the suit jacket draped over his chair. The rustling sound was loud and conspicuous.


    "...."


    A few of his team members nced over at him with puzzled expressions. Jung Bin didn¡¯t offer an exnation but raised his index finger, pointing to the ceiling. Fatigue showed on their faces. Someone might have sighed.


    With the phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, Jung Bin scribbled a note on some scrap paper and held it up.


    ¡®Stepping out for a bit. Take a break.¡¯


    The team members nodded in acknowledgment. As soon as he left the office and opened the door to the emergency stairs, his pace quickened. His shoes ttered rapidly against the steps.


    He needed a ce without CCTV or anyone nearby who could overhear his conversation. Stopping on the stairs leading to the basement, Jung Bin took a deep breath.


    Ordinarily, he would have ignored this. He would¡¯ve assumed it was another impersonator. But¡­


    ¡®J is back.¡¯


    Did this person truly understand the weight of that statement?


    Jung Bin rubbed the back of his phone with his thumb before inhaling deeply and speaking.


    ¡°Sorry for the dy. You can speak now.¡±


    ¡°I guess you were with other people. You haven¡¯t clocked out yet?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight.¡±


    Hearing that distorted voice made something in Jung Bin''s chest churn. Was it tension? Anticipation? But could he even call this anticipation? It was closer to anxiety, really.


    Whether or not the person on the other end knew about these emotions, they continued speaking casually.


    ¡°Talking over the phone feels a bit insecure. I¡¯d prefer to meet in person. Are you avable now?¡±


    The person they had failed to track down, despite forming a whole search team, was now calling and suggesting a meeting? It was an unprecedented situation.


    ¡®And...¡¯


    Hong Yeseong¡¯s words shed in his mind.


    ¡°J said this: ¡®The dungeon reconfiguration happened because of me, but I don¡¯t know why yet. Until I figure it out, I¡¯ll only show up when absolutely necessary, like with the recent dungeon.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Only when absolutely necessary.¡± It was a vague statement. Jung Bin quickly ran through recent events in his mind. Was there an emergency as dire as the S+ grade dungeon? The Prometheus infiltration of the Awakener Bureau was serious, but not necessarily something J would intervene in. So why? Jung Bin hesitated to respond.


    ¡°....¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Are you really that busy? If so, I guess we¡¯ll have to forget about it.¡±


    The distorted voice sounded disappointed. Jung Bin quickly replied.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m avable. Where should I go?¡±


    ¡°Oh. I¡¯ll give you an address. Bute alone. Don¡¯t tell the director.¡±


    The voice, as if expecting this response, began reciting a street address. Jung Bin wrote it down mechanically while thinking.


    Prometheus had infiltrated deep into the Awakener Management Bureau. There was a chance this call could be a trap¡ªhe couldn¡¯t rule it outpletely. For thest eight years, ever since J vanished into the cracks, there had been countless people impersonating him. Most were trash not even worth dealing with, disappearing before they could cause much trouble.


    ¡®Still...¡¯


    Even the slightest possibility meant he had to go. It was his duty as the one left behind.


    The address he was given was for a yground. On his way there, Jung Bin tried calling the number back. No answer. When he looked it up, it turned out to be a public phone.


    "...."


    Parking his car in a nearby alley, Jung Bin walked slowly toward the yground. The night was eerily quiet, not even the sound of insects. His lips were dry. Finally, the yground came into view.


    A young man, wearing a ck mask and a in cap, was sitting casually at the base of a red slide. His posture was rxed, arms resting on his knees.


    He was wearing a thick jacket zipped up to his neck, ck sweatpants, and a pair of slippers that revealed a glimpse of his ankles. If it weren¡¯t for the mask, he could have easily passed as an ordinary person, his attire so casual.


    The streetlight flickered, illuminating the bugs buzzing around it. The air seemed still around the man, as if the very atmosphere had sunk in his presence. Noticing Jung Bin¡¯s approach, the man raised his head.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    The distorted voice let out a brief sound of admiration. He nodded slightly, as if in greeting.


    ¡°Long time no see. I hope you¡¯ve been well.¡±


    Jung Bin didn¡¯t respond. The tone was familiar, but he couldn¡¯t trust it so easily.


    Was this really him? How did he get his number? If it was him, why was he showing up now? Why had he stayed hidden for so long? Why hadn¡¯t he contacted them earlier? So many questions arose, yet none of them had answers.


    Fortunately, Jung Bin was skilled at masking his emotions and even better at extracting information.


    He sped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    This time, the young man didn¡¯t respond. Jung Bin tried to recall J¡¯s physique from memory. He should have a simr build, though this man seemed a bit smaller. It was hard to gauge his frame while sitting on the stic slide. The young man propped his chin up with one hand and muttered.


    ¡°How¡¯s your arm doing?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°You hurt your right arm, didn¡¯t you? Back when you were protecting the kids from the golem.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s eyes widened, though he quickly masked his reaction. The fact that his arm had been injured was widely known, especially on Channel 1. But the details of how it happened? Only someone who had been there would know. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough to be certain. There was a chance he had gotten this information from debriefings with Hong Yeseong.


    The young man let out a long sigh.


    ¡°Ugh, how does that guy manage to twist his words so much? It¡¯s exhausting.¡±


    Stretching with a grunt, the young man stood up. He shoved his hands into his pockets, standing with a slight slouch. His ck gaze swept over Jung Bin from head to toe, even lingering on the scar that peeked out from beneath his rolled-up sleeve. The young man shrugged.


    ¡°You¡¯ve be more suspicious.¡±


    ¡°I apologize. Given the situation, I have to be cautious.¡±


    Jung Bin lowered his head slightly. The young man wandered around in front of the slide, as if contemting something, before folding his arms.


    ¡°Shall we reminisce about that time we chatted on the outdoor staircase at HQ?¡±


    Hearing mention of a familiar location, Jung Bin finally exhaled the breath he¡¯d been holding. The tension in his shoulders eased. He rubbed his face with both hands and murmured.


    ¡°Ah¡­ you¡¯re really him.¡±


    ¡°Did you think I¡¯d be an imposter?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    Jung Bin rubbed his face for a while, trying to calm his emotions before looking up suddenly.


    J had said he would only appear when necessary. He had reached out to Jung Bin out of nowhere. Was something serious happening? He wouldn¡¯t have contacted him just to exchange pleasantries.


    Jung Bin hurriedly asked.


    ¡°Has something urgente up?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ that. Well, it¡¯s not exactly urgent.¡±


    The young man scratched the back of his neck.


    ---


    The boy everyone thought was dead is alive, miraculously.


    Even someone like Cha Uijae, who didn¡¯t believe in miracles, believed in one at the moment he held Lee Sayoung in his arms. In a dark, blood-soaked room, the two of them were the only ones breathing. The warmth of Sayoung pressing his head into Uijae¡¯s chest felt oddlyforting. If it were up to him, he could have held him like that forever.


    Sayoung was the only proof that Uijae¡¯s life hadn¡¯t been aplete failure. He was precious, so much so that no amount of good words could fully capture it.


    However.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Being precious didn¡¯t change the fact that¡­


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got a guild meeting. We¡¯ll talkter.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    munication was still an issue!


    They had reunited after eight years. Even between friends or family, eight years would give them a mountain of things to talk about, let alone Uijae and Sayoung.


    Uijae had a responsibility to learn everything¡ªwhat had happened to Sayoung during those eight years, how he got involved with Prometheus, and what kind of experiments he had endured. That was his duty as Sayoung¡¯s protector!


    But Sayoung, despite showing up at the soup restaurant every day, evaded any serious conversation like a slippery fish. He always had an excuse: guild meetings, dungeons, rifts, cleaning up guild members¡¯ mistakes, attending management meetings, and so on.


    One day, when Uijae tried to stop him from leaving, Sayoung even pretended to be exhausted and clung to him. Uijae briefly suspected he had fallen victim to Jung Bin¡¯s chains again but chose to indulge him for the moment.


    But there was a limit to everything.


    On the day it had been exactly a week of Sayoung¡¯s constant excuses, Uijae found himself crouched in front of the recycling bin, peelingbels off drink bottles, deep in thought.


    If things continued like this, Sayoung might never open up


    . Whoever he took after, he was annoyingly sensitive and stubborn.


    At the moment, Cha Uijae had only one card left to y: Minggijeok. But if he asked Minggijeok for information on Prometheus, Sayoung would likely catch on and block it.


    From his time as J, Uijae was all too familiar with being fed limited information. Of course, he knew how to deal with it. Would he have to settle for getting only small pieces of the puzzle forever? No.


    ¡®I need to find another informant.¡¯


    Uijae tossed the recycling bag aside, returned to the restaurant, and pulled out the *Hunter Basic Guide for New Hunters* that had only been opened a few times since it was gifted to him. He flipped to a page where a card was tucked like a bookmark.


    It read:


    **Jung Bin


    Team Leader of the First Response Unit


    Awakener Management Bureau**


    ---


    The flickering streetlight cast a dim glow. Two young men, standing in the ygroundte at night, were tense as they faced each other.


    Looking at Jung Bin¡¯s expression, a mix of confusion and nervousness, Cha Uijae finally spoke.


    ¡°Give me everything you have on Prometheus and Lee Sayoung.¡± He bluntly demanded ssified information.

 Chapter 117

    "Give me all the information you have on Prometheus and Lee Sayoung."


    Silence followed. In the crisp, early morning air, only the chirping of crickets filled the void. Jung Bin stared nkly at the ck mask in front of him.


    There were so many things he wanted to say to J, so many questions he had. How did he get out of there? When did he escape? Was he okay? If he had been alive, why hadn''t he contacted them sooner?


    Over the course of eight years, Jung Bin had carefully selected which words he would use, what he would ask, and what he would swallow back. He had spent the entire journey here pondering what kind of conversation they would have. But all that careful nning turned out to be pointless, because one request from J had left his mindpletely nk. Instead, a ridiculous sentence floated to the surface.


    ''How do you respond to a former colleague (who was thought to be dead) showing up after eight years and demanding ssified information?''


    Jung Bin, who had never thought about such a situation before, felt as though he had justposed a headline that would break the inte if posted on an anonymous forum. He felt like a robot answering questions. Instinctively, he looked up at the dark sky. The guilt and relief that had washed over him the moment he saw the mask had long since scattered like dust. What filled him now was only unease.@@novelbin@@


    He thought to himself:


    ''Didn¡¯t he say it wasn¡¯t a big deal?''


    Not a big deal? Hardly. This was a huge deal.


    The fact that J, who had been presumed dead, was back safely was something to be thankful for. He looked healthy, his limbs intact, and it was truly a relief. But the weight of the information hidden within those few short sentences was immense.


    ¡®Information on Prometheus and Lee Sayoung.¡¯


    Of course, only a top-ranked Hunter would have the skill to specifically demand top-secret information like that. How did J even know about Prometheus? And what kind of connection did he have to Lee Sayoung to be asking for information on him?


    ''Could he havee into contact with Prometheus?''


    No. Jung Bin immediately refuted his own thought. Prometheus was being hunted by multiple factions. They wouldn¡¯t have had the time or reason to contact J. More likely...


    ''It''s more usible that Lee Sayoung is involved...''


    The cryptic words of Gyu-Gyu echoed in his mind from a dark interrogation room.


    ¡°Dig deeper into Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°All the information gets cut off from him and the Wave Guild. That bastard feeds us false info and pisses people off.¡±


    Gyu-Gyu had definitely suspected Lee Sayoung. He was the one cutting off all the leads to J. And on the day J appeared in the rankings again, when Jung Bin met Lee Sayoung at the memorial site of the West Sea Rift... yes, something had been off.


    Lee Sayoung, without even bothering to hide his menacing aura, had said:


    "Everything thates out of the rift is... mine."


    And he had been smiling.


    "Get lost."


    His smile had been horrifyingly bright.


    Back then, he had absurdly imed ownership over J, who had emerged from the rift. But Lee Sayoung hadn¡¯t even awakened as an Awakener until long after J had entered the rift. There should have been no connection between them. So why...


    "Is this really such a difficult thing? Is it something to be agonized over?"


    The distorted voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. Jung Bin looked up quickly. J, standing with his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, tilted his head curiously. His tone was innocent.


    "Isn¡¯t it strange? Back in our day, there were no secrets between us, right?"


    Of course, you had ess to the highest security clearance. Jung Bin swallowed his words. It was true that J, with his clearance, had been able to ess everything, though most of what he looked into involved monsters, dungeons, and rifts. J muttered to himself.


    ¡°I do remember Hunter Song dodging some things... but anyway.¡±


    He shrugged.


    "It would be nice if you could just give me the documents. But if you''re worried about leaks, you could just tell me. I¡¯ll memorize it. Besides, you¡¯ve been busy, haven¡¯t you? I saw that earthquake safetymercial you did recently."


    His tone was casual, as if offering a favor. When did he even see thatmercial? Jung Bin covered his face with both hands, rubbing it roughly. He was usually good at concealing his emotions and extracting information, but maintainingposure in this situation was impossible.


    After a long moment, Jung Bin lifted his head. His face looked worn out, but his voice moved mechanically.


    ¡°I rmend looking up information on Lee Sayoung online, J. The wiki has a well-organized summary.¡±


    J replied in a t tone.


    "Who said I was asking for his personal details? I¡¯m asking because I need to know something else. Why are you dodging when I already know the basics?"


    ¡°That would be a vition of privacyws.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for his ID and password.¡±


    ¡°What you¡¯re asking for is still not allowed, J.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s put Lee Sayoung aside for a moment. Prometheus doesn¡¯t fall under thatw, does it?¡±


    ¡°Prometheus is top secret, J. I need authorization from the director to discuss it.¡±


    There was a sharp gleam behind the ck mask. But Jung Bin¡¯s stance remained firm. He didn¡¯t know why J was asking about this, but both topics were ssified. And besides¡­


    ''There must be a reason he¡¯s kept himself hidden all this time.''


    J was the only one to emerge alive from a rift that had swallowed countless Hunters. As both the former and current strongest Hunter, if J officially reappeared, all eyes would inevitably turn toward him¡ªwhether those eyes carried admiration or malice.


    He didn¡¯t want J exposed to that.


    "...."


    Maybe it was selfish of him. Maybe this was something he should have done earlier. But Jung Bin wanted to protect him. He wasn¡¯t as powerless as he had been before. This was his way of caring.


    However.


    A long sigh broke the silence. J had bowed his head, one hand resting on the forehead of his mask. His voice came out somber.


    "I really didn¡¯t want to do this¡­"


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    "...but I guess I have no choice."


    It was a foreboding statement. Suddenly, J¡¯s slippered foot hit the ground with a thud. His posture and demeanor shifted. Jung Bin eyed him with growing unease. J, now standing with a slouched stance like some sort of thug, shouted:


    "You won¡¯t even tell a hero who saved the country!"


    It was a trap!


    Jung Bin''s jaw dropped. He couldn''t believe his ears. Wasn¡¯t this the same person who used to wave off being called a hero? Yet here he was, shamelessly wielding his former authority. Even though eight years had passed, Jung Bin never could have predicted this situation. He stammered.


    ¡°What, what did you say?¡±


    "Do you know how many monsters I¡¯ve killed and how many rifts I¡¯ve closed?"


    ¡°Wait, J!¡±


    "I¡¯ve cleared so many dungeons, and yet¡ª"


    "Please, calm down!"


    "I¡¯m not even asking you to summarize everything that happened over the past eight years! I¡¯m only asking for two things! And you can¡¯t even tell me that, when we wererades!"


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I apologize! Please calm down!¡±


    Thankfully, J¡¯s outburst ended with himining about the days when he¡¯d had to rush from dungeon to rift, without a moment¡¯s rest, using monster carcasses as pillows.


    After enduring this tirade, Jung Bin staggered over to a nearby bench and slumped down. J, too, wobbled over to the bottom of the slide and copsed, head down. Silence filled the air once again. Even the crickets had gone quiet. Eight years was apparently long enough to turn a young man into a grumpy old man, Jung Bin thought briefly.


    When a war full of defeats finally ends¡­


    "...."


    "...."


    Neither of them spoke for a long time. It was more urate to say that neither dared to break the silence. Jung Bin nced sideways at J, who was still shifting restlessly.


    After a while, Jung Bin, hunched over with his face in his hands, mumbled weakly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    "...."


    ¡°But before I do¡­ may I say something?¡±


    "...Yes."


    J¡¯s answer was just as weak. Jung Bin sighed, wiping his mouth with his hand before speaking.


    ¡°J, if you officially return to action, all eyes will be on you. Frankly, I... I hope you don¡¯t reveal yourself. I¡¯m speaking to you as Jung Bin, not as the team leader of the Awakener Management Bureau.¡±


    "...."


    ¡°People can be cruel. Back then¡­¡±


    As he watched J, battered and blood-soaked, stumbling through the halls of the Bureau, Jung Bin had wondered what people were thinking. They ignored his weary figure, pretending not to see the boy who, even with a mask on, couldn¡¯t hide his youthful vulnerability. They had to, in order to survive.


    Jung Bin muttered softly.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you experienced enough of that?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Jung Bin looked up sharply. J was resting his chin on his hand, gazing back at him. After a long pause, J spoke with certainty.


    ¡°I already made my decision about that a long time ago.¡±

 Chapter 118

    But then J added with an awkward tone.


    "I know I said that confidently, but¡­ I was really confused. A lot."


    He tapped the side of his mask with his fingers before speaking slowly.


    "I''m the only survivor of the West Sea Rift."


    "...Everyone else died?"


    "That''s right. Honestly, I didn¡¯t get out of the rift that long ago."


    "...."


    "When I came out, several years had already passed."


    As Jung Bin listened quietly, his expression shifted. A cold chill ran down his spine as he looked up, his face pale.


    "Wait, wait¡­ Are you telling me you spent *years* inside the West Sea Rift?"


    Eight years had passed since J entered the West Sea Rift. If J had only just escaped, that meant... they were trapped in the rift with no way out for all that time. And if J was the only one to make it out...


    ''That¡¯s too cruel.''


    Cold sweat began to form. Jung Bin tried to keep hisposure and find the right words, but he struggled. Meanwhile, J remained indifferent as he responded.


    "Ah, that''s the thing¡ªI¡¯m not sure."


    He tilted his head slightly as he muttered.


    "Did I actually spend eight years in the rift, or did time flow differently there, and I just ended up here? My memory isn''t very clear."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "My memory isn¡¯tplete. Some parts feel cut off, like they''re blurry or missing."


    "...."


    Was it possible that extreme stress had caused issues with his memory? It was certainly usible. After all, some first-generation Awakeners had experienced memory problems and were now in recovery. Still, it wasn¡¯t something he could easily conclude. Jung Bin pondered for a moment before speaking.


    "...So far, there have been no reports of time flowing differently between a rift and reality."


    "The West Sea Rift might be the first case. That rift was¡­ strange."


    "...."


    "Anyway."


    J stretched his arms, as if shaking off the weight of his words. His tone was almost conversational.


    "I came out of the rift, only to find out eight years had passed, I was dered dead, and everything had changed. The world I knew wasn¡¯t like this."


    "...."


    "It was peaceful without me. Maybe it was peaceful *because* I wasn¡¯t around. It felt like if I showed up again, all of that peace would disappear."


    His words, though spoken casually, carried a weight heavier than anything else. Jung Bin didn¡¯t dare interrupt, silently listening as J continued.


    "There was no ce for me here."


    J, who Jung Bin had watched for a long time, was someone who had always wanted peace. He believed that if he sacrificed himself, the chaos would eventually settle, and the world would find stability.


    But the peace he longed for came in a world where he didn¡¯t exist. And now, the person who had wanted that peace the most was hiding, afraid of disrupting it. It was an ironic situation. J shrugged his shoulders.


    "Back then, I was scared to step in front of people. And honestly¡­ I felt guilty for surviving when no one else did. And, to be frank, I wasn¡¯t in my right mind. So I figured I¡¯d just try living quietly, as some people had suggested. That was the conclusion I reached after struggling for a while."


    "...."


    "...It didn¡¯t work out that way, though."


    Was he talking about the day his name reappeared in the rankings? There weren¡¯t many people whose mere name could turn the country upside down. Jung Bin smirked bitterly as J continued lightly.


    "But I became certain of something in that dungeon."


    "Dungeon?"


    "The one where you broke your arm."


    J motioned towards Jung Bin¡¯s right arm with his chin. Unconsciously, Jung Bin rubbed the scar on his arm. The dungeon had suddenly increased in rank, and while Jung Bin had lost consciousness, J had appeared, destroyed the golem, and disappeared. Jung Bin still didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened. Carefully, he asked.


    "I heard a general exnation from Hong Yeseong, but it was vague. Can you tell me what really happened?"


    "Eh? Nothing much, really."


    J tapped his mask again as he spoke.


    "I had business in the erosion dungeon, but the rank suddenly increased. And then the dungeon boss showed up, so I took care of it. That¡¯s all."


    Once again, J had packed a significant amount of information into a casual sentence. Jung Bin rubbed his temple, struggling to digest the overload.


    "Where did you even hear about erosion dungeons? That¡¯s ssified information, restricted to only a select few even among the top-ranked Hunters. How¡­?"


    J awkwardly turned his head and mumbled.


    "...Things happened."


    "Are you sure you¡¯ve really been trying to live quietly? It seems like you know more than some of my direct subordinates¡­."


    "I told you, I really tried."


    "Sigh¡­."@@novelbin@@


    Jung Bin let out a deep sigh and ran his hands through his hair.


    "...So, what exactly did you be certain about?"


    "...It¡¯s not that big of a deal."


    J slowly got up from the slide with a grunt. The flickering streetlight shone brightly for a moment. With his hands in his jacket pockets, he bent forward slightly. Both his posture and his distorted voice carried a yful tone.


    "I realized I still like saving people."


    "...."


    "Killing monsters, closing rifts, clearing dungeons¡ªthey¡¯re all fine. But what I enjoy most is saving people with my own hands."


    Jung Bin slightly parted his lips, unsure of what to say, so he just watched the man standing before him.


    In reality, expecting someone like J to live quietly might have been unreasonable. Both then and now, he had a maic pull that drew people''s attention. He was someone who shone so brightly that no one could ignore him.


    "I kept failing, failed in the rift too, and I might keep failing in the future. But¡­ I¡¯ve had at least one sess."


    "...."


    "So I¡¯m going to keep going. I took a break, so I think I can do better now."


    There are things that can¡¯t be done by sheer determination alone. In the past, Jung Bin had seen J as someone always teetering on the edge of a cliff, barely holding on. The world seemed to be constantly pushing him closer to the precipice. And Jung Bin had been one of the people pushing him there. Those days were filled with struggles.


    But now...


    "And¡­"


    The person standing before him, after eight long years¡­


    "There¡¯s someone waiting for me."


    ...was brighter than ever.


    "They waited for me for eight years. Don¡¯t you think I should take responsibility for that?"


    "...."


    The young man who had once wobbled on the edge of a cliff was gone. Over the past eight years, much had changed, both for J and for Jung Bin. The time they hadn¡¯t shared had altered many things. But there was something that hadn¡¯t changed.


    Jung Bin still wanted to help J.


    Back then, and even now.


    "...I suppose I spoke unnecessarily."


    "It wasn¡¯t unnecessary¡­ You were worried, weren¡¯t you?"


    "I was worried, yes. But I see now that I didn¡¯t need to be."


    Finally, Jung Bin¡¯s gentle smile returned. He pulled down the sleeves he had rolled up, hiding the scar on his arm. After fastening the cuff buttons neatly, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, taking out a leather notebook and a pen. Both items bore the Awakener Bureau''s emblem.


    Clicking the pen, Jung Bin looked at J.


    "You asked for information on Prometheus and Lee Sayoung. What exactly do you want to know?"


    "Everything."


    "Excuse me?"


    Jung Bin looked at J with a puzzled expression. J crossed his arms.


    "I know that Lee Sayoung was a test subject for Prometheus. I just need whatever information can fill in the gaps. And I heard you were the one who first rescued him, right? I¡¯d like to know what happened back then too."


    "How¡­ how do you know that?"


    "Things happened."


    "If it weren¡¯t you asking, I would have detained you immediately to find out your source of information. Honestly¡­."


    Jung Bin hesitated, carefully choosing his words.


    "...You really do have all the critical details."


    "I¡¯ll take that as apliment."


    J watched as Jung Bin began jotting notes into his notebook. When Jung Bin had filled about half a page, J suddenly spoke up.


    "Well, I won¡¯t just ask for a favor without offering something in return. I have information to share too."


    "What? What kind of information?"


    "Details about the erosion dungeon where you injured your arm, as well as features from other erosion dungeons. Things like the monsters that appear there, the sky filled with white ash, and the crumbling buildings."


    "Ah, yes."


    "The thing is, those features were surprisingly simr to what I saw inside the West Sea Rift."


    "...What?"


    J¡¯s words were one surprise after another. Jung Bin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. J continued, unfazed.


    "That¡¯s why I went. I wondered if the erosion dungeons and the West Sea Rift might be connected. But I couldn¡¯t investigate properly because the dungeon rank suddenly changed."


    "Wait! Is that really true?"


    "It¡¯s just a theory, but I think we¡¯ll know if we investigate properly."


    J tilted his head slightly.


    "If they are connected¡­ then we might be able to recover the bodies buried in there."

 Chapter 121

    Jung Bin studied the boy''s face. Behind the fierce expression, there was a clear sense of wariness.


    ¡®It¡¯s best to ease his suspicions first.¡¯


    He would have to stay with the boy until his powers stabilized, so building trust quickly was essential. Jung Bin took out aptop from his inventory and spoke calmly.


    ¡°Let me first exin the situation. I¡¯m Hunter Jung Bin, from the Awakener Management Bureau. We received information about a facility conducting experiments on kidnapped people, and when we arrived, you were the only survivor. I brought you here to safety.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°There are many things I¡¯d like to tell you, and many questions I¡¯d like to ask¡­.¡±


    Jung Bin cautiously asked a question.


    ¡°First, can I ask you one thing? Did you happen to see a white, rectangr window?¡±


    The boy, who had been silent, slowly nodded. Seeing the system window meant that the boy had been chosen by the system as an Awakener. It was expected.


    ¡°You¡¯ve Awakened. Do you remember when you first saw it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Not long ago.¡±


    It was a vague response. Jung Bin tapped hisptop lightly and made eye contact with the boy. The wariness in the boy¡¯s eyes had not diminished.


    From the slightly ajar door, the sound of rhythmic chopping could be heard. Baewonwoo was busy splitting firewood he had found somewhere with his bare hands. As Jung Bin carefully chose his next words, the boy spoke first.


    ¡°¡­You said you¡¯re from the Bureau.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. If you¡¯re unfamiliar with the Awakener Management Bureau, I can exin¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    The boy red at Jung Bin and asked again.


    ¡°So, what about the Rift?¡±


    It seemed he wouldn¡¯t move forward unless his question was answered first. Jung Bin opened hisptop and asked.


    ¡°Which Rift are you referring to? If you can provide a location, it will be easier to find.¡±


    The boy¡¯s tense shoulders rxed slightly. He nced at Jung Bin before replying curtly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Jung Bin blinked in surprise. The boy continued in an indifferent tone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The location.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ do you have any other details? Like when it was created? Even a rough time frame would help.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Despite his clumsy way of speaking, the boy¡¯s uncertainty was clear. His violet eyes drifted toward Jung Bin¡¯sptop, which bore the Bureau¡¯s logo on the back. He tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°It could be a dungeon¡­ maybe.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway, they said it would take a long time.¡±


    ¡°A Rift or dungeon that takes a long time¡­.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t the best lead. The term ¡°long time¡± wasn¡¯t exactly specific. Jung Bin rubbed his chin with his thumb. The boy turned his head away.


    ¡°That¡¯s all I know.¡±


    ¡°I see. I¡¯ll look into it, but¡­.¡±


    With the added information, the number of possibilities had increased as well. It seemed they would have to search all Rifts and dungeons. Jung Bin resigned himself to the task and began scrolling through the list of Rifts and dungeons in his database, ordered by date. The boy, who had been watching him out of the corner of his eye, muttered suddenly.


    ¡°¡­Never mind. Asking like this¡­.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re definitely with the Bureau, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°J. Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    At the mention of J¡¯s name again, Jung Bin looked up.


    Did this boy have some connection to J? Or perhaps he admired him and used him as a model? After all, J was a national hero. The boy, still looking suspicious, sat up with his knees pulled to his chest, resting his chin on them as he stared at Jung Bin.


    His dry lips parted slightly.


    ¡°They said J¡­ died.¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s hands froze.


    J¡¯s death. It was a story the public hade to ept, but clearly, it wasn¡¯t so obvious to the boy.


    It had taken about three months for J¡¯s death to be officially confirmed. If he could get the boy to talk more, Jung Bin might be able to estimate when the boy had been kidnapped. He was about to ask another question when the boy blinked. His pale lips trembled as he bit down on them, and then his eyes shut. For a brief moment, an emotion flickered across his usually expressionless face. With his eyes tightly closed, his voice trembled as he asked.


    ¡°How long has it been?¡±


    The emotion in his voice was unmistakable,


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    An immeasurable depth of¡­.


    Despair.


    Jung Bin couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak, his mouth mped shut. What could have driven this young boy to such despair? But before he could gather his thoughts, the boy swayed as he got to his feet. rmed, Jung Bin quickly stood up, putting hisptop aside, and reached out to grab the boy¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Get away from me!¡±


    Wham! The boy violently shook off Jung Bin¡¯s hand, kicked open the door, and dashed out barefoot. In the yard, Baewonwoo, who had been stacking firewood, pulled out his wireless earphones and yelled in confusion.


    ¡°Hey, hey! Where are you going without shoes? I left slippers out for you!¡±


    Of course, no answer came. The boy disappeared into the brush and trees before anyone could stop him. Should he chase after him? No, if the captain had wanted him to, he would have shouted for it. Baewonwoo grumbled as he continued stacking firewood.


    Thud!


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    There was a loud, resounding thud. Baewonwoo spun around in surprise and gasped.


    There stood Jung Bin, his face smacked right into the top of the doorframe. A crack had formed along the thick wooden beam where his head had struck it.


    Only the lower part of his usually calm face was visible, lips tightly pressed together in a grim expression. The ceiling was too low for someone as tall as Jung Bin, and it had resulted in this unfortunate ident.


    Baewonwoo stammered.


    ¡°W-what the¡­ Captain, what happened?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you, uh¡­ interrogate the kid or something?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. I just¡­.¡±


    Jung Bin leaned against the doorframe and bumped his forehead lightly.


    ¡°No¡­ never mind. I guess I just wasn¡¯t good enough¡­.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Seeing his usuallyposed captain muttering to himself, Baewonwoo didn¡¯t know how to react. He stood awkwardly, waiting for orders. After a deep breath, Jung Bin suddenly looked up.


    ¡°¡­Hunter Baewonwoo, do you have siblings?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Well, yeah, I¡¯ve got a younger brother.¡±


    That was a reassuring answer. Surely, someone with a sibling could handle a difficult kid better than an only child. Jung Bin pointed toward the forest where the boy had disappeared.


    ¡°Could you go after the target? Don¡¯t force him back¡ªjust make sure he¡¯s safe and stay close.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I guess that¡¯s fine¡­.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve got something I need to look into.¡±


    Jung Bin spoke in a low voice before stumbling back inside. The door clicked shut. Left with the sudden responsibility, Baewonwoo sighed and headed toward the mountain.


    In the dim early morning light, with mist hanging in the air, Baewonwoo trudged through the tall grass, holding a pair of green rubber slippers in his hand.


    It was a secluded mountain with no clear trails or signs of human passage. There had to be some trace of the boy somewhere. But Baewonwoo wasn¡¯t exactly skilled at tracking, and dragging this out too long might lead to other dangers.


    ¡°Well, no choice¡­.¡±


    It was part of the job, after all. He cupped his hands around his mouth and took a deep breath. Then, he shouted loudly.


    ¡°Hey! Where are you?!¡±


    The shout echoed through the dense trees, startling a few birds into taking flight. But there was no response. Baewonwoo called out again.


    ¡°Hey! The forest is dangerous! I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re an Awakener!¡±


    Just as the echo began to fade, Baewonwoo prepared to shout again, but a voice full of annoyance spoke up from behind him.


    ¡°Stop it. You¡¯re too loud.¡±


    Baewonwoo whipped around to find the boy sitting on a thick tree branch. How he¡¯d climbed up there was anyone¡¯s guess. Baewonwoo scratched his head.


    ¡°Well, d you¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯d you run off without shoes? I left slippers out for you.¡±


    The boy turned his head away, clearly not interested in listening. Baewonwoo, however, continued speaking cheerfully.


    ¡°We¡¯re not bad people. We¡¯re Hunters from the Awakener Management Bureau. We came here to help you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy ignored him, swinging his legszily. Despite running through the forest barefoot, his pale feet remained oddly clean. Jung Bin had told Baewonwoo to just stay close to the boy, but¡­.


    ¡®At some point, we¡¯ve got to bring him back to base camp.¡¯@@novelbin@@


    He understood the captain¡¯s unspoken orders. They had to get the boy back, but without pushing him too hard.


    How could he convince the boy to return with him? Baewonwoo pondered for a moment, then an idea struck him. He, too, had heard what the boy had muttered back in the ruins¡ªJ.


    ¡®Even though J is gone, no one really dislikes Hunters these days.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯ve only Awakened recently, right? You¡¯re probably not used to controlling your powers, and you might not fully understand the system window either. But me and the captain


    can help you with that.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re pretty strong, aren¡¯t you? You could be a Hunter like me or the captain.¡±


    ¡°¡­A Hunter?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a Hunter.¡±


    The boy stared down at Baewonwoo, seemingly interested. Good, it looked like he¡¯d taken the bait.


    After a brief silence, the boy slowly opened his mouth.


    ¡°If I be a Hunter.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°If I go into a Rift¡­.¡±


    The boy paused, then tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Can I find the people who went in before me?¡±

 Chapter 122

    ¡°The person who went in before? Someone you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The boy nodded, his lips trembling slightly before he spoke slowly and carefully, enunciating each word.


    ¡°I need to find them. Even if it¡¯s just their body.¡±


    ¡°Oh no¡­. Are you sure it was a Rift? If it¡¯s a Rift, there shouldn¡¯t be any bodies left behind.¡±


    ¡°It could¡¯ve been a dungeon.¡±


    ¡°This is tricky¡­.¡±


    ¡°They said it would take a long time. Is there anything else you know?¡±


    Baewonwoo rubbed the back of his neck, a little flustered. Still, this was an opportunity. If he asked the right questions, he might find a clue about the boy¡¯s connections. So, he cautiously asked.


    ¡°Was it a civilian caught in the Rift? Or a Hunter you knew?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy fell silent. Baewonwoo pursed his lips and gave a frustrated look.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not asking for my own sake. I¡¯m asking to help you, you know.¡±


    ¡°¡­A Hunter.¡±


    ¡°A Hunter? There¡¯s no way a Hunter wouldn¡¯te back from a Rift¡­ unless¡­ no, wait.¡±


    When a Rift copses, everyone inside gets ejected at the entrance¡ªbodies included. Hunters often joked that Rifts spit out anything foreign. It was a rule that had held since the day Rifts first appeared, and no one had doubted it. It was part of the system¡¯sws.


    But there was one exception.


    ¡°The West Sea Rift.¡±


    The West Sea Rift was different. Everything about it. Normally, a Rift¡¯s entrance remains open until its master is killed, but in the case of the West Sea Rift, the entrance vanished shortly after J and the Hunters entered, as if it had been waiting for that moment.


    When the entrance disappeared, the chaotic energy threatening to swallow the West Sea receded and eventually vanishedpletely, leaving behind a massive void in the ocean. None of the people who had entered the Rift were expelled¡ªnot even their bodies.


    Rescue teams were deployed by ship and helicopter, but they were met with disappointment. Someone had said it:


    ¡®Itpletely defied the system¡¯sws.¡¯


    The boy, resting his chin on his knees, asked quietly.


    ¡°The West Sea Rift?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah. A Rift that appeared over the West Sea about a year ago. It¡¯s gone now, though.¡±


    ¡°Who went in there?¡±


    ¡°Who? Hunters, I guess? I don¡¯t know all of them. They entered in three separate teams, but one person I¡¯m sure about¡ªJ. Our country¡¯s hero.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy¡¯s eyes darkened, though Baewonwoo didn¡¯t notice. He was too busy trying to recall details.


    ¡°But that Rift¡­ it copsed.¡±


    The boy suddenly asked urgently.


    ¡°Is there any way to enter a copsed Rift?¡±


    ¡°What? Well¡­¡±


    The West Sea Rift had broken all the rules. When it copsed, no exit was observed, and there were no signs of the changes that usually ur when the Rift¡¯s master is defeated. It simply ceased to exist.


    ¡®That¡¯s why there was so much debate about whether the people inside were alive or dead¡­.¡¯


    There had been arguments for months¡ªshould they send rescue teams or not? Were the Hunters inside still alive, or had they died long ago? It wasn¡¯t until two months after the Rift¡¯s copse that they officially dered J and the others dead. Baewonwoo scratched his head, frowning. Entering a copsed Rift was impossible¡ªthat¡¯s what ¡°copsed¡± meant.


    But if the West Sea Rift had truly defied the system¡¯sws, could it be different?


    Of course, that was just spection. Saying too much might give the boy false hope. But before he could think it through, the boy pressed him again.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there really no way?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ normally, no.¡±


    Sometimes, a small lie was necessary to keep someone going.


    Baewonwoo looked at the boy with a sympathetic gaze. The boy had a much more handsome face than his younger brother, but he also had a worse attitude. Still, they were about the same age, and thinking of his brother softened Baewonwoo¡¯s heart. Hesitantly, he spoke.


    ¡°¡­The West Sea Rift did have some strange aspects.¡±


    ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, do you know the difference between a dungeon and a Rift?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Let me exin. It¡¯s basic knowledge for Hunters, so it¡¯ll help youter.¡±


    Baewonwoo picked up a sturdy branch and found a patch of ground where the grass wasn¡¯t too thick. He gestured for the boy toe down, and the boy silently leapt from the tree, approaching him. Baewonwoo quickly pulled up some weeds and drew two circles on the dirt,beling one ¡°Dungeon¡± and the other ¡°Rift.¡±


    ¡°Dungeons and Rifts both appear out of nowhere, and inside, you¡¯ll find strange ecosystems, worlds, and monsters. But there¡¯s a big difference. A dungeon can be left alone, but a Rift has to be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°If left unchecked, a Rift destroys everything around it. Hmm¡­ how can I exin this simply? Oh, right.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Baewonwoo drew a small triangr house next to the first circle.


    ¡°A dungeon is like a house. The monsters live peacefully inside, but over time, their numbers grow. When the house bes overcrowded, they can¡¯t stand it anymore, and they burst out. That¡¯s what we call a dungeon break.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Hunters step in before the house bursts. They¡¯re like janitors, cleaning up before things get out of hand. But some houses have treasure fountains, constantly overflowing with precious gems that keep refilling. In those cases, we take some of the treasure and keep the house around for a long time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s stealing.¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s justpensation for our hard work.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The boy gave him a look of disbelief. Baewonwoo continued confidently, drawing lines outside the house to show an explosion.


    ¡°But some houses don¡¯t have treasure. Instead, they have something like a giant cockroach inside. Those houses? We get rid of them.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, a Rift is different. It¡¯s not a house¡ªit¡¯s more like a hole.¡±


    ¡°A hole?¡±


    The boy frowned, and Baewonwoo used the stick to draw arge circle, shading it in with diagonal lines.


    ¡°Yeah, not a real entrance. More like a crack in the wall. Some people say it¡¯s a tear into another world, but I don¡¯t know anything about that kind of stuff.¡±


    The boy¡¯s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but Baewonwoo ignored it and continued.


    ¡°If it were just a simple hole, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But it¡¯s more like a vacuum, sucking everything in around it. Some Rifts, like Gates, constantly spew out monsters, but that¡¯s another story. Right now, we¡¯re talking about vacuum-like Rifts.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°If we leave it alone, everything around it turns into a wastnd. So, we aim to destroy the Rift as quickly as possible to minimize damage. There¡¯s nothing to gain from a Rift.¡±


    ¡°How do you destroy it?¡±


    ¡°To destroy a Rift, you have to kill its master and shatter the Rift Core. Once the core is destroyed, everyone inside gets expelled¡ªeven the dead bodies. That¡¯s why I said it¡¯s impossible for someone not toe out.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­.¡±


    Baewonwoo drew arge circle andbeled it ¡°West Sea.¡± Next to it, he wrote a question mark.


    ¡°The West Sea Rift was strange. As soon as J entered, the entrance disappeared, and then the entire Rift copsed not long after. Completely out of the blue. No one inside was expelled¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why people said it defied the system¡¯sws. It was something entirely different. From the very start, it was abnormal. No other Rift had ever grown so rapidly while sucking in everything around it.¡±


    The boy stared at the rough sketch in the dirt, his fingers twitching slightly. After a moment, he slowly spoke.


    ¡°What if¡­ it didn¡¯t copsepletely?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You said it defied the system¡¯sws. That Rift.¡±


    The boy¡¯s speech was bing clearer. In the faint early morning light, with mist hanging in the air and dew settling on the grass, there was a strange intensity in the boy¡¯s violet eyes. Some emotion, difficult to define, flickered across his face. He stepped forward, standing over the dirt drawing. His lips moved slightly.


    ¡°I could meet the system myself and find out.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Would the system really leave something that broke its own rules¡­ untouched?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    A small smile began to form on his face. The boy snatched the branch from Baewonwoo¡¯s hand and jabbed it into the circle. The sound of insects went silent.


    ¡°It must have swept it away because it was a nuisance.¡±


    ¡°The system could¡¯ve destroyed it, right?¡±


    ¡°No¡­.¡±


    The boy looked up at the sky. Dawn was breaking, and the horizon was slowly turning orange. In the middle of the sky, a ck void seemed to ripple. The boy murmured.


    ¡°If the system wanted to destroy it, it would¡¯ve done so the moment it first appeared.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still out there, somewhere. We just can¡¯t see it¡­.¡±


    It sounded insane, even to Baewonwoo. But the boy¡­.


    ¡°I just feel like that¡¯s the truth.¡±


    Finally, the boy turned his head and looked at Baewonwoo. His violet eyes, framed by longshes, narrowed slightly.


    ¡°Help me.¡±


    Then, without waiting for a response, he spun around and started walking. Baewonwoo hurriedly followed.


    ¡°Well, yeah, sure, I can help. But help


    you with what?¡±


    ¡°With a lot of things.¡±


    ¡°What exactly are you nning to do?¡±


    The boy stopped.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make a map for the lost.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re a bit slow on the uptake¡­.¡±


    The boy¡¯s feet began moving again. His voice, filled with that strange intensity, drifted ahead of Baewonwoo.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find the West Sea Rift and reopen it.¡±


    ¡°What? But¡­.¡±


    Even if, by some miracle, the West Sea Rift hadn¡¯tpletely copsed, would anyone inside still be alive? What if they managed to reopen it only to find corpses? Or worse, nothing at all? Baewonwoo hesitated, but before he could voice his concerns, the boy cut him off.


    ¡°They¡¯re not dead.¡±


    The sky was turning a deep crimson. Somewhere, a breeze stirred. The boy¡¯s long hair, now reaching his neck, fluttered slightly, carrying a faint, sweet scent.


    ¡°They can¡¯t be dead.¡±


    The boy muttered the words through clenched teeth.


    ¡°They promised.¡±

 Chapter 123

    After finishing his long exnation, Jung Bin cleared his throat with a deliberate sound. His calm gaze briefly flicked to the ground beneath Uijae¡¯s feet before falling away. Under the flickering streetlight, the swaying shadows came to a halt. Jung Bin looked at him with concern and asked,


    ¡°¡­By the way, J, I haven¡¯t pressed the issue since you haven¡¯t mentioned it, but¡­ are you really okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine,¡± Uijae replied casually.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of the situation, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    Uijae shrugged indifferently, but then suddenly asked with a yful tone,


    ¡°By the way, do you happen to know what happened to my assets? Were they seized by the government?¡±


    Back in the days when he was living as J, most of his financial matters were handled by his aunt. It was necessary to avoid revealing his identity. He had never felt theck of money nor had much need to spend it, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it.


    Even now, he didn¡¯t really need money, but after eight years, curiosity got the better of him.


    Unexpectedly, Jung Bin gave an answer that Uijae had never anticipated.


    ¡°Oh, no. The Director is holding onto it. It¡¯s an unprecedented situation, but¡­ yes, it seems the Director took care of it somehow.¡±


    Jung Bin hesitated, then cautiously added another piece of information.


    ¡°And the house Hunter Park Hye-gyeong lived in¡­ the Director purchased it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    It had been so long since he heard his aunt¡¯s name from someone else¡¯s lips. A name that had once been so familiar andforting now felt oddly distant, and Uijae didn¡¯t like it. He quickly changed the subject.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to talking about Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, of course.¡±


    Jung Bin, who had been hesitating, rubbed his fingertips together before speaking again.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to believe, really. Reopening a copsed Rift sounds absurd. But, considering Lee Sayoung¡¯s actions since then, he was probably serious about it.¡±


    ¡°His actions?¡±


    ¡°How should I put this¡­.¡±


    After a pause, Jung Bin sighed lightly.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d say he was like a bulldozer.¡±


    A bulldozer. It wasn¡¯t a word that suited the usuallyid-back andnguid Lee Sayoung at all. Uijae tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Was it really that intense?¡±


    ¡°Well, after Lee Sayoung appeared, the wholendscape here changed. If you were the one to suppress the chaos, J¡­ then Lee Sayoung was the one who took what was stable and made it progress. After his appearance, the power that had been concentrated in the Awakener Management Bureau began to shift toward the guilds.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Afterpleting his ability control training in the abandoned house, Lee Sayoung returned to headquarters for a rank evaluation. Naturally, he was ssified as an undisputed S-rank.¡±


    In the chaotic period following J¡¯s disappearance, Lee Sayoung had emerged as the third S-rank Hunter. Though the fact that he came from a research facility was hidden, his striking appearance and dangerous abilities naturally drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    And rather than being burdened by it, Lee Sayoung epted all the attention and admiration without hesitation. In fact, he wielded it skillfully.


    ¡°He openly revealed both his name and face.¡±


    Lee Sayoung.


    People were captivated by the new S-rank Hunter who showed both his name and face. Despite his reckless behavior, no one dared to criticize him, as he effectively filled the void left by J.


    ¡°You may not know this, but at the time, Hunter Song Jo-heon had left the Awakener Management Bureau to establish the nation¡¯s first official guild, Samra Guild. Both Song Jo-heon and the Bureau, which was suffering from a manpower shortage, tried to recruit Lee Sayoung, but¡­¡±


    Jung Bin gave an awkward smile.


    ¡°He ignored all of them.¡±


    It seemed like there was an unspoken pletely¡± in front of ¡°ignored,¡± but both Jung Bin and Uijae chose to let it slide.


