Chapter 238: Han Yuhyun’s World (1)
Without stopping, I kept running while glaring at the quest window. Never mind the other things—what the hell is with the 830 points?
“Hey, Partner. These points are way too stingy. And why did you leave out my birth year? It should be eight digits!”
That would make it nearly twenty million points. Did they really scrape the bottom of the wallet? More than that, how is it even possible to hand out items and points through a system connection?
‘Points can be earned by hunting monsters, and there is a point shop for items.’
But things like wine, champagne, and passage permits weren’t available in the point shop. Did he seriously go shopping directly in Medsang City or something? What a mysterious guy. Anyway, I decided to claim the SS-rank bait reward first.
[Wide-Area Bait – SS-rank
Attracts all monsters SS-rank and below within a 200km radius. A set of 10 baits with 10 different scents.
Single-use.]
A note on the small box said, “Pop the lid to activate!” Inside, there were ten round, soft beads.
A 200km radius—just how big is that? The distance from Seoul to Busan is about 400km, so it’s basically the size of our country. That’s insane. This could even lure in monsters from outside the city. If I popped it, all hell would break loose.
There was no need to use it right now, so I carefully stored it away.
I’d claim the champagne after securing Yuhyun. And the fur scarf… seriously, what the hell. Still, I went ahead and received it. The moment I did—
“Ugh, what kind of scarf is this?!”
It was way too long! A pink wave suddenly blocked my vision, and I almost slipped and fell. If not for my Wildcat Shoes skill, I would’ve plummeted, damn it!
“How many meters is this thing?”
It was easily more than twice my height. The moment I saw it, I was convinced Seong Hyunjae was the one who sent it. The pattern was identical to the fur scarf he had been knitting before.
…The fact that it was so well-made just made it even more irritating. On top of that, it was crafted from premium monster materials, making it feel luxurious and high-end. Despite being hot pink.
I stuffed the overflowing scarf into my inventory with frustration.
“I get it, so stop sending me useless junk!”
I yelled into the air, but then a sudden chill ran down my spine.
Wait a second—does that mean Seong Hyunjae has been watching me this whole time?
A shiver spread over my entire body, not just the back of my neck. Did I say anything weird? I don’t think I muttered anything strange out loud… Just how long has he been watching? He saw me mistaking Sigma for him and getting kicked, and the collar… Ugh, shit! T-Thankfully, I don’t think I did anything particularly embarrassing…
“…Let’s not see each other for a while.”
Don’t look at me! Turn off the screen! If you’re going to watch, at least give me more points!
…Wait, was that 500,000 points basically a viewing fee? A wave of humiliation hit me before washing away, leaving only practical concerns.
‘…What if he saw my status window?’
I had checked my status window when I first landed here. Aside from the changed Promising Talent, I hadn’t opened the detailed descriptions, but he would have been able to see all the skill names and titles.
No, if he’s actually inside the system, he might have access to everything, even without me opening it.
Everything else aside, the keywords could be a problem. Damn it, they could be used as weaknesses. He’s not the kind of person to use them in a dirty way, but… If he did see them, does that mean keywords will never work on Seong Hyunjae now?
I had already given up on that strategy, but it was still a little disappointing.
‘I need to be more careful from now on.’
But seriously, where even is he? I’m curious.
Jumping across rooftops, I soon spotted the only building in the night city that was still illuminated. Normally, the lights would be sealed off to avoid attracting monsters, but since this was an emergency, lights flickered here and there as people moved around.
I clung to the wall of a building near the Defense Bureau and adjusted my radio channel.
“I’m right in front of it. Report the situation.”
[Five minutes ago, multiple S-rank, A-rank, and B-rank guards departed from the Defense Bureau. The S-rank guards who had been fighting the SS-rank monsters have lost communication, and they are presumed dead. The current strategy is to use all available support skills and items to buy as much time as possible while minimizing casualties.]
The S-ranks who were caught in the trap had been attacked while completely defenseless, so it was no surprise they couldn’t hold out. They had expected to fight other S-ranks and didn’t even bring a single support guard.
However, if they established a proper strategy now, they should be able to at least stall for time. Even in my home turf, if we formed a well-experienced A-rank team, we could successfully clear lower S-rank dungeons.
“Achates Defense Bureau had a total of nine S-rank guards, correct?”
[Yes. One hasn’t recovered from injuries, and three are presumed dead, leaving five. We expected all five to deploy, but in the end, one remained behind.]
“Since we have one S-rank guard on our side as well, it should be fine. Move in the moment you receive the signal, as planned.”
I turned off the communication and looked back at the Defense Bureau.
The Achates Defense Bureau was structured with a central building surrounded by four others. Naturally, the mana hall was located at the center.