    Uijae pictured Lee Sayoung¡¯s shamelessly pretty face. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he would do something like that. Even just from what Jung Bin had told him about the past, Lee Sayoung had never been particrly well-mannered.


    ¡®¡­No, wait.¡¯


    He recalled the boy who always tried his best to assert himself, even when he was bandaged and barely able to move, with Lee Sayoung by his side, always smirking.


    Sure, Lee Sayoung was assertive, but he wasn¡¯tpletely rude¡­ was he? After all, the kid had tried his best¡­.


    ¡®Oh, no.¡¯


    Suddenly, Uijae realized something. From the moment they first met until now, Lee Sayoung had consistently been cheeky, unpredictable, and had a natural talent for annoying people. The once obedient and strong-willed boy and the rebellious Lee Sayoung were shing within him.


    ¡®This is crazy.¡¯


    Behind his mask, Uijae¡¯s face paled. It was as shocking as nting beans and ending up with a vine. Could it be that because he wasn¡¯t around during the boy¡¯s formative years, he had grown up this rude? As Uijae reeled from the sudden realization about the importance of proper upbringing, Jung Bin continued to ry the information dutifully.


    ¡°¡­Afterward, Lee Sayoung handled all sorts of dungeons and Rifts on his own, and once he had saved up enough funds, he founded Wave Guild. That¡¯s when he scouted Hunter Baewonwoo. At the time, I also received an offer, but¡­¡±


    Jung Bin trailed off. Uijae, having finally regained hisposure, responded.


    ¡°You must have turned it down. You¡¯re still with the Bureau, after all.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I don¡¯t mean to overestimate myself, but¡­ there needs to be someone strong within the Awakener Management Bureau to maintain bnce.¡±


    Jung Bin rubbed his lips thoughtfully.


    ¡°Anyway, Wave Guild expanded its influence rapidly. Although it had only a few Hunters, they operated arge research team and made massive investments.¡±


    ¡°How massive?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a joke that they spent all the money they earned from clearing dungeons and Rifts on research and ended up with nothing left. Since survival had been the priority before that, no serious research had been conducted.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    Back then, simply staying alive was a struggle. The world was overrun with dungeons and Rifts that appeared without any discernible pattern, spewing out monsters never seen before. Surviving had been the only focus.


    Jung Bin spoke cautiously.


    ¡°But after the West Sea Rift closed, things became strangely quiet. Everything did. The frequency of Rift appearances dropped to unprecedented levels, making research easier.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°The research conducted during that period was what led to Wave Guild being recognized as one of the top three guilds in South Korea. And in exchange for that¡­.¡±


    Feeling a gaze on him, Uijae looked up. Jung Bin was watching him carefully. His lips moved.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung was given ownership of the West Sea Rift by the government.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is that even possible?¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened. Despite his usual calm demeanor, Jung Bin¡¯s expression was resolute. He delivered the final confirmation.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Yes. Wave Guild has been in charge of managing the West Sea Rift and its surroundings ever since.¡±


    The streetlights flickered wildly. Uijae, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, fell silent, lost in thought.


    The boy¡ªLee Sayoung¡ªhad been taken to Prometheus¡¯s research facility after J¡¯s death, where he Awakened.


    Who, how, and why? What had happened to Lee Sayoung during that year? The research facility he had been held in was now melted, and even Jung Bin, who knew more than anyone else, didn¡¯t know what had urred during that one-year gap.


    Only Lee Sayoung knew.


    ¡®I need to talk to him properly¡­.¡¯


    Ultimately, the key to understanding everything was Lee Sayoung.


    Uijae wanted to know everything. He needed to know what had happened while he was gone. He needed to repay the debt for everything Lee Sayoung had endured alone during that time. Even if he couldn¡¯t offerpensation or sce¡­.


    And then¡­


    Uijae bit his lip hard. No matter how much he tried to calm down, the storm of emotions stirred within him throughout the entire conversation wouldn¡¯t settle easily.


    Was it anger, sadness, or¡­?


    He recalled the pale face of Lee Sayoung, standing against a backdrop of falling ash, unsteady ground, and copsed ruins. His shining eyes and the words he had spat out.


    ¡®What would you do if I told you I had been waiting for you all this time?¡¯


    Lee Sayoung, who had received ownership of the West Sea Rift from the government. Lee Sayoung, who had been determined to reopen the Rift that had closed without a trace.


    Why?


    ¡®To make a map for the lost.¡¯


    Uijae clenched his trembling fists. He had thought everyone had forgotten him. After all, he was a man presumed dead.


    From the moment he opened his eyes amidst a pile of trash and realized that, in the eyes of the world, he had already died, to the moment he resolved to save people from Rifts¡ªit was as if a nagging sense of unease had settled in his heart, like an uninvited guest. But¡­.


    ¡®Be right back.¡¯


    One person.


    ¡®Will you wait for me?¡¯


    One person hadn¡¯t believed in his death and had been waiting for him all along.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    If that person had kept such a selfish promise.


    At that moment, a slow, deliberate footstep echoed across the green flooring of the yground. A drowsy voice, mixed


    withughter, said,


    ¡°You two look cozy.¡±


    Jung Bin, looking exasperated, rubbed his forehead. The footsteps stopped right behind Uijae. Without hesitation, an arm coiled around Uijae¡¯s shoulder like a snake, and soft strands of hair brushed against his cheek and ear. A firm chin rested on his opposite shoulder. A low voice murmured,


    ¡°Were you two having a secret rendezvous?¡±


    A gloved finger yfully brushed Uijae¡¯s cheek before pulling away. Standing upright again, Lee Sayoung tilted his head.


    ¡°But¡­ this ce is a bit tacky for a secret meeting, don¡¯t you think?¡±

 Chapter 126

    ¡°I want an equal rtionship, J.¡±


    Uijae frowned.


    ¡°An equal rtionship?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Sayoung nodded lightly, his thumb brushing under Uijae¡¯s eye as if to smooth out the frown. Uijae bit the inside of his cheek.


    There are words you understand the meaning of but can¡¯t quite grasp emotionally. *Equal rtionship* was one of those for Cha Uijae. It didn¡¯t make sense to him. He felt responsible for Lee Sayoung. He had saved him, protected him, and then failed to save him again¡­


    ¡®But why would Sayoung want this?¡¯


    His thoughts abruptly cut off. Sayoung, watching Uijae¡¯s expression, spoke softly, as if trying to soothe him.


    ¡°No matter how much I exin it here... it probably won¡¯t sink in.¡±


    Though Sayoung¡¯s tone was unfamiliar, it strangely felt familiar to Uijae. Even with his scattered thoughts, he quickly realized why¡ªit was simr to how he spoke when he used to talk to the boy.


    ¡°You¡¯ve spent half your life thinking that way, treating it as the norm, so it¡¯s understandable.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°So think about it. What kind of equal rtionship I want, and why I want it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°When youe up with your own answer, I¡¯ll exin.¡±


    Sayoung emphasized his final words.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you myself.¡±


    With that, Sayoung held out his pinky finger. Uijae stared at the ck-gloved finger in a daze. He remembered how the young Sayoung had stubbornly wrapped his pinky around Uijae¡¯s, even with fingers that barely moved. Uijae hesitated, then tentatively hooked his pinky with Sayoung¡¯s. The familiar, lukewarm feel of leather greeted him.


    As soon as their fingers intertwined, Sayoung added in an irritated voice:


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about asking someone like Jung Bin for answers before you figure it out. Like you said, I¡¯m the one who knows myself best.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You need to answer me.¡±


    ¡°...Alright.¡±


    Uijae nodded slowly. Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes narrowed slightly in satisfaction.


    ¡°Oh, by the way¡­¡±


    ¡°...Yeah?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what an equal rtionship is, do you? That¡¯s understandable.¡±


    ¡°Wait a damn minute¡ª¡±


    Uijae instinctively let out a rough retort before catching himself. The moment Sayoung¡¯s cheekyment hit his ears, the frustration weighing down on him evaporated, reced by a rising surge of irritation. This wasn¡¯t a reflex; it was a conditioned response that had developed from interacting with Sayoung ever since escaping the Rift!


    It¡¯s terrifying how ingrained habits be. No matter how much Uijae consciously tried to be kind, his body functioned based on the database of interactions it had umted with Sayoung. And in his mind, the boy wrapped in bandages stood side by side with the smug, sarcastic man that Lee Sayoung had be.


    Sayoung¡¯s lips curled into a grin.


    ¡°Aha... *this* bastard?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Weird... I thought I was your only one?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae had no excuse. Was being nice really this difficult? He lowered his head, staring at the ground as if looking for an ant to focus on, but all he saw were a few sad weeds poking through the soft flooring, swaying forlornly.


    Sayoung, enjoying the sight of Uijae¡¯s bowed head, chuckled.


    ¡°Oh... is this a new nickname?¡±


    ¡°...Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Shut up for a second.¡±


    Pfft. Sayoung covered his mouth to stifle augh, only to burst out in a full bellyugh, throwing his head back.


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    Hearing Sayoungugh so openly, Minggijeok, who had disappeared into the shadows, peeked out with wide eyes behind his sunsses, clearly surprised. It must¡¯ve been rare to see Sayoungugh like that. But Uijae didn¡¯t care.


    ¡®Mind your own business.¡¯


    Uijae tilted his head slightly in Minggijeok¡¯s direction. Taking the hint, Minggijeok immediately turned his head away. Meanwhile, Sayoung continued tough heartily. Uijae gritted his teeth and whispered:


    ¡°Stopughing.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha... Oh, are you trying to be nice right now?¡±


    Uijae responded calmly but seriously.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying my best here, so stop interrupting me. I¡¯m trying to be nice.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡±


    Sayoung took a deep breath, trying to contain hisughter, but still chuckled softly. His voice was yful as he asked:


    ¡°Confusing, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t respond. Sayoung, as if he already knew everything, smiled mischievously.


    The time he had spent with the boy he had saved was unforgettable¡ªprecious, even. He had endured for so long on those memories alone. But...


    ¡°Hyung.¡±


    Cha Uijae¡¯s life had been split in two by the wall of the West Sea Rift. Before the wall, his life had been with his aunt and that boy. After the wall, it was with his grandmother, Haeun, and now, Lee Sayoung.


    Uijae opened his palm. A faint scar glimmered gold like a fine crack running across it. The moment he had shed his hand with the dagger was still vivid in his mind.


    Since escaping the Rift, he had spent a long time with Sayoung. So much time that it was impossible to exin his recent life without him.


    He knew they were the same person. He was grateful Sayoung was alive, felt sorry for him, but now, after knowing the truth, it was hard to treat him the same as before. He wanted to be kind, but that didn¡¯te easily.


    Sayoung¡¯s plump lips curled into a smile. Hiszy voice whispered:


    ¡°You understand that we¡¯re the same person, you¡¯re grateful I¡¯m alive, you feel sorry for me, but knowing all of this, you can¡¯t treat me the way you used to... So, you want to be nice to me, but it¡¯s hard.¡±


    Each word pierced through Uijae like a dagger.


    ¡°Well, I did y cute back then.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes stared at Uijae with a sharp, yful glint.


    ¡°But you¡¯re still not ready to face it, are you, Hyung?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know how to act towards me yet, so what are you going to do?¡±


    Uijae sighed. Sayoung was right. Ever since realizing that Sayoung was the boy he had saved, Uijae hadn¡¯t reflected on his own emotions. All he did was chase after the past, trying to learn what Sayoung had gone through, while ignoring the subtle disconnect between them.


    Sayoung, holding Uijae¡¯s mask in his hand, crossed his arms.


    ¡°If you¡¯re acting out of guilt, stop.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be better off thinking about the task I gave you instead.¡±


    Uijae stood silently, absorbing Sayoung¡¯s words. Then, he abruptly snatched the mask from Sayoung¡¯s hand and put it back on. His slightly twisted expression disappeared behind the ck mask, and his voice, now distorted, grumbled:


    ¡°You¡¯re rude as hell.¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head.


    ¡°So, do you hate it?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he suddenly reached out and tousled Sayoung¡¯s hair. Sayoung let out a short, annoyed grunt and red up at him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°How could I hate you?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s lips parted slightly, his violet eyes widening. Scratching his head, Uijae quickly turned on his heel.


    ¡°Damn it... I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°...Wait, Hyung!¡±


    Just as Sayoung reached out, a breeze swept by, carrying Uijae¡¯s low voice with it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about what you said.¡±


    The wind died down. By the time it stilled, Uijae had already disappeared. Sayoung stood there, staring nkly at the empty yground, clenching his fist. A rustling sound came from behind him.


    ¡°Guild Master.¡±


    Minggijeok approached, headphones hanging around his neck. Sayoung nced back. Romantic Opener was still draped limply over the seesaw like a half-dried squid.


    As Minggijeok stood a few steps behind Sayoung, thetter muttered in an irritated tone:


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think Jung Bin would be so tight-lipped¡­¡±


    ¡°It seems the bond between you two runs deeper than we anticipated.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of the time you spent together during those dark days. We didn¡¯t ount for that. I¡¯ll be more careful moving forward.¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡±


    Minggijeok, sensing Sayoung¡¯s mood, nced at him over his sunsses, then stood at attention with his hands behind his back. Sayoung coldly spat out:


    ¡°Report earlier next time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Minggijeok bowed his head. Sayoung, arms still crossed, tapped his foot against the ground. Minggijeok, watching cautiously, asked:


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright to let him go like this? Based on past experience, I doubt he¡¯ll stop just because you asked. I¡¯m worried he might end up in another research facility¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Sayoung stopped in his tracks. The streetlight, which had been flickering, finally went out, casting everything into darkness. In the shadows, his lips curved into a faint smile.


    ¡°He won¡¯t move for a while.¡±


    ¡°Pardon? Why not¡­¡±


    ¡°Because he made a promise.¡±


    Sayoung slowly began to walk again. With a flick of Minggijeok¡¯s fingers, the shadow beneath the


    seesaw gathered into the shape of a small figure, which then dragged the limp Romantic Opener away.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be too busy thinking about me.¡±


    ¡°Is there even an answer to this?¡±


    ¡°I wonder...¡±


    Sayoung flicked his tongue slightly, biting the tip yfully.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m allowed this level of mischief.¡±


    ¡°Well, I doubt he¡¯d agree.¡±


    Minggijeok sighed quietly. As they reached the yground¡¯s exit, Sayoung suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°I do regret it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°If I had known he was J... I wouldn¡¯t have let him get close.¡±


    With a sigh, Sayoung¡¯s voice faded into the wind. Soon, the three figures melted into the shadows, disappearingpletely.

 Chapter 127

    White ash floated down like snow.


    ¡°...¡±


    The air seemed to have stopped, and the brown hair of a schoolgirl named Yun Gaeul flew wildly in the stillness. She was wearing her school uniform as she looked around at the familiar ruins that greeted her.


    Gaeul opened her hands and checked them. Both were glowing in iridescent colors. Her face turned to one of confusion as she hastily patted down her body.


    ¡°¡­What the hell is this?¡±


    Just moments ago, she had been sitting in ss. Now, Gaeul anxiously surveyed her surroundings. There wasn¡¯t a single sign of life. It was a deste, apocalyptdscape¡ªthe kind she had often seen while traveling through fragments of the world.


    But something was different. Gaeul had only ever seen these fragments while sleeping in her bed at home. Never had it happened at school, whether she was dozing off or taking a quick nap. And yet...


    ¡®Why am I here?¡¯


    Was it a side effect of her ability? A new power? Or had she lost control over it? Every possibility felt like the worst-case scenario. Cold sweat dripped down her face. Gaeul pped her cheeks with both hands, the sting helping to clear her mind.


    ¡®Stay calm. Think.¡¯


    She pulled out a ne hidden beneath her shirt. Attached to it were a white shard and a name tag engraved with ¡°HYS.¡±


    Gaeul tightly gripped the shard. Dark strands of light coiled around the white fragment like snakes. It was a shard from the Erosion Dungeon.


    The shard hade from the body of a golem inside a suddenly reconfigured Erosion Dungeon. It was the first time she had found a shard like this in reality, not in a dream. Normally, she would have reported it immediately to Jung Bin, but he had passed out from severe injuries while protecting them... Gaeul bit her lip awkwardly.


    ¡®I haven¡¯t said anything yet... I¡¯m really sorry.¡¯


    The only thing that had changed since then was the shard in her possession. It was likely both the cause of this situation and the key to escaping it.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what will happen if I stay here.¡¯


    She had been at school. She couldn¡¯t let her friends get involved in something strange. Taking a deep breath, Gaeul strengthened her grip on the shard. The iridescent glow intensified, and then¡ª


    *Screeeech!*


    Something white erupted from the ground, wrapping around her entire body.


    ¡°Ack!¡±


    Gaeul screamed and stumbled backward. The white ash piled up like snow, devouring the sound of her footsteps. The white substance constricted around her, tightening, making it hard to breathe. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth wide in desperation.


    ¡°Help¡ª!¡±


    Suddenly, something cold gripped her neck. *This is it. I¡¯m going to die,* she thought, gritting her teeth. But strangely, she could breathe again. Opening her eyes, she saw a stark ck figure standing in contrast to the white ruins around her.


    Gaeul struggled to look at what was gripping her throat¡ªa ck hand, impossibly dark, gripping her neck. Not just the hand, but everything from the wrist up was pitch ck. The white substance that had been suffocating her faltered as if it had never been there.


    Then, *it* spoke.


    ¨D Open your eyes.


    ¡°¡­Ah.¡±


    ¨D Look at me.


    ¡°¡­Wha¡­¡±


    ¨D Yun Gaeul.


    ¡°Yun Gaeul!!¡±


    *Crash!* The sound of something breaking echoed loudly. Gaeul gasped for breath and shot up, wide awake. She was back in her ssroom. Looking around in a daze, she saw her friend, Dayeon, staring at her with a startled expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong... Are you mad?¡±


    ¡°Huh? What? No.¡±


    ¡°Did I make you mad by yelling in your ear?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ yelled?¡±


    ¡°Duh. You dropped your study guide.¡±


    Oh. Gaeul, still a bit out of it, picked up her fallen study book, *CSAT Special Lecture*. The crashing sound had been the book and her pencil case falling to the floor. Dayeon gave her a worried look.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been acting weirdtely. Is something going on?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No... nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°You sure? You can¡¯t tell me?¡±


    ¡°No, seriously, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Then why... Your eyes have been looking a bit weird recently, you know?¡±


    Dayeon scrunched her face as she muttered:


    ¡°Sometimes you look at us like you¡¯re seeing a ghost.¡±


    ¡°What... are you talking about?¡±


    Gaeul mumbled, avoiding eye contact as she looked around.


    The ssroom was empty except for the two of them. She checked the clock. Lunch had started ten minutes ago. Normally, they would¡¯ve rushed to the cafeteria the moment the bell rang, like a herd of stampeding bison!


    Fixing her disheveled hair, Gaeul asked:


    ¡°Why are you still here? Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡±


    Dayeon sighed and propped her chin on her hand.


    ¡°You were lying there like a drugged-up zombie, so where could I go? Besides, today¡¯s school lunch wasn¡¯t that great, and the teachers have been cracking down hard on deliveries. Minji and Suyeong went to the snack shop, but they¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°Why only those two?¡±


    ¡°They lost rock-paper-scissors.¡±


    At that moment, the front door of the ssroom swung open, and two girls entered, their arms loaded with drinks and bread.


    ¡°Man, it was packed! Guess everyone had the same idea.¡±


    ¡°They were already out of pizza bread.¡±


    Dayeon smirked.


    ¡°Damn, you guys are fast. Are you Hunters or something?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m taking the Hunter exam to join the Wave Guild.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aiming for the HB Guild. Oh, look! Gaeul¡¯s up.¡±


    ¡°You okay? You were sleeping like the dead. Good thing it was during homeroom.¡±


    Minji handed Gaeul a bag with a hamburger bun inside, the kind Gaeul often ate. Warm steam wafted from the slightly torn package. Gaeul smiled faintly and took the bun. It was warm.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if she was smiling properly. Her friends didn¡¯t seem to notice anything unusual, so she assumed she was doing it right. She forced her stiff lips to move.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Hey, say it like you mean it.¡±


    ¡°Leave her alone, she¡¯s sick.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she should go to the nurse?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the next ss?¡±


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    ¡°Do you even know anything?¡±


    As her friends chattered warmly,ughter and the soft breeze from the cracked window drifted into the ssroom. Gaeul quietly sighed in relief and unwrapped the warm bread.


    Then, it happened.


    ¡°¡­Hey, Gaeul.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    Gaeul looked up. Suyeong was staring at her with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s with your arm, under your sleeve?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something weird... like a mark.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Gaeul quickly rolled up her sleeve.@@novelbin@@


    There, on her wrist, were deep red marks, as if she had been bound.


    Thud.


    *Oh no.*


    Cold sweat trickled down her back.


    *This can¡¯t be happening.*


    The familiar ssroom and her friends¡¯ faces began to distort. The world around her turned green, orange, blue, red, yellow, and then white. Her friends¡¯ faces multiplied. Two, four, eight, sixteen¡­


    The bread in her hand slipped to the floor.


    A friend with 108 heads tilted to one side. A voice from 256 mouths asked:


    ¡°...?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The ovepping voices no longer made any sense, bing a cacophony of noise. Sweat poured down her face, and her stomach churned. She clutched her chest, feeling suffocated.


    ¡®I¡¯m going to throw up...¡¯


    Her hand, which had gripped the desk, crushed its corner. Her study guide and pencil case ttered to the floor.


    Gaeul stumbled to her feet, her vision filled with fractured reflections. Her friends were so distorted by the shards of reality that she could no longer tell if they were even human.


    The noise of a scream echoed in her ears, and everything around her shimmered like a kaleidoscope. The world spun.


    Gaeul mped her hands over her ears. She might have screamed herself.


    The next thing she remembered was...


    Nothing.


    With a soft click, a white-gloved hand set a magnifying lens on a tray. A young boy carrying the tray scurried away. The owner of the hand, Nam Woojin, crossed his arms and let out a low hum. Standing behind him, Jung Bin cautiously asked:


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®nothing¡¯? Does that mean she¡¯s unconscious?¡±


    They were in Nam Woojin¡¯sb, deep within the Seowon Guild. On the operating tabley Yun Gaeul, still in her school uniform. Despite having no visible injuries, she remained unconscious. Her sleeves were neatly rolled up, revealing the deep red marks on her wrists.


    Her chest rose and fell faintly, and her ne was slightly visible. The shard attached to it was a in white fragment. After a long silence, Nam Woojin suddenly spoke.


    ¡°How did you find her? Was anything strange about her recently?¡±


    Jung Bin sighed and pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket, reading from it.


    ¡°When I got the call from her homeroom teacher, she was already lying in the nurse¡¯s office. I talked to her friends. Apparently, she slept like the dead all morning and only woke up at lunch, screamed, and then copsed. Recently...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°They said she


    ¡¯s been acting strange. Sometimes, she¡¯d look at her friends like...¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s face darkened.


    ¡°Like she was seeing someone who had already died.¡±


    Nam Woojin, still scrutinizing Gaeul¡¯s pale face, asked again:


    ¡°When she saw those fragments before, did she ever pass out like this?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯ve seen her in that state, and she always looked like she was just sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m almost certain.¡±


    Nam Woojin turned abruptly, hisb coat ring out as he moved. He headed for the corner of theb, his crocs squeaking across the floor. Jung Bin watched him, confused, and asked:


    ¡°Is it some kind of psychic attack?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s something entirely different.¡±


    Nam Woojin decisively pulled away a white cloth, revealing a glowing orb, simr to a globe, but instead of a map, it was made of an iridescent light.


    He reached out toward the orb. His once white, now scorched eyes gleamed brilliantly.


    ¡°I can tell because I¡¯ve been in this state myself, watching the gaps between worlds.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Her soul has been pulled into another world. I don¡¯t know the details, but...¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s mouth dropped open slightly.


    ¡°Then...¡±


    ¡°Yun Gaeul has been seeing fragments of a destroyed world, right?¡±


    Nam Woojin peered into the orb, his voice turning cold.


    ¡°She¡¯s been dragged into *that* destroyed world.¡±

 Chapter 128

    ¡°Wait. I need a more detailed exnation. You¡¯re saying her soul has been... dragged away?¡±


    Jung Bin looked anxiously at Yun Gaeul, whoy unconscious on the operating table. Nam Woojin, who was poking at the glowing orb with his finger, responded indifferently.


    ¡°Just as I said. The body here is nothing but an empty shell.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Jung Bin trailed off, his eyes fixed on Gaeul¡¯s chest, which rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He stepped closer, gently touching the red marks on her wrist. Her pulse was still beating. She was alive. ording to Nam Woojin, though, she was alive despitecking her soul.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then how is her body still functioning? I mean, she¡¯s breathing on her own without any life support.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s beyond my knowledge. This is the first time I¡¯ve encountered a case where the entire soul has been pulled into another realm. I¡¯ll have to conduct more research to understand.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. You know, I¡¯ve barely scratched the surface when ites to this kind of stuff.¡±


    Nam Woojin tapped his temple with his index finger, a rueful smile on his face. Jung Bin sighed.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°Still, I have some guesses¡­ Oh, there it is.¡±


    Nam Woojin¡¯s eyes scanned the room before he spotted a whiteboard shoved into a corner. He dragged it over, kicking away the pile of books in its path. Jung Bin opened his mouth toment but decided against it.


    The whiteboard was filled with illegible remnants of what was once written, now too faded to decipher. Nam Woojinzily wiped the board with an old eraser and uncapped a ck marker. He started to scribble something but quickly paused, realizing the marker was dry. Sighing, Jung Bin finally spoke up.


    ¡°How long has it been since you used that board?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. It wasn¡¯t that long ago.¡±


    ¡°Master.¡±


    A young boy quickly approached, offering Nam Woojin a box of markers. Nam Woojin epted it and ruffled the boy¡¯s hair roughly.


    ¡°Good boy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The boy smiled brightly before vanishing from sight. Jung Bin shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Is it even possible for you to function without those marites?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask. Let¡¯s get back to the matter at hand.¡±


    With a pop, Nam Woojin uncapped a fresh marker and began to draw on the board. He sketched something that vaguely resembled a person, then added a small circle above its head. Jung Bin narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s supposed to be... Yun Gaeul?¡±


    ¡°Sharp as ever.¡±


    Jung Bin nced back at Gaeul, whoy with her hair messily tied up in a bun.


    ¡°You see, Yun Gaeul¡¯s ability is one of the most unique out there. It¡¯s closer to the system itself than any other power. In a world governed by the system¡¯sws... that¡¯s significant power. And it makes her an exception.¡±


    ¡°That... is true.¡±


    ¡°Plus, she¡¯s someone who¡¯s been permitted to see fragments of the world by the system itself.¡±


    Nam Woojin twirled a strand of his white hair around his finger, a faint smile on his scorched white eyes.


    ¡°Unlike me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Anyway, her soul has been dragged into another world. The question is, could the system have predicted something like this?¡±


    Jung Bin hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Nam Woojin tapped the whiteboard with the back of his marker, as if to prompt an answer.


    ¡°I doubt it. This probably happened out of nowhere.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±


    ¡°Hey, kid.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The boy reappeared, handing Jung Bin a small dagger the size of an adult¡¯s palm. Startled, Jung Bin epted the weapon and asked:


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Stab her. Yun Gaeul, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s voice rose in disbelief. Nam Woojin clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m telling you to murder her? Just prick her fingertip, like when they do a blood test before a donation.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What, can¡¯t do it? Should I do it myself?¡±


    ¡°No, I can handle it.¡±


    Jung Bin exhaled slowly and approached Gaeul¡¯s body. He lifted her hand carefully and pricked the tip of her finger with the dagger.


    In that instant¡ª


    ¡°Ugh!¡±@@novelbin@@


    A burst of brilliant white light shed from her hand. Jung Bin instinctively shielded his eyes and stumbled backward. When the light faded, he saw that Gaeul¡¯s finger waspletely unharmed, without a single mark. Jung Bin¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°This is...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why her body is still functioning even without her soul.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying the system itself is sustaining her?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯tst forever, though.¡±


    Nam Woojin capped the marker and set it down.


    ¡°The system has to manage countless things. Even though she¡¯s closely tied to it, the system can¡¯t devote all its attention to her alone. It¡¯s temporary.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s a time limit. Is there a way to save her?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She¡¯s the only one who¡¯s been to that world. The rest of us only know it secondhand¡ªwe have no connection to it. Unless there¡¯s someone else who¡¯s seen that world¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°All we have are theories at this point. And unfortunately, the only person who could exin it...¡±


    Nam Woojin sighed, his scorched eyes glowing eerily.


    ¡°Is lying there, unconscious.¡±


    A heavy silence fell over the room. Though Gaeul was still breathing, there was no telling when that would stop. Nam Woojin muttered under his breath, his pale eyes flickering.


    ¡°Why Yun Gaeul? Why her...¡±


    Jung Bin nced down at Gaeul with concern. His eyesnded on the ne around her neck. Were students even allowed to wear essories like that these days? Curiously, he examined the ne more closely, spotting a silver, square-shaped object tucked behind her neck. He reached out and carefully pulled it into view.


    *HYS*


    Jung Bin¡¯s expression hardened.


    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m going to borrow this.¡±


    He gently lifted Gaeul¡¯s head and removed the ne. Nam Woojin, lost in thought as he stared at the whiteboard, looked up and adjusted his sses.


    ¡°What is it? Did you find something?¡±


    Jung Bin fiddled with the ne, giving a short reply.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to find out. Please take care of Gaeul while I¡¯m gone.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Jung Bin clenched the ne tightly, his voice steely as he answered.


    ¡°Bukhansan.¡±


    ---


    Cha Uijae opened his eyes.


    He was slumped over a table inside the dark hangover soup restaurant, his head resting on his arms. Slowly, he sat up.


    ¡®What the...? Did I fall asleep?¡¯


    He felt groggy, his body heavy and sluggish. He wasn¡¯t sure why he was so tired; business had been the same as usual. Uijae blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness.


    ¡°...¡±


    The familiar surroundings felt oddly foreign. A strange uneasiness crept up inside him. He clenched and unclenched his hands, but they were clean.


    The golden scar¡ªthe proof of his contract with Lee Sayoung¡ªwas gone.


    His eyes widened. At that moment, there was a soft knock at the door. *Knock, knock, knock.* Uijae stood up immediately, scanning the area for anything he could use to defend himself. His gaze fell on a bent soupdle, and without hesitation, he grabbed it.


    The knocking continued. *Knock, knock, knock.*


    The situation was too suspicious for him to speak up. Tension etched on his face, Uijae cautiously approached the door. Through the ss panel at the top of the metal door, he caught sight of curly brown hair.


    ¡°...¡±


    There was only one person he knew with hair like that.


    ¡®But...¡¯


    He bit his lip.


    He felt no pain.


    The knocking stopped. A small voice followed.


    ¡°...J.¡±


    The voice and the hair were familiar, but Uijae didn¡¯t lower his guard. He tightened his grip on thedle.


    The voice, after a long pause, whispered again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry foring here like this. But... this really was the best I could do. I tried my best.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to respond. Just... just listen.¡±


    The hesitant voice continued.


    ¡°Do you remember? The fragment of the world I showed you, the one where¡ªwhere J... Yeah, that world. The piece that I said came from a destroyed world...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Well... I think I¡¯ve ended up in that destroyed world. I don¡¯t know how it happened, but... I couldn¡¯t reach anyone else. I tried to find Jung Bin, but you¡¯re the only one I could get to. Damn it, why does this keep happening...¡±


    The voice grew more desperate, wavering with sobs. A long sniffle followed. After the sound of someone wiping away tears, the voice asked quietly:


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but... could you help me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°This ce... It¡¯s too...¡±


    The presence outside the door disappeared. Uijae hesitated before slowly opening the door. On the pavement, where wet footprints marked the ground,y a small white shard stained with ck ink.


    Uijae stared at the shard. Thest words, choked with sobs, echoed in his


    mind.


    *It¡¯s so quiet.*


    He understood what she meant. The terrible quiet of a destroyed world. Only he, Cha Uijae, could trulyprehend that silence.


    Without hesitation, Uijae reached down and picked up the shard.


    A faint light flickered in his palm.

 Chapter 131

    As soon as Sayoung regained his senses, the first thing he did was swear, grabbing his head in pain. His face was still pale, clearly suffering from a lingering headache.


    ¡°¡­Where is this? Why¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, that¡¯s the thing.¡±


    Uijae hesitated, trying to exin. Sayoung, meanwhile, nced down at the apron he was wearing, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. The light blue apron with a toad on it looked rather pathetic.


    ¡°What¡¯s with this apron?¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t know either, so he just shifted his eyes awkwardly, hands sped behind his back.


    ¡°¡­I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°¡­Sigh.¡±


    Leaning against the sink with his arms and forehead, Sayoung let out a long sigh. Uijae cautiously approached and crouched beside him. A grumpy voice broke the silence.


    ¡°Go away.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re annoying.¡±


    Uijae leaned back against the white bathtub and nced at Sayoung. Fortunately, there were no furtherints. As he listened to Sayoung¡¯s slow, measured breaths, Uijae began to think.


    ¡®When Yun Gaeul¡¯s soul was transferred, they said she copsed like she had fainted.¡¯


    If that was the case, did the real-world bodies of Cha Uijae and Lee Sayoung also copse somewhere, as if they had fainted? His mouth went dry at the thought. What if, just before being dragged here, Sayoung had entered a dungeon? That could be disastrous.


    ¡®Damn system, pulling people in like this with no warning.¡¯


    Wiggling his toes, Uijae cautiously asked,


    ¡°Were you doing anything before this?¡±


    ¡°¡­What was I doing?¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head slightly, giving Uijae a sidelong nce as he twisted his lips.


    ¡°I was in a meeting¡­ with the guild members.¡±


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    ¡°We were discussing the erosion dungeon, having a very important conversation.¡±


    Uijae bowed his head in silence. In some ways, this was worse than being in a dungeon. No wonder Sayoung had immediately asked what kind of mess Uijae had gotten them into! One moment he was in a spacious meeting room, looking at his guild members'' faces, and the next, he was crammed into a tiny bathroom face-to-face with Cha Uijae. No wonder he was pissed.


    Sayoung leaned back and muttered to himself, his hand covering his face.


    ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°I asked if you¡¯re okay, hyung.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Me? Yeah. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Maybe because the Cha Uijae in his memory had awakened, his body didn¡¯t feel much different from reality. But what about Sayoung? He was still sweating. Uijae brushed a hand through Sayoung¡¯s hair.


    ¡°What about you? Are you okay? Anything hurting?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a headache, but¡­ it¡¯ll pass soon.¡±


    Sayoung lightly moved his hand away, opening his violet eyes in a thin slit.


    ¡°What is this ce?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Why are you here, how did we get here, and why am I dragged into this?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Exin. Now.¡±


    The sweet,zy atmosphere that had filled the house was long gone, reced by an ominous tension. Uijae had expected this, ever since Sayoung¡¯s eyes turned violet. But it was an unavoidable conversation.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s a long story, so listen carefully.¡±


    He exined that this ce was a *Memorial Dungeon*, a dungeon created from someone¡¯s memories, but they didn¡¯t know how to clear it. It was also located in some part of the destroyed world, and they had been pulled here with their souls. He himself had rushed to save Yun Gaeul, which meant his real body was probably lying in the middle of the soup restaurant, still wearing the J mask, while Sayoung¡¯s body had likely copsed in the middle of a meeting room.


    Sayoung¡¯s expression remained unchanged throughout Uijae¡¯s summary. It was an expression that could only be described as a murderous re, as if he wanted to devour Cha Uijae whole.


    After finishing his brief exnation, Uijae asked, ¡°Any questions so far?¡±


    ¡°¡­Any questions?¡±


    Sayoung scoffed darkly, muttering under his breath,


    ¡°I have too many.¡±


    This was bad. Uijae quickly drew a line.


    ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know much myself. I just woke up not too long ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh really¡­ Then let me ask just one thing.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Are youpletely insane?¡±


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    Uijae couldn¡¯t really argue with that, so he just pouted silently. Maybe the light from that fragment really had bewitched him. Sayoung leaned against the sink, pressing his temple as he muttered.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m probably lying passed out in the soup restaurant. Wearing the mask. And I¡¯ve copsed too.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, at least Min-gi will handle it.¡±


    ¡°What? How?¡±


    ¡°I told him that if anything happened to me, he should check on you first.¡±


    ¡°Me? Shouldn¡¯t he take care of you first?¡±


    ¡°Who knows?¡±


    Sayoung twisted his lips and slowly stood up, using the sink for support. The soju-branded apron pped as he moved. Why had that apron followed them here? It should¡¯ve stayed hanging on the restaurant wall. Sayoung looked down at Uijae, who was still crouched against the bathtub.


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you in the middle of cooking?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, but¡­ shouldn¡¯t we check how to clear the dungeon first?¡±


    At that moment, a loud growl echoed through the bathroom. It came from Uijae¡¯s stomach. He grimaced.


    ¡®Damn it, when did I start feeling hunger so regrly?¡¯


    Sayoung smirked and lifted his chin mockingly.


    ¡°Someone seems really hungry.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk over food.¡±


    Sayoung stepped aside as if telling him to go ahead. Feeling embarrassed, Uijae rubbed the back of his neck and walked into the hallway. After a few steps, Sayoung followed.


    But then the sound of footsteps stopped. Curious, Uijae turned around and saw Sayoung standing still, staring nkly at a photo of the sea hanging in the hallway. He looked like a picture himself.


    And not in a good way. It was like¡­


    Like he was a person trapped in a frame.


    ¡°¡­Lee Sayoung.¡±


    Uijae called out suddenly. Sayoung slowly turned his gaze toward Uijae. His face was as indifferent andzy as ever. He shrugged.


    ¡°What are you doing? Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±


    Sayoung motioned for Uijae to move along with a tilt of his chin. Uijae reluctantly turned his feet toward the kitchen.


    The kitchen, once tidy, was now aplete mess. The bread had popped out of the toaster, half-burnt, the omelet was half-cooked and lukewarm, and the table held two empty tes. And the spat Sayoung had used¡­


    ¡°¡­Adle?¡±


    It had turned into adle. And not just anydle, but a dented one. Sayoung, hands behind his back, casually tilted his head as he looked around the kitchen.


    ¡°That seems to match the apron.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Should I take it off for you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Uijae turned on the sink and washed his hands clean. The burnt bread could be toasted again, and the half-rolled omelet could be finished from where it left off. Even if something is interrupted halfway, there¡¯s always a way to continue it.


    Sayoung, still ncing around the house, turned on an old radio by the sofa in the living room. The sound of static filled the air, followed by soft music. It was an unfamiliar tune, but still pleasant.


    After cing two new slices of bread into the toaster, Uijae called out to Sayoung, who had his back turned.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung,e finish the omelet.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to make an omelet.¡±


    His nonchnt reply made Uijae roll his eyes. That¡¯s right¡ªthe skilled Sayoung who could make an omelet was from the memories within this dungeon. And likewise, the Cha Uijae in those memories wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t cook.


    Well, they could only do what they could, in their own ways. Uijae turned on the induction stove and grabbed the frying pan. Hearing the sound, Sayoung half-turned.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll do this. When the toast pops out, take it for me.¡±


    ¡°¡­There aren¡¯t any gloves.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do you have tongs?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t want any poison getting on me.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s mouth hung open as he stared at Sayoung. He still stood there, hands behind his back, as if his hands were some kind of weapon. Even in this peaceful, safe memory world.


    Suddenly, something swelled up in Uijae¡¯s chest. He set the frying pan down and strode over to Sayoung. Sayoung, wide-eyed, stepped back, but Uijae was quicker. He grabbed Sayoung¡¯s hands from behind his back, and Sayoung frowned deeply.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Hold still.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s hands, which hadn¡¯t been touched by poison, were straight andrge, and most importantly, unblemished. Clean, without a trace of the ck stains that might have been there. These were the hands he could have had if Uijae had been by his side. The hands he should have had.


    It had been eight years since the promise. He knew that no amount of regret would change anything. He didn¡¯t regret going into the West Sea Rift to save people. But when he thought


    of Sayoung, who had gone through everything alone, still keeping their promise¡­


    Cha Uijae bit down hard on one of Sayoung¡¯s spotless fingers. Sayoung inhaled sharply, his free hand hovering near Uijae¡¯s shoulder, as if wanting to push him away.


    ¡°What the hell¡­!¡±


    But Uijae didn¡¯t stop, biting down harder. Not enough to sever the finger, but just enough to leave a mark.


    The metallic taste of blood quickly filled his mouth as he heard a faint crunch. He licked the blood from his lips, ring up at Sayoung with fiery eyes.


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡±

 Chapter 132

    As Uijae''s tongue brushed against the bite mark, Sayoung''s finger twitched slightly, but his hand remained in ce, motionless. Uijae loosened his grip on Sayoung''s wrist, yet Sayoung''s hand stayed exactly where it was, frozen.


    Sayoung stared at Uijae in a daze, but only for a moment. Soon, he dropped his gaze to the floor. Uijae wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.


    ¡°As much as you waited for me, keeping that empty promise¡­ No, even more than that.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make it up to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want it.¡±


    Blood welled up around the bite mark on Sayoung¡¯s left ring finger, resembling a crimson ring. Uijae added sternly,


    ¡°If you ever say again that I¡¯m not responsible, or that I shouldn¡¯t care, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Lee Sayoung, look at me. Do you understand?¡±


    Sayoung, who had been staring at the floor as if counting the patterns in the tiles, slowly lifted his head. At that moment, Uijae¡¯s mouth fell open, surprise overtaking him.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s face¡­


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    It was flushed a soft, rosy red. He looked embarrassed!


    The eye contact didn¡¯tst long. Sayoung averted his gaze, his eyes shifting to the side, and he even covered his mouth with the back of his hand. The expression was so unlike him¡ªdelicate, shy even¡ªthat Uijae was stunned.


    It wasn¡¯t the bestparison, but only one came to mind: like a bashful bride.


    Uijae froze in ce.


    ¡®¡­Why?¡¯


    The shock hit him like a hammer, leaving his entire body trembling. This was not the reaction Uijae had expected at all. He had braced himself for a heated argument, for an endless back-and-forth. He didn¡¯t expect¡­ this.


    ¡®Why is this happening?¡¯


    His usually sharp intuition, which had saved his life numerous times, waspletely off when it came to Lee Sayoung. At this point, Uijae felt a little cheated. Who gets shy after having their finger bitten? Shouldn¡¯t he be angry?


    Then, the blood dripping from the bite on Sayoung¡¯s finger reminded Uijae that this wasn¡¯t the time for internalints. If this really was the house from the destroyed world where Uijae lived, there should be a first-aid kit somewhere. He bit the inside of his cheek and turned his head.


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s treat that first.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Sayoung quietly nodded. For someone who usually had so much to say and could be so sarcastic, his lips were firmly sealed. Moving like a creaky puppet, Uijae added,


    ¡°And, um¡­ take off that apron, too.¡±


    Leaving Sayoung standing there, Uijae escaped into the nearest room and mmed the door behind him. Luckily, the first-aid kit was sitting right on top of the drawer. Of course¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be useful if it were hard to find in an emergency.


    Inside were essential medical supplies, a familiar-looking purple antidote, and some rare potions, all neatly arranged. Everything except for the bandages seemed brand new.


    ¡®¡­This organization isn¡¯t my doing.¡¯


    Had this version of Lee Sayoung arranged everything so neatly? Uijae grabbed the first-aid kit and, finding an excuse in his slow pace, nced around the room.


    A bed that seemed far toorge for one person dominated the center of the room. Twomps on either side of the bed seemed strange, and the mismatched items on the small drawers beneath them felt even stranger.


    On the left drawer sat a device from the Awakener Management Bureau, and on the right, a pair of sses.


    ¡®sses?¡¯


    Uijae cautiously picked up the sses and held them to his eyes. The lenses were so strong that just putting them near his face made him dizzy.


    This world¡¯s Lee Sayoung must have vision problems as a side effect of the poison. Come to think of it, the Lee Sayoung he knew had worn sses once before, after that spaceship incident at Incheon Harbor.


    An odd, unsettling feeling poked at Uijae¡¯s mind.


    ¡®¡­Could it be?¡¯


    Uijae froze, sses in hand.


    ¡®Do we¡­ sleep in the same bed?¡¯


    Me? With Lee Sayoung?


    Uijae¡¯s face went pale. If he thought about it any further, something irreversible might happen.


    ¡®No, that memory I got shoved into my head didn¡¯t mention anything like that!¡¯


    But even so, the evidence was right in front of him, enough to convict him on the spot.


    ¡®¡­No, it can¡¯t be. It¡¯s not like that.¡¯


    Having sessfully convinced himself, Uijae swung the door open and headed back to the living room. Sayoung, who was still standing there, looked up at him. The apron was now draped over his arm, and thankfully, his face had returned to its usual pale color.


    Walking past Sayoung, Uijae made his way to the sofa and said,


    ¡°Sit down. Let¡¯s clean that up and put a bandage on.¡±


    Sayoung nodded slightly and sat down, offering his hand. Uijae sprayed disinfectant on a gauze pad and gently wiped the bite mark. Luckily, the bleeding wasn¡¯t too bad. As Uijae worked, Sayoung spoke up.


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re better at this than I thought.¡±


    Uijae, snipping off a piece of gauze with small scissors, replied tly,


    ¡°What, did you think I¡¯d just dump the disinfectant all over?¡±


    ¡°Mm. I was prepared for that, yeah.¡±


    ¡°What kind of person do you think I am? I¡¯ve done this plenty of times.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see.¡±


    Sensing some tension, Uijae added defensively,


    ¡°There weren¡¯t any healers around back then, so I had no choice.¡±


    ¡°But there were probably medical professionals, right?¡±


    ¡°When you close a rift, there are so many injured people and bodies. If you can move, you have to treat yourself.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Though Sayoung¡¯s expression showed some disapproval, he didn¡¯t press the matter further. Uijae finished applying a dressing to the wound and took his hands away.


    ¡°All done.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Sayoung flexed his fingers and shrugged.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve had a wound on my hand. It¡¯s¡­ different.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°And to think it happened because someone bit me.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes narrowed in annoyance. Sayoung covered his mouth,ughing quietly.


    ¡°I almost thought you were a dog.¡±


    ¡°You little¡ª¡±


    Uijae red. Earlier, when Sayoung had been shy, it had been somewhat endearing. But now that he had regained his usual demeanor, he was deliberately pushing all the wrong buttons. Sayoung, with a casual stretch of his hand,zily murmured,


    ¡°Well, at least¡­ you¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t have poison in this body.¡±


    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°You said it yourself, didn¡¯t you? Our souls came here. Our bodies are still in the real world.¡±


    Sayoung tugged at the loose neckline of his shirt with his thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I felt sluggish and heavy when I woke up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°And besides, you¡¯re fine, right? I guess this body hasn¡¯t awakened yet.¡±


    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that your poison doesn¡¯t affect me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure.¡±


    Uijae had thought he had finally cleared up that misunderstanding! The Basilisk¡¯s poison hadn¡¯t done anything¡ªit was just blood! Feeling like he had somehow be a vampire, Uijae clenched his fists.


    ¡°When we get out of here, I¡¯m going to bite you again. Then we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°¡­Heh.¡±


    Sayoung responded with a drawn-out chuckle, clearly amused.


    ¡°Alright. Actually¡­ this?¡±


    He wiggled the bandaged finger.


    ¡°I kind of liked it.¡±


    With that, Sayoung stood up and strolled casually into the kitchen. Uijae sighed, putting away the contents of the first-aid kit. After a brief ttering of dishes, Sayoung poked his head out of the kitchen.


    ¡°Oh, and by the way.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°You said, ¡®Any questions so far?¡¯ earlier.¡±


    ¡®Any questions so far?¡¯


    Sayoung smirked.


    ¡°You know, there¡¯s more to this story, right? I get why you¡¯re here, but why am *I* here?¡±


    ¡®Sh*t.¡¯


    ¡°We should finish that conversation while we eat, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s memory was annoyingly sharp.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat. We can talk while we fill our stomachs.¡±


    ---


    They sat at the table, which held a half-rolled, lukewarm omelet and some over-toasted bread. Sayoung, now confident he wasn¡¯t carrying any poison, had started moving around more energetically, pulling out apricot jam, strawberry jam, and cream cheese from the fridge. It wasn¡¯t a perfect meal, but it would do the job. Neither of them were particrly picky eaters.


    Uijae watched Sayoung as he chewed on the omelet, his brow slightly furrowed. This was his chance, while Sayoung was busy eating. As he spread cream cheese on his toast, Uijae began,


    ¡°About earlier, when I was getting a grasp on the situation¡­ the system offered to give me what I needed most.¡±


    Sayoung nodded, continuing to chew as Uijae¡¯s voice lowered.


    ¡°¡­So, I epted the offer.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s eyes sharpened. Uijae could tell from his look that he was ready to snap. Quickly averting his gaze, Uijae pursed his lips. Swallowing the omelet, Say


    oung set down his fork and let out a long sigh.


    ¡°You just believed the system¡¯s words, didn¡¯t even question the cost?¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Seriously¡­¡±


    Sayoung paused, choosing his words carefully before saying,


    ¡°Be careful out there. Don¡¯t get scammed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been scammed in my life.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure. So, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ then you showed up.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡±


    Uijae trailed off, avoiding eye contact, as he focused intently on spreading cream cheese on his toast.


    Apparently, the thing Uijae needed most¡­ was Lee Sayoung. Why that was the case, he had no idea.


    He stuffed the toast into his mouth. Then, from across the table, a low voice reached him.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m the thing you needed most, huh.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, well¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ nice to hear.¡±


    The rustling of clothing followed shortly after.


    ¡°Out of everything I¡¯ve heard today, that might be my favorite line.¡±


    Something warm brushed against Uijae¡¯s foot. He paused mid-bite. The sensation on the top of his foot¡­ it felt like a¡­


    ¡®Foot?¡¯


    Uijae cautiously nced over at Sayoung, who was sitting across from him. He was resting his chin in both hands, staring straight at Uijae. His bandaged finger yfully tapped his cheek. As their eyes met, Sayoung¡¯s eyes narrowed with a mischievous smile.


    Meanwhile, the foot that had brushed Uijae¡¯s now began to gently stroke his ankle. The unexpected touch made Uijae¡¯s toes curl. Hurriedly swallowing his toast, Uijae blurted out,


    ¡°¡­Hey.¡±


    ¡°Mm?¡±


    Sayoung tilted his head ever so slightly, smiling angelically.

 Chapter 133

    "Your foot..."


    "And what about it?"@@novelbin@@


    Sayoung replied in a calm, amused tone, his violet eyes glinting mischievously as they gazed at Uijae. The slight pressure on Uijae¡¯s ankle remained, the fabric of his pants brushing lightly with every subtle movement. Unable to ignore the sensation, Uijae quickly set his bread down.


    "Wait, wait, hold on."


    "It''s not ''wait''¡ªyou should be addressing me properly."


    The soft pressure of Sayoung¡¯s foot against his ankle continued, teasing the fabric of Uijae''s pants and making him clench his fists instinctively. Unable to hold back, he forced out a response.


    "...Lee Sayoung."


    "Yes? I''m right here."


    "Why are you touching me with your foot?"


    "Well..."


    Sayoung¡¯s smile widened as he tilted his head.


    "Because I feel like it."


    "You can''t just do whatever you want because you feel like it!"


    "But..."


    The foot that had lingered under the hem of Uijae''s pants shifted slightly, now pressing gently into the arch of his foot as if they were two pieces meant to fit together. It sent an oddly satisfying jolt through Uijae''s system. Sayoung tilted his chin upward, his voice soft butced with confidence.


    "You¡¯ll let me, won¡¯t you?"


    ¡®This guy... why is he so reckless with his foot?¡¯


    Was it the strange atmosphere of the room they¡¯d seen earlier? Or perhaps it was the memory of Sayoung¡¯s face, flushed crimson not too long ago, that made Uijae feel uneasy. His foot instinctively recoiled, seeking distance.


    "What kind of nonsense is this¡­? Hey, get your foot off me."


    Just as Uijae tried to pull his foot away, Sayoung¡¯s voice came in low and teasing.


    "You can¡¯t even handle this? After biting my finger like that?"


    Sayoung raised his hand, showing off the bandaged finger as if to emphasize his point. Uijae had nothing to say in response. That finger was going to be a constant reminder from now on. Feeling both exasperated and resigned, Uijae picked up his bread again, though the foot beneath his own persisted.


    Sayoung''szy drawl broke the silence.


    "In this world... we seem to be quite close."


    The words hit like a strike to the heart. Uijae coughed lightly, covering his mouth, his mind shing back to therge bed and the two distinctly different sets of belongings. His cheeks flushed involuntarily, though not as brightly as Sayoung¡¯s had earlier.


    ¡®Damn, why doesn¡¯t my poker face work at times like this?¡¯


    The awkward coughing fit eventually subsided as Uijae tried to calm his racing thoughts.


    ¡®...Wait,e to think of it, hasn¡¯t my poker face been missing for a while now?¡¯


    Before he could delve deeper into that thought, Sayoung''s smirk widened as he mockingly pointed out Uijae''s expression.


    "What are you thinking about? Your face is bright red."


    "...I choked on something."


    "Uh-huh¡­ sure."


    "It¡¯s true."


    "Of course. But I meant we¡¯re close like family."


    Sayoung shrugged and gestured toward the living room with a nod.


    "There¡¯s even a photo of us together."


    "A photo?"


    "You didn¡¯t see it? Wow, you really weren¡¯t paying attention. Check it outter."


    Sayoung spoke casually and then stabbed his fork into the omelet, taking small bites. However, his face scrunched up slightly the moment the food entered his mouth.


    "If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t eat it."


    "It¡¯s not that¡­"


    Sayoung hesitated, chewing slowly before muttering,


    "It¡¯s been a while."


    "A while for what?"


    "To eat food and actually taste it."


    "...What?"


    "Never mind, it¡¯s nothing."


    Sayoung replied indifferently, spreading jam on his bread. Uijae pursed his lips, processing what he''d just heard.


    Had Sayoung really been unable to taste food all this time? But hadn¡¯t he eaten well back at the soup restaurant?


    Suddenly, a memory hit him. The day Lee Sayoung had firste to the restaurant. Uijae had watched him closely as he ate his hangover soup for the first time, curious to see what he would say.


    Now that he thought about it...


    ¡®The soup¡¯s hot.¡¯


    ¡®The meat¡¯s tender.¡¯


    He hadn¡¯t reallymented on the vors at all.


    ¡®Damn poison.¡¯


    "Why do you look so sad?"


    Uijae lifted his head. Sayoung, having taken a bite of his jam-covered bread, chewed slowly, watching Uijae carefully. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and he wiped the crumbs from his lips with his thumb.


    "If you pity me¡­"


    The soft skin of Sayoung¡¯s foot brushed against Uijae¡¯s again. This time, his smile was bright.


    "Don¡¯t push me away."


    Uijae remained silent. Both of them knew the truth¡ªthat Uijae didn¡¯t pity Sayoung, and that Sayoung¡¯s foot wasn¡¯t going anywhere. This was simply...


    "¡­¡­."


    An excuse. A way to cover up something deeper.


    There are emotions that are better left unnamed.


    And so, Uijae didn¡¯t move away from the warmth pressing against him. Instead, he nudged Sayoung¡¯s ankle with his toes. Just a little. Just enough to seem like it was an ident.


    Uijae picked up the small picture frame from the living room drawer. It held a photo of him and Sayoung, arms around each other¡¯s shoulders and waists, smiling warmly at the camera. A world where the West Sea Rift hadn¡¯t happened.


    If the Rift hadn¡¯t urred, could they have lived like this? Like a family?


    Just then, Uijae''s phone buzzed in his pocket. He ced the frame back down and hesitated before checking the screen. It was a message.


    **Uijae, good afternoon! Are you doing well with Sayoung? Give me a call tonight, okay? ~Auntie Hye-kyung~**


    The message was written in an overfamiliar, affectionate tone, filled with emojis. The sender¡­


    ¡®Auntie?¡¯


    Park Hye-kyung. Uijae stared at the familiar name on the screen, tapping through the message history. There were countless texts exchanged, and phone call logs appeared regrly, at least once every two days.


    ¡®In this world, Auntie is alive, too...¡¯


    Uijae rubbed the screen gently, as if he could somehow reach out and touch the words. The sunlight streaming in through therge window was bright and warm.


    This ce¡­ it was too perfect, too peaceful. Like it had been made by extracting only the best memories.


    The sound of water rushing through the sink brought Uijae back to the present. He looked up. Sayoung was standing in the kitchen, washing dishes, scrubbing away the suds. Noticing Uijae¡¯s gaze, Sayoung nced over his shoulder, his violet eyes meeting Uijae¡¯s with a puzzled look.


    ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯


    Uijae shut off his phone screen and shoved it back into his pocket. The moment of peace had passed. It was time to figure out how to escape this dungeon.


    Outside, the scenery hadn¡¯t changed much. It was clear they needed to leave the house to find answers. This house seemed more like a safe zone or a base camp than anything else.


    He made his way to the front door. The door, unlike most, was locked with a key instead of a digital lock. He unlocked it cautiously, gripping the handle.


    ¡®Just a quick check outside.¡¯


    Uijae was prepared for anything, even the possibility of facing monsters the moment he opened the door. He braced himself, turned the handle, and then¡­


    "...What the¡­"


    He was met with a vast emptiness.


    Clunk. The sound of a single shoe being kicked over the threshold echoed as it rolled into the bottomless abyss beyond. There was no sound of itnding. Outside the door was a sheer cliff, and surrounding it was nothing but pitch-ck darkness. It was an endless void. Uijae froze in ce, hand still gripping the doorknob. From somewhere behind him, he heard Sayoung¡¯s voice.


    "Hyung?"


    ¡®What the hell is this?¡¯


    This didn¡¯t make sense. If the outside world was like this, then what about the scenery they saw through the windows earlier? Where was the dungeon master? What was the actual boundary of the dungeon?


    The sound of footsteps quickly approaching reached him, and then a wet hand wrapped around his waist like a snake. A solid chest pressed against his back, and arger hand covered his on the doorknob.


    Bang!


    The door mmed shut. Uijae snapped back to reality just as a slightlybored breath brushed past his ear. Sayoung exhaled, resting his head briefly against Uijae¡¯s shoulder before lifting it again.


    "Are you out of your mind?"


    "No, I just¡­ did you see that? Did you see what was out there?"


    "I saw it. And when the outside looks like that, you¡¯re supposed to close the door right away instead of standing there like an idiot."


    Sayoung''s sharp voice cut through the air, but Uijae just stared nkly at the closed door.


    This ce was a *Memorial Dungeon* created from someone¡¯s memories. The boundary of the dungeon¡­


    Uijae murmured to himself,


    "It¡¯s this house¡­"


    "What?"


    "The boundary of the dungeon. It¡¯s the house."


    Only the house. A sense of foreboding crawled up Uijae¡¯s spine. The dungeon was this house. In most dungeons, clearing it required killing the dungeon


    master.


    Which meant the dungeon master was inside this house¡­


    ¡®No, no way.¡¯


    Uijae bit the inside of his cheek, trying to stop his mind from jumping to worst-case scenarios. He gripped the doorknob harder. That¡¯s when his fingers brushed against something. His eyes widened. Sayoung, still holding Uijae¡¯s waist, tugged him slightly.


    "Why are you still standing here? Let¡¯s go."


    "Wait, hold on."


    There was something etched beneath the doorknob. Uijae crouched down, examining the area more closely.


    The mark was clear:


    ¡®HYS¡¯


    It looked like an engraving of letters. Uijae traced the mark with his finger, muttering quietly,


    "HYS?"


    "HYS?"


    "Yeah. It¡¯s carved right here under the doorknob."


    As soon as Uijae mentioned the letters, Sayoung clicked his tongue.


    "That bastard¡¯s initials. What the hell is his mark doing here¡­?"


    "Whose mark?"


    "...It¡¯s a dungeon, right? Created from someone¡¯s memories."


    "Yeah."


    "...Hong Yeseong can create dungeons, too. He can manipte dimensions, so it¡¯s not impossible."


    "Hong Yeseong?"


    The image of Hong Yeseong, with his annoyingly smug grin and thumbs-up, shed in Uijae¡¯s mind. He was an irritating guy, but undeniably talented. Sayoung crossed his arms, looking displeased as he exined.


    "He¡¯s obsessed with himself. He leaves his signature on anything he touches. If he thinks something he made is a masterpiece, he uses Chinese characters. If it¡¯s just something he made for fun, he leaves his initials in English."


    "So, if this isn¡¯t just the doorknob he made¡­"


    "Then this dungeon was probably created by Hong Yeseong. Or, to be exact, the Hong Yeseong of this world."


    Sayoung pressed his temples, muttering under his breath.

 Chapter 135

    The bed they hadin upon, followed by the walls and foundation of the house, disappeared, leaving behind a nk, white void.


    Amidst the swirling white ash, like a miniature storm, Uijae pulled the hand he was holding closer, protectively hugging the solid body into his embrace. Therge frame came willingly, without resistance. But only for a moment¡ªsoon, the warmth in his arms began to fade away.


    Cha Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in rm. He loosened his hold, freeing the arms that had been wrapped around the figure, and looked down at his hands.


    Empty. His arms were empty, and so were his hands.


    Grinding his teeth, Uijae shouted,


    "I-Sa-Young!"


    Suddenly, Uijae''s vision cleared, and before him in the once empty void, someone was sitting on their knees, dressed in ck, leaning against something dark. The back view was both familiar and strange, but he knew without question¡ªit was himself.


    It was rare to see his own back, but Uijae recognized it immediately.


    That was "me."


    He stared, transfixed. Soon, the other "him" raised his head slowly and rose to his feet. Uijae¡¯s gaze followed as this other version of him stood and gently looked down at what he had been leaning on.


    It was a ck coffin.


    The other Uijae whispered softly,


    ¡®It¡¯s okay.¡¯


    ¡®Just sleep for a little while longer.¡¯


    In the next moment, Uijae found himself moving. He was walking across a dry, lifeless yard, where dead grass crackled underfoot. A fiercely burning kiln sat in one corner, filling the air with acrid smoke that stung his nose. Uijae walked straight to a set of sliding doors and yanked them open roughly.


    Inside, tools and materialsy scattered everywhere, the ce a mess of a workshop. In the center, Hong Yeseong, with arge magnifying ss strapped to his face, straightened up. The sound of his cheap sandals scraping the floor filled the air.


    ¡°Hey, wipe the blood off before youe in.¡±


    Uijae wiped the blood off his mask with his sleeve and muttered,


    ¡°It¡¯s not my blood.¡±


    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t. Is it still like that outside?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here to talk about that¡­ Hong Yeseong, you said you could manipte space, right?¡±


    Hong Yeseong blinked, then shrugged.


    ¡°Yeah? I can, but nothing spectacr. Just enough to set up my own little den.¡±


    ¡°Do me a favor.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Make a space using my memories. It doesn¡¯t need to be big.¡±


    ¡°What? Why so suddenly?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t do it?¡±


    ¡°Who do you think I am? ¡­Actually, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll work. But I guess I can try.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the rush?¡±


    A hint of anxiety crept into Hong Yeseong¡¯s face.


    ¡°You¡¯re not thinking about going after him, are you?¡±


    ¡°¡­As you¡¯ve noticed, this world is on the verge of destruction. It¡¯s already past its breaking point.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it alone. Even with you, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Hong Yeseong rubbed his cheek, his expression grim.


    ¡°¡­At least, we still have onest option.¡±


    Cha Uijae rolled up the sleeve of hisbat uniform, revealing his left wrist. A spotless silver watch gleamed there, and a soft golden aura began to rise from it like smoke.


    Then, he took off his mask, revealing a face lined with exhaustion and swollen red eyes. But his gaze remained sharp, flickering with a fierce blue light.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to turn back time. To before the end.¡±


    ¡°But you need a pivot point for that¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the pivot. I¡¯ve done it once before. This time, I won¡¯t fail. I¡¯ll have time to prepare.¡±


    Hong Yeseong swallowed nervously and asked in a low voice,


    ¡°Is that really the only reason?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Is there another reason¡­?¡±


    ¡®Cha Uijae¡¯ said nothing, lips pressed tight together. Somewhere in the background, Uijae, now separated from the other ¡°him,¡± observed from a distance.


    Cha Uijae never gives up. Not when there¡¯s something to protect.


    But this time, he had.


    Uijae thought of the ck coffin again. He knew who its upant was. In fact, he had known from the moment he saw it. The image of a familiar face shed in his mind¡ªeyes narrowing yfully, a gentle voice calling his name:


    ¡®Hyung.¡¯


    Lee Sayoung. Uijae¡¯s mouth felt dry as he muttered through gritted teeth,


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose him again.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Never.¡±


    Hong Yeseong looked at Uijae with pity but didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he turned to rummage through a box in the corner, filled with mana stones of various shapes and colors. Lifting a purple mana stone, he held it up to the ceiling light and asked,


    ¡°Fine. But why are you leaving your memories behind? What good will that do?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The ground rumbled with a low groan. Materials stacked in the cupboard rattled and tumbled to the floor.


    Hong Yeseong yelped and scrambled to gather them up. Meanwhile, ¡®Cha Uijae¡¯ looked outside. The sky was covered by a swirling white vortex. It could no longer be called a sky. White ash fell like snow.


    Uijae¡¯s lips moved as he spoke, and his voice ovepped with that of ¡®Cha Uijae.¡¯


    ¡°Because it¡¯ll help me endure.¡±


    If you gather all the best and kindest moments, when a dayes that life bes unbearable¡­


    You¡¯ll have a ce to rest, if only for a moment.


    Suddenly, the entire scene turned ck and white. Like a photograph, time itself froze¡ªeverything from the falling materials to the swaying air. Even ¡®Cha Uijae¡¯ and Hong Yeseong were locked in ce, no longer moving or breathing. Soon, everything began to crumble into dust.


    Then, Uijae felt eyes on him. Amidst the crumbling, frozen world, only one thing was moving¡ªa glowing golden eye. Its intricate patterns and oveppingyers pulsed with life.


    The eye stared straight at Uijae. And as if that were a signal, the frozen image of Hong Yeseong twitched, creaking as he moved. He slowly lifted a hand and pointed directly at Cha Uijae. His movements were stiff and awkward, like a doll on strings. A chill ran down Uijae¡¯s spine, snapping him out of his daze.


    Hong Yeseong¡¯s lips moved.


    ¡°This is your third and final chance.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t hold on any longer. Neither can he, nor you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fail this time.¡±


    What was that supposed to mean? Uijae wanted to ask, but his body wouldn¡¯t move. A powerful gust of wind blew him backward as Hong Yeseong¡¯s lips curved into a long smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m watching.¡±


    What are you talking about? Uijae fought with all his strength to raise his arm, reaching toward Hong Yeseong. But it was toote; Hong Yeseong was already too far away. The ck-and-white figure waved stiffly, like a puppet.


    ¡°Goodbye, my friend.¡±


    You bastard! Unable to contain his frustration, Uijae flipped him the bird. Laughter echoed distantly as everything faded.


    With a brilliant sh, like a camera going off, the world went white.


    When Uijae opened his eyes, he found himself floating in a white void. It was like being a ss bottle drifting aimlessly across the sea. Though his body felt weightless, his mind was inplete disarray. The words third, failure, Lee Sayoung¡­ all jumbled together, overwhelming his brain.


    Hadn¡¯t Cha Uijae died in the fragment that Yun Gaeul had shown him?


    Then why was he alive in what he had just witnessed?


    Is Yun Gaeul safe? Is this even the same world she was pulled into?


    How was he friends with Hong Yeseong?


    He could ept that he had turned back time, but why didn¡¯t he have any memory of it?


    And why was Lee Sayoung sitting alone in that dark space?


    Damn it, where¡¯s Lee Sayoung now?


    As a whirlwind of thoughts spun in his head, one image rose above all others: the moment Sayoung vanished from his embrace. Uijae¡¯s expression tightened. Had he returned to the original world? After all, Sayoung had onlye because of the system¡¯s reward. He hoped that was the case¡­


    Just then, the empty space began to hum.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Uijae looked up. The hum grew louder and more distinct.


    ¡­Hyung.


    Finally, the voice became clear. It was Lee Sayoung¡¯s voice. Where was he? Uijae craned his neck, looking around.


    Cha Uijae!


    Lee Sayoung¡¯s voice boomed, calling his name. Uijae jumped to his feet, his frustration boiling over.


    ¡°Stop shouting my¡ª!¡±


    Cha Uijae¡¯s eyes flew open. The white void was gone, reced by the familiar sight of swirling ash falling around him. He blinked slowly. His heart began to race.


    This ce looked exactly like the inside of the West Sea Rift. No, it might even be the West Sea Rift itself. Had he finally been pulled into that world?


    Suddenly, he felt a powerful pressure on his chest.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    He could also feel soft strands of hair brushing against him. Uijae took a deep breath. He was being hugged by Lee Sayoung. The warmth of his body and the rapid beating


    of both their hearts filled the air.@@novelbin@@


    Sayoung, clutching at the back of Uijae¡¯s shirt as if to tear it apart, muttered,


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t going to wake up¡­¡±


    Uijae gently patted Sayoung¡¯s back.


    A loud, deep wail echoed in the distance. Uijae, still holding onto Sayoung, looked up.


    **<Tracker''s Eye!>**


    His blue eyes darted around quickly, searching. Nearby, a familiar me flickered¡ªit was Yun Gaeul. But soon, a massive shadow loomed over her me. Uijae raised his gaze toward the source of the sound.


    Beyond the white horizon, a gigantic whale breached from the sea of white ash, soaring into the air.

 Chapter 136

    "...A whale?"


    Uijae pressed Sayoung¡¯s head gently against his chest with the hand that had been patting his back. A sweet scent filled the air.


    The whale, stark white and enormous, had leapt from the sea. From its appearance alone, it didn¡¯t seem like a monster, but Uijae couldn¡¯t be sure. There was too little information. Was it a hostile creature or merely one of the life forms lingering in this deste, ruined world? Or perhaps...


    "...Hyung," Sayoung whispered.


    The soft murmur snapped Uijae back to reality. By the time he looked up again, the whale had already disappeared beneath the ocean''s surface. The surroundings were once again still and quiet, as though the whale had never appeared. Uijae sighed softly and responded.


    ¡°Yeah, Sayoung.¡±


    "...Are you okay?"


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m okay.¡±


    "...Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Sayoung slowly let go of Uijae¡¯s clothes. Uijae patted Sayoung''s back a couple more times, gently pushing him away. Sayoung¡¯s face was paler than usual, a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead, wet from sweat. He muttered, his voice faint,


    "I... I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn''t wake up."


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I kept calling your name, but you didn¡¯t wake up¡­ I thought¡­"


    Sayoung''s voice trailed off into a dazed murmur, his violet eyes unfocused, staring at nothing. A dark, shadowy aura flickered in his gaze. Then, he roughly rubbed his face, cursing under his breath.


    "Damn it..."


    "I''m fine. Calm down," Uijae said softly.


    "Ugh..."


    Sayoung clutched his chest, his breathing bingbored. He was gasping, his shirt crumpled from his tight grip. But this wasn''t just irritation or frustration¡ªit was something deeper.


    ¡®You can''t even save us! What kind of hero are you?¡¯


    The memory of someone screaming in anguish echoed faintly in Uijae''s mind, though he couldn¡¯t recall exactly who it had been. He bit down hard on his tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. The way Sayoung was acting now reminded him all too much of those Hunters he¡¯d seen break down, their mental endurance depleted. And J had seen many like that.


    ...Far too many.


    Sayoung¡¯s breathing quickened, his body bent forward, trembling. His breath became shorter and shorter, his chest heaving violently, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. He was hyperventting.


    Uijae quickly scanned the surroundings using **Tracker¡¯s Eye**. Yun Gaeul was still in the same spot he had seen her earlier. From the way the mes flickered and theck of movement, it seemed she wasn¡¯t seriously injured.


    Good.


    Grinding his teeth, Uijae cupped Sayoung¡¯s face with both hands.


    ¡°Sayoung, look at me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Lee Sayoung!¡±


    But Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes were still lost, unfocused, scanning the empty air instead of Uijae. His already pale face had turned an rming shade of blue. Uijae felt a chill run down his spine.


    Damn it. Is it because of those memories?


    He acted on instinct. Climbing onto Sayoung¡¯sp, Uijae used one hand to support the back of Sayoung¡¯s neck and the other to cover the hand gripping his shirt, massaging the tense, blood-engorged veins. Sayoung¡¯s head tilted backward, his mouth hanging open, his breathing in short, ragged gasps.


    Was the sweetness of the memory dungeon too much for him to bear?


    Or maybe it was just an excuse.


    The scent in the air was sweet, and, before he could stop himself, Uijae...


    Soft lips met his.


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae tilted his head slightly, letting the warmth between their lips spread. He exhaled slowly, pressing more air into Sayoung¡¯s lungs. After taking in another breath, he repeated the process, breathing life into him. Gradually, he felt the grip on his shirt loosen.


    After what felt like an eternity, Uijae opened his eyes.


    Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes were no longer lost. They focused solely on Uijae, filled with rity.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae slowly pulled back, letting go of Sayoung¡¯s lips and releasing the hand he had been holding. But just as he did, arge hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, their gazes locking.


    Uijae spoke first.


    "I told you, I¡¯ve got skills."


    ¡°...¡±


    "I¡¯m not one to lie like some people."


    Sayoung¡¯s warm hands slid between Uijae¡¯s fingers, pulling him closer. His strong arms wrapped around Uijae¡¯s waist, and the violet eyes in front of him gleamed fiercely, filled with desire. His lips, now flushed red, parted as he whispered sweetly, as though tempting him,


    "Not yet."


    "..."


    "Just a little more."


    "..."


    Lee Sayoung.


    Cha Uijae¡¯s only¡­


    And¡­


    Uijae leaned in, allowing the parted lips in front of him to wee him. Their tongues intertwined, the wet sounds filling the quiet air around them. Every time Sayoung¡¯s tongue touched the roof of Uijae¡¯s mouth, his body shuddered.


    As Uijae wrapped his arms around Sayoung¡¯s neck, their chests pressed together tightly, leaving no space between them. Their hearts beat wildly,pletely out of sync, but in that moment, Uijae knew for sure¡ªthis time, Sayoung could hear everything.


    [The trait **Basilisk''s Venom (S+)** has been activated.]


    [Due to the effects of **Basilisk''s Venom (S+),** you have developed resistance to toxins you have already neutralized.]


    [Your detoxification speed has increased.]


    [You will not suffer physical harm.]


    [Detoxifying...]


    There was no way an S-rank Awakened like Sayoung wouldn¡¯t hear this.


    Ignoring the system notifications popping up endlessly, Uijae closed his eyes again. When he finally pulled back, a soft chuckle escaped Sayoung¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t a lie, was it?¡±


    "..."


    "Not at all..."


    Sayoung let out a low, sweet sigh as if melting away. He lowered his head, cing a soft kiss on Uijae¡¯s neck. Uijae looked down at Sayoung¡¯s messy ck hair, then rested his cheek against it.


    A warm heat spread through both of them. In the stillness of the ruined world, Uijae closed his eyes, listening to the sound of their hearts beating.


    Sayoung tasted sweet.


    The soft ash underfoot crunched as they walked, leaving long trails of footprints behind them in the snow-like dust.


    Uijae¡¯s sharp blue eyes scanned their surroundings. The area with the strongest mes was still partially intact, remnants of a copsed building. He stepped forward, peering behind a crumbling wall.


    ¡°Yun Gaeul!¡±


    In a corner not yet covered by ash, a dark shapey slumped. It looked like Yun Gaeul.


    Uijae rushed toward the figure, the sound of herbored breathing bing clearer the closer he got. The dark shape was an old, tattered ck leather coat.


    Carefully lifting the coat, Uijae revealed Yun Gaeul¡¯s peaceful face, her eyes closed as if she were simply asleep. She was still dressed in her school uniform. When he ced a hand under her nose, he felt the soft warmth of her breath.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Relief washed over him. He had known she was alive, but seeing it for himself and feeling her breath gave him true confirmation. Uijae gently shook her shoulder.


    ¡°Gaeul, wake up. Gaeul?¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    Gaeul stirred, frowning in her sleep. Sayoung, standing beside them with his arms crossed, tilted his head.


    "Maybe we should just p her awake. It¡¯d be quicker."


    ¡°Why are you always suggesting violence?¡±


    ¡°I woke Baewonwoo by pping him.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re proud of that?¡±


    While Uijae and Sayoung bickered, Gaeul slowly opened her eyes, her movements sluggish.


    "What¡­?"


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake?¡±


    ¡°J? Oh my god, J! You¡¯re here!¡±


    Gaeul screamed in surprise, jumping to her feet. But she stood too quickly, clutching her head and groaning in pain.


    "Ugh..."


    ¡°Calm down. There¡¯s nothing dangerous here. I checked while we wereing¡ªit''s just us.¡±


    "Y-Yes¡­"


    Still holding her head, Gaeul blinked at Uijae and Sayoung, then her eyes welled up with tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­ hic, I can¡¯t believe you had toe here because of me¡­¡±


    "Don''t think like that."


    "But I¡ª"


    Gaeul pouted as she tried to hold back tears, then wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve. Uijae crouched in front of her and smiled softly.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m just d you¡¯re safe, Gaeul.¡±


    In that moment¡­


    ¡°...Hic.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°HUUUHH¡­! I¡¯M SORRY!!!¡±


    Suddenly, Gaeul burst into sobs, her cries echoing through the ruins. Uijae looked at Sayoung in confusion. Sayoung smirked and shrugged.


    "Looks like you made her cry, Hyung."


    "...Me?"


    "WAAAAAH!"@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Betterfort her. She¡¯s not going to stop crying otherwise.¡±


    Sayoung smiled as he nodded toward Gaeul. Uijae reached into his


    pocket, but then his eyes fell on the tattered coat. He stared at it for a moment. Despite its worn state, it seemed oddly familiar.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Where had he seen it before?


    As Uijae absentmindedly fumbled with the coat, a memory suddenly shed in his mind.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    He held the coat up toward Gaeul, who was still sobbing.


    "Gaeul, look at this! Gaeul!"


    ¡°You¡¯re not giving her that to wipe her tears, right? ...That¡¯s gross.¡±


    ¡°Shut up for a second. Gaeul!¡±


    ¡°*Hic*...Yes?¡±


    Gaeul, still sniffling, looked between Uijae and the coat in confusion. Uijae pointed at the coat, his eyes lighting up.


    ¡°This coat¡ªwasn¡¯t this in the memory fragment you showed me?¡±

 Chapter 137

    ¡°Sniff, sorry. Just a moment¡­. Wh-what is it?¡±


    Gaeul rubbed her eyes roughly with her sleeve and then inspected the coat. Although her body trembled asionally, as if she was trying to hold back tears, she seemed much calmer.


    Uijae lightly tapped the surface of the coat with his fingertips. Their eyes met, and he silently mouthed a few words.


    ¡°Fragment, Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ah, gasp!¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She hurriedly stood up and asked, somewhat flustered.


    ¡°Could you spread it out a little more?¡±


    ¡°Hold on a second.¡±


    Uijae stood up, spread the coat wide open likeying out a nket, and squatted down in front of it. Upon closer inspection, the coat was in even worse condition than it appeared at first nce. Scratches and tears were scattered all over it, and the left sleeve was more worn than the right.


    But what he could be sure of¡­


    Uijae nced back. Lee Sayoung was standing behind him, narrowing his eyes as he stared down at the coat.


    ¡®It looks like the coat Sayoung was wearing in the fragment¡­¡¯


    In the fragment, Lee Sayoung was wearing a ck leather coat that reached his knees. The design and size were both simr. Uijae, who was taller than the average man, found the coat slightly loose on him, suggesting a close match.


    Gaeul, who had been sitting close to the wall to avoid disturbing Uijae¡¯s work, leaned in curiously.


    ¡°Hmm, J¡¯s guess seems right¡­ but.¡±


    Gaeul looked at Uijae, then nced over at Sayoung behind him. She mouthed the words:


    ¡®But he¡¯s right here.¡¯


    Uijae gave a small nod.


    Yes, the Lee Sayoung he knew had been brought here by the system and was standing right next to them. But¡­


    Uijae bit down on the inside of his cheek. The ck coat Gaeul had been covering herself with was definitely the one Sayoung had worn in the fragment. And the owner of the Basilisk¡¯s Fang, which Uijae had picked up in the West Sea Rift, might also be that version of Lee Sayoung.


    The ruined world was eerily familiar. Just like the West Sea Rift.


    Could it be that ¡®he¡¯ was here too? If the West Sea Rift and this world were connected¡­


    Uijae asked quietly.


    ¡°Do you remember who gave you this?¡±


    ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t remember getting anything like this¡­¡±


    Gaeul answered with a puzzled look. Sayoung chimed in from beside her.


    ¡°You were wearing it, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Me?¡±


    ¡°You looked like a bug in a cocoon.¡±


    ¡°Sayoung¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Sayoung shrugged. Gaeul fidgeted with the coat, tilting her head and murmured softly.


    ¡°Was I alone, by any chance?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you were lying down, wrapped in the coat by yourself.¡±


    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t receive it, but I think I might know who left it. Though I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    Who. Uijae frowned slightly. When Gaeul called for help¡­


    ¡°Gaeul, when you appeared in my dream, you said there was nothing here, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I wasn¡¯t lying! There was really nothing here, I swear. But¡­¡±


    ¡°Then exin it properly.¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s cold voice cut through the air. He stood with his arms crossed, ring at Gaeul.


    ¡°You probably know more than we do.¡±


    Gaeul, who had been stumbling over her words, lowered her head deeply.


    ¡°¡­Right, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Gaeul¡¯s probably just as shaken up as we are. She was here alone¡­. Give her some time to calm down.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right¡­¡±


    Sayoung smirked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that you two kept whispering about things only you understand¡­, it was kind of annoying. Sorry, okay?¡±


    Uijae punched Sayoung lightly on the thigh, not hard enough to hurt. Sayoung leaned down and whispered in his ear.


    ¡°You sure have a lot of secrets, don¡¯t you, hyung?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I trust you¡¯ll tell me everything soon.¡±


    One long finger brushed lightly against the back of Uijae¡¯s neck like pressing a piano key, then slid up to rub against the shell of his ear, hidden in his hair. The tickling warmth sent chills down his spine. Uijae grabbed his ear and clenched his teeth.


    ¡®This guy¡­ now that he knows his venom doesn¡¯t affect me, he just goes for it.¡¯


    A low chuckle tickled his ear. Sayoung tilted his head toward Gaeul.


    ¡°Go ahead. Exin, in as much detail as you can. Including whatever you two were whispering about.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°The person who dragged me here didn¡¯t bother to exin much¡­.¡±


    The finger that had pulled away returned, teasing the back of Uijae¡¯s neck. Uijae shuddered slightly.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything.¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s anxious eyes turned to Uijae. She seemed to be asking, ¡®Did you bring me here?¡¯ Uijae lowered his head. He hadn¡¯t meant to, but that¡¯s how it turned out. And¡­


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    Uijae rubbed his lips with the back of his hand and responded.


    ¡°Yeah, we need to understand the situation. It¡¯d help if you could tell us everything, from the moment you arrived. Slowly¡­ bit by bit.¡±


    As if to praise him, Sayoung¡¯s finger lightly scratched the back of his neck again. The strange mix of warmth and difort made Uijae stumble over his words, but luckily, Gaeul seemed lost in thought as she lowered her gaze.


    ¡°When I came to, I was already here. I walked for what felt like forever, but there was nothing. It was so quiet¡­ everything was ruined and broken, I felt like I was the only one alive. Not even monsters showed up, and it reminded me of the fragments I¡¯d seen, which made me anxious. I missed my mom, my friends¡­ it was like that.¡±


    Gaeul sniffled and continued quickly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know why I was here or how to get back. But I couldn¡¯t just stay here forever. That¡¯s when I thought about contacting J or Jung Bin. Since I can see fragments through dreams, I figured if I just found the right path¡­¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you came to my dream.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t actually think it would work. I couldn¡¯t even find the path to Jung Bin¡¯s dream¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°After I found J¡¯s dream¡­ I just kept walking. I thought maybe I¡¯d find something. Oh, I know you¡¯re supposed to stay put when you¡¯re lost, but¡­¡±


    She fidgeted with her fingers and mumbled.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t keep moving, I felt like I¡¯d lose my mind¡­.¡±


    I know.


    Cha Uijae knew all too well the terror of absolute silence after all life had perished. No one knew it better than he did.


    When your own heartbeat and breathing are the only sounds in your ears. When no matter how much you shout, there¡¯s no response. When even your heightened senses fail to pick up any trace of life. That creeping sense of powerlessness. Loneliness.


    Istion.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You did well.¡±


    He could offerfort sincerely because he understood. Sayoung¡¯s hand, which had been on the back of his neck, moved through his hair, gently stroking.


    Uijae didn¡¯t push the hand away. He simply weed the warmth. Gaeul bit her lip, as if holding back tears again, but this time she didn¡¯t break downpletely. Instead, she wiped her eyes roughly and continued.


    ¡°I kept walking until my legs started to hurt. So, I looked for a ce to sit.¡±


    Crunch, crunch, crunch¡­. The sound of her footsteps slowed as she kicked at the ground beneath the ashes. Her breath becamebored, although she wasn¡¯t particrly hungry, her legs felt as if they were going to snap. Gaeul kicked at the ground in frustration, scattering ashes into the air.


    ¡°If I¡¯d known it¡¯d be like this, I would¡¯ve worn sweatpants¡­ seriously¡­¡±


    She muttered aloud, speaking the thoughts she usually kept to herself, just to feel a little less alone.


    I wish I could find something. Anything. Even a monster corpse would be better than this. But then, she shook her head violently. What a horrible thought! Finally, she stopped walking. Her legs hurt too much to take another step. Gaeul clenched her school uniform skirt tightly, her hands slick with cold sweat.


    There were no sounds of rustling grass, no wind shaking the leaves, no murmurs of people.


    The end of the world was silent.


    Cold sweat trickled down her temples, and her face turned pale. Her body began trembling uncontrobly.


    ¡°I¡¯m so scared¡­ damn it¡­.¡±


    There was no answer. And that made it even more terrifying.


    Then, suddenly.


    Thump, thump¡­. Her sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps. Gaeul¡¯s head shot up, and she whipped around to look for the source. But the presence disappeared just as quickly as it hade. Silence settled again. Had she finally gone mad? Was she hearing things? Gaeul scratched her ear nervously.


    Thump, thump, thump¡­.


    The footsteps returned, growing closer. For real this time? Gaeul turned toward the sound, her body tensing.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Gasp.¡±


    Gaeul held her breath. In the midst of the white ruins stood something tall and ck. Normally, she would have run away immediately, but after wandering alone for so long, fear no longer had a hold on


    her.


    Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a person. Dressed in a ck cloak, their figure was hard to discern. The ck fabric fluttered. Gaeul asked cautiously.


    ¡°¡­Are¡­ are you human?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Beneath the deep hood, a pale, sharp chin emerged. Dry, cracked lips moved.


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The voice was hoarse, as if they hadn¡¯t spoken for a long time.

 Chapter 138

    "Follow me."


    After saying just those words, he turned and began walking away.


    ¡°Huh? Wait, hold on!¡±


    Gaeul hurriedly scrambled to follow him, forgetting both her suspicions that he might be dangerous and the searing pain in her legs. She was just relieved to have found another person. Under the tattered ck cloak, worn boots kicked up dust. His footprints left clear marks on the ash-covered ground.


    Strangely, the more she followed his footprints, the farther away he seemed to get. Gasping for breath, the taste of sweetness lingered in her mouth. The cloak that had been fluttering just ahead of her was now far in the distance. Was he moving too fast, or was she just too slow?@@novelbin@@


    ¡®Is he using some kind of teleportation technique? He¡¯s really fast¡­¡¯


    Gaeul sniffled, trying to steady her breath. Then, just as she was about to lose sight of him, the sound of his footsteps stopped.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    He was standing far ahead, silently watching her. Had she spoken out loud without realizing? Feeling a bit guilty, Gaeul muttered under her breath.


    ¡°S-sorry¡­ My legs hurt.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Without a word, the man in the ck cloak tossed something toward her. It was an old leather pouch. Gaeul barely managed to catch it and quickly opened it. Inside was an assortment of potions, and they looked top-notch, even at a nce!


    Was he telling her to drink one? Gaeul took out a red potion and nced up at him. He finally spoke again.


    ¡°We have a long way to go.¡±


    Did he have a condition where he couldn¡¯t speak in long sentences? Thankfully, he waited patiently as Gaeul drank the potion and hobbled her way back to him. As she got closer, she could smell a strange, sweet scent mixed with the bitter odor of ash. It was so strong it felt like sugar had been melted into the air.


    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯


    She sniffed the air, but the sweetness vanished as quickly as it came. Maybe she imagined it? She rubbed her nose, but by then, the man in the cloak had started walking again. Gaeul followed him, the pouch swaying in her hand. He seemed suspicious, but at least he didn¡¯t seem like a bad person. Feeling more confident, she finally spoke up.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Are there no monsters here?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°How much farther do we have to go?¡±


    It seemed like hearing a response from him earlier was a miracle. No matter how many questions she asked, she got no reply. She felt like a fool talking to a brick wall. Gaeul grumbled to herself and nced at the cloak again. This time, at least, they weren¡¯t drifting apart like before. They maintained a steady distance.


    The scenery around them began to change. The ruins of copsed buildings faded away, reced by a rtively t area. Was this once a road? Before long, they arrived at the skeletal remains of a building. Calling it a building felt like an exaggeration since there were only a few walls and a framework left.


    The man in the cloak entered first, and Gaeul, ncing around nervously, followed him inside. He spoke briefly.


    ¡°Rest.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, uh¡­ okay.¡±


    Gaeul sat down on the ground, grateful for the break. Her legs were throbbing painfully, but she felt much better. As she massaged her legs, she looked up. The man was leaning against a wall. Out of nowhere, she blurted out a question.


    ¡°Um¡­ why are you helping me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Right, she hadn¡¯t expected an answer. Just as she was about to grumble to herself again, he spoke.


    ¡°Because you called him.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Gaeul snapped her head up. His sharp, dry chin was pointed in her direction. ¡°Because you called him.¡± Who did she call? There was only one person Gaeul had tried to contact.


    J.


    ¡®No.¡¯


    An instinctive chill ran down her spine. Cold sweat trickled down her face. She clenched her fists cautiously. Should she warn J not toe? But with this man right here, how could she? And if J didn¡¯te, then she¡¯d be stuck alone in this world on the verge of copse¡­


    Something white crawled up from the cracks in the floor, coiling around her legs. It looked and felt eerily simr to what had wrapped around her neck just before she was dragged into this ce. Gaeul held her breath.


    A cold voice stabbed into the top of her head.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ah.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to think.¡±


    ¡°¡­Ugh.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything.¡±


    ¡®How can I not think?!¡¯


    Gaeul squeezed her eyes shut. If someone tells you not to think of an elephant, all you can think of is an elephant! The thing wrapped around her legs was already creeping up her arms. Haaa¡­. A long sigh escaped from above her.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    Gaeul carefully opened her eyes. She couldn¡¯t see clearly through the white substance wrapped around her, but she could tell he was crouching right in front of her in azy posture. Just as she sucked in a sharp breath, he reached out with a rough hand and pulled back his hood. ck hair spilled out.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­just have to watch. Wait for the end toe. Here.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°And yet, I helped you because¡­¡±


    His sharp eyes peeked through the long strands of hair covering his face.


    ¡°¡­he would want that.¡±


    His eyes were a pale violet.


    They burned white-hot, devoid of any emotion, yet they shone with that faint purple hue.


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The nce she caught of those eyes felt disturbingly familiar. Where had she seen them before? The ominous gleam in his gaze faded as quickly as it had appeared. If she could just look a little closer, she might remember.


    But then, darkness suddenly flooded her vision. She caught a glint of silver, and in the next instant, her entire view was swallowed by shadows.


    ¡®At least let me say something!¡¯


    Her consciousness began to fade as her eyes drooped shut. The white tendrils wrapped around her loosened and fell away, strand by strand. The tension in her body melted into a drowsy calm. A low voice echoed through the air.


    ¡°Tell him¡­ everything will flow to where it needs to go¡­ so don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Gaeul, struggling to keep her mind from drifting away, managed to ask onest question.


    ¡°Why¡­ don¡¯t you¡­ tell him yourself¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­What a foolish question.¡±


    He snorted.


    ¡°That¡¯s because¡­¡±


    There was a rustling sound, like someone standing up. A low chuckle followed.


    ¡°If I met him¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­And then, when I woke up, I was here. I think that coat belongs to that person.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what he said after that?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s as far as I heard. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Gaeul let out a long sigh. The way her fingers fidgeted with her skirt betrayed her anxiety. She nced at Uijae, then quickly dropped her gaze to the floor when she saw Sayoung standing behind him.


    The story had unsettled Uijae as well. The owner of the ck leather coat, those violet eyes that burned even through the white mes, the smugness in his voice¡­ Uijae clenched his jaw, covering his mouth with his fist.


    ¡®Damn¡­ could that have been Sayoung?¡¯


    This world was one of ruin. And Uijae had seen *that* Sayoung in this destroyed world. He had seen him, buried in the darkness, in the fragments Gaeul had shown him. Even when Honeybee and Baewonwoo hade to find him, he hadn¡¯t moved.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    The man in the ck cloak said he was waiting for the end toe here. Uijae fiddled with the coat lying on the ground. The worn leather was soft, with none of its original stiffness left. That sweet scent lingered faintly in the air.