There were several smaller buildings surrounding the four main ones, with layered passageways connecting them, making it difficult to head straight for the central building. Without a high-ranking stealth skill like mine, breaking through would take time. Even though only one S-rank was left, there were still quite a few A-rank and lower guards remaining.
After replenishing my mana with a potion, I entered the Defense Bureau. Thanks to the map, I was already familiar with the building’s layout and easily reached the central structure. Standing in the empty lobby, I pulled out a remote switch from my inventory.
[♪ Fireworks are best enjoyed at night ♬]
As if it had been waiting, a new quest popped up. Seriously, this thing was way too excited.
[Let’s bring down at least two buildings in the Achates Defense Bureau! If they collapse in sequence, double the fun! Be careful not to get caught in the explosion~ [3
Reward: 10,000P, This Way (SS)]
The point reward had increased. Did they manage to refill their wallet in the meantime? And what was This Way supposed to be? The little heart… Hmm. Whatever, seeing an SS-rank reward improved my mood slightly. Alright, fine, go ahead and watch—just stay out of my skill window.
‘Sending the signal now.’
I pressed the switch and covered my ears. Almost simultaneously—
KWA-KWAGWANG!! KWAANG!!
A massive explosion erupted from both sides of the central building. One Dragon’s Breath Bomb per building—each one no bigger than my fist, yet capable of unleashing overwhelming destruction.
WEEEOOOO— WEEEOOOO—
The emergency sirens blared throughout the area. But even louder was the sound of the buildings collapsing. It was like standing in the eye of a hurricane—thunderous rumbles and roaring crashes filled the air.
“What the hell is going on?!”
“A bomb! It’s a bombing attack!”
People panicked, fearing that more bombs might be planted in other buildings, and rushed outside. The evacuation route led away from the two collapsing buildings, and amidst the chaos, the ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
A chill ran down my spine. My heart pounded slightly.
As the thunderous noise and tremors gradually settled, I deactivated my stealth skill. Holding the slightly static-ridden radio, I spoke.
“Have you entered?”
“Loud and clear.”
The response came from the lobby entrance. It was Bitera, Gnos, and a group of A and B-rank guards. Bitera approached me with a bright smile.
“I must say, that was impressive.”
“Thank you, but it’s not over yet. Let’s move quickly. Follow me.”
If any of the S-rank guards managed to return, things would get troublesome. They were likely preoccupied with the SS-rank monsters, making it difficult for them to pull back, but just in case.
Following the memorized route from the map, I moved swiftly.
“Who—!”
Thud. A B-rank guard, startled by our presence, was knocked out instantly with a hit to the stomach. The other Defense Bureau staff suffered the same fate—losing consciousness before they could even raise an alarm.
Many people had evacuated due to the bomb threat, but quite a few still remained. The underground floor, where the mana hall was located, was considered safer, so it made sense that some had stayed. The area was supposedly reinforced using the mana hall’s power.
“Good thing the elevator is big.”
With around twenty people in our group, we all fit inside comfortably. Using a universal key I had purchased in advance, I unlocked the panel and pressed the lowest floor button. Bitera, watching, chuckled.
“This is my first time heading to the mana hall from this side.”
“The floor is specially treated, so digging a tunnel would be difficult,” I noted.
“I’ve heard that the walls near the mana hall are tough enough that even an SS-rank would struggle to break through. According to the map, the executive floor is accessible from the mana hall.”
“The remaining S-rank guard is probably stationed at the mana hall as well.”
“Then we should split up when we get there.”
The elevator stopped. I pulled out my gun.
As soon as the doors slid open, I fired at the A-rank guard standing watch. Bitera moved even faster, taking down the other A-rank guard. Then, with a powerful kick, she shattered a locked door.
“No need to waste a key on something this weak.”
Works for me. Saves me the trouble.
We sprinted down the corridor. With each step, my heartbeat quickened. It wasn’t much farther now. Most of the obstacles had been cleared. Soon—I would save my brother. With my own hands, with my own strength.
That thought filled me with exhilaration.
The fact that Yuhyun had been captured made my blood boil. The way they had treated him still enraged me every time I thought about it. But despite that, at this moment, my heart pounded with anticipation. A burning sense of fulfillment spread through my body.
“Stop—urgh!”
Boom! The locked door was dented inward and sent flying. Without hesitation, I continued forward, making sharp turns without pausing. I had studied this path dozens of times, memorizing it thoroughly. If I closed my eyes, I could envision it perfectly, as if copied onto my mind.
“This way.”
I issued the command as I turned a corner. Before long, another fork in the path appeared, and I halted for a brief moment.
“Bitera.”
“Looks like this is where we part ways.”