    ¡®The third chance.¡¯


    If the world they lived in now was the third chance, that meant two apocalypses had alreadye and gone. Time had been reversed twice. Even though no one remembered it. But Uijae had caught glimpses of the other worlds.


    ording to what Hong Yeseong had shown him in the Memorial Dungeon, Uijae had reversed time. Sayoung had died, and with no solution to prevent the oing apocalypse, Uijae had turned back time. To try for a second chance.


    In the world Gaeul had shown him, Uijae had died first. Sayoung had been left alone and had fallen into ruin. So in that world, who had reversed time?


    For time to be reversed, there needed to be an axis.


    In the world where Uijae had died, who had served as the axis?


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    Uijae snapped his head up. A confused voice spoke from behind him.


    ¡°Hyung?¡±


    Uijae clenched his fists.


    ¡®It had to be Sayoung, damn it¡­.¡¯


    Uijae understood the power he held. He didn¡¯t know exactly what it meant to be an ¡®axis,¡¯ but he knew it was beyond anything he could do on his own, no matter how hard he tried. And considering the strict system in ce, there was no way an item like that could be used more than once! Cold sweat pooled in his palm.


    ¡®If Sayoung reversed time¡­¡¯


    Why was Sayoung, the axis, still lingering in this ruined world? Like a ghost.


    ¡®Was it a side effect? Was his power insufficient? Or was it something else?¡¯


    If only he could examine the clock himself and read its description, then all these theories would be clear. Uijae absentmindedly wiped his hand on his pants instead of his apron and opened his mouth.


    The apron and bentdle that had been dragged along with Sayoung when he was pulled into the rift¡­ where should those be now? The hangover soup restaurant. Haeun, Grandma. The first ce he went after escaping the rift.


    The hangover soup restaurant.


    Grandma hadn¡¯t kicked him out even when he was battered and bruised, instead giving him a warm bowl of soup. But Uijae hadn¡¯t had anything to repay her kindness with. All he had were empty potion bottles and his battered body. Desperate to give her something, Uijae had fumbled through his pockets and¡­.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    He had handed over the silver watch that had been around his wrist for who knew how long.


    The same watch he had shown to Hong Yeseong when he reversed time!


    Uijae¡¯s mouth fell open as he stood up with a scream.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    ¡°Hyung?¡±


    ¡°J?¡±


    ¡°Oh my god!¡±


    Sayoung and Gaeul looked at him in confusion. But he didn¡¯t have time to worry about their stares. His heart was racing. Uijae gasped for air.


    ¡°We¡­ we have to go. Now.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    The key to all these problems was at the hangover soup restaurant.


    ¡°The hangover soup restaurant!¡±


    It had been there all along!

 Chapter 140

    ¡°¡­Hyung?¡±


    Sayoung stood frozen, as if nailed to the spot. His mind went nk, and he couldn¡¯t breathe. Uijae was crouched on the ground, staring at the bones scattered across the ground.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    His voice was weak, empty, as if his spirit had left him. It was a voice Sayoung had never heard before¡ªso different, he almost couldn¡¯t believe it was Uijae speaking.


    After a moment, Uijae staggered to his feet, his palms and knees covered in white smudges from the ash. His expression remained nk, but tears kept streaming down his face.


    Uijae was crying.


    His trembling voice cut through the silence.


    ¡°Wait a second, if all this is bone¡­¡±


    Yun Gaeul walked toward a small mound, brushing off the ash to reveal what looked like ribs. She gasped softly. Her anxious gazended on Uijae.


    ¡°Here¡­ Could this all be¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Sayoung nced back at Uijae¡¯s retreating form. He was stumbling, heading toward something, but the way he moved was eerily familiar.


    The ground here was uneven, with small hills rising all around. If, as Gaeul had suggested, all of it was made of bones¡­ and if Uijae was acting like he recognized this ce¡­ then this world, which resembled the West Sea Rift¡­ could this be tied to the sole survivor of the Rift?


    Cha Uijae.


    Sayoung gestured urgently at Gaeul.


    ¡°Follow me!¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, okay!¡±


    Sayoung took off running, chasing after Uijae¡¯s rapidly shrinking figure. He couldn¡¯t let Uijae be left alone. Something inside him screamed that it would be dangerous to let him go any further on his own. As the distance closed, a mounting sense of dread surged within Sayoung. When Uijae came into view, standing at the base of thergest hill they had seen yet, Sayoung found himself instinctively stopping.


    The hill was unlike anything else around¡ªit was wrapped in long, twisting bones. At the very top, a massive skull loomed, its jaw wide open.


    Uijae was staring up at the hill, his face pale and expressionless, tears still flowing. He murmured quietly.


    ¡°I¡­ I was toote.¡±


    ¡°No, you weren¡¯t.¡±


    Sayoung instinctively denied it. But Uijae wasn¡¯t listening.


    ¡°No¡­ There were already so many bones here¡­¡±


    His muttering continued, barely audible.


    ¡°I killed the basilisk, but when I tried to gather the bodies of myrades¡­ they were all mixed in with the monsters. I couldn¡¯t find them all. The bodies were too torn apart.¡±


    Sayoung had seen it before too. Bones scattered across the ground, soaked in red blood, a chaotic mixture of monsters and humans, all jumbled together. And in the middle of it all, someone sitting hunched over, muttering to himself, drenched in blood, with a few human limbs scattered around him.


    Cha Uijae.


    ¡­Me?


    Sayoung frowned and clutched his head. It felt like his skull was splitting open. The image of a bone-filled sea, covered in white ash, flickered before his eyes, ovepping with the memory of a blood-drenched battlefield.


    He had never seen this before.


    But he had seen it.


    Sayoung hunched over, holding his head, feeling like he was going to be sick.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Meanwhile, Uijae had taken another step forward. His ash-covered hand pressed against the base of the hill, wiping away a patch of ash to reveal whaty underneath.


    It was all bones.


    ¡°They were all mixed together¡­ I couldn¡¯t tell them apart.¡±


    ¡°J! Hold on a second¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I tried to do something, but in the end¡­ I couldn¡¯t save anyone.¡±


    Uijae knelt before the hill, his trembling hands brushing more ash away to reveal a jumble of human and non-human bones. Clear tears fell onto the bones below. His voice, small and broken, slipped out from his hunched figure.


    ¡°I was toote¡­ and now¡­ they¡¯re all like this¡­¡±


    No, that¡¯s not true.


    ¡°All of them¡­¡±


    That¡¯s not true!


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡±


    ¡°Cha Uijae!¡±


    His name rang in Uijae¡¯s ears like a p of thunder. He snapped his head up and looked at the person who had called him. Sayoung, gripping his head, was ring at him with eyes glowing fiercely with a violet light. In the sea of white around them, they were the only color.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say something so stupid.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Sayoung motioned toward Gaeul, who was standing off to the side, looking anxious.


    ¡°Yun Gaeul. Go search for anything unusual. This seems like the ce where the West Sea Rift connects.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay! I¡¯ll call out if I find anything.¡±


    Gaeul nodded, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them again, the golden glow returning. She nced back at Uijae onest time before running off. Her eyes were resolute, as if she believed everything would be alright.


    The light tap of her footsteps quickly faded into the distance. Uijae stared nkly at Sayoung. Without hesitation, Sayoung knelt down in front of Uijae, hisrge hands gently cupping his face and ears. The cries that had echoed in Uijae¡¯s mind melted under the warmth of Sayoung¡¯s touch. Sayoung¡¯s lips moved silently.


    Stop thinking.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    You did your best, Hyung.


    ¡°The people¡­ they¡¯re all¡­¡±


    Look at me, Cha Uijae.


    Their eyes met. Uijae¡¯s reflection was clear in Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes. A thumb stained with ash gently wiped away the tears from his eyes. They were wet. It was only then that Uijae realized¡ªhe had been crying. Sayoung¡¯s face drew closer, his soft hair brushing against Uijae¡¯s forehead. Their foreheads touched gently, the warmth of Sayoung¡¯s skin spreading through him. Sayoung¡¯s lips moved softly.


    You¡¯re here.


    The only person who can tell you that you saved someone is the person standing right in front of you.


    It¡¯s going to be okay.


    Uijae swallowed the sob rising in his throat. As their foreheads separated, a soothing wave of warmth washed over him. This was what he had longed for. Uijae wrapped his arms around Sayoung¡¯s neck and buried his face in his shoulder. A small cry escaped his lips.


    Sayoung¡¯srge hand gently stroked his back.


    Sniffling, Uijae blinked his swollen eyes. As he did, a hand reached out and gently covered his face. Uijae mumbled softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright now.¡±


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°I mean it. I¡¯ve calmed down.¡±


    ¡°And you think I¡¯m doing this just because I want to?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Uijae fell silent. A soft chuckle tickled his ear. Just then, the sound of footsteps returned, along with Gaeul¡¯s disappointed voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I looked everywhere, but I couldn¡¯t find anything. It¡¯s all just¡­¡±


    Her words trailed off, but Uijae knew what she meant. It was all just ash and bones. Gaeul coughed lightly, and Uijae noticed that her neck was slick with cold sweat, herplexion pale. He asked gently.


    ¡°Gaeul, are you feeling alright? Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no¡­ I just feel a little nauseous. But I can handle it.¡±


    Yun Gaeul didn¡¯t have much time. She had been the first one brought here, wandering alone for who knows how long, and her soul had been separated from her body for the longest.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­We need to get out of here quickly.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Gaeul stared at the ground, her words trailing off. Sayoung, sitting beside her, asked Uijae.


    ¡°Hyung, do you remember thest thing you killed here?¡±


    ¡°Thest thing I killed?¡±


    ¡°Even if this ce is connected to the ruined world, it¡¯s still technically a rift. At that moment, it would have followed the system¡¯s rules. That means there should be a master of the rift. To escape, we¡¯ll need the rift stone, and to get it, we¡¯ll have to kill the rift master.¡±


    The closed rift would open. Uijae removed the hand covering his eyes and responded.


    ¡°Oh, that¡­¡±


    He nced up at the hill. Even though a long time had passed and only the bones remained, the massive skeleton wrapped around the hill was unmistakable.


    It was the basilisk.


    Sayoung narrowed his eyes as they both looked up at it. Uijae answered briefly.


    ¡°I drove a sword into its head.¡±


    ¡°Did you? Well, then we¡¯ll just have to do it again.¡±


    ¡°What? But it¡¯s already dead.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve got to try something. We need to get out of here. What kind of sword was it? Any old sword?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I still have it.¡±


    Uijae pulled the Basilisk¡¯s Fang out from deep in his inventory. The ck sword wriggled in his grasp like a freshly caught fish.


    ---@@novelbin@@


    [The ¡®Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯ wants to have a chat!]


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: How dare you neglect me for so long! You¡¯ll be cursed!]


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: Do you even know how long it¡¯s been since youst used me?!]


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: Not only did you neglect me, you left other weapons in my ce!]


    [The ¡®Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯ looks a little lonely.]


    ---


    Even swords could feel lonely, apparently. And it was


    true¡ªit had been a long time since Uijae hadst drawn the Fang. Thest time might have been during the Artisan Exhibition. He had even used a spear to fight the golem instead.


    ¡®Should I feel guilty?¡¯


    With a slightly awkward expression, Uijae handed the sword to Sayoung. The Fang twitched in his hand again.


    ---


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: You¡¯re handing me over to someone else right after pulling me out! You¡¯ll be cursed!]


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: ¡­Huh?]


    ---


    The movement in Uijae¡¯s hand stopped abruptly.


    ---


    [Fang¡¯s thoughts: Master?]


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 141

    "Master?"


    Uijae looked around, confused, and realized to whom he had handed the Basilisk¡¯s Fang. It was Lee Sayoung, standingzily with his usual indifferent posture, still wearing the same clothes from the Memorial Dungeon.


    ¡®No way¡­¡¯


    The sword in his hand wriggled like a fish out of water, seemingly confirming Uijae¡¯s suspicion.


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: Finally, I¡¯ve found you, master!]**


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: This one who held me is boring and neglectful! I¡¯m going back!]**


    ---


    But Sayoung, supposedly the sword¡¯s true master, only gave a slight nod, unimpressed.


    ¡°What are you doing, hyung? You pulled it out, now drive it into that skull.¡±


    ¡°I, uh¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: ¡­Master?]**


    **[The Basilisk¡¯s Fang looks shocked.]**


    ---


    Uijae didn¡¯t need to hear the sword¡¯s thoughts to understand. The sword, which had been so lively in his hand, suddenly went still as if the weight of the betrayal hit it. Its supposed master, the one it longed to reunite with, wasn¡¯t weing it with open arms. Instead, he was ordering Uijae to use it to crush the skull of a fellow creature. Even though Uijae didn¡¯t particrly like the sword, having shared dangerous moments together in the rift, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at it sympathetically. The once chatty de was now eerily silent.


    ¡°¡­You okay?¡± Uijae asked, his concern misdirected.


    ¡°I think you should be asking that to yourself,¡± Sayoung retorted.


    ¡°No, I mean¡­ the sword.¡± Uijae rified. The Fang remained mute.


    Despite the awkwardness, Sayoung was right¡ªescaping from this ce took priority. Uijae gripped the Fang tighter, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, but his determination didn¡¯t waver. This time, he had people to protect.


    Yun Gaeul didn¡¯t have much time left. They needed to leave. Uijae nced down at the bones beneath his feet, recognizing that they could be mixed with his fallenrades. But¡­


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    Would he ever be able to return here?


    Could he be abandoning them again, just like before?


    This might be thest chance.


    ¡°You¡¯lle back, J.¡±


    The confident voice came from Yun Gaeul. Uijae looked up to see her golden eyes glowing as she spoke.


    ¡°Our souls will remember the way back. Maybe not many times, but we cane back, just like I was able to find my way to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    ¡°But I know¡­ you want to find them now.¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s head lowered as she fidgeted with her hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry we can¡¯t stay longer to help you search¡­ I wish we had more time.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Even though she assured him they could return, a small part of Uijae remained uneasy. The guilt of not being able to save hisrades would always haunt him. However¡­


    ¡°¡­No, thanks to you, I know that myrades are here.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I would¡¯ve kept wandering around the West Sea Rift, doing nothing.¡±


    Uijae caught Sayoung¡¯s gaze, and with a slight grin, he nodded toward Gaeul.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Gaeul nodded back, her lips pressed tightly together. She wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve. Uijae took a deep breath, then leaped into the air.


    With a *whoosh*, hended lightly on the massive pile of bones. The giant snake¡¯s skull came into view, its open jaw filled with white ash. He saw the ck mark in the center of the skull where he had once driven the Basilisk¡¯s Fang through it.


    ¡®It really is the same ce¡­¡¯


    His heart raced. The memories of that battle, the quiet destion afterward¡ªit all threatened to overwhelm him again. But there was no time to dwell. He had people to save.


    Uijae gripped the Fang with both hands. He raised the sword high, then drove it deep into the ckened scar.


    *Thunk*.


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    The air shifted. A quiet hum vibrated around them as the once-still atmosphere began to stir. Behind the Basilisk¡¯s Fang, a white vortex appeared, swirling steadily.


    ¡°Ah¡­ it worked.¡±


    A sigh of relief escaped Uijae¡¯s lips. He held onto the sword, exhaling deeply just as a sharp cry followed by a light thud rang out. Sayoungnded nearby, holding Gaeul under his arm, bundled in his coat. She covered her mouth with one hand, looking pale as she mumbled.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re not supposed to touch the poison¡­¡±


    ¡°Stand on your own now.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes¡­.¡±


    Gaeul shakily stood on her own feet. The three of them stood silently before the swirling vortex. But they couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate any longer. Uijae gestured for them to move, pulling the Fang free and stepping into the vortex first.


    ---


    ¡­Cha Uijae opened his eyes.


    A dark ceiling greeted him. He shot up in bed, blinking rapidly as his vision struggled to adjust to the dim room. Slowly, the shapes around him became clearer¡ªhe was lying in a bed, in a dark room, with the lights off. A sharp pain pulsed in the back of his hand.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±


    He nced down to see an IV drip attached to his hand. Minggijeok must have patched him up. Gently, Uijae removed the IV and looked around. Beside him was another bed, obscured by a curtain. He pushed it aside and found Sayoung lying in it, an IV also in his hand.


    ¡°¡­Sayoung.¡±


    At the sound of his name, Sayoung¡¯s delicate brow furrowed slightly. A small groan escaped him before he slowly blinked his eyes open.


    ¡°¡­Where are we?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It looks like some kind of hospital room?¡±


    ¡°¡­Ugh.¡±


    Sayoung winced, clutching his head.


    ¡°Wait, is your head hurting? Let me get someone.¡±


    Uijae rushed to open the door. The room beyond was oddly familiar. The space was barren, as though no one lived here. He saw a familiar couch in the living room. This was Sayoung¡¯s house.


    And then¡­


    Uijae¡¯s gaze drifted to therge window, and what he saw left him speechless.


    White ash was falling from the sky.


    ¡°¡­Why?¡±


    At that moment, a sharp *beep* sounded, breaking the silence. The source was am device in the living room.


    ---


    **¨DGuildmaster, this is Seo Min-gi. I¡¯m leaving this message because it¡¯s not something I can report to you directly. The situation outside isn¡¯t good. The ck hole has turned white, and debris is falling from it continuously. On top of that, countless infected are roaming the streets, attacking both Awakeners and civilians indiscriminately. It¡¯s like they were waiting for this moment.**


    ---


    Why?


    ---


    **¨DThe Wave Guild has initiated emergency protocols, and Deputy Guildmaster Bae Won-woo is overseeing the evacuation of civilians and containment of the infected. This concludes my report.**


    **¨D¡­¡­**


    ---


    After a long silence, a single sentence followed.


    ---


    **¨DPlease return quickly, J¡­ and Guildmaster.**


    ---


    The device went silent. Uijae stood there, pressing his hand against the cold window, staring at the scene outside. This¡­ this was the ruined world. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen here. Something had gone terribly wrong. There had to be a trigger.


    Suddenly, he felt a tremor in the air, as if something was stirring. Instinctively, Uijae reached into his inventory. The Basilisk¡¯s Fang was vibrating.


    He pulled it out, and immediately, the sword¡¯s thoughts flooded his mind.


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: This is happening because the master is gone.]**


    ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡±


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: ¡­Don¡¯t you know? You¡¯re such an idiot.]**


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: The master was holding back the copse of the ruined world, preventing it from merging with yours.]**


    ---


    Master.


    If Uijae thought back to the fragments and the behavior of the sword, its original master had likely been none other than Lee Sayoung¡ªthe one who wandered the ruined world alone.


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: The master was both the warden and the chain holding it together.]**


    ---


    Holding it together. A chain. White ash continued to fall from the White Hole, along with remnants of the ruined world. The West Sea Rift, which had been connected to the ruined world, and the rapid increase in dungeon erosion¡ªit all made sense if the dungeons had been consumed by the ruined world.


    The Fang¡¯s thoughts continued.


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: But now that the master is gone¡­]**


    ---


    The White Hole began to glow brightly. And then, slowly, something massive began to emerge from it.


    ---


    **[Fang¡¯s thoughts: The ruined world ising.]**


    ---


    A colossal whale, like the one they had seen in the ruined world, was breaking through the White Hole.

 Chapter 142

    A long, mournful sound echoed as the white whale raised its head and let out a cry. The once still atmosphere trembled. Finally, the entire body of the whale emerged from the White Hole, from head to tail. It swam leisurely through the sky as though the heavens were the sea.


    Every time the whale''s tail gently flicked, the debris falling from the White Hole shattered into pieces and scattered in all directions. Boom, boom... The sound of collisions and breaking ss was clearly audible even through the soundproofed windows.


    I hurriedly rummaged through my pocket. Thankfully, my phone was still there. I turned it on, but the battery was running low. Only two contacts remained: Haeun and Lee Sayoung.


    Cha Uijae entered Haeun¡¯s number and pressed the call button. The dial tone dragged on endlessly. Had themunication lines already been cut off? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. Just as cold sweat began to form on the hand holding the phone, the dial tone abruptly stopped.


    ¡ª "¡­Uncle? Is it really you?"


    A soft voice asked. Uijae tightly closed his eyes. His hand trembled uncontrobly, but luckily, his voice did not.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s me, Uncle. Are you okay? Where are you? Where¡¯s Grandma?"


    ¡ª "Grandma¡¯s with me. Here¡­ um¡­ they said it¡¯s a shelter."


    "A shelter? Where¡¯s this shelter located?"


    ¡ª "I don¡¯t know. Some weird guy with ck sses brought us here. He said he¡¯s your friend, is that true?"


    When she mentioned ¡°ck sses,¡± only one person came to mind¡ªSeo Mingi, who always wore sunsses. His emotionless face popped into Uijae¡¯s memory. He asked:


    "Was that guy wearing a ck suit?"


    ¡ª "Huh? Yeah. And his eyes looked like a panda¡¯s!"@@novelbin@@


    ¡­It was definitely Seo Mingi. Tension drained from him. Uijae replied with a voiceced with relief.


    "Yeah¡­ He¡¯s a friend of mine."


    Just then, there was a rustling sound, followed by a familiar voice.


    ¡ª "Excuse me. Hello? I¡¯m Romantico Opener. Can you hear me? Do you remember me? I think I know who you are, right?"


    Of course, he remembered. Though thest time he¡¯d seen Romantico Opener, the guy wasn¡¯t exactly in good shape¡ªhung over a seesaw likeundry. Fortunately, it seemed he had recovered. With his concern for Haeun and Grandma eased, Uijae pressed his forehead against the ss window and responded.


    "Yes, it¡¯s me."


    Romantico Opener let out a long sigh.


    ¡ª "Phew¡­ I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Finally, you¡¯re back! Haeun and her grandmother are at the Wave Guild¡¯s shelter. As soon as things went south, Mingi brought them here."


    "Is it safe there?"


    ¡ª "The guild members are guarding the ce, so there¡¯s no need to worry."


    "¡­¡­."


    ¡ª "But, by the way, has the guild leader¡­ woken up yet¡­"


    Before Romantico Opener could finish, Haeun¡¯s voice chimed in again after what sounded like a brief scuffle.


    ¡ª "I¡¯m fine, Uncle! Grandma¡¯s asleep in bed."


    "¡­¡­."


    ¡ª "Your friend said you had something urgent to take care of and would be back soon, right?"


    "¡­Yeah, that¡¯s right."


    ¡ª "Will it take long?"


    The whale''s tail brushed against a low building, shattering it into pieces. Uijae''s blue eyes tracked the whale''s movement.


    "¡­Yeah. It might take a while."


    ¡ª "Oh¡­"


    Haeun trailed off, but soon responded cheerfully.


    ¡ª "That¡¯s okay! Take your time. I¡¯ll wait patiently."


    "¡­Yeah. Don¡¯t go outside, and if you get bored, ask the guy next to you to y with you. Also, tell Grandma that Uncle¡¯s okay and sorry he can¡¯t make it right now."


    ¡ª "Okay, Uncle."


    Without waiting for more, Uijae ended the call and exhaled deeply. He then asked the Basilisk¡¯s Fang:


    "¡­Is there a way to stop this?"


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: This isn¡¯t the end of the world. This is a problem caused by a world that should have perished.]


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: If you endure until it¡¯s gone, it will end eventually¡­]


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: The master surely said so.]


    "¡­¡­."


    But Lee Sayoung, who lived as a captive, couldn¡¯t endure and vanished. Or¡­


    ¡®Tell him¡­ that everything will flow to where it needs to go¡­ so he doesn¡¯t need to worry too much.¡¯


    Maybe that was expected as well. Uijae needed to go back to the hangover soup restaurant to check the clock for the clue. The Basilisk¡¯s Fang must have interpreted Uijae¡¯s silence differently, as it started chattering noisily.


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: The endes to those who dwell on it.]


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: Do not be consumed by fear, foolish human.]


    [¡®Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯ tries tofort you.]


    [Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯s Thoughts: This is notfort, you fool!]


    [¡®Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡¯ is embarrassed!]


    The Basilisk¡¯s Fang began to thrash angrily. It was better when it was noisy¡ªUijae found it absurdly amusing how out of ce the weapon''s seriousness seemed. He finally turned away from the window and asked the Fang:


    "¡­Where did your former master, Lee Sayoung, disappear to?"


    The Fang¡¯s thrashing stopped abruptly. After all the noisy chatter, it fell into silence. No answer came. Instead, footsteps approached. Uijae slowly turned around.


    There was Lee Sayoung, clutching his head, his expression twisted in pain, his face pale. Arge hand reached out, grabbed Uijae¡¯s shoulder, and pulled him into a warm embrace.


    In a low voice, Sayoung muttered,


    "¡­If you went out like this¡­"


    "¡­¡­."


    "You would¡¯ve been recognized as the part-timer immediately, right?"


    "¡­Yeah, probably."


    Sayoung was still dressed in his gray hoodie and jeans. Anyone who frequented the hangover soup restaurant would immediately recognize that the part-timer and J were one and the same. As Sayoung rubbed his hair against Uijae¡¯s cheek, he whispered:


    "I¡¯ll lend you some clothes. Wear them."


    "Your clothes might be too big for me."


    "Just roll up the sleeves."


    Sayoung released his arms from around Uijae and took his hand, leading him. His retreating figure somehow felt fresh and new to Uijae.


    Sayoung entered the dressing room and began rummaging through neatly arranged clothes. After a moment, he handed Uijae a in ck crew-neck t-shirt. As Uijae grabbed his hoodie to take it off, Sayoung suddenly pulled out some armor.


    "I¡¯ve got armor too. Want to wear it?"


    "If I wear something unfamiliar, it¡¯ll just hinder me."


    "¡­Yeah, that makes sense."


    Uijae pulled off his hoodie. His well-toned body, covered in countless scars, was exposed. The scars seemed toe to life with every movement he made. Just as Uijae was about to fold his hoodie and ce it on top of the dresser, something warm and soft touched the back of his neck. He froze.


    Lips brushed against his skin.


    "¡­Aren¡¯t you being a little too defenseless?"


    "Huh? Hey, wait¡­ Ngh."


    Unconsciously, Uijae held his breath. The lips that had tickled his neck slowly moved lower along his skin, sending chills down his spine. It was a strange feeling. The lipsnded on a scar at the top of his shoulder de, and Sayoung¡¯s voice, soft withughter, reached his ears.


    "We¡¯ve kissed, and yet¡­"


    "Hey, this isn¡¯t the time for¡­"


    "I know. Don¡¯t worry."


    A sharp pain suddenly dug into the scar on his shoulder de. Sayoung was biting into the skin, his teeth sinking in bit by bit. Uijae covered his mouth with his hand to muffle his voice. Compared to the pain he had endured in the past, this was barely a tickle, yet the sensation was unusually vivid. Sayoung licked the red mark his bite had left on the scar.


    "Even if I told you not to go¡­ you¡¯d still go, wouldn¡¯t you?"


    "¡­¡­."


    "But¡­"


    A light kiss was ced on top of the lingering pain.


    "If it gets too hard, you can always run away."


    "¡­¡­."


    "I¡¯ll be waiting for you, always."


    Uijae turned to face Sayoung. Sayoung smiled gently, and in that moment, Uijae finally realized that this was the one sess he had achieved¡ªstanding before him.


    Uijae reached out and wrapped his hand around Sayoung¡¯s soft hair, pulling him close. Their lips met softly. Neither closed their eyes, staring into each other as their lips touched. Between them, a whispered promise melted into the air.


    "I¡¯ll be back."


    "¡­Okay."


    A smallugh was swallowed between their lips.


    Sayoung¡¯s clothes were still a little too big for Uijae. He rolled up the sleeves to his elbows, and just then, a small pinky finger appeared in front of him, waving yfully. Sayoung wiggled his little finger, signaling for a promise.


    "¡­¡­."


    Uijae chuckled and reached out. Their pinky fingers intertwined briefly before separating. But now, in Uijae


    ¡¯s hand, he was holding something else¡ªa teleportation scroll from Hong Yeseong. As Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, the world around him began to shift and change. Thest thing he saw was Sayoung¡¯s smiling face.


    Sayoung waved his hand gently.


    "Come back soon, hyung."


    ¡­And Lee Sayoung.


    He was left alone in the house that had grown colder with Uijae¡¯s absence. Walking down the empty hallway, he entered the bathroom. He flicked on the light with a click. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him, his face pale, looking strangely unfamiliar. Suddenly, the light flickered off.


    And when it flicked back on¡­


    The reflection of Lee Sayoung in the mirror was smiling with eyes burning white-hot.


    Lee Sayoung grimaced and stared at his reflection. He leaned on the sink, bowing his head, his vision swimming. A trickle of ck blood dripped from the corner of his lips.


    The reflection tilted its head. The figure in the mirror tapped its lips with its fingers. Every part of it, from its fingertips to its exposed wrist, was entirely ck, as if it were wearing gloves. Its violet eyes narrowed into slits.


    Azy voice whispered,


    ¡®I waited a bit¡­ because it was hyung¡¯s business. Seeing someone off is important, right? Keeping promises, too¡­¡¯


    "¡­¡­."


    ¡®So, now¡­¡¯


    "Ah¡­"


    A vein bulged on the back of his hand. A bead of cold sweat ran down his temple. Lee Sayoung scoffed.


    "This is seriously fucked up¡­"


    Thunk¡ª


    His ckened body copsed powerlessly to the floor.

 Chapter 143

    Cha Uijae opened his eyes.


    He found himself standing in the middle of the familiar hangover soup restaurant. The warmth that had touched his hand moments ago had vanished like a mirage. Uijae absently fidgeted with his now empty hand. Even though he had returned to a ce that felt like home, a strange emptiness lingered in his heart.


    He wished he could have stayed just a bit longer. Even ten more minutes, or just five, would have been enough. It was the first time in a long while that he felt such longing.


    What should he call this feeling?


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Boom... The ground trembled. It seemed that debris had fallen nearby. A framed autograph on the wall shook before falling with a thud. It was Jung Bin¡¯s autograph. Uijae blinked. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on unnamed emotions. He picked up the fallen autograph, dusted it off, and ced it back on the table.


    He strode toward the counter. Beneath the POS system was J¡¯s mask, with a small yellow sticky note attached to it. Written in neat calligraphy, it read:


    **I left this at the soup restaurant because I knew the esteemed customer would surely return. No need to thank me. ¡ªMingi**


    Did this guy have the ability to see the future? Either way, Uijae was grateful. He put on the mask and expertly opened the drawer beneath the cash register. Inside were the ledger, a dusty bouncy ball that Haeun must have stashed away, a few colored pencils, and¡­


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    A watch.


    Uijae carefully lifted the watch. It clinked slightly as he moved it. Unlike how he remembered it, the silver watch was now a wreck. The ss was cracked, and the entire piece was worn and rusty, as if it could crumble at any moment. The hour and minute hands were frozen.


    ''It seemed fine when I gave it to him as payment.¡¯


    Looking at it again, the design was unusual. Inside the watch, there were three circles, two of which were covered in something white, almost as if thick oil paint had been smeared over them. Thest one, however, was a smaller clock inside the main one, and it was¡­


    Tick.


    ¡­still moving. The second hand was slowly ticking, confirming Hong Yeseong''s words from before:


    **¡®This is the third and final chance.¡¯**


    Uijae watched the ticking second hand intently. The only functioning part of the watch was pointing to 10 o¡¯clock. Just then, a white window appeared in front of him.


    ---


    **[¡ö¡ö¡ö Wristwatch (¡ö)]**


    **A reclusive artisan specially modified this item to extend its uses.**


    **Even so, the flow of time and ¡ö¡ö could not be avoided.**


    **It can no longer be used.**


    **This is thest chance.**


    **Modifier: ¡ö¡ö¡ö**


    ---


    ¡®Why does this item description feel so ominous?¡¯


    As he read it, a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu crept over him. A reclusive artisan¡ªwhere had he heard that phrase before?


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Uijae put down the watch and pulled out the Basilisk¡¯s Fang. The Fang had been silent ever since it refused to answer his questions. When he shook the sword, an information window appeared.


    ---


    **[Basilisk¡¯s Fang (S)]**


    **A sword forged from the fang of a basilisk by a reclusive artisan. It will not allow itself to be wielded by anyone unworthy.**


    **Creator: ¡ö¡ö¡ö**


    ---


    A reclusive ¡®artisan.¡¯ The same person who had forged the Basilisk¡¯s Fang¡ªwho had been referred to as Hong Yeseong''s father. The Fang even bore Hong Yeseong''s engravings on the de. However, the Hong Yeseong Uijae knew had imed he never made the sword.


    ¡®At first, I thought he was talking nonsense¡­¡¯


    It turned out Hong Yeseong wasn¡¯t at fault. Both the Basilisk¡¯s Fang and this watch were creations of the ¡®Hong Yeseong¡¯ they encountered in the Memorial Dungeon. Uijae clicked his tongue.


    The Hong Yeseong he knew might have been a bit dense, but he wasn¡¯t a bad guy. At least his desires and thoughts were as clear as a crystalke, pure and simple.


    ¡®Maybe I should be nicer to him next time¡­¡¯


    Uijae grasped the watch in his hand once more.


    At that moment,


    ---


    **[Conditions have been met.]**


    **[Entering ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö.]**


    ---


    His vision went dark. Uijae clenched his teeth.


    ¡®What now, damn it!¡¯


    In the abyss, a man''s voice echoed.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t quite enough¡­¡±


    The voice continued.


    ¡°The power of the person who became the core of this is strong, so there¡¯s a little energy left. But it¡¯s not enough. It¡¯s like a single-use battery with just a bit of power remaining. Sure, it¡¯s a miracle that any energy is left, but if you tried to turn back time with this, it wouldn¡¯t work¡ªyou¡¯d be doomed before you even began.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°So¡­ we can¡¯t use it?¡±


    Gradually, the darkness receded, and the surroundings came into view. They were in a messy workshop. The first person Uijae noticed was Hong Yeseong, peering intently at the watch through a magnifying ss. After a moment of groaning, he let out a heavy sigh.


    ¡°¡­You said this belonged to J? That J used this to turn back time once before?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I remember seeing,¡± came a clear voice¡ªYun Gaeul¡¯s. She looked older than Uijae recalled, as she muttered under her breath.


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could give us a clear answer. Can we use this to turn back time, just like J did?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°You know the truth. We managed to fend off the end, but too many were lost. This world won¡¯t recover. It¡¯s slowly heading toward its own destruction.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Hong Yeseong nced out of the small window.


    ¡°Please, Artisan. We need hope¡­¡± Gaeul¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. A heavy silence followed. Eventually, Hong Yeseong sighed again, scratching his disheveled hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. But someone will have to be sacrificed¡­ maybe even more than one person.¡±


    ¡°Sacrifice?¡±


    ¡°A more appropriate way to put it is that you¡¯ll need to supplement the watch¡¯s insufficient power with human energy. Honestly, I can¡¯t guarantee it will work. I don¡¯t know what side effects might ur or how long it¡¯ll hold. We¡¯re venturing into the unknown¡­ But, are you willing to try?¡±


    ¡°¡ªOne thing.¡±


    A low, grim voice interrupted. The voice belonged to someone leaning against the corner of the workshop, arms crossed. Paleplexion, sharp, tense features, a long leather coat, and a ck longsword at his waist. His violet eyes shone through his tousled hair.


    It was Lee Sayoung.


    ¡°If we seed in turning back time with this¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you sure¡­ they¡¯lle back?¡±


    Even though Sayoung didn¡¯t name the person, everyone knew who he meant. Even Cha Uijae, watching passively, knew. Yun Gaeul nodded slowly but firmly.


    ¡°Yes. J seeded¡­ and that¡¯s why we¡¯re here now.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is that so?¡±


    Sayoung uncrossed his arms.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s all I need.¡±


    Without hesitation, his ckened hand reached out and grasped the watch.


    In that instant.


    The surroundings were painted in shades of ck and white, freezing everyone¡¯s movements. Uijae, having experienced this once before, didn¡¯t panic this time. He waited calmly as golden patterns appeared over Hong Yeseong''s pupils. The spinning sigil of insight brushed against Uijae, carrying with it an odd sense of empathy. Hong Yeseong muttered quietly:


    ¡°It seems it¡¯s your turn this time.¡±


    Uijae blinked and found himself back in the hangover soup restaurant, greeted by the POS system and the cash drawer. It seemed his consciousness had been pulled away while standing there.


    ¡®My turn this time?¡¯


    What was that supposed to mean? Of course, ¡®Hong Yeseong¡¯ had always been vague in his exnations.


    ¡®At least I got something out of it¡­¡¯


    Uijae fiddled with the watch, piecing things together. The watch had originally been a single-use item, but because of Uijae¡¯s immense power as the initial core, it didn¡¯t disintegrate after the first use. That¡¯s why when the second end came, Yun Gaeul and Lee Sayoung used J¡¯s watch to turn back time.


    Since they used a single-use item for the second time under less-than-ideal conditions, side effects were bound to happen. Sayoung had taken on those burdens as a ¡®shackle,¡¯ enduring them alone, but¡­


    ¡®It must have been too much for one person to bear.¡¯


    In the end, the ruined world affected this one, causing the erosion phenomena. Uijae ruffled his hair in frustration. The thought made him sick. After all, Uijae understood the pain of being left behind better than anyone else.@@novelbin@@


    Wandering a deste world alone, never knowing when the end woulde.


    ¡®That¡¯s just¡­ ridiculous.¡¯


    There was still something bothering him. If the merging of the ruined world began in earnest after Sayoung disappeared, where did he go? And why?


    At that moment, the sound of voices chatting slipped through the door crack. Instinctively, Uijae ducked beneath the counter. A tired voice spoke:


    ¡°Let¡¯s check this area, then move on to the next. Make sure no one¡¯s still in


    need of evacuation, clear out the debris, and if you see any of those addicts, wipe them out. Once we¡¯re done, report back to Team Leader Jung.¡±


    ¡°Okay. But Deputy Leader, is the Guild Leader still in that state?¡±


    ¡°Seems like it. I left a message for him to call me when he woke up, but¡­ no response so far.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think he¡¯s just ignoring it, like usual?¡±


    ¡°Given the seriousness of the situation, Sayoung¡¯s not the type to ignore things like this.¡±


    The voices belonged to two regrs from the soup restaurant¡ªBaewonwoo and Kang Jisu. Uijae held his breath and listened to their conversation. Something felt off. Hadn¡¯t Lee Sayoung already woken up earlier? Did he copse again? Uijae quickly turned his phone to silent and called Sayoung.


    No answer.


    Meanwhile, the conversation outside had shifted. Kang Jisu was grumbling.


    ¡°Did you see the message from the Bureau? Ever since the whale appeared, the addicts have be more aggressive. The debris is falling faster and inrger quantities. Shouldn¡¯t we be focusing on taking down the whale first?¡±


    ¡°You think Jung Bin hasn¡¯t considered that? But that thing flies, and it¡¯s tricky to capture. If we make one wrong move, the whole city will be in ruins. And there aren¡¯t any high-ranking Awakeners with flight abilities. That¡¯s got to be a headache for them, too.¡±


    ¡°What if we threw a spear at it?¡±


    ¡°A spear isn¡¯t an easy weapon to use. Only someone like J¡ª¡­ wait a second.¡±


    Baewonwoo¡¯s voice dropped, and a sharp aura filled the room. Both of them were staring at the soup restaurant¡¯s entrance. Damn, had they noticed? But then Uijae reconsidered.


    ¡®No¡­ The whale has to be dealt with anyway.¡¯


    That¡¯s why he left Sayoung''s side in the first ce. If he dealt with it quickly, he could return and check on Sayoung himself. Ever since the warmth left his hand, unease had settled in his heart.


    ¡®I hope it¡¯s just needless worry¡­¡¯


    But Uijae¡¯s instincts were usually spot-on, which only made him more anxious. He stood up suddenly. With the mask already on, there was nothing to hide.


    ¡®Worst case, I¡¯ll just call Mingi.¡¯


    With that in mind, Uijae flung open the sliding door.


    Creeeeak.


    A drug-addled man, who had been facing Baewonwoo and Kang Jisu outside, turned his head 180 degrees to stare at Uijae.


    Thwack!


    Without thinking, Uijae instinctively kicked the man. Regret followed a momentter, as usual¡ªhis body always reacted faster than his mind in most situations.


    ¡®Oh well.¡¯


    The man made a strangled sound before crashing into the wall with a loud thud.


    After a moment of twitching, his body stilled. The sharp spikes protruding from his back retracted. Baewonwoo and Kang Jisu stared at Uijae in stunned silence. Baewonwoo¡¯s mouth kept forming the words, "J-J-J¡­" but Uijae decided to ignore him.


    ¡®Whatever, let¡¯s wrap this up quickly.¡¯


    Uijae pointed his index finger toward the sky. The two followed the motion with their eyes.


    Booooo¡­. The whale floating in the sky let out a long roar. A distorted voice said,


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take that thing down. Could you help me?¡±


    Baewonwoo swallowed hard.


    ¡°H-how can we help?¡±


    Cha Uijae¡ªJ¡ªjerked his chin toward the tall building they had juste from, where Sayoung was.


    ¡°Let me borrow the roof of the Wave Guild building.¡±

 Chapter 144

    Bzzzz.... The phone on the white table vibrated. A calloused hand, its first knuckle hardened from use, set down a teacup next to the phone. Steam gently rose from the cup.


    "Thank you for serving tea as well."


    "The situation outside is quite noisy. Shouldn''t you attend to it?"


    A man in a white coat peered through the blinds, pulling them back slightly with his fingers. White ash was falling outside. A firm yet wrinkled hand gripped the teacup.


    "It must be a call for reinforcements. For whatever reason, the snake has coiled up and refuses to move."


    "But still, wouldn¡¯t it be better to go? Just to avoid suspicion."


    "If you understand that, let¡¯s finish this conversation quickly, Ivan."


    "Y-yes, of course."


    The man called Ivan turned around. Despite his slouching posture in the white coat, his frame was ratherrge. Beneath his messy brown hair, his sses glinted.


    "Mr. Song Joheon has greatly aided our research, and we are always grateful."


    "I''ve benefited as well."


    "Yes, so... tomemorate today, I¡¯d like to finally tell you our true purpose."


    Ivan paused before continuing, his excitement palpable.


    "We, Prometheus, and the Seers have always awaited the inevitable end. We saw it in our dreams¡ªthe white ash nketing the world."


    Ivan turned to gaze at therge screen covering one wall. On it, a whale floated above the city skyline. Ivan¡¯s eyes followed the whale¡¯s path with reverence, and his trembling voice murmured:


    "Finally, the time of the end hase."


    ¡®Nonsense.¡¯


    What end? Song Joheon swallowed his scorn and instead gave a pleasant nod as if he agreed. Ivan continued his monologue without pause.


    "Thest apocalypse couldn¡¯t be stopped by the strength of ordinary Awakeners alone. It wasn¡¯t enough."


    ¡®Delusions of grandeur.¡¯


    "The problem lies in the unfair selection system. We must break free from the system''s grasp and develop our abilities independently¡­."


    ¡®Inferiorityplex.¡¯


    In front of an Awakener chosen by the system, Ivan had no qualms about voicing such opinions. Yet, Song Joheon smiled warmly and humored him. Ivan¡¯s eyes gleamed white.


    "...We will save humanity."


    ¡®A desire for validation.¡¯


    A heroplex. Joheon¡¯s forced smile was beginning to strain his face. He absently rubbed the rim of his teacup with his finger. The schr¡¯s calloused hand pushed a transparent bag across the table.


    "And we¡­"


    The bag contained white powder.


    "...are on the same side."


    A deep smile spread across the wrinkled corners of his lips. A firm hand picked up the bag, and soon the powder dissolvedpletely into the lukewarm tea.


    "Of course, Professor."


    He had no interest in the mad dreams of these psychos. He was a first-generation Awakener, chosen by the system. But the drugs they provided, now those were interesting.


    The whale, still driftingzily in the air, suddenly let out a piercing roar. Ivan, rmed, turned to the screen, frantically erging the image with the remote. A ck silhouette had appeared on the whale''s back. In the figure''s hand was¡­


    A massive spear.


    The figure raised the spear high. Joheon narrowed his eyes and downed his tea in one gulp. The veins in his temples and neck bulged momentarily before subsiding. He muttered under his breath.


    "That damn hero¡­ always shows up at the most crucial moments."


    The teacup was haphazardly tossed onto the table. The screen turned a brilliant blue. Joheon closed his eyes in displeasure.


    Thud.


    ---


    Thud, thud, thud. Busy footsteps rushed around him. Reports and requests for reinforcements flooded the earpiece that hung in his ear. Ever since the ck Hole had shifted into a White Hole, chaos had reigned. Commander Jung Bin had been coordinating the scene, but the sudden appearance of the giant whale had thrown everything back into disarray¡ªworse than before. Jung Bin pressed his fingers to his furrowed brow and asked:


    "Still no response from the Samra Guild?"


    "No, sir. No word yet."


    "What about the Seowon Guild?"


    "Guild Leader Nam Woojin is doing his best, but it seems they''ve reached their limit in handling evacuees."


    "Do we know how many buildings he''s destroyed?"


    Amid the stream of reports, a sharp voice interjected. A woman with golden hair tied high in a ponytail strode toward them, her hair whipping in the wind. It was Honeybee. Jung Bin greeted her with a nod, and she expertly wiped the blood from her rapier. Jung Bin shrugged.


    "The report mentioned about twenty buildings, and the number is increasing in real-time."


    "Make that twenty-one. He just smashed the outdoor billboard. My face was on it!"


    "I¡¯ll add it to the list of damages."


    "...And where the hell is Lee Sayoung? What is he doing?"


    "I¡¯m not sure. I haven¡¯t heard anything."


    "Really? If the top ranker doesn¡¯t show up, at least the second ranker should be doing something. The whole ranking system is falling apart."


    "Is it that difficult?"


    Honeybee mped her mouth shut. She gazed up at the sky. Jung Bin followed her gaze. The street they stood on was cast in shadow, darkened by the whale¡¯s enormous form despite it being midday. Honeybee murmured.


    "...Something feels off."


    "What do you mean?"@@novelbin@@


    "Ever since that ck Hole turned into whatever it is now¡­ strange thoughts keep crossing my mind. Damn it, it¡¯s making me overthink everything."


    Honeybee bit her lip hard, then turned and red at Jung Bin.


    "Don¡¯t you dare die on me."


    "Excuse me? What brought that on?"


    "Just don¡¯t!"


    Honeybee¡¯s sharp words cut through the air before she disappeared from sight. Momentster, she was already a distant yellow dot running far down the street. Did she juste all the way here just to say that? Jung Bin scratched his cheek, then looked up at the sky again. The whale loomed overhead.


    If only J were here.


    Jung Bin shook his head, trying to dispel the thought. Relying on the person who had gone to save Gaeul at his request? That was unthinkable. But still¡­


    "¡­¡­."


    He couldn¡¯t help it. Every time a crisis hit, J came to mind. Maybe for the rest of his life, he would think of him whenever danger struck. Jung Bin had lived in the same era as him, and he knew both J¡¯s strength and his goodness intimately.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why he kept trying to erase those thoughts from his mind. He was tired of living off someone else¡¯s sacrifice.


    Then it happened.


    Booooom¡ª


    A massive roar resounded. The shadow that had nketed the street trembled violently. The flow of air shifted. Jung Bin instinctively looked up. The whale that had beenzily drifting in the sky was thrashing, as if in pain. He murmured to himself.


    "¡­No way."


    KABOOM¡ª


    A burst of blue light exploded from the whale. A fierce gale whipped outward from the whale¡¯s body. Jung Bin shielded his face with his arms and struggled to stay upright against the wind, now mixed with ash. Once the gust subsided, he cautiously raised his head.


    A massive pir of blue light pierced through the whale¡¯s body, connecting the sky and the ground.


    "Ah¡­."


    The whale, impaled by the glowing pir, floated in the air like a firework, before disintegrating into fine white ash. The blue light sparkled like falling dust. It was beautiful and awe-inspiring¡ªenough to captivate anyone who saw it. And there was only one person in the world capable of such a feat. Jung Bin swallowed hard.


    Someone murmured.


    "J has returned¡­."


    His name spread like a wave, reverberating through the crowd.


    ---


    A week had passed since the ck Hole turned into a White Hole. The White Hole hadn¡¯t reverted to its previous state, and though white ash still asionally fell on cloudy days, it was bing less frequent. Nheless, people had begun keeping brooms at hand to sweep the ash away.


    Some referred to it as the second *Day of the Rift*, but since the damage didn¡¯tpare to the original, the term quietly faded away. Property damage was significant, but casualties were minimal. And the public¡¯s attention had shifted elsewhere.


    ---


    **¡ªIn today¡¯s news, after being presumed dead for eight years, South Korea¡¯s number one-ranked Hunter, J, has once again disappeared after briefly reappearing to save the nation from imminent danger¡­.**


    ---


    The hero that everyone had believed to be dead. J, who had reappeared in the rankings but had never been seen in person, emerged once more in a moment of crisis, saved the country, and then vanished again. It was the perfect story to quell the nation¡¯s anxieties. Every day, the news reyed images of J¡¯s masked face, his Hunter name whispered across the airwaves.


    No one questioned what the White Hole really was, or why such a phenomenon had urred. The fact that more people were visiting psychiatrists, tormented by memories that weren¡¯t their own, barely registered as a blip on the radar before vanishing from the headlines.


    And since that day, the hangover soup restaurant had remained tightly shut.


    "It¡¯s still closed today."


    A cold breeze swept through the street, brushing the hair of Team Leader Han, who muttered as he shoved his hands into his coat pockets. Next to him, Honeybee stood with her arms crossed, a frown cre


    asing her brow. Her hand clenched tightly around her arm.


    "Do you think he got caught up in that mess?"


    "If he had, he would¡¯ve been on the casualty list. I checked the list thoroughly¡ªhe wasn¡¯t on it."


    "¡­¡­."


    Team Leader Han pulled out a cigarette but didn¡¯t light it. Honeybee sniffed in frustration.


    "How can someone just disappear without a trace?"


    "Good question."


    "Last time, when he took his grandma to the hospital, at least he posted a note saying he¡¯d be closed. But now, there¡¯s nothing. Just a locked door."


    "¡­¡­."


    As Honeybee continued to grumble, Han checked his phone.


    "I¡¯m being called in. I¡¯ll have to go. Will you stay?"


    Honeybee tapped her boot against the ground, looking conflicted.


    "¡­I think I¡¯ll stay a little longer."


    "Don¡¯t stay too long."


    With a sympathetic smile, Han turned and walked away. Honeybee stared at the bright red letters of the restaurant¡¯s sign and pursed her lips.


    ---


    In a dimly lit room with ckout curtains, the only light came from the faint orange glow of a bedsidemp. A man sat on a chair by the bed, his shadow cast against the wall.


    It was Cha Uijae.


    He sat with his legs crossed, wearing the same clothes he had worn when he left the house. His gaze remained fixed on the person lying in the bed. Uijae reached out and gently brushed the ck hair away from the sleeping figure''s face. Lee Sayoungy motionless, as if in a deep slumber.


    He had been unconscious for a week.


    When Uijae had found Sayoung after the whale had been in, he barely remembered what had happened. All he recalled was his entire body being bound in shadows and seeing a battered Mingi copse into a heap.


    Uijae murmured to himself.


    "When I didn¡¯t return¡­ is this how you felt? You."


    "¡­¡­."


    "Did you just want to teach me what it was like to be in your shoes?"


    "¡­¡­."


    There was no response. But this was still better than losing him entirely.


    "You waited for me¡­"


    Uijae gently took Sayoung¡¯s hand, cradling it in both of his own, and pressed it to his forehead as if in prayer. His blue eyes, hidden behind his eyelids, slowly opened.


    "Now it¡¯s my turn to wait for you."


    Is this how you felt, too?


    Like your insides were being ripped apart, like you wanted to destroy everything around you.


    "Sleep well."


    The farewell was bittersweet. After smoothing down Sayoung''s disheveled hair, Uijae ced a soft kiss on his exposed forehead. To the person who had rejected him.


    ---


    *The Hunter¡¯s Gonna Lay Low*, Part 1 Complete


    To be continued in Part 2...

 Chapter 145

    *The Day of Change*


    Screams intertwined into a chaotic cacophony. But there was no time to pay attention to them. Feet pounded the ground relentlessly, and breath came in ragged gasps. The heart, pushed beyond its limits, pounded like it was about to burst. Even though nausea rose in his throat, he couldn¡¯t stop.


    BOOM!


    The ground shook as if an earthquake had hit. His body staggered, unable to keep bnce. A deafening crash erupted just behind him, followed by more sharp screams. He knew he shouldn¡¯t turn around, but curiosity triumphed over fear.


    And then¡ª


    ¡°Aaahh!¡±


    A massive fist flew directly at him. The man screamed and rolled to the side, dirt and ash covering him, but that wasn¡¯t the important part. THUNK! The fist mmed into the sidewalk, right where he had been standing.


    Creaking, the massive golem¡¯s head slowly turned toward him. A colossal shadow loomed over his head.


    The man squeezed his eyes shut. Tears streamed down his face.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have looked. I should¡¯ve gone another way. No, I shouldn¡¯t have left the house at all.¡¯


    His thoughts didn¡¯t go any further. He braced himself, praying that the pain toe would be brief, curling into a ball.


    Then¡ª


    SWISH! THUNK!


    Instead of the expected agony, he heard the sound of something piercing through. The man jerked his head up. The golem stood frozen in ce, its outstretched fist still aimed at him, but something had pierced straight through its chest. The tip of the object was blunt and covered in ck stic.


    ¡®...An umbre?¡¯


    Astonishingly, the golem¡¯s heart had been impaled by what looked like an ordinary ck umbre, the kind you¡¯d find at any convenience store.


    The man gaped as the umbre left a round hole in the golem¡¯s chest before disappearing. He spotted a figure perched on the golem¡¯s shoulder. Even in the brief glimpse, he could tell it was a tall young man.


    The figure raised the stick in his hand¡ª


    THUNK!


    ¡ªand smashed the golem¡¯s head. The golem wobbled before slowly copsing to the ground, a cloud of dust rising from its fall. Coughing echoed from all directions. When the dust finally cleared, the man stretched his neck, searching for the figure, but the shadowy figure was already gone, like a ghost.


    Soon, footsteps approached. Several Hunters, wearing fluorescent vests, came running over. One of them approached the still-shaken man.


    ¡°We¡¯re from the Rift Management Bureau. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°...It was him.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, what?¡±


    The man mumbled something incoherent, so the Hunter asked again, and this time, the man shouted:


    ¡°It was J!¡±


    ---


    ¡°He was wearing a mask, so I couldn¡¯t see his face, but I¡¯m sure it was J. He disappeared too fast for me to get a good look, but I¡¯m pretty sure it was J. Everything was so dark, I didn¡¯t get a clear view, but I¡¯m positive it was J.... Why do all these testimonies sound like this?¡±


    The Hunter reading the witness reports shrugged and turned off his tablet. The fluorescent "Safety" armband on his arm shifted as he moved.


    ¡°All the witness statements say the same thing. He moved too fast for anyone to see him clearly, but they all think it was J. There¡¯s at least consistency.¡±


    Another Hunter, crouching in front of the golem¡¯s remains, propped his chin on his hand.


    ¡°Judging by the clean hit to its core, it probably was J. Did he use a spear?¡±


    ¡°ording to the testimony¡­ he used an umbre to pierce it.¡±


    ¡°What is this, some kind of legend? Did he use teleportation, too?¡±


    ¡°They say it was a critical moment. The witness might have been mistaken.¡±


    p. A sharp sound cut through the air, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. The source of the sound was a woman wearing a fluorescent vest over a white shirt. She was Yang Hyejin, an A-rank Hunter from the Rift Management Bureau.


    ¡°Enough chatter. What about the witnesses?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve been taken to a nearby shelter in case more monsters appear.¡±


    ¡°Good job. Let¡¯s get the area secured and clear the golem. It caused quite a mess,nding in the middle of the sidewalk.¡±


    Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she shoved her hands into her pockets and leaped onto the fallen golem.


    A breeze mixed with white ash blew around her, making her fluorescent safety vest flutter. The golemy with its square head caved in at the center. For some reason, the shape looked familiar...


    ¡°...What the?¡±


    A strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu hit her. Why did this look so familiar? Yang Hyejin furrowed her brow and leaned closer to the golem¡¯s head, even wedging her hand into the indent. A nearby Hunter leaned in.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, they¡¯re transporting the golem to the Seowon Guild. They¡¯ve requested it for research purposes.¡±


    ¡°Good timing. Hey, why does this look familiar to me?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Both the Awakener Management Bureau and the Rift Bureau were facing manpower shortagestely. This meant the rookie, still unable to shake his status as the newbie, was left to peer over at the golem¡¯s head. Yang Hyejin mumbled seriously.


    ¡°I swear I¡¯ve seen this before.¡±


    ¡°Really? I don¡¯t recognize it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Ugh, what is it?¡±@@novelbin@@


    She scratched her head in frustration, when suddenly, her radio beeped. A Hunter working on repairs shouted over the noise.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Team 2 is requesting support!¡±


    ¡°Damn it...¡±


    ¡°Ah, looks like Response Team 1 is on their way.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness for Hunter Jung Bin.¡±


    She responded absentmindedly and raised her radio. As she did, something about the surroundings tugged at her memory. Just down the alley was her favorite hangover soup restaurant. It had closed suddenly, though...


    The thought made her even more depressed. She missed the spicy broth, the tender meat, and the fragrant peri powder. Not only was the food good, but the part-timer there had been efficient and polite. A clean-cut face shed in her mind. It had only been three months, but her memory of his features had already started to blur.


    The regr customers had checked in on the safety of the restaurant owner and her granddaughter, but the part-timer? He seemed to have vanished without a trace.


    ¡®I hope he¡¯s safe and sound somewhere.¡¯


    It was hard not to worry, especially since the restaurant had closed right after "that day." Yang Hyejin mumbled to herself, deted.


    ¡°Man, I could really go for some soju and hangover soup right now¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh, Ma¡¯am, your radio is still on.¡±


    ¡°What? Oh, crap!¡±


    ---


    Three months ago, the ck Hole that had appeared in the sky turned white, and from it, a massive whale emerged. The media quickly named the day the whale appeared.


    **"The Day of Change."**


    A rather grand name. Some even jokingly called it ¡°The Day of Bleaching.¡±


    Thankfully, the damage from the Day of Change wasn¡¯t as severe as the Day of the Rift.


    The falling debris from the hole gradually decreased, and after J took down the whale, no other giant monsters appeared. Of course,pared to the past, unregistered rifts and monsters showed up more frequently, but people, having gone through a simr experience before, adapted quickly.


    Seasons passed, winter melted away, and spring arrived. However, people no longer weed the change in seasons like they used to. It wasn¡¯t because of yellow dust or pollution.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wear ck clothes anymore.¡±


    It was because of the white ash falling from the sky like snow.


    People began calling the giant hole in the sky the White Hole.


    On the screen of a building, a news broadcast yed.


    ---


    **"Guild Leader Mok Tae-oh of the HB Guild has dered that ensuring public safety remains the top priority, and Guild Leader Song Joheon of the Samra Guild has announced that they will work together to ovee this crisis...."**


    **"Meanwhile, Guild Leader Lee Sayoung of the Wave Guild remains missing. The Wave Guild maintains that Guild Leader Lee¡¯s absence from the public eye is due to health issues. However, with the increasing frequency of unregistered rifts, concerns are growing over the absence of the second-ranked Hunter, Lee Sayoung...."**


    ---


    Bzzzt¡ª A mechanical beep interrupted the anchor¡¯s polished voice.


    ---


    **"Rift detected in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon District. Any avable teams, please respond."**


    **"Response Team 1 en route."**


    **"Confirmed."**


    ---


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Perched on the rooftop of a building covered in green waterproof paint, a man sat crouched in the shade of arge ck umbre. He had a radio pressed to his ear and let out a soft exmation. With a delicate touch, he adjusted the radio frequency and spoke.


    ¡°No need to worry about this area. Let¡¯s move on.¡±


    Bzzzt. The radio crackled again.


    ---


    **"Man, I could really go for some soju and hangover soup right now¡­"**


    ---


    The mention of hangover soup made him nce toward the railing. A tall man, dressed in a ck jacket, leaned over the edge, his arms draped across the railing, his head slightly bowed. His face was obscured by a ck mask that covered him entirely, with no visible eye holes.


    A breeze stirred his ashen hair, blending with the gray sky. The man holding the umbre, Mingi, asked suddenly:


    ¡°Are you ever going to dye your hair again?¡±


    ¡°


    Is there any point?¡±


    A lukewarm response. Clearly, it wasn¡¯t a topic he cared for. Mingi, sensing the shift in mood, pretended to focus on the radio.


    ¡°By the way, the rumors are getting harder to contain. Samra Guild and HB Guild have been tightening the pressuretely. Even though the vice guild leader is ying dumb, I¡¯m not sure how much longer they can hold out¡­.¡±


    ¡°You sure he¡¯s just ying dumb?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡±


    Between the man¡¯s fingers was a half-burned cigarette. A shadow rose from the ground, forming a dish-like shape, and he tapped the ashes into it.


    ¡°They¡¯re probably aiming to secure the top guild spot for sure this time.¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous.¡±


    His voice, distorted beyond recognition, muttered under his breath.


    ¡°They need to look at where they¡¯re stepping before they stretch their legs.¡±


    There was a faint irritation in his otherwise indifferent tone. Mingi nced at the sky. The ashfall was beginning to subside.


    ¡°Maybe we should call it a day?¡±


    The man¡¯s gray head nodded slowly. Mingi grabbed the umbre and stood up.


    ¡°Do you really need that umbre?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want ash on my suit. Besides, the umbre yed a big role today, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°...Fair point.¡±


    The shadow slowly enveloped the man¡¯s shoes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll escort you to the door, sir. Give my regards.¡±


    The masked man pressed the end of his cigarette between his fingers, extinguishing it with ease, leaving no hesitation in his movements. The butt left no mark, as if he hadn¡¯t felt the heat at all.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    Only a faint trace of ash remained.


    ---


    By then, the man was already standing in the entrance of a barren, dark home. After removing his dusty shoes, he opened the inner door and gazed down the long corridor ahead. The ce was dim and silent. His distorted voice drifted calmly through the bleak space.


    ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    No answer came. But he was used to unanswered greetings by now.


    His footsteps made no sound as he moved deeper into the house. He opened a door, and the darkness greeted him, apanied by quiet breathing.


    Click. He pressed a button, and a soft red nightlight illuminated the room. Someone was already lying in the bed. Curls of ck hair spread across the pillow.


    A firm hand grasped the ck mask and removed it. A sharp, well-sculpted face emerged¡ªCha Uijae, J¡ªwho held the bed¡¯s headboard as he leaned over and gazed at the sleeping person. His lips parted, and a tender voice slipped through.


    ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    ---


    Three months had passed since **The Day of Change**, and much had changed.


    But Lee Sayoung still slept alone, unchanged.


    From that day, and always.

 Chapter 146

    *The Day of Change*


    Two and a half months ago.


    It had been two weeks and two days since Lee Sayoung had fallen into his deep sleep. Baewonwoo, with a blue bruise around his eye and his entire body wrapped in bandages, gathered a group of people. Among them, uninvited but present, was Cha Uijae, responsible for those bruises, even if he didn¡¯t remember doing it.


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    A small group of carefully selected individuals sat awkwardly around arge table in the Wave Guild¡¯s conference room. The people gathered were J, Baewonwoo, Jung Bin, Mingi, Yun Gaeul, and Hong Yeseong.


    Cha Uijae, though usually confident, found himself uncharacteristically lowering his head. After all, he had beaten up more than half the Hunters in the room. Even if he didn¡¯t remember it, the bruises on their faces were evidence enough. Luckily, his mask helped shield his embarrassment. He nced at Jung Bin, who was wearing bandages around his head.


    Uijae carefully asked, ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. I¡¯m fine. Nam Woojin has treated me,¡± Jung Bin replied with a reassuring smile.


    But before anyone could rx, Hong Yeseong, ever oblivious, asked, ¡°Why¡¯s the shield guy got a ck eye? Who hit him?¡±


    Jung Bin flinched at the remark, his calm demeanor shaken, and Uijae wisely chose to pretend he didn¡¯t notice.


    Baewonwoo, still rolling a boiled egg over his bruised eye, muttered, ¡°Can we have some quiet, please?¡±


    ¡°Wait, did someone actually hit him?¡± Hong Yeseong asked, eyes wide in curiosity.


    Before the banter could continue, the door to the conference room mmed open, and a sharp killing intent filled the air. The tension was palpable. Nam Woojin, thetest arrival, stepped in with a cool, detached expression,pletely unfazed by the hostile atmosphere.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Is this how Hunters wee guests these days?¡± he asked, pointing his chin toward a pale Yun Gaeul, who was visibly trembling. All eyes turned to her.


    Baewonwoo hurriedly waved off the murderous intent, embarrassed. ¡°Sorry about that. We¡¯ve all been on edgetely¡­¡±


    ¡°I-It¡¯s okay¡­¡± Gaeul stammered, wiping the sweat from her forehead.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we all have some juice to calm down? Sweet things help,¡± Baewonwoo suggested, rushing to the fridge in the corner and grabbing juice.


    Hong Yeseong cocked his head curiously. ¡°Why is there a fridge in the conference room?¡±


    ¡°We have people who get grumpy when their blood sugar drops.¡±


    Juices were distributed. As they drank, Nam Woojin made a blunt announcement.


    ¡°Lee Sayoung is still asleep.¡±


    ¡°What, seriously? Is he really just sleeping?¡± Baewonwoo asked, dumbfounded.


    Nam Woojin crossed his legs and sat back in his chair. ¡°There are no signs of brain death. He¡¯s in the same condition as someone in a deep sleep.¡±


    ¡°But is it okay for someone to sleep that long?¡± Baewonwoo pressed.


    ¡°Look, a ck Hole turned into a White Hole, and a whale flew through the sky. Is someone sleeping for a long time really that strange?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Nam Woojin raised his hand to cut off Baewonwoo¡¯s concerns. ¡°Granted, this isn¡¯t normal. He isn¡¯t consuming any nutrients, yet his body isn¡¯t deteriorating. His muscles aren¡¯t atrophying. He just... exists, like time has stopped.¡±


    ¡°Like time has stopped¡­¡± Uijae muttered under his breath.


    Baewonwoo sighed in resignation. ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t hide his absence forever,¡± Nam Woojin said bluntly. ¡°Figure out a n. When people find out, certain higher-ups won¡¯t stay silent.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your advice,¡± Baewonwoo replied.


    Nam Woojin¡¯s sharp gaze swept around the room, eventually resting on Cha Uijae. He studied him for a moment before turning to leave the room, a knowing look on his face. Silence fell over the group once again.


    Baewonwoo, running a hand through his hair, turned to Yun Gaeul. ¡°I heard from Jung Bin that Sayoung went to save you. Do you have any idea why?¡±


    Gaeul hesitated before speaking, ¡°I have a theory, but please don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡±


    Her sses caught the light as she spoke. ¡°In the world that was destroyed, I met a version of Lee Sayoung. He saved me. But soon after, J and this world¡¯s Lee Sayoung came to rescue me from that world.¡±


    Baewonwoo nced at J, who nodded in confirmation.


    ¡°So¡­ is it possible for two versions of the same person to exist in one world?¡± Gaeul asked cautiously.


    ¡°¡­What?¡± Baewonwoo asked, incredulous.


    ¡°The person I met was roaming the destroyed world, waiting for the end. He hadn¡¯t left, by choice. But then our Lee Sayoung showed up. So, two versions of Lee Sayoung ended up in the same world.¡±


    The idea of two Lee Sayoungs in one world was strange, but thews of the system were absolute. The system sought bnce and order. Uijae muttered, his voice distorted through his mask, ¡°One must disappear¡­¡±


    Or they must merge.


    Two entities that were split had to be one. The system would have demanded such an oue. Gaeul looked between Jung Bin and Uijae.


    ¡°And... since Lee Sayoung fell asleep, haven¡¯t the number of debris drops from the White Hole decreased?¡±


    Jung Bin, looking uneasy, nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll have that investigated.¡±


    ¡°The Lee Sayoung in that world and the Lee Sayoung here are essentially the same being,¡± Gaeul concluded.


    Just then, Mingi, who had been silently observing from the corner, raised a hand. ¡°Wait, how can you be sure about that?¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Gaeul asked.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be certain about anything. The other world was destroyed, right? Couldn¡¯t the version of Lee Sayoung in that world have changed or be something else?¡± Mingi suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s eyes darted around the room before settling on Uijae. She hesitated, then pointed to herself. ¡°I... I just feel certain.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Mingi pressed.


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    ¡°Then share it, for everyone¡¯s trust.¡±


    Gaeul looked down, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s his obsession.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Mingi recoiled in shock, and Uijae stared at her, speechless. Why did she have to say that while looking at him?


    Someone broke the awkward silence. ¡°So their souls merged?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± everyone turned to Hong Yeseong, who had been folding paper airnes out of spare sheets of paper.


    ¡°If their essence is the same, it means they¡¯re rooted in the same origin,¡± Hong Yeseong exined.


    ¡°And what does that mean?¡± Baewonwoo asked, frustrated.


    Hong Yeseong sighed dramatically and stood up. ¡°Fine, this genius will exin it so even you can understand. Someone give me a cup.¡±


    He grabbed a few juice cups from Jung Bin and Baewonwoo, cing them side by side on the table.


    ¡°Okay, so what do you see here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re sses,¡± someone answered.


    ¡°No, I mean what¡¯s inside?¡±


    ¡°Grape juice,¡± Baewonwoo answered.


    ¡°This one?¡± he pointed to another cup.


    ¡°Also grape juice.¡±


    ¡°Now watch¡­¡± Hong Yeseong poured one cup into the other, filling it to the brim. ¡°Now, what is this?¡±


    ¡°Still grape juice¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Even though I mixed them, it¡¯s still grape juice. Now, imagine this is Lee Sayoung¡¯s soul,¡± Hong Yeseong exined.


    Uijae uncrossed his arms. The exnation, oddly enough, made sense.


    ¡°If the other Lee Sayoung was holding onto an entire world, then he couldn¡¯t have had an ordinary soul. And we know the Lee Sayoung here isn¡¯t ordinary either¡­.¡± Hong Yeseong flicked the ss lightly, making the surface of the juice ripple.


    ¡°So when two powerful souls were forced into one body, it filled up. And now... he¡¯s asleep because it¡¯s overflowing.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Baewonwoo, impressed, stood up and pped loudly. ¡°You¡¯re a genius, Hong Yeseong!¡±


    Hong Yeseong grinned smugly. Even Mingi, standing in the shadows, joined in with a slow p.


    ¡°You exined that so well. I¡¯m amazed,¡± Mingi added.


    ¡°What? Of course! I¡¯m the genius craftsman of the heavens, after all!¡± Hong Yeseong boasted.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that¡­¡± Mingi muttered.


    Ignoring the banter, Uijae tapped the armrest of his chair. This theory was the most reasonable exnation they¡¯d heard so far. But there was something about Hong Yeseong that still bothered him.


    ¡®Is he the same Hong Yeseong from the Memorial Dungeon?¡¯


    The way he spoke now, with intelligence in every syble, didn¡¯t match the Hong Yeseong he knew. As if sensing his confusion, Jung Bin leaned over and whispered, ¡°I call this his ¡®intermittent genius¡¯ phase.¡±


    ¡°Is he usually like this?¡±


    ¡°Very rarely.¡±


    Like a broken clock, he was right twice a day. Baewonwoo, now concerned again, asked, ¡°So... is there no way to wake him up? Can¡¯t we do something?¡±


    ¡°If Lee Sayoung¡¯s state


    is like this ss¡­¡± Hong Yeseong tapped the table lightly. The ss wobbled, and a few drops of juice spilled over.


    ¡°Even the smallest disturbance could cause a disaster.¡±

 Chapter 147

    *Everything Falls Apart*


    Everyone''s eyes were drawn to the spilling grape juice. The message was clear: waking up Lee Sayoung forcibly was not an option. Baewonwoo, desperate for answers, asked hurriedly, "Then when will he wake up? Can you predict that?"


    "How would I know? I''m not a fortune-teller. This is all about Lee Sayoung''s soul. It''s up to him!" Hong Yeseong snapped, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation.


    "Even though you''re the so-called ''heaven-sent genius, the greatest craftsman''?" Baewonwoo pressed, trying for some hope.


    "Ah~ I can''t hear you, I can''t hear you," Hong Yeseong mocked, covering his ears and fleeing to a corner of the room.


    ¡°¡­So in the end, we just have to leave him as he is, huh?¡± Jung Bin''s statement brought another wave of silence to the room. As Hong Yeseong had said, the only thing left to do was wait¡ªpowerlessly.


    Uijae''s hand, resting on the table, clenched into a fist. He nced at the purple juice that had begun to pool wider on the table, the spilled liquid marking a chaotic path. Closing his eyes, he was once again haunted by the image of Lee Sayoung''s violet eyes in his mind, eyes that had once looked at him with warmth.


    ¡°When did it change?¡± Uijae wondered. Those once indifferent eyes had gradually filled with emotion.


    ¡®Take care, hyung.¡¯


    Lee Sayoung had said goodbye to him that day, as if knowing what was toe. He had even ced a teleport scroll into Uijae¡¯s hand, hiding it behind a pinky promise.


    "¡­¡­."


    Cha Uijae''s life had always been about making choices. He had always chosen the path that would save the most people, without hesitation.


    But this time, it was different.


    The image of Sayoung, copsed helplessly in his bathroom, shed before Uijae''s eyes, and he gritted his teeth in frustration.


    p!


    The sharp sound of a p brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up, realizing his head had been lowered. Jung Bin stood beside him, giving him a steady gaze.


    ''When did I slump over like this?'' Uijae wondered as he straightened himself, and Jung Bin gave him a reassuring smile, patting his back.


    "Now, it¡¯s time to figure out what we *can* do," Jung Bin said, his voice calm but firm.


    That word¡ª"we"¡ªfelt strange to Uijae. He looked around the room again, realizing that he wasn¡¯t alone this time. He had people with him. Jung Bin continued speaking.


    ¡°We need to find ways to cover for Lee Sayoung¡¯s absence. Thankfully, he¡¯s not a Hunter whose every move is tracked. And with J¡­."


    Jung Bin''s gaze shifted to Uijae.


    ¡°¡­taking down the whale so spectacrly, the focus will be on him for a while. A sudden reappearance of the number one-ranked Hunter is a big deal. But even so¡­."


    Jung Bin gestured toward the window, where white ash still drifted slowly from the sky.


    ¡°¡­given the situation, someone will eventuallye looking for Lee Sayoung. Missing a few calls is one thing, but continued silence will raise suspicions."


    Baewonwoo, who had been deep in thought, mumbled, "Couldn¡¯t we just say he¡¯s on a trip abroad or something?"


    Mingi snorted, "In these times? Do you want to bebeled a traitor? Even Hunter Gyu-Gyu is still in Korea!"


    "Goddammit, why is Gyu-Gyu still here, not even during a holiday? What do we do about that?" Baewonwoo groaned.


    ¡°No matter what, we can¡¯t hide his absence for long,¡± Jung Bin said seriously. ¡°Other guilds will use this chaos to increase their power. They¡¯ll want to take his ce as the national hero.¡±


    Baewonwoo, pulling a sad face, sped his hands together and pleaded dramatically with Jung Bin. ¡°Come on, Captain, we have history with Sayoung. Remember the good old days when we were splitting firewood and keeping him warm in our rundown shack?"


    But Jung Bin shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already offered all the help I can.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­.¡±


    "However."


    The voice that cut through the room was low and distorted. All eyes turned to J, who was leaning back in his chair, tapping his finger on the table.


    "What if I started acting publicly? Would that be enough to cover for Sayoung''s absence?"


    Jung Bin, caught off guard by the question, rubbed his chin, thinking. ¡°For a while, yes.¡±


    ¡°But not for long?¡± J asked.


    ¡°The public''s attention shifts quickly. But yes, it could buy us a month or two.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s do that.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡± Jung Bin blinked.


    ¡°Two months.¡±


    J raised two fingers, forming a ¡®V.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll act as the public face for the next two months. Let the media focus on me. If Sayoung still hasn¡¯t woken up by then, we¡¯ll figure out something else. Any objections?¡±


    No one spoke. Uijae was familiar with the silence. He¡¯d experienced it many times¡ªleading from the frontlines, receiving no answers, and bing a hero, whether he wanted to or not.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± he said, standing up decisively. He walked toward Hong Yeseong, who had been folding paper cranes in the corner.


    ¡°Hey, you,¡± Uijae called.


    Hong Yeseong looked up, blinking. ¡°Huh? What? Oh, right! You wanted feedback on the mask? Let me tell you, I worked really hard on¡ª"


    That was enough. Uijae mped his hand over Hong Yeseong¡¯s mouth, cutting off his flood of words.


    ¡°Mmmpf!¡± Hong Yeseong protested, wide-eyed.


    ¡°Activate that thing,¡± Uijae ordered.


    ¡°Mmff?¡±


    ¡°You know, the thing that makes your eyes turn gold. Hurry up, we don¡¯t have time.¡±


    Still confused, Hong Yeseong blinked before his eyes turned golden, with intricate patterns spinning in his irises. It was the "insight eye" ability, something Uijae had seen before in the Memorial Dungeon. But something was different this time.


    ¡®It¡¯s not the same as what I saw in the Memorial Dungeon¡­.¡¯


    That version had been more chaotic, more alive. Was this one separate? Uijae couldn¡¯t be sure. But he held onto a glimmer of hope. If Hong Yeseong¡¯s soul was like Sayoung¡¯s, there might still be a connection between them.


    ¡®This is thest chance.¡¯


    The Hong Yeseong he had met in the Memorial Dungeon had helped him turn back time. And Uijae suspected that he had been watching ever since, observing his struggle to prevent the end.


    ¡®And he¡¯s probably still watching now.¡¯


    Uijae pulled out his cracked phone and held it out to Hong Yeseong.


    ¡°Give me your number.¡±


    Hong Yeseong¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Whoa, are you hitting on me?¡±


    ¡°Just give it to me.¡±


    ¡°Can I text you whenever I¡¯m bored?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    The moment Hong Yeseong entered his number, Uijae snatched the phone back and stormed out of the room. Bowing slightly to the others, he called out over his shoulder, ¡°Contact me through Mingi if you need anything.¡±@@novelbin@@


    The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the room in silence. Uijae sighed, still feeling the weight in his chest. He patted his chest lightly, as if trying to calm his heart, and began walking. But then,


    ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± a familiar, booming voice called after him. It was a voice he had heard every morning, afternoon, and evening at the hangover soup restaurant.


    Instinctively, Uijae turned, ready to take an order. His hand even reached into his pocket for a notepad, though of course, there wasn¡¯t one¡ªhe was wearingbat gear, not his work apron.


    ¡®Damn it.¡¯


    Uijae awkwardly stood face-to-face with Baewonwoo, who seemed distracted. Luckily, he didn¡¯t seem to notice Uijae¡¯s strange posture. Baewonwoo hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°Uh, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Did you¡­ know that Sayoung had been searching for you all this time?¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Baewonwoo scratched the back of his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bring it up, but¡­ just don¡¯t mention it to him when he wakes up, okay? Promise me.¡±


    Baewonwoo sped his hands together, pleading. Uijae took a deep breath, then stepped back.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± Uijae said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I already know.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know Sayoung was waiting for me, searching for me.¡±


    Uijae''s heart raced every time he said Sayoung''s name. He paused, then lowered his head. ¡°I appreciate you telling me, but I¡¯ll hear it directly from him when he wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡±


    Baewonwoo watched as Uijae¡¯s ck figure disappeared down the hall. Only after Uijae¡¯s presence fadedpletely did Baewonwoo exhale heavily, sweat beading on his forehead.


    ¡°¡­Was it obvious that I was nervous?¡±


    From the shadows, Mingi, having watched the whole interaction, pushed his sunsses up and replied, ¡°Not that much. He¡¯s not that mean-spirited, I think.¡±


    ¡°I


    know¡­ but after getting beaten like that, my body just reacts on its own¡­.¡±


    Mingi said nothing, only shrugging his shoulders.


    "That day... he really was like a ghost."


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Never mind. Jung Bin is calling for you,¡± Mingi said, waving off his previous statement.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Baewonwoo walked back to the conference room, leaving Mingi alone in the hallway. The weight of that memory¡ªthe day of the "Day of Change"¡ªwas still fresh. That day, J had lost control inside Lee Sayoung¡¯s house, only stopping when Mingi, Jung Bin, and the others had subdued him.


    But "subdued" wasn¡¯t the right word. No, J had¡­


    He had let them subdue him. Maybe out of guilt. Maybe out of fear for what might have happened to Sayoung otherwise.


    ¡®J himself doesn¡¯t seem to remember much from that day¡­.¡¯


    Mingi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. The sweat clinging to his skin was unnerving. J had personally chosen him as a contact, which meant things were about to get much more intense.


    But as a workaholic, Mingi couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit excited at the prospect of serving a new master.

 Chapter 148

    For two and a half months, Cha Uijae did his best, keeping Mingi at his feet and carrying the Wave Guild and top government official Jung Bin on his back. He didn¡¯t discriminate between dungeons, rifts, or monsters.


    During this time, Uijae also witnessed how Jung Bin masterfully manipted public opinion using his famous face. There was certainly a reason why he dominated every public service announcement. Eight years was more than enough time to turn a diligent colleague into a sly strategist.


    However, it seemed that the effectiveness of sensational headlines like "The nation''s hero saves the country once again after eight years!" was beginning to wear off, as articles about Lee Sayoung were starting to circte.


    "I wish some big monster would just show up," Uijae thought to himself.


    The public, who had once cheered for J¡¯s return, now took his efforts for granted. After all, he was a hero. It was only natural for him to show up whenever there was a problem, right? Baewonwoo, whom Uijae asionally ran into, often muttered with a displeased expression.


    "It''s definitely not something to take for granted. People are bing far toocent."


    Uijae merely shrugged. Having gone through this many times before, it didn¡¯t surprise him.


    His thumb moved quickly over the screen as he mechanically scrolled through the headlines until his hand froze. A picture of a middle-aged man with a tiger-like appearance and streaks of white hair caught his eye. It was Song Joheon. The title of the article read:


    "Why is the hero silent? The mystery of the West Sea Rift."


    "¡­"


    Uijae threw his phone into the drawer next to the couch.


    "This is such a headache¡­."


    The sound of his fingers tapping the leather sofa stopped.


    Lee Sayoung¡¯s house was silent. ording to Mingi, Sayoung was such a light sleeper that even the smallest noise could wake him. So, the house had been outfitted with extensive soundproofing.


    This, however, was not ideal for Cha Uijae. He couldn¡¯t sleep well without noise, especially since his escape from the West Sea Rift.


    Uijae rolled up his loose sleeve, revealing a silver watch on his left wrist, shattered beyond repair. Of the three tiny clock hands, only one moved sluggishly.


    "Last chance."


    When all the hands stopped, had he seeded, or had he failed?


    Uijae took off the watch and ced it on the armrest of the sofa. Then, he opened a rain sound video on his phone thatsted eight hours and used a cushion as a pillow before closing his eyes. Perhaps because he knew that Lee Sayoung was just beyond the wall, he didn¡¯t feel lonely.


    His consciousness slowly began to sink.


    ---


    Cha Uijae opened his eyes. His surroundings were familiar. It was the hallway of the old Awakener Management Agency building, a ce he used to frequent more than his own home. The sounds of murmuring were clear.


    His feet moved without hesitation, crossing the hallway. Most of the faces of the people he passed were blurry. Whenever he tried to focus on them, they would turn into dark smudges. Then, a woman with a sharp expression, her face clearly visible, appeared. She was Honeybee, sitting with her legs crossed and looking rather aloof. Upon seeing Uijae, she propped her chin on her hand.


    "What¡¯s going on? Why are you here?"


    "It¡¯s not strange for me to be here. You, on the other hand, are out of ce."


    "I¡¯m here to see Jung Bin, so don¡¯t start with me."


    Honeybee added curtly.


    "I thought you were out in the mountains of Gangwon-do?"


    "That was yesterday. You¡¯re behind the news."


    "Tsk."


    She turned her head sharply, her long blonde hair swinging. Uijae, undeterred, asked,


    "How have things beentely?"


    "Same as usual. But¡­"


    Honeybee nced toward the end of the hallway and stood up. It was the emergency stairwell. Uijae pretended not to notice and pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, following her. The door closed with a bang. After checking the surroundings, Honeybee lowered her voice and whispered.


    "I talked to ''Matthew'' like you suggested. It¡¯s true¡ªthere¡¯s been an increase in the number of rift urrences recently. There are even several hidden rifts kept secret to reduce public anxiety. Matthew thought it was strange, too."


    "¡­"


    "The frequency of monsters bursting out of the rifts has also increased. I contacted Gyu-Gyu, and he said the situation is the same overseas. Things are looking grim."


    "Yeah."


    Honeybee frowned and crossed her arms.


    "If you find anything out, share it with us, okay? You¡¯re not doing this just to survive on your own, are you?"


    "¡­Sorry. I don¡¯t have anything concrete yet."


    "J."


    Her bright brown eyes glinted sharply.


    "Please¡­ don¡¯t try to handle this alone¡­."


    Honeybee¡¯s voice and face began to blur, and soon the entire scene around him warped. Uijae muttered to himself.


    "Another dead end."


    Momentster, Cha Uijae opened his eyes again. The familiar dark ceiling greeted him.


    The sound of rain continued to pour. Uijae groped for the watch and phone by his bedside. Only 30 minutes had passed. He slowly got up and walked out. The door creaked open, and silence filled the wide house once again.


    In the darkness, the silver watch glimmered.


    ---


    Since Lee Sayoung had fallen into his deep sleep, Cha Uijae asionally saw things in his dreams. In these dreams, Uijae moved as himself, traveled, and spoke to familiar or unfamiliar people. He also met Lee Sayoung several times.


    "Hyung."


    In these dreams, Lee Sayoung¡¯s eyes were ck, he was a great cook, and he was always kind. Only after enjoying a meal Sayoung had personally prepared did Uijae realize:


    "This isn¡¯t a dream."


    After all, you can¡¯t taste things in a dream, right?


    What Uijae saw were someone¡¯s vivid memories. Judging by the ck eyes and theyout of the house, they were most likely memories of the first Cha Uijae.


    Because Yoon Gaeul was the expert on strange dream phenomena, Uijae went to consult her first. They met on the roof of her high school, and Uijae decided to break the lock for some privacy.


    Listening to him while sniffling, Gaeul tilted her head.


    "It didn¡¯t happen before, but you started having these dreams after the Day of Change?"


    "Yes."


    "Has anything changed in your life recently? There must be a trigger."


    Uijae pondered for a moment before muttering,


    "Too many things."


    "Try picking out just the most important ones."


    Uijae began counting on his fingers.


    "First, I quit working at the hangover soup restaurant. I started operating as J again."


    "Okay."


    "Lee Sayoung fell into a deep sleep¡­."


    When he had folded about five fingers, Gaeul interrupted.


    "So far, most of what you¡¯ve mentioned are changes in your environment. What about changes that happened directly to you?"


    "Me?"


    "Yes. Like¡­."


    Gaeul fiddled with her hair.


    "Your hair turning gray¡­ or that watch on your wrist. Now that I think about it, we¡¯ve been so focused on Guild Leader Lee¡¯s condition that we haven¡¯t looked into the watch, have we?"


    "Ah."


    Uijae hastily rolled up his jacket sleeve, revealing the old, nearly broken watch. Gaeul looked at it with concern.


    "It seems likely this is the cause. Why don¡¯t you try leaving the watch far away from you while you sleep?"


    It was sound advice. Uijae had Mingi take the watch to the hangover soup restaurant and went to sleep without it. That night, instead of seeing the kind Lee Sayoung, he dreamt of the West Sea Rift. The watch was clearly the cause.


    There was another expert on items: Hong Yeseong, who called himself the world¡¯s greatest artisan, whether others agreed or not.


    This time, his secret hideout was at the edge of Inwangsan. With Jung Bin¡¯s help, Uijae made his way into the quiet house where Hong Yeseong was staying. The artisan ran out on all fours and clung to Uijae¡¯s pant leg.


    "I was so bored! You didn¡¯t even text me! I hate you!"


    Jung Bin, standing with his hands behind his back,ughed good-naturedly.


    "He wouldn¡¯t have seen your texts anyway."


    "But still!"


    Apparently, every time Hong Yeseong was confined to a remote area, Lee Sayoung would restore his inte. But since Sayoung was asleep this time, he was truly cut off from the world. While roasting some seaweed over a fire with Kkoko¡¯s mes, Hong Yeseong suddenly spoke up.


    "You said that the first version of you used that watch to turn back the world, right?"


    "Yeah."


    "Then it must¡¯ve gathered an immense amount of energy. And you mentioned something about bing the axis."


    "That¡¯s right."


    "Needing an axis means that the item alone can¡¯t do anything. The axis and the item muste together and merge before it can function."


    "Merge?"


    "Yes."


    As Kkoko spat out itsst ember, it scurried around Uijae. Hong Yeseong muttered while cutting the seaweed with scissors.


    "Maybe the watch has merged with part of ¡®Cha Uijae¡¯ as its axis. Not your body, but maybe your memories¡­ or a


    strong desire¡­ something like that."


    "¡­"


    "That fusion might have caused some kind of reaction when you met the other version of yourself. If it¡¯s not harmful to your body, maybe you should keep experiencing it. You might uncover some clues."


    "¡­"


    "Of course, I didn¡¯t make it, so I can¡¯t say for sure!"


    Once again, Hong Yeseong¡¯s words started to make sense. The frequency of these urrences was too high to dismiss. Uijae eyed Hong Yeseong suspiciously and, for no particr reason, pped him on the back.


    "Ahh!"


    "Quack!"


    Hong Yeseong and Kkoko screamed in unison.@@novelbin@@


    ---


    *Beep, beep, beep, beep¡ª*


    Cha Uijae woke up again. His phone shed red, ringing loudly. He shot up straight. It was an emergency alert from Jung Bin.


    ¡ªAn Erosion Dungeon has appeared in Mokpo. It¡¯srger than before.


    An Erosion Dungeon. It could be connected to the West Sea Rift. His mind cleared instantly. Without a second thought, Uijae sprang to his feet and rushed out the door. The locked door creaked open, and silence filled the wide house once again.


    In the darkness, the silver watch shimmered.

 Chapter 150

    As his eyelids flickered a few times, his thinshes trembled. His empty eyes stared nkly into the darkness. The first thought that came to mind was nothing significant.


    "Have I gone blind again?"


    Just that much.


    Fortunately, his body¡¯s senses gradually adjusted to the darkness, and the surrounding objects became distinguishable. He slowly pushed himself up from the mattress, leaning on his elbows. The feel of the nket covering him was familiar. It was likely his bedroom.


    He reached out and switched on the bedsidemp. The room was filled with an orange glow, casting his pale face in a reddish hue.


    ¡­


    It felt like he had just woken from a very long dream.


    ¡­


    But was it really a dream?


    Something sparkled on the soft nket. Without hesitation, he grasped it in his hand and stepped out of bed. Every step he took made his body wobble, as if moving was foreign to him, like it wasn¡¯t even his body.


    He opened the door. His bare feet made contact with the cold floor, lifted, and touched it again a few times as he made his way to therge window.


    "¡­"


    His clouded eyes focused on the sky beyond the window. The massive hole in the middle of the sky was tinged white, with ash swirling around like snow. It was andscape he had grown dreadfully familiar with over time.


    The end of the world.


    Slowly, he lowered his gaze. Ash settled on the ruins of broken buildings. Everything was covered in white. There was no trace of life anywhere. A sharp pain throbbed in his head. The hand he pressed against the ss was ckened up to the wrist.


    The end was always quiet and...


    Thud.


    He shook his head and looked out at the street again. There was a high-rise building under repair, draped in cloth, with cars busily moving along the road and small figures walking along the sidewalk. The faint sound of car horns reached his ears. Everything was still in ce. Only one of his fingers was ckened up to the knuckle, and nothing more.


    For now.


    "Ah¡­"


    He sighed softly and ran his hands roughly over his face. His forehead and neck were soaked in cold sweat.


    "Sh*t."


    Between his ckened fingers, his violet eyes glowed brightly. A trace of unease flickered in his otherwise arrogant gaze.


    "What the hell is this mess now?"


    ---


    "Why..."


    Click.


    "Won¡¯t this¡­"


    Click.


    "Light!"


    Cha Uijae struggled with a lime-green gas lighter, pressing it repeatedly. He was crouched on the ground, attempting to light a cigarette. Mingi nced at him.


    "Shall I prepare a new lighter for you?"


    "No, no need for that... It¡¯s weird. There should be some gas left."


    Uijae held the lighter up toward the light. Finally, he noticed the strange lettering on the surface: "Fresh Mackerel Sashimi Market" with a phone number beneath it. It must have been one of the lighters left behind by customers at the hangover soup restaurant. He could never understand the preferences of Hunters.


    Mingi lifted his head.


    "Ah¡­ I do have an item that can light it. Would you like to try?"


    "What is it?"


    He rummaged through his inventory and pulled out something that resembled a gun. When he pulled the trigger, a vivid blue me red up. Uijae stared at the zing pir of fire, dumbfounded.


    "A methrower?"


    Mingi beamed with pride.


    "I picked it up when we raided the Awakener Management Agency. It seemed useful, so I kept it. It¡¯s made with a mana stone from a fire-type monster."


    Uijae suddenly remembered Kkoko, Hong Yeseong¡¯s bird, spitting blue fire as well. Surely not¡­ He asked.


    "Did Hong Yeseong make this?"


    "Yes, the artisan himself made it."


    That guy really made all sorts of bizarre things. Uijae reluctantly held the cigarette to the me. But¡­


    Whoosh!


    "Sir?"


    The blue me engulfed both the cigarette and Uijae¡¯s hand in one swift motion. Mingi quickly released the trigger to stop the fire. Uijae calmly shook off the minor soot on his hand, unfazed.