Bitera’s gaze turned cold as she stared toward the direction of the mana hall. She gripped her flat, elongated sword tightly.
“The remaining S-rank guard is definitely in the mana hall. I can sense her from here—it’s my sister.”
So the remaining guard in the Defense Bureau was Bitera’s sister. I didn’t bother asking if she would be okay—Bitera was smiling, her fighting spirit burning even brighter.
Gnos and two other A-rank guards joined me. Though our numbers were small, aside from Bitera, these were the most skilled combatants available. Support wasn’t necessary on our side anyway.
“Here, this key has two uses left. The doors near the mana hall will be difficult to break down.”
“Thanks.”
Bitera’s group left first, and we moved in the opposite direction. There weren’t many people blocking our way anymore. This time, Gnos stepped forward in Bitera’s place, snapping an A-rank guard’s neck. A seasoned veteran, he moved with cold efficiency, swiftly eliminating any resistance.
I watched him with a slightly icy gaze. We had agreed to cooperate, but—
‘There’s no way they’ll just hand Alpha over to me.’
Even if we succeeded in overthrowing the Defense Bureau, I had to think about what came after. There was no way Achates City would simply give up its only SS-rank guard to an outsider. Unless they were willing to abandon the city itself, losing Alpha was out of the question.
‘They might try to persuade me to stay in Achates with Alpha.’
These people had suffered under a dictatorship. Would they really allow a single person—an outsider, no less—to control Alpha? More likely, they would try to take me hostage. I was only C-rank, after all. Easy to subdue.
The moment I unlocked Alpha’s restraints, they would pounce. Or maybe they would strike even earlier. If they captured me, they could prevent Alpha from attacking and at least force me into signing a contract.
‘If it’s just a standard contract for A-ranks or lower, I’ll sign it without resistance.’
Or I could just tell Yuhyun that his brother has five lives, so don’t hesitate to attack. …Even if I reassured him, he might still hesitate. As a last resort, I still had one more bomb. I’d just have to make sure I set it off after separating from Yuhyun.
“This is it.”
The mana absorption chamber where Yuhyun was being held. I stood before the door once again. Using the new key, I unlocked it.
The moment I stepped inside, a familiar name entered my sight.
[C-rank Moas]
The last remaining engraved connector.
Without hesitation, I fired my gun. With a thud, before he could even utter a word, the C-rank’s head was blown off.
“Whoever can disable the mana absorption array, step forward. If you don’t want to die.”
A B-rank hesitated before stepping up. I knocked the other two unconscious just in case. Dragging the B-rank, I moved into the inner room.
The faint blue glow of the absorption array flickered, and at its center lay my sleeping brother.
My chest tightened with pain and relief at the same time.
The moment the mana absorption array deactivated, I rushed to Yuhyun’s side.
Let them come for me after I free him. Just hold on a little longer.
“I’ll get you out of here.”
It’s okay now.
Damn bastards had tied him up again.
I yanked out the IV needle and quickly used the key to unlock the restraints on his wrists and ankles. Click, click. Hearing them release automatically was oddly satisfying. I removed the blindfold and gag as well.
“…Hyung.”
His voice was so dry and weak that even though I was right in front of him, I could barely hear it.
Still unable to move properly, he reached out and grabbed my arm.
A smile formed on my lips as he looked up at me.
“You waited for me.”
“…Yeah. I did. Good job.”
Of course, my brother is amazing.
As I reached for a mana potion to help him recover, a sudden message window popped up in front of me.
[ㅇㅠㅈㅣㄴㅇㅏ]
Distorted characters.
And almost at the same time—
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
A searing heat spread across my back, like I had been burned.
Yuhyun’s eyes widened in shock.
Before I could fully grasp what was happening, I heard a gentle voice.
“You’re free now, Alpha.”
Gnos spoke.
To Alpha.
Saying that everything was fine now.
It felt like a hammer had struck the back of my head.
That’s right.
I hadn’t considered Alpha at all.
I had only thought of Yuhyun as a body occupied by something else. Nothing more, nothing less.
I had prioritized my brother so completely that I hadn’t even factored in Alpha’s relationships or the people around him.
If I had asked Gnos or Bitera about Alpha even once. If I had realized they cared for him and wanted to save him. I would have said things differently. I would have framed it as wanting to rescue Alpha because of the unfair way he had been treated, because I sympathized with him.
But it was too late now.
“…G…”
I needed to say it was okay.
But instead of words, blood spilled from my mouth.
“H-Hyung…!”
Yuhyun, who had been frozen in shock, struggled to lift his upper body, trying desperately to hold onto me.
Someone pulled out a potion, but it would be useless now.
Really, I was fine.
I just needed a little more time.
But before I could say anything to my brother, my consciousness faded to black.
–TL Notes–
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