    "The me¡¯s too strong. I can¡¯t use it."


    "I see. I¡¯ll have the lighter delivered to your ce, sir."


    "I said I don¡¯t need it¡­"


    Uijae clicked his tongue and put on his mask.


    "So, it¡¯s a bust again."


    They were standing amidst the wreckage of a copsed building inside the Erosion Dungeon. The periodic bursts of ash had stopped once the dungeon boss had been defeated.


    "Yes. We explored as much as we could, but nothing stood out. There was nothing particrly unusualpared to previous Erosion Dungeons. But over there¡­"


    Mingi gestured beyond the ck water. A vast expanse ofnd stretched out on the other side.


    "There could be something over there, though. It would be good to investigate now, but¡­"@@novelbin@@


    Mingi busied himself scribbling something on his tablet and shrugged.


    "But you don¡¯t exactly have the time for that right now, sir."


    "¡­"


    Uijae didn¡¯t respond. His silence was a form of agreement. Mingi stopped writing.


    "We could consider sending in a team from the Wave Guild, but that¡¯s a bit tricky. It¡¯s unlikely to be possible."


    "Who owns this dungeon, anyway?"


    "A guild called Sanyoung. They¡¯re in a partnership with HB Guild. Essentially, it¡¯s under HB Guild¡¯s ownership."


    Mingi scratched his temple with the end of his pen.


    "Sir, you¡¯re free to go anywhere with your hero status and your official documents, but¡­"


    "¡­"


    "If I get caught here, it¡¯s over for me."


    Uijae needed to return quickly to check on Lee Sayoung¡¯s condition and retrieve the watch. Leaving Mingi behind wasn¡¯t an option either. Uijae kicked at some concrete debris with his boot. Fortunately, he was quick to ept and move on.


    "We don¡¯t have a choice. Let¡¯s go."


    "Understood, sir."


    Ajujakungminggijeok, also known as Mingi, melted into Uijae¡¯s shadow.


    ---


    Ssh.


    As they exited the dungeon, the scent of salty seawater tickled Uijae¡¯s nose. Gentle waves crashed against the cliff, wearing it down into white foam. The Erosion Dungeon in Mokpo was created beneath the cliff, where it met the sea.


    The sea.


    They had promised toe here together, but Uijae ended uping alone. Back then, and now.


    "When will we finally be able toe together?"


    Without dungeons, monsters, or systems¡ªjust the two of them.


    "Everything reminds me of Lee Sayoung these days."


    It seemed like his entire world had been reassembled into thoughts of Sayoung. The bitterness in his mouth lingered as he stepped onto the sandy beach. In that moment, a sharp presence pricked at his back, sending a chill down his spine. Uijae tightened his grip on his spear and focused on the source of the sensation. A sharp voice pierced the air.


    "Finally decided to notice me, huh? Isn¡¯t the number one-ranked Hunter being a bit too careless?"


    Blonde hair tied high fluttered in the cold sea breeze like a g. Uijae recognized the person instantly. How could he not, when she had been a regr face on TV both before and after the Day of Change¡­


    And a regr customer at his hangover soup restaurant.


    "Let¡¯s keep this short. We¡¯re both busy, after all."


    Honeybee pushed her blonde hair behind her ear and stared directly at Uijae. Thankfully, there wasn¡¯t any killing intent in her gaze.


    "¡­"


    Uijae lowered the spear he had been gripping threateningly and replied.


    "I have permission to be in this dungeon. The HB Guild shouldn¡¯t have any issue with it."


    "That¡¯s not my concern. I¡¯m here for something else."


    Normally, Uijae would have ignored her and moved on. The more encounters he had with other Hunters, the greater the risk.


    But maybe it was because of the memories the watch had shown him. Or perhaps it was because of their connection through the hangover soup restaurant. Either way, he was curious enough to listen to her.


    Honeybee spoke.


    "Do you know anything about the drug that turns Awakeners into dummies?"


    Of course, Uijae knew. It was because of that drug that he had crossed paths with Lee Sayoung again. But he stayed silent, watching her reaction. Taking his silence as an answer, Honeybee continued slowly.


    "I came looking for you because I thought you could help."


    She twirled her hair around her finger, hesitating briefly, before speaking with a resolute expression.


    "I need your help, J. I need you to pass on a message."


    "What message?"


    "We need to treat Matthew."


    Matthew¡ªUijae had met him at the Artisan Exhibition. Currently, he was ranked third in South Korea and was the guild leader of HB Guild. Uijae asked casually,


    "Shouldn¡¯t you be taking him to a healer for that?"


    "We already did. They said he couldn¡¯t be treated. Even Nam Woojin said the same. Tsk¡­"


    Honeybee bit her thumbnail anxiously.


    "Are you aware that HB Guild has formed an alliance with Samra Guild?"


    "For now, yes."


    "I think that¡¯s when things started to go wrong. After that, Matthew began to change. A man who was always calm started to have mood swings, bing increasingly anxious and losing control of his abilities¡­"


    Her eyes glinted darkly.


    "Sh*t,


    did they think I wouldn¡¯t notice that?"


    "¡­So?"


    "Oh."


    She seemed to snap out of her daze and raised her head. Lowering her gaze again, she muttered.


    "Nam Woojin told me that Matthew¡¯s symptoms are the early stages of addiction to the drug that mutates Awakeners. The group behind the drug¡¯s distribution is Prometheus. Nam Woojin knows the drug itself, but the only ones who understand the organization well are in the Wave Guild. He told me to ask them for help."


    "¡­"


    It must have been serious if Nam Woojin had entrusted her with such a secret, despite the emphasis on keeping it confidential. Uijae remembered the fragment Gaeul had shown him, where Honeybee had copsed in tears.


    The Honeybee standing in front of him now might have reddened eyes, but she wasn¡¯t crying.


    "You¡¯ve been working with the Wave Guildtely, haven¡¯t you? Then pass the message to Lee Sayoung. Shield Guy can¡¯t pass it on because he¡¯s stuck in a dungeon."


    "Lee Sayoung¡­"


    Uijae¡¯s throat tightened for a moment. He cleared his throat quietly and shook his head.


    "Lee Sayoung won¡¯t be able to help. You know that. Because of his health¡­"


    "What are you talking about?"


    Honeybee frowned.


    "That health excuse has already been exposed. A few hours ago, people in the Ranker chat shared that Lee Sayoung was spotted around Incheon."


    Thud. Honeybee¡¯s eyes widened as J grabbed her shoulders and brought his face close to hers.


    His ck mask revealed no expression, and his voice, distorted by modtion, was emotionless. His words came out slow and deliberate, almost spat out.


    "What did you just say?"


    ______________________


    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>: Please don''t skimp on the stars for the trantion - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

 Chapter 151

    Honeybee, her shoulder gripped, spoke in a startled tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you exactly what I heard. It was about four hours ago¡ªpeople started reporting sightings of Lee Sayoung in Incheon. He always did whatever he wanted, so I figured he was off doing something else again¡­.¡±


    Watching Uijae¡¯s reaction, Honeybee raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°Wait, was there actually something wrong with him?¡±


    ¡°Is there a photo?¡±


    ¡°Ranker chat doesn¡¯t usually have photos¡­¡±


    ¡°Mingi!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been listening.¡±


    Mingi popped out of Uijae¡¯s shadow. Honeybee gasped in shock.


    ¡°What the hell? Why is *he* here?¡±


    ¡°At the moment, sir is my master. I¡¯ll check the ranker chat and rumors. Sir, you should check your phone. If what Honeybee says is true, there should be some messages waiting for you.¡±


    Half-immersed in the shadow, Mingi extended an arm and handed Uijae a phone. It was themunication phone Mingi had retrieved. When Uijae powered it on, a flood of missed calls appeared. The caller?


    Jung Bin.


    "¡­"


    Uijae bit his lip. The ground beneath his feet felt like it was spinning. After a brief hesitation, he pressed the call button. The ringtone stretched on, while Uijae¡¯s thoughts tumbled one after another.


    ¡®Did Lee Sayoung really wake up?¡¯


    Suddenly?


    They had said it could take any amount of time for him to wake. That waiting was the best option. But not only did he wake up without warning, he didn¡¯t contact anyone and immediately went to Incheon?


    Not even contacting me?


    "¡­"


    Beep. The call connected.


    ¡°Jung Bin.¡±


    ¡ªAh, J¡­ Did you just leave the dungeon? Are you unharmed?


    Jung Bin¡¯s voice sounded weary. Uijae found himself absentmindedly scuffing the ground with his shoe.


    ¡°I just heard. About Lee Sayoung¡­¡±


    ¡ªAh, so you¡¯ve heard. I¡¯ll get straight to the point.


    Jung Bin cleared his throat.


    ¡ªLee Sayoung was first spotted in Incheon around 4 hours and 30 minutes ago. Since then, it seems he¡¯s been moving. ording to reports from the Wave Guild, thest confirmed sighting was near the West Sea Rift Memorial. Specifically, the area around the monument.


    "¡­"


    Uijae¡¯s grip on the phone tightened.


    ¡ªOrdinarily, I¡¯d have gone myself, but¡­ I¡¯m unable to move at the moment. I apologize. And we can¡¯t send personnel from the Awakener Management Agency either.


    If the Awakener Management Agency got involved, all eyes would be on Lee Sayoung. Uijae ran his hand through his hair and mumbled.


    ¡°No need to apologize. Thanks for letting me know. I¡¯ll go check it out.¡±


    ¡ªYes, then¡­


    Jung Bin hurriedly ended the call. Uijae held the phone for a moment before running a hand roughly through his hair.


    Mokpo to Incheon?


    If he had one of Hong Yeseong¡¯s scrolls, he could teleport there in an instant, but he¡¯d already used the only one he had toe to Mokpo. Uijae scanned his surroundings and met Honeybee¡¯s eyes. She hade from Seoul. Thinking quickly, Uijae asked her.


    ¡°Honeybee Hunter, how did you get to Mokpo?¡±


    ¡°I came by guild helicopter, but¡­ It still took a while. Seems like you¡¯re in a hurry, huh?¡±


    "¡­"


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to be satisfied with helicopter speed, are you?¡±


    She was right. Without an instant mode of transportation, the wait would be agonizing. This was all because Hong Yeseong was too good at what he did. Uijae gritted his teeth.


    Suddenly, something tapped Uijae¡¯s ankle. It was Mingi, who had emerged halfway from the shadows.


    ¡°Fortunately, it seems the transportation issue has been resolved, sir.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°As soon as the sighting was posted in the ranker chat, Romantic Opener went to find the guild leader. He¡¯s nearby now.¡±


    Romantic Opener¡ªhis ability was to open doors to other locations. Mingi casually pushed his sunsses up his nose, the lenses gleaming.


    ¡°It¡¯s always best to use talented individuals where they¡¯re needed.¡±


    Uijae gave him a thumbs-up.


    ---


    Jung Bin ended the call with a long sigh. His usually calm face was flushed red, and patches of heat blotched his skin. He removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his slightly singed shirt, exposing the scars on his right arm.


    He stood in a charred room. No, it had once been an ordinary room, but now, mes and soot had stolen its original color. The only things untouched by the ckened surroundings were Jung Bin and the man across from him.


    Kneeling at the far end of the room, bound tightly in ck chains, was a man with disheveled hair and crooked sses. A low groan escaped from him. Jung Bin swept his tangled hair back.


    ¡°Are you feeling any better?¡±


    The man slowly raised his head.


    ¡°Matthew.¡±


    A look of confusion crossed Matthew¡¯s sharp features.


    ¡°¡­Where is this?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re in the Soweon Guild¡¯s basement. Honeybee brought you here. She said the Awakener Management Agency would let word slip. Nam Woojin couldn¡¯t handle it alone, so he called me.¡±


    Jung Bin gave a bitter smile.


    ¡°I can¡¯t exactly deny the concern about word getting out¡­¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯te to your senses, so we had to bind you. I apologize.¡±


    Matthew, also known as Mok Taeo, blinked tiredly and tilted his head back. The crooked sses slipped off and fell to the floor.


    ¡°¡­Thank you. I¡¯m starting to feel clearer.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me. I¡¯ll make sure you repay me in full.¡±


    A disgruntled voice interrupted as a figure kicked the door open. It was Nam Woojin, wearing a white coat, his pale eyes full of irritation.


    ¡°If the bureaucrat hadn¡¯t shown up in time, you¡¯d have burned this whole building down. And the precious books, too. It¡¯s going to take forever to get rid of that stench.¡±


    "¡­"


    Mok Taeo nodded silently. Jung Bin asked.


    ¡°What happened? Did you suddenly lose control of your powers?¡±


    Up until now, Matthew had been obsessive about controlling his abilities. Even roasting marshmallows and squid had been part of his control training. Nam Woojin folded his arms beside Jung Bin.


    ¡°I came here to ask the same thing. Matthew, where¡¯d you get the drugs?¡±


    Jung Bin¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Drugs? You don¡¯t mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The same drugs we¡¯ve been investigating. He¡¯s addicted to them. There¡¯s no way you took them voluntarily.¡±


    Mok Taeo, blinking sluggishly, asked,


    ¡°Where¡¯s Honeybee? Is she okay?¡±


    ¡°She dropped you off here and said she had something to find. She wasn¡¯t hurt. She was covered head to toe in me-resistant gear.¡±


    Nam Woojin, answering, squinted and pointed a finger.


    ¡°Now answer my question. Someone like you doesn¡¯t just lose control like this unless you took a lot of the stuff. Didn¡¯t you notice anything strange?¡±


    A young boy behind Nam Woojin pushed a cart forward. The cart was filled with syringes and various drugs. Jung Bin asked worriedly,


    ¡°Can you cure him?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll only know once I try. Hey, Matthew! Stay with me and answer my questions.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±


    Mok Taeo exhaled a long, heated breath. His eyes, which had been fluttering shut, suddenly rolled back into his head.


    Jung Bin shouted,


    ¡°Damn it, get back!¡±@@novelbin@@


    Boom!


    ---


    Crash!


    A ck shoe mmed violently into a deep maroon door. On the other side of the door, two seas connected. Well, one side was actually full of shing neon signs from fish markets along the street. Romantic Opener, who had been holding the doorknob, iled weakly.


    ¡°C-Could you be a bit gentler with the door? Ugh.¡±


    But Uijae wasn¡¯t in the mood to care about Romantic Opener¡¯sints. He grabbed his iling shoulders and demanded,


    ¡°Hey. Where is Lee Sayoung?¡±


    ¡°Th-That way, at the West Sea Rift, uh¡­ the memorial.¡±


    Hearing the answer he wanted, Uijae dropped Romantic Opener and sprinted off. Mingi collected the fallen Romantic Opener. He nced back through the doorway toward Mokpo.


    ¡°Will you be using Honeybee Hunter as well?¡±


    ¡°¡­No, I¡¯ll return by helicopter.¡±


    Honeybee flipped her blonde hair back and turned around.


    ¡°Just make sure to pass the message to Lee Sayoung.¡±


    ---


    Each step Uijae took echoed on the pavement, the seafood restaurants lining the beach disappearing one by one. The distracting neon signs and the love songs that filled his ears gradually faded. The surroundings grew quieter, leaving only the pounding of his heart in his ears.


    Uijae gritted his teeth, his gray hair whipping messily in the wind.


    Thump.


    I can¡¯t bete again.


    Thump.


    Please!


    Thump!


    Finally, Uijae slowed his pace to catch his breath. He had reached the promontory, where the giant stone memorial stood. It was the West Sea Rift Memorial, bearing the names of those lost. This was his first time seeing it in person.


    The name at the top was¡­


    J.


    "¡­"


    Inside the safety rail surrounding the memorial, a dark figure sat hunched over. A ck coat spraw


    led haphazardly on the ground. Uijae carefully called out.


    ¡°¡­Lee Sayoung?¡±


    ¡­The dark figure slowly lifted his head.


    Disheveled ck hair, glowing violet eyes peeking through, a deathly pale face, lips bloodied from being chewed raw¡ªIt was Lee Sayoung. Uijae couldn¡¯t hold back his emotions and burst out in frustration.


    ¡°If you woke up, you should¡¯ve contacted me or at least one of the other guild members¡­!¡±


    But he didn¡¯t finish his scolding. He had to stop in his tracks.


    Lee Sayoung was staring nkly at Uijae with that still pale face. And yet, his expression¡­


    ¡­looked like he had just seen a ghost.


    ¡°Sayoung?¡±


    Uijae called his name again, cautiously. As if it was a signal, Lee Sayoung slowly stood up and staggered toward him. Uijae jumped over the rail and hurriedly grabbed his shoulder to steady him. Their eyes met.


    A ckened fingertip touched Uijae¡¯s cheek. Sayoung¡¯s hand wandered further, brushing his temple, his hair, and his forehead. His fingers trembled uncontrobly. Uijae gently sped that hand in his.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    At that moment,


    Drip.


    A tear slid down Lee Sayoung¡¯s pale cheek.

 Chapter 152

    Tears that had flowed in small drops now began to fall in earnest. Uijae froze, gripping Lee Sayoung''s hand.


    ¡°Is¡­ he crying?¡±


    Lee Sayoung?


    ¡°Why?¡±


    What reason could he possibly have to cry as soon as he saw me? A flurry of thoughts bubbled up in Uijae¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Did he wake up and cry because I wasn¡¯t there?¡±


    There¡¯s no way Lee Sayoung would cry over something so trivial. Uijae dismissed the first possibility immediately. If anything, Sayoung was the type to get annoyed or angry, not cry. Unless¡­


    ¡°Did he have a dream where I died?¡±


    ¡­


    Uijae raised his gaze from their sped hands to look at Sayoung, and then he inhaled sharply.


    Sayoung¡¯s pale face, which had once reflected shock like someone who¡¯d seen a ghost, was now devoid of any expression. It was as if thest remnants of emotion had drained from him.


    He was simply staring. At Uijae. His usual vibrant purple eyes, which often hid countless emotions beneath the surface, now mirrored only one person.


    Cha Uijae.


    ¡°¡­.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Uijae opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 156

    Cha Uijae absentmindedly fiddled with the watch on his wrist. The round dial disyed three small sub-dials, two of which had stopped while thest one continued moving busily. He pointed at the tiny clocks.


    "You''re talking about these little clocks?"


    "Oh, you¡¯ve been keeping it on. Yeah, that''s right. Originally, there was only one big clock, but I modified it for better visibility," Kkokko said, puffing out its chest with pride.


    "That¡¯s all thanks to me."


    "Why did you modify it? Not just for looks, right?"


    "I did it because it was necessary."


    "What was it necessary for? You modified it when Lee Sayoung from the ruined world was using it, didn¡¯t you? When I first used it to turn back time, there weren¡¯t any of these small clocks."


    "Wow, you actually remember that? I thought you didn¡¯t know anything," Kkokko chattered on, but Uijae sighed and rubbed his face. Then, in a low voice, he called out.


    "Hey."


    The lights in the small house flickered ominously before suddenly going out. The table hummed. Looking up, Uijae saw blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. A chilling, sharp energy filled the room, freezing the air from the depths of his core. From the shadowed face, where his expression was barely visible, a calm voice flowed out.


    "You must think I¡¯m doing okay if you''re joking around like that."@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 159

    With his vision blocked, Uijae''s other senses became heightened. He could feel the firm arms wrapped around his waist, the way their lips pressed together, and the ck tongue teasing the roof of his mouth, exploring deeply. He felt like he was drowning in sweetness and heat, suffocating.


    ¡®¡­No, this isn¡¯t the time for this!¡¯


    Snapping back to his senses, Uijae shoved Sayoung¡¯s shoulders, causing him to pull away. Sayoung tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    In the meantime, Uijae hastily covered his mouth with the back of his hand and backed away, stopping only when his back hit a pir. For once, he was fumbling with his words.


    ¡°Hey, you¡­ How did you¡­ Wait, were you awake?¡±


    How the hell did he know I kissed him?@@novelbin@@


    Was his body asleep, but his mind awake? Or did he overhear the conversation with Hong Yeseong while pretending to sleep? But Uijae hadn¡¯t sensed anything like that. Was he just too out of it to notice? His mind felt like a storm of confusion. Then, Sayoung shrugged.


    ¡°Hah¡­¡±


    ¡®What now?¡¯


    ¡°AHAHAHA!¡±


    Sayoung burst intoughter, a rare full smile on his face. Uijae was dumbfounded. What¡¯s so funny? Uijae lowered his hand from his mouth and snapped in frustration.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 160

    ¡®I¡¯m really losing it.¡¯


    Uijae''s fingers twitched involuntarily, refusing to calm down despite his attempts. His rapidly beating heart wouldn¡¯t settle. *Thump, thump, thump...* This wasn¡¯t the kind of thrill he usually felt when facing a monster. No, Uijae was clearly shaken. Sayoung¡¯szy voice echoed relentlessly in his ears.


    ¡®Does your *hyung* kiss his little brother?¡¯


    Would you? If you were me, would you?


    His inner conservative voice suddenly resurfaced, pointing fingers. Uijae agreed with it.


    Yes, by the moral standards he had lived by, there was no way he should be kissing his brother. But Uijae had already kissed Sayoung countless times¡­


    ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯


    ¡­engaged in far too many intimate acts. Whether or not it had been beyond his control, it was he who initiated the first kiss, and just a moment ago, he hadn¡¯t pushed Sayoung away. He had embraced him. He had weed the warmth of Sayoung¡¯s touch, and¡ªthough he hated to admit it¡ªhe had enjoyed every kiss. He had wanted more, as if he were addicted.


    ¡®Snap out of it!¡¯


    With a thud, Uijae banged his head against the pir behind him. The sharp pain helped him regain a semnce of control.


    ¡®Have I finally gone insane¡­?¡¯


    He massaged the back of his neck with a sigh. It still felt like Sayoung¡¯srge hand was resting there, the low, sultry voice still whispering in his ear. His fingers curled in response, his body still hot from the intensity of it all. His flushed face refused to cool down.


    Though spring had arrived, the evening air was still chilly. The cool breeze gently teased his hair, and the faint chirping of crickets could be heard in the distance. Uijae lifted his gaze and stared nkly at the sky. Inside the barrier, the White Hole was invisible.


    ¡®You should really think carefully about who I am and what you want from me. Stop denying it.¡¯@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 162

    Cha Uijae rubbed his face with both hands, but of course, doing so didn¡¯t help bring back his scattered thoughts. He stared nkly into space, amazed by how vivid people¡¯s imaginations could be. With just one photograph, rumors were spreading like wildfire.


    He recalled a YouTube video he had seen recently, which had just 534 views. The video featured a ck screen with bright red, yellow, and white text shing across it, exining how modern people who had gone through events like the Day of Fracture and the Day of Change sought more extreme stimuli to escape reality. They called it a dopamine deficiency. Uijae frowned deeply.


    ¡°Damn it¡­ is everyone dopamine deficient?¡±@@novelbin@@


    Was everyone so tired of their harsh lives that they were chasing after excitement? No matter the reason, was this really okay? Didn¡¯t the media have any sense of decency anymore?


    *¡°What was Minggijeok even doing?¡±*


    For some reason, his frustration extended to the all-purpose problem solver, Minggijeok. But being the thorough workaholic he was, Minggijeok had already preemptively dug his escape route. Uijae picked up his phone, scrolling back to re-read the text message.


    ---


    **Seo Min-gi:** *Just so you know, I¡¯ve taken care of all the nearby CCTV footage. No one seemed to notice anything around you two until you got into the van. This seems like the work of an information broker.*


    ---


    The message had arrived even before Uijae could request an exnation. It was a roundabout way of saying:


    *¡°Not my fault.¡±*


    Uijae grimaced as he typed a response.


    ---


    *Yes, understood. Please gather information regarding the broker and send it to me. Thanks.*


    ---


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 163

    Whoever took that picture, Uijae vowed to find and deal with them. He fought down the surge of destructive desire and subtly moved his foot away from the touch. He ignored the snicker from beside him.


    "Sa-young, you should be thanking J for carrying you so carefully like that."


    *Please, just stop talking.*


    Uijae clenched his teeth. Baewonwoo¡¯s clumsy attempt to both support and lecture on manners was useless. Noticing the slightly raised corner of Sa-young''s lips, Uijae resigned himself. There was no escape from this situation now.


    The sound of rustling paper filled the room as the pages of the newspaper were turned. A briefugh escaped, and then an arm wrapped around Uijae¡¯s shoulder, bringing the scent of cinnamon closer. Sa-young whispered teasingly,


    "...Thank you?"


    *Does that even sound like someone being grateful?*


    Baewonwoo, however, blushed, looking as if he were Sa-young¡¯s doting father.


    ¡°Aww, sorry about that. Sa-young may not show it well, but he¡¯s a good kid.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right.¡±


    ¡°Not many are as nice as me, though¡­¡±


    Did the dictionary definition of ¡°nice¡± change while he was trapped in that fracture? Uijae found himself at a loss for words as Baewonwoo rubbed his arm. Sa-young, who had been leaningzily against Uijae, narrowed his eyes.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, no... I¡¯m fine. Lately, my arm¡¯s just been aching a bit. The doctor says there¡¯s nothing wrong with the bones or muscles.¡±


    Baewonwoo gave his arm a few taps and shrugged.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try acupuncture. Anyway, I¡¯m d you¡¯re up and about. There¡¯s a lot to discuss besides this. The general assembly ising up soon. If I¡¯d had to attend in your ce again, it would¡¯ve been a headache.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 167

    "Disgustingly urate."


    Sa-young slowly stood up and moved towards the fish tank. He bent forward, bringing his face close to the ss, and his violet eyes reflected off the blue and red surface, ring back at him. He clenched his hands behind his back, and as his fingers tightened, they moved ordingly. For now, he still had control over his body.


    Facing himself in the reflection, Sa-young¡¯s faded, pale violet eyes were unpleasant to look at¡ªa color filled with loss. He stared nkly at the goldfish swimming inside the tank for a moment, then straightened up.


    "The thing about Matthew¡­ you told J, didn¡¯t you?"


    "Huh? Yeah."


    "You told him in person?"


    "Well, yeah? I didn¡¯t have a number for him. I heard J went into one of our guild¡¯s dungeons."


    "......"


    Sa-young ced his hand on the tank and tried to recall. Several goldfish swam closer, pping their fins.@@novelbin@@


    Everything had been a mess since he woke up. When he opened his eyes, three months had passed, the world had drastically changed, and his body was housing a powerful intruder. Maybe it was because they shared the same root, the same soul¡ªboth being Lee Sa-young. The moment he let his guard down, the intruder would seize control.


    The only thing that kept him somewhat grounded was...


    "Are you okay?"


    The fact that Cha Uijae was still by his side.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 168

    Sa-young looked for Uijae first. His wandering gaze finally settled downward, and he frowned.


    Cha Uijae was reclining halfway on a soft beanbag, looking at Sa-young. A low table in front of him was piled with various snacks. His ck mask gleamed under the light of the screen.


    ¡®What the¡­?¡¯


    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be disciplining the Mackerels?


    Sa-young stopped in his tracks. Uijae pulled another beanbag over with his arm, cing it beside him, and patted it lightly.


    ¡°Come sit.¡±


    Why does he look so rxed?


    ¡°Hyuuuung~nim~!¡±


    At that moment, one of the Mackerels, now with his hair down, came flying in, holding a steaming bag of popcorn. He grinned and kneeled on one knee, offering the popcorn like a bouquet of roses. Sa-young¡¯s frown deepened.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Hyung-nim, I¡¯ve brought freshly made popcorn. Oh? The Guild Master is here. Nice to meet you?¡±


    The younger Mackerel waved casually in greeting, but Sa-young barely registered it. His mind was too preupied with the ridiculous title he¡¯d just heard.


    ¡®Hyung-nim?¡¯


    This is ridiculous. Sa-young¡¯s lips twisted into a wry smile. Judging by the younger Mackerel''s attitude, it seemed the disciplining was already over. Did Uijae really enjoy being called ¡®Hyung¡¯? Sa-young folded his arms, watching Uijae shake his head.


    ¡°No, I told you I¡¯m not eating.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 172

    Prometheus caused the Awakeners to mutate.


    After the Day of Change, Awakeners began to mutate.


    The conclusion was the same, but the process differed. The former had a clear cause, while thetter was nothing more than a baseless rumor. However, sometimes, the cause of a problemy hidden within a rumor.


    Sa-young stared intently at the ck figure riding atop the massive whale. Indeed, Cha Uijae''s hair had lightened since three months ago. He twitched his fingers and asked,@@novelbin@@


    "Do they know why or how the mutations happen?"


    The younger Mackerel eagerly pped his fingers together.


    "That¡¯s the big question, isn''t it? Why do Awakeners mutate after the Day of Change? How? Why?"


    He shrugged his shoulders with exaggerated drama.


    "No one knows! The most important part ispletely missing. But the evidence of mutated Awakeners exists. There are testimonies from people who witnessed it, and there are photos."


    "......"


    "So people start filling in the nks themselves, making up usible-sounding exnations. Curses from the system, karma from the Awakeners, someone''s revenge¡­ The stories are quite creative."


    To someone who knew the truth, these stories wereughable. But it wasn¡¯t a matter tough off. Fear without substance had the power to paralyze people''s minds. Sa-young tilted his head. The smile had disappeared from the younger Mackerel¡¯s face. The dim blue light cast eerie shadows across his features.


    "The speed at which rumors are spreading is rming. I¡¯m sure many Hunters have heard it by now¡ªthat Awakeners are mutating. Some Hunters actually believe it. Right, Hyung?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 173

    After the Day of Change, people lived with an unshakable sense of unease.


    The sudden shift in the color of ck holes, the white ash that fell like snow, the increasingly frequent appearance of gates and rifts, and the presence of monsters¡ªall of these signs seemed to herald a new disaster. Even though J had appeared as a hero, everything felt like an ominous prelude to another catastrophe. People had not forgotten the loss that the Day of the Rifts had carved into their lives.


    Gradually, street preachers who imed the end of the world was near became amon sight. With gs emzoned with mes, they waved them for all to see, catching the eyes of passersby whether they wanted to look or not.


    "Humanity must stop the apocalypse with its own strength!"


    They shouted about the end of days, whether people listened or not. Did words really have power? People who had initiallyughed off the doomsayers found themselves unable to do so anymore. Those who had ignored them now nced sideways at the preachers as they passed. The tiny seed of unease took root in their hearts, gradually growingrger.


    "......"@@novelbin@@


    Yun Gaeul was no exception. Gaeul quickened her pace as she passed by the fluttering gs. She encountered these strange doomsday preachers every morning on her way to school. Despiteints from parents, nothing changed.


    For Gaeul, it was especially hard to ignore them. She had seen firsthand what a world on the brink of apocalypse looked like.


    *Do they even know what the end really is? Are these people part of the group Uncle Jung-bin mentioned?*


    Every thought seemed to circle back to the apocalypse, as if a great weight bore down on her. Whenever she passed by the preachers, Gaeul would turn up the volume on her earphones, as if that could block them out. It was all she could do.


    Yet recently, she had little time to worry about them. Fortunately or unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    ---


    Lunchtime. A cheer erupted from one corner of the ssroom as students crowded around a tablet. Every time someone tapped the screen, a different photo appeared. Each photo showed none other than Lee Sayoung. The screen stopped on a side profile of Sayoung, and someone let out a gasp.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 175

    Uijae clenched and opened his fists. The strength that had disappeared had now returned. That unfamiliar door that suddenly appeared in *Cha Uijae¡¯s* memory¡­ and the voice he had never heard in the memory, yet somehow recognized. Uijae wracked his brain. That beast-like growling voice...


    *Cha Uijae.*


    It was eerily simr to the voice he had heard at the very edge of the fragment Yun Gaeul had shown him. Lee Sayoung remained seated, unmoving, with that same eerie smile on his face. A smile so meticulously crafted, it sent chills down Uijae¡¯s spine. Everything about him seemed inhuman.


    First, I need to neutralize him. Uijae cracked his knuckles. Then, without warning¡ª


    *Bang!*


    Uijae shot forward, kicking the chair out from under Sayoung, and grabbed him by the throat, pinning him down. *Thud*, Sayoung''s head hit the floor. *tter, tter...* The watch he had been holding slipped from his grasp and rolled away.


    Though Uijae had him pinned to the floor, choking him, Sayoung didn¡¯t resist. His smile remained unchanged. Uijae felt an overwhelming urge to cover that smug face.


    Sayoung''s lips moved.


    "Don¡¯t... bother. I wasn¡¯t trying to start a fight."


    The skin under Uijae¡¯s palm was cold, but he could feel the faint pulse beneath it. He nced sideways. Should I break his legs first? Nam Woojin could always fix themter...@@novelbin@@


    Sayoung whispered.


    "Whatever... it is, you should test it. It¡¯s yourst chance."


    "......"


    Sayoung carefully ced his hand over Uijae¡¯s, the one choking him. It was cold. Uijae tightened his grip around Sayoung''s neck.


    "What do you want?"


    "Oh, what I want...?"


    The muscles in Sayoung''s neck trembled slightly. He wasughing, a soft chuckle slipping out between small coughs. Thatugh only grew louder, filling the room until it finally stopped after what felt like an eternity. Sayoung¡¯s fingers brushed the back of Uijae¡¯s hand.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 176

    "What the hell did you do?"


    "...What?"


    "I asked you, what did you do!"


    Even with Uijae grabbing him by the cor, Sayoung didn''t resist. He simply blinked, his expression still dazed. It was clear he wasn¡¯t entirely back to his senses.


    But Uijae wasn¡¯t in the right mind either. The shock from Sayoung¡¯s earlier outrageous statements still hadn''t settled, and now he was confronted with an unbelievable reality. A dating rumor, which he had brushed off as a joke, had blown up so much that even the Rankers¡¯ chat was buzzing with it!


    ''What the hell did those mackerel bastards do?''


    He had been told that it could all be sorted out with a single phone call, but that seemed to have been aplete lie. Uijae gritted his teeth.


    ''I''d rather they spread a rumor that we¡¯re enemies or rivals.''


    Uijae shook Sayoung''s cor hard, as if to knock some sense into him. Sayoung''s head swayed helplessly before he winced and clutched his head.


    "Hyung..."


    "Exin properly."


    "I''m in pain..."


    Uijae loosened his grip on the cor. Or rather, his hand ckened of its own ord. Sayoung groaned softly.


    Had he gone too far after not hitting anyone for so long? Even an S-rank Hunter would feel pain, right? As Uijae stiffened, Sayoung slowly sat up, curling into Uijae and resting his head on his shoulder.


    The soft strands of Sayoung''s hair brushed against Uijae, snapping him out of his thoughts. He quickly grabbed the arms that had wrapped around his waist like a snake.@@novelbin@@


    "You''re trying to get out of this with your usual cute act, aren''t you?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 178

    *Thump.*


    ¡®Huh?¡¯


    *Thump, thump, thump,* his heartbeat suddenly grew louder. Strangely so. Nothing had changed, yet.


    Uijae rubbed his chest. Meanwhile, Sayoung had already stepped ahead. Hiszy voice mixed with the sweet scent lingering in the air. In the bright hallway, only his ck silhouette stood out.


    ¡°I originally wanted to include the director¡¯s interview, but he kept refusing¡­.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Even Jung Bin turned it down, probably on the director¡¯s orders. So, I gave him a little trouble.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, but Song Joheon was easy. Probably for image management or something. He epted right away.¡±


    There was an oddly cheerful tone in every word he spoke. The pale skin asionally visible between his ck hair, the bruised neck with the marks of hands, the coat swaying with his movements, the sharp nose and lips glimpsed when he slightly turned his head, and the violet eyes that captured everything about him. The emotions in those eyes¡­.


    ¡°¡­Hyung?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Cha Uijae took a fresh look at Sayoung. Had his shoulders always been this broad? Was he always this tall? Even though Uijae himself wasn¡¯t short, Sayoung¡¯s head stood at least half a head taller. When Uijae stopped walking, Sayoung turned back to face him.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 179

    ¡ù Please follow proper etiquette when using the forum!


    ¡ù Posts that vite the rules may be deleted without notice.


    **Title: [Anonymous] What the hell just happened?**@@novelbin@@


    I just saw 240 chasing someone down the emergency stairs like they were about to kill them.


    Did I see that right?


    ---


    **Comments (99+)**


    ¡ª Yeah, you saw it right, lol


    ©¸ Oh really? I thought there were hallucinogens in my sd. Good to know I wasn¡¯t imagining it.


    ©¸ What kind of life are you living, anonymous?


    ¡ª Did you only see 240?


    ©¸ Yeah, it was my first time hearing 240 shout;;


    ©¸ You missed the most important part... J was in front of him.


    ©¸ ????? Why is J even at our guild?


    ©¸ No idea. Maybe 240 brought him here.


    ©¸ Did he kidnap him?


    ©¸ Come on, would he really?


    ---


    **Title: [Anonymous] By the way, 240 had...**


    a huge bruise on his neck.


    It was shaped like a hand.


    To leave such a mark on an S-rank¡¯s neck¡­


    Could it be...?


    ---


    **Comments (99+)**


    ¡ª It sure seems like¡­


    ¡ª I don¡¯t want to say more because I feel like I¡¯ll end up having a one-on-one talk with 240 if I go into detail.


    ©¸ For real.


    ©¸ How would anyone know if you¡¯re anonymous, lol?


    ©¸ Never underestimate Minggijeok¡¯s information-gathering skills...


    ¡ª Ah, I get it now. J and 240 are just sacrificing themselves to keep the staff awake and entertained...


    ©¸ J-men.


    ©¸ I was dead tired after lunch, but I¡¯m wide awake now, seriously.


    ---


    **Title: [Anonymous] But the top ranker is a top ranker for a reason.**


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 180

    Lee Sayoung kept the phone pressed to his ear, staring intently at Uijae. Then, as if making a point, he hung up and slightly lifted his head. The moment Uijae heard the beep, he jumped up in rm and stumbled back. The railing hit his waist.


    *Should I just jump?* He nced down. From this height, the fall wouldn¡¯t be too bad. But almost instantly, Sayoung responded.


    "Where are you looking? Eyes on me."


    "......"


    "Look at me."@@novelbin@@


    Smart guy. Uijae clung to the railing. If push came to shove, he might actually jump. Sayoung¡¯s lips curled into a smile, though his eyes remained void of amusement.


    "Oh... Are you really going to jump?"


    "......"


    "Should I jump with you then? This time, instead of running down the stairs, how about we race down the main road side by side? That¡¯d make an even better story, don¡¯t you think?"


    *Who do you think made me do this in the first ce? You don¡¯t even know how I feel.* Uijae felt a surge of anger and was about to retort with something reckless, like *Fine, let¡¯s die together then,* when a voice cut in from behind Sayoung.


    "Guild Leader, do you even know what it means to act pitiful? You¡¯re supposed to be acting pitiful, not picking a fight."


    Peeking out from behind Sayoung¡¯s ck coat was the red hair of Kang Jisoo, whom Uijae had briefly seen in the lobby earlier. Standing nearby, scratching his head with an annoyed expression, was Baewonwoo, who Uijae also noticed now.


    Sayoung shrugged.


    "Oh... I¡¯ve never really had to act pitiful before. Guess I don¡¯t know how. My bad?"


    Instead of replying, Uijae turned his head slightly away from Sayoung, enough so that only the ck coat remained in his field of vision. He could hear Sayoung¡¯s faint chuckle. What Uijae saw next was Minggijeok, who was crawling toward the door on all fours.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 182

    Uijae stared nkly at the severed head as if it were covered by a hazy film. The eyes that gazed back at him were dull and lifeless, devoid of the energy they once held. These were the eyes of a dead man. The face that had once shyly offered him a potion or eagerly ordered more hangover soup was long gone.


    Yet, Uijae couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away from the face. He struggled to find any trace of the person he once knew in the lifeless features before him.


    ¡®Why?¡¯


    His mind was spinning, unable to grasp the situation. The head of the once lively Russian bear of a man, now bristling with spikes, felt as though it was the only thing in the world that existed. The eyes, still open but devoid of life, stared vacantly. His chest tightened, and his vision blurred.


    Why was this happening here? How had thingse to this? There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but none that could be answered¡ªbecause it was his own hands that had severed this man''s head.@@novelbin@@


    At that moment, the sharp sound of something scraping pierced the air. Faster than Uijae expected, he was already moving, his foot hitting the ground, and before his other foot could touch down, his spear had already pierced through flesh and bone. St! Blood sprayed out as Uijae gritted his teeth.


    He let go of the spear and clenched his fists. Before the body he impaled could even hit the ground, his solid fist shattered the spikes that rushed at him.


    Crack! The shattered fragments flew against his face and fists, but not a single scratch marked his skin. In the brief moment his hardened fist smashed the head, Uijae took in the stranger¡¯s face. And then he felt relief. He didn¡¯t know this person.


    Boom!


    With the sound of breaking bones, the body he had struck flew back and crashed into something. Thump, thump, thump¡ªhis heart pounded in his chest. He wiped the sweat from his palm on his pants and pulled his spear from the fallen body. Blood spattered his ck boots as he drove the spear into the ground.


    The thick dust still hadn¡¯t settled.


    Uijae looked up. The White Hole flickered in the hazy sky above. What had just happened felt like a dream. Uijae stared at the sky in a daze and let out a softugh, prompted by an odd thought: Had he simply been dreaming and was now finally waking up to reality?


    Of course, everything had been going unusually well for a while. His real life had always been a mess like this.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 185

    "How does it sound? It shouldn¡¯t cause you any harm," Ham Seokjeong said, her empty smile lingering.


    Uijae stared at that hollow smile for a moment. He could tell her everything now. Despite his fragmented memories, thest moments of his aunt were still clear. It would be difficult to recount, but they had been like family.


    But there was a strange instinct within him. If he told her everything about his aunt now, Director Ham Seokjeong¡­


    Uijae nced up at her dry face. Even thest trace of life in her had faded, leaving her like a wax figure¡ªintricately made but lifeless.


    ¡®Someday, I¡¯ll tell her¡­ but not now.¡¯


    Uijae deliberately hunched his shoulders and lowered his head.@@novelbin@@


    "If you don¡¯t mind it being a littleter."


    "¡­¡­."


    "I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t remember everything that happened inside the rift. I think I¡¯ll need some time."


    Ham Seokjeong frowned slightly. A small emotion flickered across her otherwise hollow expression. She asked with concern,


    "Is there a problem with your memory?"


    "Yes¡­ a little. To be honest, I¡¯m not even sure how I made it out of the rift."


    "Your body¡¯s okay, though? Shouldn¡¯t you get examined?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 188

    Uijae stared in disbelief at Sayoung, who seemed startled to the point of trembling. What was going on? Sayoung was even inching backward, as if he were about to bolt through the door. This was the same guy who was usually restless if he couldn¡¯t be near Uijae, so why was he acting like this?


    Why is he behaving like this? Uijae paused, hand brushing the chin of his mask as a realization struck him.


    *Wait a minute.*


    What had he just said? *Let¡¯s sleep?*


    A strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him. He recalled a simr argument from before, where things had gotten awkward over a misunderstanding.


    *¡°Just to be clear, I wasn¡¯t implying anything weird. I meant literally, just sleeping.¡±*@@novelbin@@


    *¡°I wasn¡¯t going to misunderstand. Aren¡¯t you the one with the weird thoughts, hyung?¡±*


    No way.


    A horrified expression spread across Uijae¡¯s face as the memory hit him full force. He stepped back involuntarily, pointing a finger at Sayoung.


    ¡°Hey, hey, you¡­ what are you thinking? Why is your face like that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The eyes behind the gas mask lenses reflected nothing but suspicion.


    What the hell? Uijae felt like he was being unfairly used. He hastily put his hands together and mimicked the act of sleeping, pressing his palms to his cheek.


    ¡°No, I meant actual sleep! Like, putting your head on a pillow, covering yourself with a nket, and... nothing else! You saidst time you weren¡¯t going to misunderstand, so why are you acting like this now?¡±


    ¡°Who said I was thinking anything?¡±


    ¡°Your eyes are impure! Why are you backing away?¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 190

    The nk space where Uijae''s role should have been filled him with an uneasy feeling.


    *What¡¯s the point of someone with no assigned role? Can I even stay here?* Uijae unconsciously tightened his grip on Sayoung''s arm. Sayoung let out a small groan, and only then did Uijae snap back to reality, quickly releasing him. As if on cue, the electric sparks that had been flickering around Sayoung''s body disappeared.


    ¡°Ah, sorry. Are you okay?¡±


    Sayoung straightened up, brushing off his shoulders with a grimace. He grumbled, ¡°Is this really a dream?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The system enforces penalties, doesn¡¯t it? Like just now¡ªbreaking the rules got me punished. It all feels too real.¡±


    Now that he mentioned it, Uijae realized the same. Could a dream even be controlled by a system like this? Sure, Yun Gaeul had seen fragments of a ruined world in her dreams, but that was just passive observation. There was no system forcing physical consequences on her.


    ¡°Yeah, it definitely feels more like a dungeon,¡± Uijae admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.


    ¡°When I watched the past through the watch, I thought this would be a dream too, like Gaeul¡¯s. I didn''t expect something like this.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Something that can impose physical penalties wasn¡¯t part of your dreams, right?¡±


    ¡°No, I just watched them. Like I was sitting in a movie theater.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sayoung didn¡¯t respond with a snarkyment, which was unusual. He seemed to be lost in thought, staring off into space. Then, without warning, he leaned his head against Uijae¡¯s, resting his temple on Uijae''s hair. Luckily, no penalty came this time.


    *Does this mean acting like a younger brother is allowed?* Uijae grimaced as Sayoung mumbled.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 193

    "Ugh, what¡¯s this."


    ¡°Really... what a mess.¡±


    In the narrowing field of vision, Uijae could hear Sayoung muttering. Uijae frowned as he red at Kkoko. The bright, intense light soon faded. Kkoko was still curled up in Sayoung''s hand, her tiny eyes firmly shut. Uijae crossed his arms.


    ¡°So, did anythinge out of this?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it and go find Yun Gaeul.¡±


    "Koook!"


    Kkoko pped her tiny wings and let out a loud cry. Her tiny eyes seemed to glimmer with strange intelligence. However, the only response she got was two cold stares. Kkoko folded her wings carefully and started babbling. Urgent whispers spilled from her cute face.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t call me, friend! I just came to say that real quick.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Well, because that guy¡¯s the owner here. We¡¯re trespassing.¡±


    ¡°So this isn¡¯t a dream but a separate space?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s like the Memorial Dungeon you visited before... Ah! Fine, I get it, I get it.¡±


    *Bzzz!* Sparks flickered from Kkoko¡¯s round, smooth body. She jumped in ce, her beak moving faster now.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay any longer. I¡¯m out! Anyway, such a temper!¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 194

    White wind roared around them.


    The once-peaceful city began to crumble from its edges. The world that had once been full of color slowly lost its hue. Buildings copsed, asphalt buckled and cracked, and the very air quivered with an ominous tension. The world was falling apart¡ªall because of the death of one person.


    In the midst of this copsing world, Sayoung gently cradled the body he held in his arms. The lifeless form swayed helplessly with his movements. He wanted to pull the sword from Uijae''s chest, but he didn''t want to cause any more pain¡ªeven though this wasn''t the real world.


    Sayoung sat down, carefully resting Uijae''s body in hisp. Uijae''s head fell limply onto his shoulder, and Sayoung¡¯s hands were stained red with blood. The sticky sensation felt unpleasant.


    "¡­"


    Sayoung leaned his cheek against Uijae''s gray hair as white ash began to fall. He muttered quietly to someone who could no longer hear him.


    "Do you know what¡¯s really annoying?"


    "¡­"


    "Why did you do this? What were you thinking...?"@@novelbin@@


    As the ideal world Sayoung had carefully created crumbled, the real world started to emerge. The once towering skyscrapers were reduced to mere ruins, the pristine roads covered in dirt and white ash. No intact buildings remained¡ªonly destion. The barren wind blew, but it soon stopped, leaving a perfect silence.


    How had Lee Sayoung survived, alone in this ruined world? A world without Cha Uijae. He must have endlessly reyed and clung to the memory of a world where the apocalypse never came¡ªa world where Uijae didn¡¯t have to die, where Uijae didn¡¯t need to save the world. A peaceful world where no one knew who Cha Uijae was. He had relived that world for so long that it had be more vivid to him than reality itself.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 197

    "Nonsense?"


    Lee Sayoung blinked his violet eyes a few times before responding indifferently.


    "I merely presented a rational opinion... It was you who ignored it."@@novelbin@@


    "Rational? It sounded like a loser''s excuse."


    "Ah, overconfidence. But just one misstep, and you''d be a loser too... overflowing with confidence, aren''t we?"


    "Hmm, it''s amusing how you¡¯re thinking about running away before you¡¯ve even tried..."


    Sayoung casually covered his mouth with his hand, but the corner of his lips lifted slightly, revealing a smirk underneath.


    ¡°Oh dear, how strong must your inferiorityplex be?¡±


    Though his face remained expressionless, a small crack appeared in the neutral fa?ade. Sharp words, like daggers, flew back and forth without pause. The simrity in their voices made it feel like one person was continuing the conversation. Why did Uijae feel like his mental strength was being drained? He rubbed his forehead, retracing his steps to figure out where it all went wrong.


    "Listen to you, wagging your tongue..."


    "Who are you to talk about running your mouth?"


    Both Sayoungs let out simultaneous, mirthless chuckles, staring each other down. Uijae could almost see sparks flying between their gazes. Veins bulged in their hands, and the tension in the air thickened as they gripped their weapons tighter, fingers flexing over the hilt of the Basilisk¡¯s Fang.


    Crap. Uijae quickly waved his hand to snap their attention back to him.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 199

    A phrase from Prometheus¡¯ website shed through his mind: "We must stop the end with human power." It talked about gathering strength to prevent the end. A cold shiver ran down the back of his neck. If what Lee Sayoung said was true, wasn¡¯t that itself a sign of the end approaching?


    ¡°So¡­ you don¡¯t even know when it will happen?¡±


    ¡°No. No one does. But¡­¡±


    Sayoung¡¯s violet eyes stared into the dark void.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Our worlds are gradually merging¡­ so it¡¯lle faster than it did for me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°As a world that should¡¯ve been erased continues to merge, your world will increasingly resemble the destroyed one. As that happens, more people will start recalling past memories. Fear, once imprinted on the soul, works that way.¡±


    And as fear spreads, the endes closer. Uijae swallowed hard, his throat feeling tight, making it ufortable to swallow. Sayoung tapped his temple with his dark fingers.


    ¡°It¡¯s best to be prepared. Though even preparation might be difficult¡­¡±


    It was a dilemma. To stop the end, they needed to unite their strength. But the more they did that, the faster the end would approach. Uijae let out a sigh. It was overwhelming. No easy answers presented themselves, but even so, he had to do something. He had already sworn¡ªhe had promised to see it through.


    Looking down at the Sayoung resting in his arms, Lee Sayoung tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Right. Once we get out of here¡­ how about going to see Yun Gaeul?¡±


    The unexpected name made Uijae widen his eyes.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 201

    A dark pool appeared in front of therge door. Soon, a round head emerged from the pool, followed by the full body slowly revealing itself. Minggijeok dusted off his clothes and grabbed the door handle.


    ¡°Pardon me, Guild Master!¡±@@novelbin@@


    Without waiting for a response, Minggijeok threw the door open. The first thing he saw was a broad back and a red-haired head, both standing firm like a mountain. The owners of that back and hair turned to look at him¡ªit was Baewonwoo and Kang Jisoo. Minggijeok quickly bowed his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re here too. Good to see you.¡±


    Kang Jisoo waved casually.


    ¡°Hey there. What¡¯s the rush, barging in like that?¡±


    ¡°I have an urgent report to deliver.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    An irritated sigh escaped between the two of them. Minggijeok nced around, searching for the source of the sigh. It was Sayoung, sitting at his desk, wearing sses. The desk was cluttered with papers and electronic devices, leaving almost no space. He frowned slightly.


    ¡°What now?¡±


    Before Minggijeok could respond, Kang Jisoo crossed her arms and stood in a posture very much like the annoyed Sayoung.


    ¡°Guild Master, instead of starting a fight, it¡¯s probably better to flip through another paper. The research team has been pestering you for your input. They said they¡¯re not leaving until you respond.¡±


    ¡°The Bureau and the Rift Management Department also sent notices that you need to handle, Sayoung. They must be dealt with before the Assembly.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you deal with those?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of the minor ones. What¡¯s left requires your direct attention.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 203

    Nam Woojin blinked slowly, his movements deliberate. Gaeul clenched her fists tightly.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll believe me, but¡­ I¡¯ve seen the previous world. It was a little different from ours, but¡­ we were there, and the end came. J fought desperately against it¡­ but he failed. And then he turned back time. He used the clock.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°During the veryst moment, the clock J was holding didn¡¯t break. Since he was thest one who had it¡­ if we can find that clock¡­ couldn¡¯t we turn back time too? We¡¯d get one more chance.¡±


    Gaeul¡¯s voice was trembling as she finished speaking, her breathing in gasps. Nam Woojin exhaled deeply. It seemed as if even breathing was a challenge for him, but he made an effort to respond.


    ¡°If that¡¯s possible¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°It would be a miracle.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And right now¡­ we need a miracle. But¡­¡±


    His white, burning eyes quietly took in the sight of Gaeul. Her clenched fists were trembling. Nam Woojin tilted his head slightly, his skeletal fingers twitching.


    ¡°You¡¯re hesitating.¡±


    Yoon Gaeul bit her lip, staying silent as Nam Woojin sighed, his breath ragged.


    ¡°Of course, you are. Turning back time means giving up on this world.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 205

    Uijae stared at his two phones, one showing the twelve missed calls from Lee Sayoung, and the other with Jung Bin¡¯s message. He let out a long sigh and pressed his forehead against the steering wheel. As much as he wanted to rush to the Seowon Guild to question Nam Woojin about what he knew, he couldn''t shake off the voice that echoed in his mind.


    "Do whatever you want. I know you''re hesitating."


    That voice belonged to Lee Sayoung, the one person who constantly kept Uijae tethered, the one thing that felt like a weight around his neck.


    ¡°Fine, Sayoung. You win.¡±


    Uijae lifted his head to see Gaeul watching him with a worried look. Removing his cap, which had been pushed up during his frustration, he asked calmly, "Do you need me to take you somewhere, Gaeul?"


    "Somewhere...? Oh, maybe home?"


    "Won¡¯t your parents wonder where you¡¯ve been?"


    "Ah, no. They¡¯re both at work."


    "I¡¯ll take you home, then."


    "What? Oh... but, wait, aren''t you supposed to do more investigating? What about everything we just saw?"


    "I do have more to check on..." Uijae trailed off, rubbing his thumb over the phone screen showing Sayoung''s missed calls, "but someone¡¯s waiting for me."


    "Okay..."


    Uijae handed her his phone. "Give me your number. I¡¯ll contact you if anythinges up."


    Gaeul quickly input her number, and Uijae saved it with a short sigh.@@novelbin@@


    ---


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 207

    The room fell into silence.


    The ashen-gray hair gleamed under the light, and the ck mask revealed no expression, making it impossible to read his face. His sharp suit fit him perfectly. The sound of his shoes tapping on the marble floor was crisp. His pace was neither too fast nor too slow.


    He was the kind of person who naturallymanded attention. There was a coolness and pressure that couldn¡¯t be ignored.


    "¡­¡­."


    He was proving, simply by his presence, that he was the strongest.


    The sound of his footsteps stopped. J stood in ce, surveying the room. Hanbaek couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he was thinking right now. Did he think this was a ce he didn¡¯t belong?


    Surprisingly, his guess was half correct.


    Cha Uijae thought to himself:


    ¡®Damn it, why does the meeting room look like this?¡¯@@novelbin@@


    A roundtable meeting room that looked like it was ripped straight out of a high-budget medieval fantasy film, with ufortable rankers sitting around it. No matter how much support he had from Jung Bin and Ham Seok-jeong, when you gather so many "super hamsters" in one ce, problems were bound to arise.


    ¡®I just want to go home.¡¯


    Uijae nced down at the soft, well-fitted suit he was wearing and sighed. When he thought about the trouble he had gone through to get this suit tailored, he realized he couldn¡¯t just leave easily. Why?


    Because a madman had gone to great lengths to get him this suit!


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 209

    As the two approached, Ham Seok-jeong smiled warmly.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. The suit looks good on you.¡±


    Uijae didn¡¯t respond, simply bowing his head. It was better to keep quiet in public settings¡ªa survival tip Ham Seok-jeong had taught him. She patted the seat to her right. Uijae, without much thought, moved to sit where she indicated. However¡ª


    His arm was suddenly grabbed. A hand in leather gloves held him firmly.


    *What the¡­?*


    Rather than sitting down, Sayoung tilted his head and crossed his arms, his posture clearly showing displeasure.


    ¡°Such consideration¡­ assigning our seats like this.¡±


    ¡°I arranged it with some care. We don¡¯t want to put people with unresolved issues next to each other, do we?¡±


    As if to prove her point, Honeybee and Gyu-Gyu were seated at the farthest end of the table, away from Ham Seok-jeong. Gyu-Gyu, upon noticing Sayoung¡¯s gaze, hugged his shoulders and made a pained expression. But after Jung Bin whispered something in his ear, he shrugged and let it go. Honeybee simply red at them with disdain.


    Ham Seok-jeong observed the situation with an amused smile.


    ¡°Why, don¡¯t you want to sit closer to someone who hasn¡¯t shown up for the past three months? Are you unhappy about that?¡±


    ¡°Since when were we ever close¡­? Forget it.¡±


    Sayoung gestured at Uijae with his chin.@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 211

    "The Awakener Management Bureau has been tracking down the group responsible for the distribution of drugs that negatively affect Awakeners. Recently, we discovered that two previously separate groups are actually one and the same, working toward a shared goal."


    "So, who are these people exactly? Who are they?"


    Uijae grabbed Sayoung''s thigh under the table. There was no reaction. Sayoung¡¯s muscles twitched reflexively, but that was it. Was he dozing off? This wasn''t exactly the kind of thing one could sleep through.


    ''What¡¯s going on?¡¯


    Uijae turned his gaze back to Jung Bin. Jung Bin was now fumbling with his neck, slipping his hand inside his shirt cor, seemingly unaware of his actions.


    ¡°Their name is¡­¡±


    Just then, Uijae felt a small vibration in his pocket. Was there supposed to be a message? Pretending to focus on the conversation, he discreetly checked his phone. It was a text from Gaeul.


    **Gaeulstudent:**


    **Big trouble, the end ising.**@@novelbin@@


    The moment Uijae''s eyes widened,


    *Bzzz.*


    It started with a faint vibration. Ham Seok-jeong¡¯s face stiffened for a moment before she excused herself with a bow to the people around her. The room echoed with awkward, ufortable coughs, but no one stopped her. She pulled out her phone. Uijae fixed his gaze on her face, squarely watching the reflection of the rectangr screen in her dark eyes. What kind of message could the director be receiving right now?


    ''The end.''


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 212

    As the enormous mouth snapped shut, a sticky sound echoed, and bright red blood sttered at Uijae''s feet. *Crunch, crunch¡­* The deafening noise of bones being ground into pieces followed. Gradually, the white dust began to settle.


    The white creature that had fallen from the sky looked like a massive snake¡ªor perhaps a sea cucumber. Its long body, disproportionate to its short, wriggling limbs, squirmed like ampposte to life. Its head tilted toward the sky as if swallowing one final piece, while its bluish eyes scanned its surroundings. Even under the gaze of a skilled tracker, there was nothing remarkable about it. In fact¡­


    ''It has an oddly weak presence.''


    Uijae nced down at the cowering Gyu-Gyu.


    "Hey, do you know what that thing is? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it."


    "......"


    "...Gyu-Gyu?"


    "Cluck?"


    The small beady eyes blinked. Its sleek head tilted to the side. It was just Gyu-Gyu! Uijae felt like he could go crazy. He crouched down and grabbed Gyu-Gyu, shaking it vigorously.


    "Hey! Hey, you little brat! Where did you suddenly disappear to?"


    "Cluck?"


    "Hah, you said you''d keep an eye on things, but you always run off when it matters most!"@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 215

    She spread her arms wide as if to make a grand point.


    "The world has already been ruined twice by those oh-so-great people. Now, we want to do something about it ourselves, but does that bother you so much? Are we supposed to just sit and wait for the Awakeners to save us again, always prioritizing them?"


    Her words sounded strange. It was as if she was implying she wasn¡¯t an Awakener herself, and she knew about the two previous apocalypses. Uijae frowned. Gayeong crossed her arms and shook her head with a yful smile.


    "Well, I do regret things a little~ I didn¡¯t expect it to happen this quickly. If I¡¯d known, I would have let people feel the fear of the apocalypse before sending them out."@@novelbin@@


    The term "fear of the apocalypse" couldn¡¯t be ignored. Uijae had only learned about it after hearing Gyu-Gyu¡¯s exnation, but Gayeong epted it as if it were perfectly natural. She epted everything. Gayeong tilted her head with a curious look.


    "Huh? Didn¡¯t you endure it, J? You¡¯re moving around just fine."


    "......"


    "Oh, I see. Because you¡¯re the traitor of the world, huh? You really are something, always ahead of the curve."


    Gayeong¡¯s lips twisted into a smile, dark malice oozing from her expression. The image of people being devoured by giant monsters, the man covered in blood sobbing and clinging to life, shed in Uijae¡¯s mind. His stomach turned. Were they also dragged into this unwillingly? Or were they brainwashed and driven to their deaths? Gayeong showed no trace of guilt, standing confidently over the blood they shed.


    "What¡¯s your goal?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 217

    Jung Bin watched Gyu-Gyu with a lukewarm gaze.


    "Shouldn¡¯t you be out there helping rescue people, Gyu-Gyu? The Director will be checking on things."


    "Well, was I ever *really* needed? I¡¯m a frencer, free as a bird."


    "Weren¡¯t you working alongside Honeybee?"


    "Oh, you know about that?"@@novelbin@@


    Gyu-Gyu tilted his head and smiled crookedly while propping his chin up with one hand.


    "That was then, this is now. If you want me out there in this situation, you¡¯ll have to pay up."


    "......"


    "Aren¡¯t there already people cleaning up the mess? Why should I go out there and sweat for no reason? Besides, it¡¯s not like I have a guild to take care of, unlike some others. I¡¯d rather just sit here and watch the craftsman p Lee Sayoung."


    Gyu-Gyu acted nonchnt as he examined his nails. Jung Bin took a few determined steps forward and stood in front of Gyu-Gyu. Then, with a loud p, he brought his hand down on the table.


    *Bang!*


    The table shook. Jung Bin bent down to meet Gyu-Gyu''s eyes and asked,


    "How much?"


    "......"


    "How much will it cost for you to go out and save people?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 221

    *Run away? Who''s running?*


    "You are."


    *Don''t talk nonsense.*


    "Then why can''t you remember?"


    *I don''t know.*@@novelbin@@


    "Saying ''I don''t know'' solves everything for you, huh? Convenient."


    ¡­¡­


    "Try to remember¡­ that might be the only way to save that person you care so much about¡ªJ."


    The ck shadow moved closer. It was muchrger than Sayoung, and in its presence, Sayoung felt smaller and smaller. His once-clear vision blurred and distorted. Pain, long forgotten, resurfaced. Sayoung groaned and lowered his head. His hand, resting on the floor, was grotesquely mangled and twisted. No sound woulde out of his mouth. Even the brief moments of breath were painful. The shadow touched Sayoung¡¯s head, which was wracked with pain.


    "I''ll help you."


    ¡­¡­


    The voicezily whispered, almost mocking.


    "Retracing memories is a hobby of mine¡­."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 222

    Bright white light painfully pierced Uijae''s eyes as he squinted. The room where he was bound was a small white cell. It was as small as the side rooms in his hangover soup restaurant. The man firmly fixed the chains to the wall and then grabbed Uijae by the hair, pulling him forcefully. Uijae tried not to tense his neck and allowed himself to be dragged without resistance.


    ''These bastards... the way they handle people...''


    Once I escape, I''ll make sure to grab your head first. Was the irritation showing on his face? The man lightly pped Uijae''s cheek with the back of his hand.


    ¡°Your expression... behave yourself, you little bastard, huh?¡±


    ''Ridiculous.''


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see your little sister in a bad situation, you¡¯d better behave.¡±


    They''re using Yoon Gaeul as a hostage against Uijae, and Uijae as a hostage against Yoon Gaeul. Quite an efficient method of ckmail. I could take a note from that. Uijae nodded obediently. The man nudged him in the side with the barrel of his gun before leaving the room. The door was on the left. The iron bars in front of him¡ªhe wasn''t sure what had been done to them, but nothing could be seen outside. The man¡¯s voice could be heard from the other side.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the guy we put in that room until we get further instructions.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the n already?¡±


    ¡°No, leave him alone for now. It¡¯s themand from the leader.¡±


    ¡°Oh, understood...¡±


    That¡¯s a relief. No need to break everything down as soon as I arrived.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 224

    Yoon Ga-eul sat in a deste room. The space was dark and narrow, with only a metal desk and chair, resembling an interrogation room. The man who brought her here had only told her to wait before leaving. It felt almost identical to the interrogation rooms of the Awakener Management Bureau.


    ¡®Did they design it like this on purpose?¡¯


    That could be the case. The interrogation rooms at the Bureau were known to be the most disliked spaces by Awakeners. Maybe it was meant to suppress their energy. Ga-eul stretched her legs out. She should¡¯ve brought her English vocabry book.


    How much time had passed? She didn¡¯t have a clock, but it felt like several tens of minutes. She had hummed over ten songs in her head by now. She nced around. Was there a two-way mirror here, like in the Bureau''s interrogation rooms? Were they observing her from outside? She knew she shouldn¡¯t be flustered, but her body wouldn¡¯t cooperate.


    ¡®If only I had more experience¡­¡¯@@novelbin@@


    Thest time she saw J, he had been kicked to the ground, rolling across the floor. Did he suffer because of me, enduring hardships he shouldn¡¯t have had to face? Ga-eul rubbed her cold, mmy hands together. If she kept overthinking, there¡¯d be no end to it. She forced herself to think of something else.


    ¡®They called him ¡°Brother,¡± didn¡¯t they?¡¯


    Ga-eul bit her lip hard.


    ¡®How do they know about me?¡¯


    Her personal information was a top-secret within the Awakener Management Bureau. She was a third-year high school student, a minor, and an S-ss mental Awakener with nobat abilities. She was the perfect target for all kinds of shady people. The public only knew that a new S-ss Awakener would start activities aftering of age.


    ¡®Where did the information leak from¡­¡¯


    Ga-eul nervously bit her thumb. She felt anxious. Though she had a sense of duty to stop the apocalypse, she felt utterly powerless. When she was pulled into the destroyed world, she relied on J¡¯s help. While others were risking their lives in battle, she had been kidnapped and dragged to a ce like this. She constantly talked about stopping the apocalypse, but when the time came, she feltpletely useless.


    ¡®Am I really that useless¡­¡¯


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 225

    Ming-jeok tilted his head and corrected himself.


    ¡°That was not an expression approved by the National Institute of the Korean Language. Let me rephrase it. He¡¯s as mad as hell.¡±


    Uijae rolled his eyes.


    ¡®Of course, he would be¡­.¡¯


    This was nothing new¡ªit happened almost every day, so he wasn¡¯t even surprised anymore. Unless Jeong-bin suddenly got angry or Hong Ye-seong came to his senses, Uijae wouldn¡¯t feel rmed. Instead, he nodded indifferently. In a way, it was reassuring.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®He¡¯s mad enough, which means he¡¯s fine.¡¯


    Honestly, who would want to leave anyone behind? Since he was the only one who could move, it was natural for him to act. As Yi-jae confirmed Sa-yeong¡¯s safety, his thoughts wandered elsewhere.


    ¡®That guy¡¯s always grumpy. But whenever I say anything, heins about being hurt.¡¯


    The worry, sympathy, and longing he felt for Sa-yeong dissipated instantly. Instead, irritation filled the space. Uijae squatted in front of Ming-jeok.


    ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s returned to the guild. ording to Hunter Jeong-bin, he was thest to regain consciousness, and even after waking up, his condition wasn¡¯t great.¡±


    Damn it. Uijae¡¯s face twisted in frustration. Just when he felt ready to be annoyed, Sa-yeong made him feel sorry for him again. Sa-yeong would always be like that¡ªfrustrating, pitiful, and someone Uijae always worried about. He¡¯d forever remain Uijae¡¯s painful weakness. Ming-jeok adjusted his sunsses.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s perfectly fine now. He¡¯s likely already received the situation report and will take action soon.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 227

    Clink, clink... A hand, covered in white gloves, aimlessly hovered over the neatly arranged surgical instruments. Eventually, the hand stopped over a sharp scalpel. The man slumped his head forward. A small sigh escaped him.


    ¡®Ah...¡¯


    Uijae¡¯s eyes lifted upwards. The man he had just seen was unmistakably...@@novelbin@@


    ¡®Song Joheon...¡¯


    It was indeed Song Joheon. The first hunter he encountered upon returning after eight years. A person from his own time who had made Uijae realize that he was truly back in his original world. Uijae vividly remembered the Song Joheon he had seen on the old brown TV screen¡ªconfident, like a sharp-eyed tiger.


    ¡°...¡±


    Uijae wanted to believe it wasn¡¯t true. Song Joheon had always been an ambitious person, but Uijae thought they were walking the same path. They had endured hard times together. He had never considered him to be a bad person.


    Crack... The metal corner of the bookshelf Uijae had grabbed crumpled in his hand. He quickly let go.


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Joheon¡¯s body hadn¡¯t looked like this eight years ago. Sure, there were scars, but nothing like these patchwork stitches that made him look like a rag doll. Uijae asked in a low voice.


    ¡°When did Song Joheon get... those scars? Do you know?¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 229

    Uijae released his grip and quickly wrapped his arm around Song Joheon¡¯s neck, choking him. Veins bulged on Song Joheon¡¯s temples as his face turned crimson. Minggijeok, standing two steps back, silently watched. Song Joheon coughed and managed to choke out a few words.


    ¡°Why... why are you here?!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my line. You seem prettyfortable. What¡¯s going on? What kind of things have you been up to?¡±


    Uijae¡¯s gaze roamed over Song Joheon¡¯s body, and the closer he looked, the more horrifying it was. The patchwork skin looked worse up close, stitched together with varying textures, with some of the stitches alreadying undone. Uijae bit the inside of his cheek hard, fury sparking in his eyes.


    ¡°...Did you really want to go this far?¡±


    ¡°This... far? Ha, haha.¡±


    Song Joheon¡¯s lips twisted into a sneer. The eyes of the once proud tiger now glinted with murderous intent.


    ¡°Yeah... Born into greatness, how could you possibly understand?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I knew it all along, but still... you¡¯re so narrow-minded!¡±


    The muscles in Song Joheon¡¯s arms bulged. With a loud roar, he forcefully shook off Uijae¡¯s arm, gasping as his ragged body heaved for air. Uijae stepped back, widening his stance, and red at him.


    He didn¡¯t want to believe it. Song Joheon might¡¯ve been a bit irritating, and always looked out for his own safety first, but... Uijae didn¡¯t want to think he¡¯d go this far.@@novelbin@@


    He hoped he wasn¡¯t a traitor.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 232

    ¡°We want to cooperate with the Awakener Management Bureau.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°To stop the apocalypse.¡±


    Uijae narrowed his eyes, carefully studying Ivan¡¯s face. Behind his sses, Ivan¡¯s eyes sparkled with sincerity. He seemedpletely honest. But a small scoff came from beside him. Minggijeok, wearing a humorless expression, responded instead.


    ¡°What utter nonsense.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve imprisoned hunters here. Not just civilians but hunters, and you¡¯ve used them as test subjects, and now you¡¯re asking for cooperation? How far do you n to go with this shamelessness? If Hunter Jeongbin were here, he would¡¯ve turned this ce upside down.¡±


    ¡°Ah? Ahaha... I see there¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°And the drugs. Do you think we don¡¯t know about the drugs you¡¯ve been distributing among the hunters?¡±


    ¡°Ah... There¡¯s much to exin. First...¡±


    Ivan nced briefly at Song Joheon, who was still copsed on the floor, before offering a faint smile.


    ¡°Most of the hunters here... they volunteered.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Again with this nonsense. Should I just take care of him now?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m telling the truth. Every single person here volunteered for the experiment because they wanted to raise their rank... Yes, at least the people in this facility did.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 233

    His legs trembled. The hand holding the gun shook. Ever since witnessing the ck wave dissolve humans without a trace, he had been like this. Sweat trickled down his face beneath the ck mask that covered his mouth and neck. Numerous gun barrels were all pointed at a single man.@@novelbin@@


    Lee Sayeong.


    He wore neither a bulletproof vest nor carried any borate weapons or ornaments. Just a single ck coat draped over his body as he stood tall. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of intimidation in his stance, as if the guns didn¡¯t threaten him at all. With his left hand tucked into his coat pocket, he appeared almost bored. His expressionless, pale face was hauntingly beautiful, yet he had just vaporized several men in the blink of an eye¡ªleaving no trace, not even bone fragments. Horrifically efficient.


    ¡®... He¡¯s not human.¡¯


    The man clenched his teeth. Yes, these awakened ones were nothing but monsters disguised as humans, beings who treated human lives like flies.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lee Sayeong looked down at his own hands, as though inspecting his nails, and then blew on them softly. At that moment, the gun barrels clicked upward. He briefly widened his eyes, then narrowed them like a snake¡¯s. His full lips barely moved as he spoke.


    ¡°Did you report this?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I asked if you reported this to your superiors.¡±


    No one answered. Lee Sayeong sighed audibly as if making sure they heard him.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 234

    "Revenge is best when you know exactly why you''re doing it, isn''t it?"


    Sayeong''s tone was as casual as if he were discussing the weather, as though it meant nothing to him. But a small question began to form in Uijae''s mind. Was he serious? Uijae carefully studied Sayeong''s face. There was no trace of a smile in his narrow eyes. And yet...


    "I only have bad feelings left. I don¡¯t even remember what happened."


    To have no memory but still hold onto the remnants of those feelings meant that the pain and emotions were deeply ingrained in his body. The suffering and the rage were still there.


    ¡®There''s no way he''s okay.¡¯


    When you don¡¯t remember something from your past, it often leaves a scar, a burden you can¡¯t release. It''s an unresolved weight you carry through life, no matter how much time passes. Uijae knew this better than anyone¡ªhe had told himself over and over that he was fine, but deep down, he wasn''t.


    Thud. His chest felt heavy, as if weighed down by a great burden. He knew they needed to talk. Uijae reached out and grabbed Sayeong by the arm.@@novelbin@@


    "You..."


    But before Uijae could finish, Sayeong had already taken out his phone, ignoring Uijae¡¯s gaze, and was now looking at Ivan, who was nervously biting his nails. Sayeong smiled brightly at him.


    "I guess it''s fine if I make the call, right? Since J''s phone is acting up."


    "...."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 236

    Yoon Gaeul, after finally finding her voice, continued slowly and carefully.


    "I... I want to confirm my usefulness. Right now, I can''t do anything but be a burden..."


    "......"@@novelbin@@


    *Usefulness.* That wasn¡¯t a word you would expect to hear from a high school student. Uijae looked at Gaeul more closely. From head to toe, she seemed like a perfectly ordinary student. Neen years old, still a minor. It was unsettling to hear someone so young speak of their ¡°usefulness.¡±


    "I don''t want to keep relying on others. I want to be able to contribute as soon as possible¡­."


    Was this what my aunt felt when she looked at me?


    There was only one thing Uijae could do. He wasn¡¯t a perfect adult, but he had learned from what he had seen and experienced.


    "Have you really thought this through seriously?"


    Instead of answering, Yoon Gaeul looked down at the ground. She nced briefly at Ga-yeong, who merely shrugged, as if she knew nothing. Ignoring the dull ache in his arm, Uijae pressed her gently.


    "I¡¯d like you to be honest."


    "I know it¡¯s sudden. But I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to stop the apocalypse."


    "......"


    "What happened this time was only the beginning. The apocalypse wille again and again, trying to swallow this world. But we can¡¯t afford to fail anymore..."


    Sayeong leaned heavily on Uijae¡¯s shoulder. As Uijae gently patted his back, he looked at Gaeul thoughtfully.


    "So... I want to try everything I can. Anything that might help¡­."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 238

    From outside the door, the sound of Jang Mi-sook moving around could be heard. Mackerel pressed himself up against the door and shouted out.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ms. Jang! ¡­For now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not such a bad guy, just hurt a lot.¡±


    He was just saying earlier that the guy was rude. Mackerel held back his words. The first rule of being an informant is to listen carefully to what people say. When someone with a lot to say rambles, valuable information tends to spill out alongside it. Mackerel waved his fingers in the air, and a small stingray appeared, slowly drifting over to block the door.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, exactly. People with lots of wounds tend to put up their spikes like a porcupine.¡±


    ¡°But he said I¡¯m not needed.¡±


    J curled up like a pill bug, his voice eerie as he muttered.@@novelbin@@


    J, a hero recognized by most, though he had his detractors. Someone who was needed by everyone. This was probably the first time in his life that someone told him he wasn¡¯t needed. That¡¯s why the shock hit so hard. Mackerel crouched in front of him.


    ¡°You know, sir¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°I think that guy¡­ no, that porcupine probably didn¡¯t mean what he said. He probably just said it out of frustration.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The pill bug lifted its head slightly. Mackerel rubbed his hands together.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 241

    ¡°Her sibling?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It was something she mentioned in passing, so I¡¯m not entirely sure¡­¡±


    Min-jun scratched his head roughly as he replied.


    ¡°You know how it was back then. We didn¡¯t have proper equipment, nor enough staff. And even the staff we had were mostly focused on the Awakeners. Anyway, her sibling was injured¡­ and couldn¡¯t receive proper treatment. They died, apparently because the Awakeners had to be prioritized.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    The sound of her voice,ughing bitterly, echoed in Uijae¡¯s mind.


    ¡°You know, J¡­ You were around back then, so you understand, right? Do you remember what happened to civilians when they were caught in the rift? How they lost limbs or were about to die?¡±


    Min-jun sighed deeply, crossing his arms.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the power to tell if someone is lying, but¡­ I believe that part was true. She said it lightly, but her expression¡­¡±


    Uijae had thought it was just a casual exnation about Lee Sa-young¡¯s background. He hadn¡¯t considered that it could have been her own experience. It had seemed like a fabricated story¡ªno, it was somon that he had predicted the ending as soon as he heard it.


    It was amon story. People losing family members, rtives, or loved ones. But¡­ Uijae clenched his fist tightly, feeling a chill run down his spine. A grim sense of foreboding rose within him. What happens when all thesemon storiese together?


    Whenmon people gather, they be the masses.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 243

    The old Damas sputtered as its speed slowed down drastically. In front of a towering skyscraper, Mackerel parked the car neatly by the sidewalk, whistling as he stared at the building.


    "Ah~ This is actually my first time visiting here too."


    Mackerel smacked his lips, rubbing his hands together.


    "While we''re here, I''d love to have a look around. It¡¯d be great if you could take your time."


    So, he hadn¡¯te along just to pay off a favor¡ªhe had some ulterior motives too. Uijae shot a sideways nce at Mackerel.


    "So, you''re just here to indulge your curiosity, huh?"


    "Aww,e on. If I go in with you, it''ll be like a free pass, right? You¡¯re J, after all!"@@novelbin@@


    Not likely. That guy was stubborn, and once he made up his mind, he wouldn''t show even a hair. Uijae leaned his head against the window, arms crossed.


    "I''m not on good terms with him right now."


    "You can make up. Isn''t that why you came?"


    That irritating smile was getting on Uijae¡¯s nerves. Instead of answering, Uijae carefully got out of the car. After being cramped up in the small vehicle, his whole body felt stiff. He stretched his arms, yawning. Mackerel shut the Damas''s door with a bang and looked up at the tall building.


    "Well, anyway¡­ I doubt they''ll open the door quietly for us."


    "Not a chance."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 246

    Did he really just pass out like this?


    "Hey, Lee Sa-young."@@novelbin@@


    "......"


    "Are you asleep? Hey, are you seriously sleeping?"


    Just to make sure, I listened closely. I could hear the sound of his breathing, steady but light. Uijae held Sa-young in his arms, staring nkly into the darkness. Should he consider this a relief? It probably was, considering they hadn''t done anything drastic. The lingering heat from earlier was still a problem, though.


    At that moment, the heavy weight on him lightened. The clinking chains had also disappeared. Uijae carefully traced his hand over Sa-young''s back. Even through his clothes, the well-defined muscles were evident, but there was no trace of any wounds.


    "Did the connection break because he lost consciousness?"


    He checked his wrists, neck, arms, and ankles. They were drenched in blood, but there were no other visible marks. Only then did Uijae rest his chin on his stretched-out shoulder and let out a sigh. So this is what he meant when he said he wouldn''t die. His body wasn''t damaged.


    "Hah..."


    His head was a mess. Lee Sa-young losing his mind and attacking him was one thing, but the fact that they''d have to keep doing this over and over... Whatever the case, he couldn''t just leave Lee Sa-young in a ce like this. Uijae fumbled around and put on his mask. Then, supporting Sa-young''s back and legs, he headed toward the tightly closed door.


    But how was he supposed to open it?


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 249

    Uijae held Sa-young¡¯s face in his hands, carefully inspecting every inch of it. A low growl of contentment echoed from Sa-young as he nuzzled into the touch.


    ¡®I can¡¯t monitor him all the time, so you go in and check his condition too!¡¯


    That had been the not-quitemand from ¡®Hong Yeseong.¡¯ In his current state, Lee Sa-young seemed more driven by his instincts than usual. He clung to Uijae more than ever, seeking constant physical contact andfort. If Uijae pulled away even slightly, Sa-young would immediately show his displeasure. Still, the boundaries Uijae had setst time seemed to hold, as Sa-young hadn¡¯t crossed a certain line.


    As Sa-young rubbed his cheek against Uijae¡¯s palm, Uijae asked, "Are you alright?"


    "I can bear it... for now."


    "How long do you need to stay here today?"


    "Mm, I don¡¯t know..."


    Sa-young began gnawing on Uijae¡¯s hand. With a sigh, Uijae sat down on the damp floor with a wet p, pulling Sa-young close. The chains and metal bars rattled as Sa-young''s hands gripped them tightly. They couldn¡¯t be removed.


    A heavy feeling settled over Uijae¡¯s heart. He felt powerless, as if there was nothing he could do. Stroking Sa-young¡¯s hair as he started nibbling at his neck, Uijae closed his eyes.


    What value do I have if I can¡¯t even fight?


    That thought crossed his mind unexpectedly.


    ---@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 252

    People holding Bibles bustled as they filed out. Gyugyu waved at those who sent him a smile, but once the crowd dispersed, he slumped into his seat, melting like wax. At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit approached with a displeased expression.


    ¡°Sit up straight.¡±


    ¡°I was sitting straight just a moment ago~¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s with that hair color? How are you supposed to set an example like that?¡±


    ¡°Why, isn¡¯t it cute~?¡±


    ¡°Cute? You look like a delinquent. Cut your hair properly!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it~? These days, you need something memorable to survive. Don¡¯t you think it looks nice?¡±


    Gyugyu cupped his chin with his hands in a flower pose. His father snorted in disapproval and turned away, walking off into the distance. His mother, coughing lightly, chuckled softly.


    ¡°Well, it is nice. Just don¡¯t dye it too much; you¡¯ll ruin your hair.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Gyugyu responded with a drawl. His mother sighed, watching his father disappear from sight.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°That man¡­ Still, try to understand him, okay? The world¡¯s a scary ce right now. He¡¯s worried about you.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 253.1

    On a day leading up to the Chuseok holiday, Uijae was asked a question by his regr customers: "Will your restaurant be open for Chuseok?" Uijae had responded indifferently.


    ¡°Where do small business owners get holidays?¡±


    The Hunters seemed excited. Time passed, and soon the Chuseok holiday arrived. Uijae stood in front of the supermarket disy, deep in thought. After all, it was Chuseok, and wasn¡¯t it only right to eat traditional holiday food? He thought about making food for Haeun and his grandmother for the holiday.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®I could buy it at the market, but wouldn¡¯t it be better if I made it myself?¡¯


    Kids love to mess around in the kitchen, don¡¯t they? It was the age of toys infused with real slime, after all. He¡¯d heard that children¡¯s fine motor skills are important, so making *songpyeon* (rice cakes) by hand could be fun for them.


    Uijae moved to therge Chuseok disy, his expression serious. The disy was filled with offerings for ancestral rites, various types of *jeon* (Korean pancakes), and ingredients for *songpyeon*. The first thing Uijae picked up was sesame seeds.


    ¡®Haeun doesn¡¯t like beans, so sesame filling would be better...¡¯


    He pulled out his phone and searched for a *songpyeon* recipe. Sesame seeds, sugar, rice flour. Should he also make mugwort *songpyeon*? His grandmother might like that better. And while he was at it, he should fry up some *jeon*. After all, the smell of oil is what really makes the holiday feel special.


    ¡®*Donggeurangttaeng* is a bit boring... What other kinds of *jeon* are there? *Donggeurangttaeng*, *sanjeok*, *dongtaejeon*, zhini *jeon*... It would look nice to have a variety.¡¯


    Without realizing it, Uijae¡¯s hands grew busy as he gathered ingredients. The way he swiftly dropped items into his cart was efficient, leaving no room for excess.


    By the time he left the store, both of Uijae¡¯s hands were full.


    ¡°Thank you~¡±


    ¡®...Did I buy too much?¡¯


    He was carrying two heavy shopping bags that were stuffed to the brim like Santa¡¯s sack. The strawberry patterns on the bags were stretched to the point of bursting. Uijae looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh as he trudged forward. Well, whatever. If there was too much, he could always serve the leftovers as side dishes at the hangover soup restaurant.


    He didn¡¯t realize at the time that this decision would turn out to be a major mistake.


    ---


    *Hiss*¡ª the *jeon* sizzled as they browned on the frying pan. The savory smell of the oil tickled Uijae¡¯s nose, but he couldn¡¯t enjoy it. Holding the spat, his hand trembled.


    ¡®There¡¯s too much to do¡­!¡¯


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 254

    In the quiet stillness, Uijae rubbed the sole of his shoe against the floor. *Screech, screech*... It was the only sound that could calm his mind. Meanwhile, he ced his hand over Lee Sa-young''s heart through the fabric and checked Hong Yesung, who had copsed, by cing his fingers under his nose. Nam Woojin, who had promised to bring tools, still hadn¡¯t returned. There was no sign of life anywhere. Slowly, Uijae began to sink into a fear he thought he had forgotten.


    Hong Yesung opened his eyes about 20 minutester. A sharp, scraping noise filled the room as something dragged across the floor. Grasping his pounding head, Hong Yesung lifted his upper body. Sitting on a chair and dragging a long sword across the floor, J looked at him. Hong Yesung blinked nkly before suddenly speaking.


    ¡°¡­Murderer?¡±


    He closed his eyes, anticipating an immediate rebuttal. But instead of denying it, J tossed aside the sword and crouched down in front of Hong Yesung, staring at him intently.


    ¡°Are you¡­ okay?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Uh, yeah, why?¡±


    ¡°Your chest... No.¡±


    After all, J had stabbed him through the chest with that sword. J, now Uijae, nced briefly at the sword he had thrown on the ground, swallowing his next words. Looking him over quickly, there were no visible marks on his white t-shirt or body. Hong Yesung blinked, then leaned back, supporting himself with both hands on the floor, as he responded.


    ¡°Oh, that? I¡¯m fine. It was a consensual thing, after all.¡±


    ¡°Still, are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong! Besides, that person knows more than I do. When I let them use my body, all sorts of knowledge came into my head. It wasn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 257

    Honeybee¡¯s gaze flicked up and down Uijae, her eyes filled with suspicion. A good posture to have¡ªsuspicion was a necessary skill for any Hunter. Uijae extended his bare hand, as if inviting her to check for herself.


    However, instead of easing, the killing intent in the air only intensified, pricking at his skin.


    "Don¡¯t let your guard down. Do you want to die?" Honeybee snapped sharply. The shadow that had been moving behind her came to an abrupt stop. She didn¡¯t lower her rapier, instead stepping back to increase the distance between them. There was no choice. Uijae raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "It¡¯s me, Honeybee."


    But she wasn¡¯t about to be convinced that easily. With a mocking snort, she pressed the rapier closer.


    "Just because someone wears a mask doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re J. Do you know how many impostors are out there?"@@novelbin@@


    "......"


    "Exin yourself properly. If anything sounds off, I¡¯ll take your head."


    "We met in front of the dungeon. You gave me the information about Lee Sa-young¡¯s whereabouts back then."


    "......"


    The oppressive air that had been weighing down on Uijae lightened, just slightly. He took advantage of the moment and nodded toward the area behind him.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 259

    He saw it clearly. In the blinding light, two massive wings unfurled, revealing spindly limbs. It was the same monster Uijae had pierced through countless times in the West Rift, the one he had killed over and over again.


    *Thump, thump, thump*¡ªhis heart pounded furiously. Cold sweat ran down his neck and palms. His feet felt like they were cemented to the ground. The truth he didn''t want to ept, he was recognizing faster than anyone else. He thought he knew this monster better than anyone. But now, he wondered if he had ever known anything at all.@@novelbin@@


    Just as Uijae attempted to take a step forward, a strong hand yanked him back. Sa-young shook his head with a stern expression.


    Beyond the monster¡¯s wings, ck and gold-streaked hair fluttered in the wind. Honeybee stared nkly up at the monster.


    "You¡­."


    The pale, expressionless face looked back at her. There was no trace of the familiar, hesitant smile or the recognizable face. The small mouth opened slowly, and then¡ª


    A horrendous scream tore through the air.


    The vibrations shook the very atmosphere. Honeybee instinctively drew her rapier and aimed it at the creature. But her feet wouldn¡¯t move. This had been herrade until just moments ago. A chaotic thought passed through her mind.


    *Isn¡¯t there a way to turn this back?*


    ¡®Isn¡¯t there a way to fix this?¡¯


    The wind from the pping wings was sharp enough to slice through skin. The emaciated body, the limp limbs, the nk face¡ªit was no longer human. It was just a monster.


    ''...No, there¡¯s no way.''


    Honeybee let out a bitter smile. The only thing she could feeling from the monster was hostility. She couldn¡¯t hesitate anymore over baseless hopes. With trembling hands, she gripped her rapier firmly and spread her legs into a practiced stance. She had performed this move tens of thousands of times¡ª*en garde*.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 260

    "First of all!"


    Honeybee raised her index finger.


    "We¡¯re low on food and water. There aren¡¯t any monsters we can hunt for food either¡­ so the top priority is getting out of here as quickly as possible. You agree, right?"


    "How do we do that?"


    "Well, that¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to figure out from here."


    "Oh¡­ For a second there, I thought you had some brilliant n, speaking so confidently. Do you think an exit will just appear if you say so?"


    "Hey, we need to assess the situation first, you idiot!"


    The conversation was once again derailing after their earlier chase game. Uijae quickly positioned himself between them, cutting in.


    "Hold on. Let¡¯s not argue. Let¡¯s do what Honeybee said and figure out what we¡¯re dealing with first."


    "Exactly. You get it."


    Sa-young crossed his arms, as if daring Uijae to impress him. Uijae sighed softly.


    "Okay, so what are our options for getting out of this dungeon?"


    "Either we find the entrance we came through or we kill the dungeon¡¯s master. But neither of those seem possible right now."@@novelbin@@


    "As you can see, there¡¯s nothing here."


    "So, it¡¯s confirmed that the corruption is happening in real-time, right?"


    "That¡¯s right. There should¡¯ve been a castle here, but it¡¯spletely disappeared."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 261

    The rookie, who was once a bright-eyed neer, had grown so much that it no longer felt appropriate to call him a rookie. His aura was remarkable. He frowned, and the small scars on his face distorted along with his expression.


    ¡°This is a dangerous area, you know. It''s a white-out zone. Hunter Jung-bin specifically said not to move around freely¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh~ I couldn¡¯t help it. I had urgent matters. And what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I was on patrol, looking to see if there are any survivors in the area.¡±


    ¡°Survivors? What survivors?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Huh? People trapped between the buildings or anyone we might have missed. Why do you ask something like that?¡±


    The rookie scratched his head, something felt off. Searching for survivors in this wastnd, within a restricted zone. The rookie seemed more experienced than Uijae recalled. Uijae blinked. Even with his heightened perception as a tracker, the rookie didn¡¯t appear in his field of vision. He was present, but it was as if he didn¡¯t exist.


    No way.


    Uijae quickly turned to look at Sa-young. Feeling his gaze, Sa-young nced at Uijae and nodded. The rookie scratched his cheek and spoke again.


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be sure to report that you were here. It¡¯s my duty, after all.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Sure, go ahead. But¡­ where¡¯s the way out of here again?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Way out? This isn¡¯t a dungeon, where would a way out be?¡±


    Honeybee¡¯s hand, which had been brushing her hair, suddenly froze. The rookie looked at her with concern.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 262

    ¡°What?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Honeybee covered her mouth and turned away,ughing. J¡¯s shoulders were also trembling slightly. Was this really happening? Jung-bin, still bewildered, muttered to himself as he picked up the scattered papers from the floor.


    ¡°Did youe here because you identally involved civilians while dealing with a mutation, or maybe you took care of something else that was bothering you while handling a mutant...? Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°¡­No.¡±


    Sa-young gritted his teeth and replied. Honeybee wasughing so hard that she was gasping for air at this point. Jung-bin was nowpletely flustered. If it wasn¡¯t a major incident, then why?


    ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other reason why all three of you woulde to see me at once¡­.¡±


    Is that really not it? The words almost escaped his lips, but he swallowed them back. If he said something like that, he had a feeling Sa-young would take it out on him. Clearing his throat, Jung-bin interlocked his fingers.


    ¡°I apologize for my suspicions. So¡­ what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Well~¡­ there¡¯s a bit of an issue?¡±


    Honeybee rolled her eyes. She was always dashing about, but seeing Sa-young, who usually avoided him, and J, who often rested due to his health, here together meant it must be something significant. Jung-bin¡¯s expression turned serious, and he leaned forward slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready. What¡¯s the issue?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Sa-young.¡±


    The moment Uijae spoke, all eyes turned toward him. He grabbed Sa-young''s arm, preventing him from pulling away.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 263

    Honeybee¡¯s eyes narrowed in frustration.


    ¡°Are you really just going to dive straight into the point like that?¡±


    ¡°You all must have given him some kind of exnation, right? Beating around the bush is just a waste of time. Besides¡­¡±


    Nam Woo-jin nced at J.


    ¡°You said you still remember who you are. So, you should be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°And as you know, we¡¯re seriously short on manpower. Just because you¡¯ve lost some memory doesn¡¯t mean you get to sit around doing nothing.¡±


    How irresponsible. Uijae clenched his fists behind his back. Nam Woo-jin pushed open the tightly closed door and entered.


    In the middle of the dark room stood a massive machine that resembled a telescope, and three blue mana stones orbited around it in a slow, circr motion. Unable to bear the sharp stares from Honeybee and Uijae, Sa-young sheepishly pointed at the machine with his index finger.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a White-Out Detector.¡±


    What the heck is that? Honeybee and Uijae poked Sa-young¡¯s back again. With a scrunched-up face, Sa-young asked once more.


    ¡°¡­What is that?¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten what White-Out is?¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 265

    The hand touching Uijae¡¯s cheek carried a strange, bitter scent, as if it physically manifested the stench of death. That¡¯s odd. Didn''t Sa-young¡¯s hands usually smell sweet? But the thought quickly faded as Uijae¡¯s body began trembling violently. His breathing becamebored, and a heavy pressure weighed down on him.@@novelbin@@


    Uijae¡¯s eyes darted around anxiously. As his breathing grew more rapid, Sa-young immediately withdrew his hand and took two steps back.


    ¡°¡­Hyung.¡±


    Even hearing his voice didn¡¯t calm Uijae; instead, his body flinched and jerked in response. Once startled, it was difficult to settle down.


    ¡®Damn it, why is this happening?¡¯


    Uijae gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes shut, burying his head halfway into the stiff pillow. His breathing quickened even further, and no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn''t slow down. His head tipped back as cold sweat trickled down his neck. He felt anxious. Scared. Tears welled up for reasons he couldn¡¯t grasp.


    Was it Sa-young?


    His fingernails dug painfully into his palms. His limbs trembled and curled up. It was his own body, yet it didn¡¯t feel like his. Everything felt strange¡ªthe gazes that touched his skin, even the air. Tears that had gathered in his eyes slid down his cheeks and temple.


    He was afraid.


    It felt as if he were facing a predator, and his body instinctively froze. For the first time in his life, Uijae felt weak. As his lips trembled, he struggled to speak.


    ¡°Sa¡ª¡­¡±


    But then,


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ do this.¡±


    A shaking voice cut him off. Uijae forced his eyes open. Through his blurry vision, he saw that Sa-young had already moved far away. Sa-young was clutching his gas mask with both hands, and Uijae could see that his hands were trembling slightly.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 267

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    Yoon Gaeul¡¯s eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists determinedly. It was no use. Getting her to understand the message was impossible. Uijae nodded weakly, and Gaeul¡¯s shoulders slumped.


    ¡°So¡­ please don¡¯t talk about things like it¡¯s the end.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°If J isn¡¯t here¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright, I get it.¡±


    Without him, the world''s end would onlye faster. After his death, Jeong Bin and Ma Tae-bok would follow. But there was nothing he could do. His death was certain, and he couldn¡¯t intervene in an already determined past.


    Watching over a world doomed to fall like this was¡­


    ¡®¡­Might as well gather some information.¡¯


    Uijae thought back to the people he knew. Perhaps, in this world, his aunt might still be alive. Holding on to that faint hope, he asked,


    ¡°Do you know a Hunter named Park Hye-kyung?¡±


    ¡°Of course. She was Director Ham¡¯s right-hand.¡±


    The past tense felt ominous. Uijae¡¯s lips moved silently before he managed to ask,


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ gone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, with the Director.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­J?¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 268

    Not long before, at Seowon Guild.


    Nam Woo-jin unleashed a storm of reprimands. ¡°Of course, you had to cause trouble! Why don¡¯t you ever think about taking it easy when you¡¯re injured? And you¡ªLee Sa-young¡ªwhat on earth were you doing instead of helping him? Losing your memory doesn¡¯t give you free rein. You should be treating J with respect!¡± His scolding was sharp and unrelenting. On top of that, Uijae was dragged off for a physical exam afterward.


    Nam Woo-jin gave Uijae a hard stare, scrutinizing him.


    ¡°At the very least, it looks like your body¡¯s recovered somewhat.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Uijae responded politely, hands sped. He hadn¡¯t realized before just how intimidating Nam Woo-jin could be when angry; it was enough to make even the fearless Uijae¡¯s hair stand on end. Nam Woo-jin waved a file at him, his gaze intense.


    ¡°But don¡¯t go around acting up again! You never know when a rpse could hit.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°d you¡¯re answering well, at least. Now, get out of here! Try pulling any more stunts, and you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Uijae bowed and quickly exited the examination room. At the end of the hallway, Sa-young, with his gas mask on, leaned against the wall, waiting for him. Sa-young offered a smirk as he handed over Uijae¡¯s mask.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Got a good scolding?¡±


    Uijae grumbled as he slipped the mask on.


    ¡°Like it¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who suddenly got all riled up.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 269

    A prickling sensation on his skin¡ªa clear sign of hostility. Mackerel sighed audibly as if for them to hear, tucking his sses into the chest pocket of his tank top. He then pulled out another cigarette and lit it.


    "So¡­ has Seowon Guild fallen too? Or did Jeong Bin die? Those are the only reasons I can think of for youing here.¡±


    "Sorry to disappoint, but neither of those things has happened," Sa-young answered in his ce. Mackerel nced back and forth between Sa-young and Uijae, then gave a dry chuckle.


    ¡°Then, I guess¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°J must be about to die if Lee Sa-young has followed him all the way here.¡±


    Uijae¡¯s eyes widened in shock. What¡ªhe knew? Mackerel turned away, flicking his hand with the cigarette as he spoke.


    "Anyway, I have nothing more to say. It must have been exhaustinging out to this isted ce. Have a safe trip back."


    ¡°Your brother,¡± Sa-young¡¯s voice made Mackerel¡¯s ashy feet pause mid-step.


    ¡°If there¡¯s a way to save him¡­ would you be interested?¡±


    So he really was the younger brother, then. The sses and hair had thrown them off.


    ¡®So, are the sses his brother¡¯s¡­¡¯


    Mackerel slowly turned his head, ring at Sa-young through his disheveled bangs, eyes bloodshot with emotion.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Those words¡­¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 271

    With a small tap, Bae Won-woo set down his chopsticks. He¡¯d agreed to go to this pasta ce to suit his junior colleague¡¯s tastes, but it wasn¡¯t exactly his style. Even so, he¡¯d managed to finish two tes. Across from him, Kang Ji-soo had already finished eating and was engrossed in a game on her phone. She nced at him briefly.


    ¡°All done, Deputy Chief?¡±


    ¡°Next time, let¡¯s go for some soondae soup.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. Why is your taste so old-school?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Hot soup gives you the energy to work, you know? You have no idea how sad I was when my favorite hangover soup ce closed down.¡±


    Just then, his phone vibrated. Bae Won-woo quickly pulled it out.


    [365-Day Ul#ti#mate Gu#aran#tee¡­]


    It was a spam message. Great. He frowned and blocked the sender. Kang Ji-soo clicked her tongue.


    ¡°Still waiting on that call?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. They¡¯re supposed to be capturing one monster, so it shouldn¡¯t take this long. Things feel strangetely, too.¡±


    It had already been four days since Lee Sa-young and J had headed to capture a monster in the dungeon at Jongno 3-ga. Normally, dungeon investigations or clearing difficult dungeons could take a while, but this mission was supposed to be simple¡ªa single monster capture. Bae Won-woo had expected them back the same night.


    Kang Ji-soo tapped on her phone thoughtfully.


    ¡°That mutation¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 273

    Finally, someone who actually understood him! If this went smoothly, he wouldn''t even have to worry about penalties! He was so relieved, he could hardly keep the tremble out of his voice.


    "So¡­ how much time do I have left?"@@novelbin@@


    But Nam Woo-jin¡¯s face turned even grimmer. He let out a sigh deep enough to shake the earth and replied in a low, somber voice.


    "I¡¯d say it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if you died within a few days. Honestly, it¡¯s a miracle you''vested this long. Just hope your abilities return soon."


    Nam Woo-jin was a miracle worker!


    Uijae clenched his fists tightly under the thick nkets. He couldn¡¯t risk showing his excitement, or Nam Woo-jin might get suspicious. After steadying himself, he shed a calm smile, much like Jeong Bin¡¯s.


    "Remarkable, really."


    However, Nam Woo-jin suddenly shouted.


    "Stop pretending you¡¯re fine!"


    Huh? Uijae blinked in confusion. Nam Woo-jin stormed around the room, pacing furiously, then pointed a finger straight at Uijae, shouting again.


    "How many times have I told you? This attitude of yours is the problem! Acting like your own life means nothing!"


    "Um, well¡­"


    "A willingness to sacrifice? Throw it away! Start living selfishly! Stop roaming around! And what in the world possessed you to dive straight into the whitened sea? What would you have done if you mutated?"


    "¡­"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 274

    *Detroit, USA.*


    Drizzle fell steadily, mixing with white ash to soak the ground. People hurried along, umbres raised. Strangely, there were many dressed in white, and the air was filled with the sound of coughing.


    Amidst it all, a tall figure walked into an alley without an umbre, his hood pulled low. Through the misty, fogged passage, a faintly glowing pink neon sign came into view: *Paradise.*


    He descended the stairs leading underground. The deeper he went, the louder the lively music grew. Gently, he pushed open the door, and a chaotic mix of sharp liquor and cigarette smoke assaulted his senses. At the same time, wary gazesnded sharply on him. He pulled down his hood, revealing light sky-blue hair damp at the tips. A few gasps followed.


    "Oh, look who it is."


    "Q! It''s Q!"@@novelbin@@


    "Long time no see!"


    "What¡¯s with that hair color!"


    Q¡ªalso known as Gyu-gyu¡ªresponded shamelessly.


    "Yeah, yeah, good to see you too."


    The patrons flocked to him, arms wide. Gyu-gyu greeted them with ease, hugging and bumping fists. After the flurry of greetings, everyone returned to their ces, and Gyu-gyu settled at the bar counter. The bartender, who had been polishing a ss, raised an eyebrow.


    "I thought you were finally dead."


    In fluent English, Gyu-gyu replied, "Well, almost."


    "Home treat you well?"


    "It was¡­ okay."


    "What''ll it be?"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 275

    The grass rustled softly. Before long, something peeked out from the bushes.


    ¡°Cluck, cluck?¡±


    A glossy body with beady ck eyes. It was none other than **Kkokko**, Hong Yesung¡¯spanion. Kkokko tilted its head as it gazed at Sa-young and Honeybee. Honeybee frowned, pointing at the bird.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that Hong Yesung¡¯s chicken?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it.¡±


    ¡°Why is it suddenly popping out now?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it came to greet us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sure. When I threatened to burn the mountain, it didn¡¯t show even a feather. But now?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it didn¡¯t want to talk to you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not a single thing about it that I like!¡±


    Despite Honeybee¡¯s grumbling, Kkokko approached the mat where Uijae was bundled in a coat, peering closely. After inspecting him from every angle, Kkokko spread its wings wide.


    ¡°Cluck! Cluck, cluck!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it saying?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯d know?¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 277

    Splinters flew as the broken wood splintered with a sharp crack. Sa-young, now supporting the tilting wooden pir with his hands, gawked in disbelief as Uijae slipped away from the scene. His voice brimmed with outrage.


    ¡°What the hell¡­ Are you insane? Completely out of your mind?¡±


    Uijae casually rubbed the back of his head. No pain, no bumps, no dents. Good. Feeling smug, he replied nonchntly.


    ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t kick you, so I broke the pir. Didn¡¯t have much choice, did I?¡±


    ¡°What kind of twisted braines up with that? I want to dissect it and see if it¡¯s defective.¡±


    ¡°Perfectly functional, thank you very much.¡±


    Like hell he¡¯d let Honeybee or Hong Yesung see him caught in apromising position like that. If he took off the mask, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hide his eye movements, and Sa-young was far too observant. He¡¯d have been exposed in no time.


    What kind of face was Sa-young making right now? Probably one of exasperation, eyebrows knit, eyes narrowed. Maybe even a ¡°why am I stuck with this idiot¡± look. Oddly enough, Uijae felt a sudden urge to touch his face, to confirm what expression he was making.


    Just then, rapid footsteps approached.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the noise? Are you two fighting?¡±


    ¡°Cluck, cluck!¡±@@novelbin@@


    The small me, which appeared to be Kkokko, darted over and started pecking furiously at Sa-young. Amid the tapping sounds, Honeybee strode over to Uijae.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 278

    The body beside him stiffened noticeably. Uijae sighed internally. That idiot was bringing up sensitive topics again. He hurriedly patted Sa-young¡¯s broad back, but the tense muscles showed no sign of rxing. Desperate, Uijae stepped behind Sa-young and mped his hands over his ears. Large hands came up to cover Uijae¡¯s.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Stay still. Hey, Hong Yesung. Don¡¯t just throw around words about dying. You wanna die?¡±


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not fair! I was just stating objective facts.¡±


    ¡°Try softening your words. Like saying their lifespan might get shorter.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that basically the same thing?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Sa-young, you stay quiet.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t covering his ears pointless? He can still hear everything.¡±


    ¡°Hong Yesung, you shut up too.¡±


    Sa-young half-heartedly tried to remove Uijae¡¯s hands a few times before giving up, resorting to poking at Uijae¡¯s hands instead to annoy him. Hong Yesung grumbled in the background.


    ¡°Seriously, even when I give warnings¡­ You¡¯re the one shortening your own lifespan.¡±


    Uijae responded shamelessly. ¡°What are you talking about? Who could live as long as me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the least convincing person to say that. Especially after what you¡¯ve already done.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 279

    ¡°I¡¯m administering the prototype treatment now.¡±


    <em>Shhhhh¡­</em> A translucent chamber filled with foggy white smoke. Through the hazy ss, two figures were visible¡ªone with a mischievous smile and the other wearing a cold, nk expression. Gayoung leaned casually against the wall, twisting a strand of her hair, while Nam Woo-jin stood silently. Then¡ª


    <em>Thud!</em>


    A grotesque, twisted beast¡¯s hand suddenly shot out from the fog, wing at the ss wall. The white, fur-covered hand with sharp ws pressed against the barrier. A guttural growl reverberated through the chamber. Gayoung twirled her hairzily and muttered with a smirk.


    ¡°Failed again. Not that I expected otherwise.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to have even the slightest effect.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Still useless~ as always.¡±


    The monster trapped inside the chamber opened its enormous maw, revealing disturbingly human teeth. The sight grew more unsettling the longer one looked at it. Monsters with remnants of humanity¡ªdid any shred of their former selves remain? Nam Woo-jin¡¯s thoughts wandered momentarily as he observed the creature.


    Gayoung turned her back nonchntly. ¡°Hmm~ How about we conduct a tissue analysis? Who knows? Maybe the cells have changed.¡±


    ¡°You seem particrly fond of experiments that involve hacking up bodies.¡±


    ¡°Of course! They yield the most reliable data.¡± Gayoung giggled, her eyes sparkling behind her sses.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 280

    Uijae wrestled with the book for a long time but ultimately gave up. Sometimes, even overwhelming strength couldn¡¯t solve a problem.


    <em>If I can¡¯t read it, I¡¯ll need to find someone who can.</em> He sat back, listening to the rhythmic hammering echoing nearby, lost in thought.


    <em>Someone who wouldn¡¯t question me too much¡­</em>


    Sa-young and Honeybee were out of the question. The moment he asked them to read it, they¡¯d start interrogating him. Instead, he began recalling the faces of people he¡¯d met here.


    The first toe to mind was Jeong Bin. But Uijae quickly shook his head. Jeong Bin was too busy, and if he noticed Uijae¡¯s vision problems, he¡¯d surely inform Nam Woo-jin.


    Next was Nam Woo-jin, but Uijae dismissed the thought just as quickly. <em>That guy? Not a chance.</em> Nam Woo-jin¡¯s thundering reprimands were enough to silence both Uijae and Sa-young. He rolled his eyes.


    <em>Yoon Gaeul? She might help if I convince her¡­</em>


    However, Gaeul here was deeply concerned about J¡¯s health. If she found out about his condition, she¡¯d drag him straight to Nam Woo-jin.


    <em>And then I¡¯d end up confined to the infirmary again¡­</em>


    The thought of being locked up with Sa-young in a hospital room made him shudder. The risk was too high.


    <em>Hong Yesung might be an option, but he¡¯s too far away. No way I¡¯m going there alone.</em>


    The whimsical Minggijeok and Romantic Opener weren¡¯t part of the Wave Guild since it didn¡¯t even exist here. That left him with nobody reliable. As Uijae ruminated on his narrow social circle, a snide voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°What are you doingzing around here? Must be nice. Everyone else is working themselves to death.¡±@@novelbin@@


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 282

    "...Hyung!"


    Sa-young forced his unresponsive legs to move. He couldn''t let him go¡ªnot like this. He had to stop him. He couldn¡¯t believe the promise toe back. His mind swirled with countless thoughts as he chased after the disappearing figure, stomping over the scattered books on the floor. His body wavered.


    Sa-young was certain¡ªif there was anyone who knew Cha Uijae better than anyone, it was him.


    Thud. His shoulder collided with a bookshelf, sending books tumbling down. Sa-young didn¡¯t care and pressed on. His damp eyes blurred his vision.


    But what about the hero?


    There were many who imed to know the hero. J¡¯s stories were countless. A hero who saved countless lives and brought stability. A hero who faced countless monsters and left behind records. A selfless hero who leapt into the Rift in the West Sea without hesitation. A hero who returned like a miracle when everyone thought he was dead. A hero who was the first to enter the battlefield and thest to leave it.


    But people didn¡¯t know Cha Uijae.


    "Hyung!"


    And neither did Sa-young.@@novelbin@@


    "J!"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 283

    Vroom.


    The engine roared like thunder. Uijae leapt into the air butnded deftly without any sess. His jump had been futile.


    Why aren¡¯t there any tall buildings around here?


    Catching his breath, Uijae instinctively bolted from his spot, running at full speed. But¡­


    ¡­Where am I even going?


    There wasn¡¯t really anywhere to go. The best option would be Hong Yesung, but Jirisan was far away, and he didn¡¯t know the route. Entering a dungeon or rift would only leave Sa-young waiting for him at the exit.


    I can¡¯t do that to Sa-young.@@novelbin@@


    The image of Sa-young standing by the sea shed in his mind. He didn¡¯t want to see that sight again. And so began a race with no destination. One on foot, the other on some sort of two-wheeled vehicle¡ªmaybe a motorcycle. Despite the unfair conditions, the distance between them didn¡¯t close easily.


    As Uijae ran wherever his feet carried him, the booming engine noise continued to echo behind him. He nced back and shouted, pointing a finger.


    "Hey! Aren¡¯t you unlicensed? You think you can drive like that?"


    Amid the roar of the engine, a rxed voice chimed in.


    "So what? It¡¯s just a world of memories anyway."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 285

    Jeong Bin swiftly snatched the government ID and tucked it away. Minggijeok hopped backward, avoiding the encroaching vines, and spoke.


    "What¡¯s triggering them?"


    "There are plenty of possibilities. Light, sound, movement, human vitality."


    The air around them turned hazy. White ash piled up along the path of the advancing vines. Kyugyu gripped the Yeti¡¯s arm tightly and twisted it with a sickening crack. Ignoring the creature¡¯s grotesque screams, he shrugged nonchntly.


    "Whatever it is, it¡¯s bad news. The more we provoke it, the wider the erosion spreads, right?"


    "¡­Kyugyu."


    Jeong Bin¡¯s voice cut low beneath the screams. Kyugyu smirked.


    "What? You still think this thing looks human? It doesn¡¯t even have a consciousness anymore."


    "It was a government official once. Please handle it with care."@@novelbin@@


    "Wow, so sentimental¡­ Should I carry it back with us then? Let the whole of Jongno see?"


    "¡­"


    Jeong Bin turned to look at Minggijeok, who had already stepped back to observe their argument from a distance. Adjusting his sunsses, Minggijeok sighed.


    "I figured it¡¯de to this, but why is it always me? That thing makes me nauseous when I trap it."


    "My apologies. I¡¯ll have to ask for your help again."


    Jeong Bin bowed slightly. Minggijeok let out a deep sigh, crouched, and pressed his palm against the floor. Shhhh. A pitch-ck shadow rose from the ground, enveloping the Yeti. Kyugyu gave a low whistle.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 286

    <strong>TL NOTE</strong>:


    ?? **Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ** ??


    Dear Readers,


    On these festive days that fill the air with joy and warmth, I want to thank you for your support and enthusiasm for the novels I trante. Thanks to you, each chapter is worth the effort, and I am truly grateful to have such a wonderfulmunity of readers.


    May your Christmas be filled with love,ughter, and treasured moments with family and friends. And as we enter the New Year, I wish you endless happiness, sess, and new adventures - both in life and in the stories we share.


    Thank you for being a part of this journey. There are many more exciting chapters ahead!


    ***


    Cold wind seeped through the gaps in the makeshift wall patched with wooden nks. Inside the roughly repaired infirmary, hastily fixed by Sa-young, the two meny together on a narrow patient bed. To be precise, Uijae was being unterally held by Sa-young. For about half a day.


    With every breath, Uijae could feel the rise and fall of the chest pressed against his back. He bit the inside of his cheek, closing his eyes. He had onlye here to sleep for a bit, but instead of sleeping, he hadn¡¯t even been able to close his eyes.


    ¡®This is so damn ufortable¡­¡¯


    His hypersensitive senses picked up Sa-young¡¯s presence behind him all too clearly. The lukewarm body heat, the faint rustling sounds, the smallest muscr movements¡ªeverything. Uijae thought about peeling off the arms and legs wrapped around his waist and legs but gave up. Sure, he could push them off, but it was obvious that they¡¯d end up breaking something in the process, like, say, the bed.


    Apparently, Lee Sa-young had calcted how much time was left before Uijae¡¯s death. As the countdown ticked away, the frequency and duration of these moments of physical closeness increased. Uijae couldn¡¯t bring himself to push Sa-young away. If he was being honest, the warmth reassured him. And, truth be told, the longer they stayed close, the more the synchronization rate visibly dropped.


    Sa-young, who had been rubbing his lips and the tip of his nose against the back of Uijae¡¯s neck, grumbled.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Stop squirming.¡±


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 287

    ¡°Lee Sa-young! What happened¡ª¡±


    Jeong Bin, who had hurried after him, sharply inhaled as he caught sight of the scene.


    Sa-young was gently supporting Uijae¡¯s hand. His fingernails were a mess. How much had he wed at the ground? The nails were broken, and the skin was scraped raw, blood seeping through. Sa-young scanned the disarray around them: bloodstains and handprints on the wooden floor and scattered books, alongside an unidentified translucent liquid.


    He recognized it immediately. That memory informed him.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the doctor!¡±


    Jeong Bin¡¯s footsteps grew distant. Sa-young neither clung to Uijae nor set him down on the floor. He knew it would be better to separate, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to ce him on the ground. Instead, Sa-young rubbed the back of his hand across his own damp cheek.


    Even unconscious, Uijae¡¯s breathing was irregr. Sa-young pressed his ear close to his chest to listen to his heartbeat. It was far too fast.


    ¡°¡­Hyung.¡±


    Uijae, who had reached out toward the void, hadn¡¯t been reaching for Sa-young. His hand and gaze were directed somewhere else. Something else.


    No, Sa-young had seen it clearly¡ªthose ck eyes restlessly searching the empty air, failing to find their destination, trembling with unease.


    He couldn¡¯t see.


    Sa-young clenched his teeth. In the light, Uijae¡¯s ashen hair looked almost white.


    When did it start?


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 289

    Cha Uijae opened his eyes. Something damp and heavy was draped over his aching face. It felt like a wet towel. This had happened not too long ago, hadn¡¯t it? Uijae blinked several times under the towel. His entire body felt like it had been beaten, but that wasn¡¯t the main concern.


    "¡­Where am I?"


    He was sure he had copsed in the library, yet here he was, lying on what seemed to be a bed. Uijae fiddled with the soft, heavy nket as he drifted into thought. This didn¡¯t seem like the infirmary of the Seowon Guild. There was no smell of disinfectant or gusts of wind seeping through hastily repaired wall cracks. Even the nket was softer and strangely familiar.@@novelbin@@


    Uijae removed the damp towel. He blinked again. Darkness. The only thing visible was a ring red countdown: 25 hours, drastically reduced.


    "Did I lose nearly a whole day¡­?"


    There was no time to waste. As he started to sit up, a chilling voice cut through the air.


    "¡­You¡¯re awake, huh?"


    Uijae flinched and hunched his shoulders. A low sigh followed, carrying clear irritation. Instinctively, he held his breath and tried to gauge the mood. His braingged a beat behind.


    "¡­Lee Sa-young?"


    Footsteps echoed. The sound was deliberate, loud enough to announce each step. They stopped near the bed. The chilling voice spoke again.


    "Does your hand hurt?"


    "¡­My hand?"


    Uijae tried moving his fingers. Something was tightly wrapped around them. The low voice muttered:


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 290

    "Are you crying?"


    "¡­¡­."


    Instead of answering, Sa-young jerked his hand away. The abrupt motion sent Uijae''s hand flying into the air, leaving a stinging pain. "Ouch¡­" he muttered softly. The sound of heavy breathing stopped. Rubbing his throbbing hand, Uijae called out.


    "Lee Sa-young."


    "¡­Just stay seated."


    "Stop ordering me around and answer my question."


    "Oh, sure. Stay standing then¡­ if you don¡¯t mind not being able to walk."


    His voice was rough, like an animal growling. Uijae¡¯s body tensed instinctively, but he clenched his teeth. If he backed down now, nothing would change. Uijae defiantly stepped toward the table. But¡ª


    What he stepped on wasn¡¯t the floor. It was something firm,rge, and slightly angled¡­


    "¡­A foot?"


    It must¡¯ve been Sa-young¡¯s. But before he could think further, his body tipped forward. Luckily, two strong hands caught him by the shoulders before he fell t on his face. The growling voice scolded him.


    "I told you to stay seated."


    "Exin yourself. What¡¯s going on with you?"


    "If I told you the floor¡¯s littered with ss shards, would you sit down?"


    Fair enough. Uijae nodded, and a sigh came from above him. The hands that had been holding him let go. Now¡¯s the time. Uijae rapped on the table.@@novelbin@@


    "Come here."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 292

    Yoon Gaeul leaned against the tightly shut door, letting out a sigh. Despite her sudden entry into the Memorial Dungeon, she seemed to be adapting quite well. In truth, it wasn¡¯t so much adaptation as it was familiarity.


    ¡®It¡¯s probably thanks to the me of this world¡­.¡¯


    Memories of this world surfaced in her mind one by one.


    In the ruined world, there was no time to rest. The areas turning into wastnds increased by the day, rifts kept forming endlessly, and Hunters were constantly on the move, dealing with rifts and monsters. They slept wherever they could find a spot in the library, curled up in exhaustion, unsure of when they would be summoned to the field again.


    The number of patients seeking refuge at the Seowon Guild grew steadily. From minor scratches to¡­


    ...humans starting to mutate.


    Dr. Nam Woo-jin, the Seowon Guild leader, arranged a separate space to house the mutants. Their symptoms included persistent coughing, coughing up a white translucent liquid, and parts of their bodies twisting or mutating. Just before fully transforming, their aggression spiked, and they lost all rationality.


    Hunters personally took the lives of patients who reached the pre-mutation stage. It was to ensure they remained human rather than bing monsters, and to prevent them from harming civilians. Yet, most Hunters hesitated, unable to take that final step¡­


    Creeeak. The door opened. Gaeul extended the towel she was holding.


    ¡°H-Here¡¯s a towel.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°¡­Oh, thank you.¡±


    Most of these tasks fell to Jeong Bin or Lee Sa-young. Jeong Bin volunteered out of a sense of responsibility, while Lee Sa-young was chosen for his ability to handle things cleanly and without a trace.


    It seemed today¡¯s cleaner was Jeong Bin. He wiped the white blood sttered on his suit with the towel Gaeul handed him. His usual gentle smile was absent, reced by a hardened expression. The man who always greeted people warmly now exhaled a brief sigh before forcing a stiff smile at Gaeul.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of incinerating the towel. Please get back to work.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡±


    He turned and walked away. The sound of his leather shoes grew distant with each step. Gaeul peeked through the slightly ajar door. The floor was soaked with a translucent white liquid, and in the depths of the roomy the motionless shape of a person.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 293

    This death didn¡¯t hurt. Or¡­ maybe it didn¡¯t.


    Uijae floated in a dark void¡ªa ce devoid of anything. He opened his hands and looked at them. Good. If he could see his hands, that meant his vision had returned. His fingers traced over the scar on his palm, where golden chains shimmered faintly.


    The contract was still intact. Both he and Lee Sa-young were alive.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    But there was nothing he could do. He couldn¡¯t open his inventory, summon the system window, or move his body freely. All he could do was drift aimlessly through the void. In the end, Uijae had no choice but to confront the thoughts he had been avoiding.


    ¡®It seems staying close to Lee Sa-young saved me from aplete death, but¡­¡¯


    Truthfully, he had believed that dying would return him to his original world. This was the Memorial Dungeon, after all. A ce where the memories of the dead came to an end. Yet, here he was, not returning but wandering aimlessly in this strange space.


    ¡®Is this a glitch?¡¯


    Was I supposed to die here all along? Last time, didn¡¯t I meet Hong Yeseong in a ce like this?


    ¡®He probably won¡¯te¡­¡¯


    The thought of Hong Yeseong¡¯sst moments left Uijae feeling uneasy. He curled up and closed his eyes. What was Lee Sa-young doing now? He hadn¡¯t shown himself until the very moment Uijae was overwhelmed by monsters and took hisst breath. He must have watched the entire process.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®So cold-hearted¡­¡¯


    ¡­


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 294

    The monsters kept appearing from somewhere. They killed them and ate them. By principle, they needed to eliminate the source. That was the only way to avoid the constant threat of monsters¡ªor so the formal reasoning went. But no one moved.


    What if they eliminated the source and monsters stopped appearing?@@novelbin@@


    ¡®We¡¯d starve to death.¡¯


    Or they¡¯d have to start eating humans.


    Everyone must have been thinking the same. Even J thought so.


    The skin of the survivors was growing paler and paler. Some had already turnedpletely white-haired. J could sense it instinctively¡ªsomething was wrong, terribly wrong. They had to stop eating.


    But how could he tell those who ate to survive to stop?


    "Maybe you should stop eating. Doesn¡¯t your body feel strange?¡±


    He cautiously suggested it, but the chilling stares that turned toward him froze his blood.


    ¡°What¡¯s strange about it?¡±


    The looks were terrifying. Cold sweat trickled down his back. J quickly shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Only then did their murderous gazes recede.


    He began reducing his own portions, offering them to others. People were delighted to have a little more food. Some even praised him.


    ¡°As expected of a hero.¡±


    Jughed bitterly. Imagine being called a hero just for giving up food. Heroism seemed absurdly cheap here¡ªor maybe it was priceless in a ce like this.


    The hunger grew more severe. His stomach felt as if it were glued to his spine. He told himself to endure.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Enduring was hard.


    He was hungry.


    So, so hungry.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 295

    "They came to get me."


    It took quite some time for Uijae to understand the meaning of those words. He murmured them under his breath, repeating what he had just heard. "They came to get me. They came to get me..." The figure beyond the coat waited patiently. Finally, Uijaeprehended the statement. He asked,


    "Why?"


    "Because we need you."


    He quickly grasped the meaning of need. A monster must have appeared. epting the situation, Uijae groped at the ground. No spear. Then he remembered. Right, it¡¯s gone. Did he have a sword? The basilisk''s fang¡ªhe had driven it into the snake¡¯s head.


    It¡¯s fine. Fists will do. He could still fight.


    Therge hand covering his own broke his thoughts.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Looking for a weapon."


    "Why?"


    "You said you needed me."@@novelbin@@


    The hand pressed harder against the back of his own. Was that not it? His mind remained dull. But if they needed him, this could only be the reason. Uijae nced at the gas mask for a clue.


    "...Isn''t it?"


    "It¡¯s not."


    "Then what is it?"


    A sigh came from beyond the coat. Uijae closed his eyes. That kind of sigh¡ªhe was familiar with it. He could guess what would follow. Is that what you call a hero? Acting all noble alone, making us look like fools. I shouldn¡¯t have trusted you. First rank? What a disappointment...


    But the person sighing didn¡¯t say anything else. Instead, they patted the back of his hand.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 297

    The hurried steps of several pairs of shoes trampled over the white ash and vines. The beams of shlights wavered wildly, sweeping across the floor and ceiling. The vinesshed out, writhing toward their legs, but with a sharp snap of fingers, they all burst into mes.


    Jeong Bin bowed briefly to the man following behind him¡ªMatthew¡ªand raised his voice.@@novelbin@@


    "This is Jeong Bin! Are you there?"


    As if in response, a frustrated shout erupted from the end of the corridor.


    "I told you, breaking it won¡¯t solve anything! Damn it¡ª!"


    Boom!


    The passage trembled with the impact. Jeong Bin and Matthew exchanged nces. The voice belonged to Gyu-gyu. Unlike his usual smooth and carefree tone, he sounded flustered. Something was definitely wrong. Jeong Bin quickly shone his shlight toward the end of the corridor.


    And what it revealed was¡­


    "Are you listening? This thing¡¯s reinforced, it won¡¯t break easily¡ªah, damn it, why am I the only one getting attacked? Hey, listen to me! Wow, you¡¯re really strong, huh¡ª"


    Thud!


    "Ohhh, I get it now. You want to be buried alive, huh? Is that it? If you want to die, just say so¡ª!"


    It was Gyu-gyu, clinging desperately to someone¡¯s arms, being dragged like a ragdoll. His fur-lined field jacket and messy, light blue hair bounced wildly as he was tossed around.


    Jeong Bin called out, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    "...Gyu-gyu-nim?"


    Gyu-gyu whipped his head around and yelled,


    "Someone stop this lunatic! He won¡¯t listen!"


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 298

    For a brief moment, Uijae hade to appreciate the one functional aspect of the Memorial Dungeon. But that thought didn¡¯tst long.


    Ham Seok-jeong took theptop Jeong Bin hadpiled notes on and skimmed through the data. Tapping her fingers against the chair¡¯s armrest, she mused,


    "From the looks of it, the method of apocalypse in that world and this one seems eerily simr. The whitening phenomenon there is nearly identical to the mutations and the erosion phenomenon we¡¯re seeing in our own Eroded Dungeons. But what bothers me is that our world hasn¡¯t had a Monster Wave. Could the sequence have changed?"


    "It¡¯s a possibility we can¡¯t rule out," Jeong Bin replied.


    "Pull up data on locations showing early signs of a Wave. Cross-reference with past urrences as well."


    "Understood."


    The two continued their discussion with grave expressions.


    But their voices were drowned out by another¡ªthe voice of Hong Yesung, immortalized within the ck-and-white film of his workshop.


    ¡ª


    "I told you, didn¡¯t I? We¡¯re erasing the old world and creating a new one. But since this damn clockwork system is wed, the previous world didn¡¯tpletely disappear this time. That¡¯s why the destroyed world keeps interfering with the current one."@@novelbin@@


    "Haven¡¯t you ever found it strange? The West Sea Rift kept expanding, swallowing Hunters without end¡ªuntil you entered. After that, did any more Hunters go inside? No. You were thest one."


    "That ruined world finally found its first axis. But the price the current axis paid wasn¡¯t enough. So it¡¯s searching for someone else to pay the rest."


    ¡ª


    Uijae¡¯s entire body shuddered as if struck by lightning.


    The unending horde of monsters. The ceaseless battles, no matter how many he cut down. The endless waves¡ª


    No way.


    What if those monsters had been the ones meant to spill into this world via the Monster Wave?


    Then it would make sense why the mutation had begun skipping steps, why the usual sequence had been broken. It would also exin Hong Yesung¡¯s words.


    Cha Uijae had unknowingly paid the missing price at the West Sea Rift.


    By ughtering everyst surviving human and monster from that world.


    He wasn¡¯t sure whether to call that fortunate or absolutely catastrophic.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 299

    There was no need to confirm the handwriting¡¯s owner. It had to be Lee Sa-young. Who else would address Cha Uijae as ¡°you¡± in such a formal way? Uijae rolled his eyes.


    ¡®Now that I think about it¡­.¡¯


    Lately, that bastard had stopped calling him hyung and started using you instead. Uijae ran his fingertips over the letters in the notebook. Obviously, there was no warmth to be felt from the ink, but still. He muttered awkwardly.


    ¡°¡­Your handwriting¡¯s pretty neat.¡±


    He had expected it to be as unreadable as Nam Woo-jin¡¯s, but surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t. Maybe Jeong Bin had even taught him how to write properly. Absurd thoughts crossed his mind as he rummaged through the messy desk for a pen. He was about to write a response in the notebook but hesitated.


    ¡®¡­If I write in here, will it really get delivered?¡¯


    If it didn¡¯t, he¡¯d just end up looking like a lunatic writing messages in Nam Woo-jin¡¯s research notebook. Then again, Lee Sa-young couldn¡¯t have been certain that Uijae would see his message either. It was a shot in the dark. So, couldn¡¯t Uijae take a shot too?@@novelbin@@


    Uijae stared at Sa-young¡¯s neat handwriting for a moment. Then, he unfolded one of the crumpled sheets of paper scattered around theb and, of all things, started practicing his handwriting.


    Watching.


    Hepared his sloppy scrawl next to the neatly written text in the notebook. Compared to Sa-young¡¯s writing, his own looked like a pair of squirming worms.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Uneptable!


    Uijae took a deep breath and tried to write as neatly as possible. W-a-t-c-h-i¡ª


    Snap!


    The pen cracked in half. All he had done was grip it a little tighter, yet it broke right at the double consonant, which somehow made it even more frustrating. He stared at the snapped pen in disbelief before shoving it into his pocket. Sorry, Nam Woo-jin.


    Undeterred, he searched theb for another pen and carefully wrote the letters again.


    W-a-t-c-h-i¡ª


    Crack!


    Snap!


    After breaking three pens in a row, Uijae finally realized the truth.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 300

    J was dead, but his body had not disappeared.


    There was only one possible conclusion: his soul had returned to his original world, leaving only his corpse behind. It had to be that way.


    Lee Sa-young had carefully cleaned and arranged J¡¯s body, moving it to his own home and surrounding it with preservation stones¡ªto prevent decay, to halt the passage of time. And then, in that house, he continued his daily life as if nothing had changed.


    Gaeul absentmindedly toyed with the cold key in her hand.


    ¡°Um, but¡­ do we really need to manage it together? Wouldn¡¯t Lee Sa-young Hunter take good care of it himself?¡±


    Honeybee¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. She leaned in and whispered sharply.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°You trust that freak?¡±


    ¡°F-Freak¡­?¡±


    ¡°What else do you call a guy who keeps a corpse in his house?¡±


    Gaeul was at a loss for words.


    Anguid voice interrupted.


    ¡°I can hear you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Good. I meant for you to.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t bury your guildmate either, did you? Same thing, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Their gazes shed like sparks flying.


    Gaeul held her breath. A shiver ran down her spine. If she weren¡¯t S-rank, she might have copsed under the sheer pressure between them.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 302

    Professor Jang stroked his fluffy beard and chuckled.


    "Wow, I never imagined I¡¯d hear something like this. They built a memorial,pletely forgot about the West Sea Rift, and got caught up debating whether the new rank one could rece J¡­ That¡¯s all they ever talked about."


    "¡­¡­."


    "The West Sea Rift was a space beyond my understanding. And yet¡­ I wanted to start researching it again. I went straight to Director Ham and told him¡ªI¡¯m following that guy. I¡¯m going to try opening the rift. Packed my bags and left."


    Uijae flipped through the newspaper clippings one by one.


    All of this¡­ Lee Sa-young collected it.


    All this effort, just for the sake of one person¡ªsomeone whose life he had saved, someone who had promised to return. Just in case they were lost and couldn¡¯t find their way back. Just to search for someone who might already be dead.


    "He¡¯s trying to bring back someone he¡¯s never even met, doesn¡¯t even know the name of¡­"@@novelbin@@


    Uijae brushed his fingers over the faded newspaper clipping featuring his own photo.


    A young man in a ck mask and white scarf, captured from a distance. The resolution was poor, likely zoomed in from far away.


    Lee Sa-young¡¯s obsession was, at times, iprehensible.


    Yet, Uijae stood here now.


    A small smirk formed on his lips.


    "Well¡­ I guess like-minded people end up finding each other."


    If this was fate, then so be it.


    Uijae suppressed the strange sensation creeping up his chest.


    "Professor, can you tell me more?"


    "Oh-ho? About what?"


    "About Lee Sa-young. Anything, really."


    Just then, Minggijeok, who had been standing outside the door unnoticed, cut in.


    "The Director nags at the Guild Master a lot. It''s a love-hate rtionship."


    "Why?"


    Minggijeok adjusted his sunsses.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 303

    As they neared the Erosion Dungeon, the falling ash thickened.


    The once-busy alleyways, roads, sidewalks, and trees were already covered in ayer of white.


    The way the ash swirled through the air resembled snowfall¡ªalmost beautiful, in a way.


    Uijae halted.


    A towering wall, higher than a utility pole, blocked the path. Likely a barrier constructed by a Hunter¡¯s ability.


    There were no signs of people. It seemed the residents had already been evacuated.


    Uijae turned to Little Mackerel, who had followed closely behind.


    "The residents?"


    "We moved them to the seafood market a few days ago. Didn¡¯t feel right, so we yed it safe. nned to send them back once the Rift Management Bureau handled it, but¡­"


    "You made the right call."


    Little Mackerel''s expression grew serious.


    "Is it really bad?"


    "Yeah."


    Beyond the wall, something twisted and pulsed ominously¡ªlike an active volcano on the verge of eruption.


    "It could go off at any moment."


    For a brief second, the sight of the dead sea shed through Uijae¡¯s mind, consuming his vision.


    That eerie, lifelessndscape.


    He shook his head, forcing the image away.


    He had suffered through the Memorial Dungeon for a reason¡ªto learn from a future that wasn¡¯t set in stone.


    "I can¡¯t just stand by and watch."


    "I have to deal with it now."


    Turning, Uijae called out.


    "Minggijeok, contact all departments. Tell them to issue a no-entry order for this entire area. Make it wide¡ªup to the seafood market."@@novelbin@@


    "Understood."


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 304

    Thud. The man in a ck suit copsed. A pool of red blood began to spread across the white ash. A familiar sight. He had seen it countless times in the West Sea Rift. Mackerel rushed forward and grabbed Minggijeok. Uijae stared nkly at the scene. Then, a dark shadow loomed over the two of them.


    The lion¡¯s front paw shed through the air once more. His body moved instinctively. And then¡ª


    Thwack!


    A strangled gasp escaped before he could swallow it. A terrible pain struck his head. But Uijae steadied his staggering body, using his spear as support, barely managing to stand on both feet. His vision wavered into a chaotic mess. A piercing ringing sound shook his skull. The surrounding noise faded, reced only by the high-pitched ringing and the pounding of his own heart. The taste of blood filled his mouth¡ªhe must have bitten his lip.


    "Hyungnim!"


    Uijae pressed his throbbing temple. It was wet. When he pulled his hand away, his palm was soaked in bright red blood. At the sight of it, the emotion that seized him was¡ª


    ¡®It¡¯s still red.¡¯


    Relief.


    A hollow chuckle escaped him. Eachugh made him sway dizzily, but he couldn¡¯t stop. Through the terrible ringing, Mackerel¡¯s voice echoed in his ears.


    "Hyungnim! Are you okay?"


    Uijae slowly turned his head. Mackerel and Minggijeok blurred into two, then three figures. But through the distortion, he could see Mackerel¡¯s wide, trembling eyes clearly. The younger man pointed at him with a shaking hand.


    "Hyungnim¡­ your mask¡­"@@novelbin@@


    "¡­¡­."


    Uijae reached up to touch his mask with bloodied fingers. The left side around his eye was broken. No wonder his vision was a mess. Hong Yesung, that bastard, boasted so much about his craftsmanship, and yet one hit was all it took to break it? Uijae turned his gaze forward.


    The lion stood there, front paw still raised, staring at him in puzzlement. Drops of red blood dripped from its pristine white paw and ws. Its stark white eyes questioned¡ª


    Why did you block it?


    Uijae didn¡¯t bother answering the monster¡¯s confusion. Instead, he staggered forward and knelt beside Minggijeok. The lion lowered its raised paw, no longer exuding hostility. It simply observed him in silence.


    Uijae spoke carefully.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>

 Chapter 306

    Sa-young opened the tightly closed bedroom door. The room, devoid of any light, felt as though time itself had stopped. Lying on the bed without a single wrinkle in the sheets, hands sped together, was Cha Uijae.


    There was no sign of life, but his appearance resembled that of a living person. Well, except for the bandages wrapped around his head and his paleplexion. The preservation stone ced beside Uijae''s head glimmered. Sa-young smiled faintly.


    "Been doing well?"


    No answer came. There was no movement in his hands or chest. He had grown ustomed to one-sided conversations like this. Sa-young stared down at the face with closed eyes and let out a small sigh.


    He wanted to see the living, moving Uijae. Not this lifeless, doll-like version of him. Sa-young reached out a hand toward him but withdrew it before touching him. The moment he touched him, he would be reminded of death again.


    The dead were cold.@@novelbin@@


    ¡®...I won¡¯t be able to do this twice.¡¯


    Sa-young sat by the bed, resting his head against it. He didn¡¯t dare lie next to him. This distance felt appropriate¡ªclose enough to stay near, yet far enough to avoid confronting his death.


    Sa-young closed his eyes.


    In the still room, only one person¡¯s breathing could be heard.


    ***


    As Nam Woo-jin had said, the broken masky quietly next to the notebook. Uijae gently ran his fingers over the cracked section of the mask. The top left side was broken off, and there were small scratches and cracks scattered across the rest of it. If tapped, it would shatter along the cracks. It was no longer usable.


    You didn''t buy this chapter


    Buy Now (5 coupons)</a>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!