By Zephyria “I heard J is back?”
At the sudden main point, the Hunter coughed. J’s survival was well known, but the fact that J had directly announced his return was a fact known only to a few within the Awakened Management Bureau. Moreover, it hadn’t been long since the news came in…
Sensing the suspicious look, Song Jo-heon sighed demonstratively.
“When a comrade who fought together returns from the brink of death, one rushes over. I must be getting old. Haha.”
“Haha…”
The Hunter, who laughed along without any spirit, picked up the paper cup that had fallen on the floor and glanced up at Song Jo-heon.
‘Where on earth did he hear that from?’
Despite receiving the suspicious gaze, Song Jo-heon was still smiling leisurely. He tapped the floor once with his cane.
“Good posture… as a talent of the Bureau of Rift Management. But don’t be too wary.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve already heard everything. Hmm, yes… from that person you know.”
Song Jo-heon winked playfully. The wrinkles around his eyes folded nicely. At the same time, the pressure that had been subtly weighing down on people since he entered also subsided a little. The Hunter forced the corners of his lips up into a smile. A drop of cold sweat ran down his temple.
Awakened who Awakened within half a year of the Day of the Rift. Today, people classified them as ultra-early Awakened or first-generation Awakened. They were the ones who opened their eyes to their ability early on, fighting Monsters and attacking Dungeons in the chaotic times when there was no proper information.
Eleven years later, most of the first-generation Awakened had either died or were living in seclusion with injuries that made them unable to function. Except for a very small number.
The tiger-like man was watching the Hunter quietly with a smiling face. A low voice, like scratching the throat, whispered softly.
“But I didn’t hear the details… I’d like to hear a little more.”
And Song Jo-heon was a rare figure included in that small number. He was the one who founded Samra, the first Guild in Korea, and has been running that Guild without any issues to this day. He was also a role model for most Hunters, as his rank had risen despite his middle age.
Song Jo-heon rubbed the handle of his cane with his thumb.
“That’s right. Tell me everything slowly. Don’t worry about anything.”
The Hunter suddenly wondered why he had doubted him. Hadn’t Song Jo-heon also been interviewed about J in a documentary? If he didn’t trust Song Jo-heon, who would he trust? The Hunter, who had been biting the paper cup, straightened his back and nodded slowly.
“Yes, I understand. What would you like me to tell you?”
“Hmm.”
As the light of suspicion that had settled in his eyes disappeared, Song Jo-heon nodded with a satisfied look.
“I’d like to hear more details about the news of J’s return…”
His sharp eyes turned to the monitor.
“Did he say that himself when he appeared? Is there anyone who has really seen him alive?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard from Team Leader Jung-bin. However, Team Leader didn’t meet him directly either, but heard it from Hong Ye-seong. It seems that Hong Ye-seong was the one who met him directly…”
“Where is Jung-bin now?”
“He is recovering at Seowon Guild.”
“Can I have a private meeting with Hong Ye-seong?”
“That’s a little difficult…”
Before the Hunter could finish speaking, Song Jo-heon rubbed his cane again. The Hunter’s eyes went blank. He swallowed hard and opened his mouth again.
“It’s possible…”
Bang—!!
“Ugh!”
A loud burst tore through the speakers. The Hunter, who instinctively screamed, regained focus in his eyes. Startled, he hurriedly checked the monitor.
Everything else was the same, but one screen was different. It was the interrogation room where Lee Sa-young was staying.
He had kicked the steel desk into the corner of the room and was about to cross his legs leisurely. The center of the desk was dented. The Hunter tore at his hair.
“Oh, I thought it was quiet for once…”
Song Jo-heon, who was watching from the side, clicked his tongue.
“Oh dear… Lee Sa-young is causing trouble again. You’re having a hard time.”
The Hunter, who had been tearing at his hair, stood up abruptly with a gloomy face and picked up the Gas mask next to him.
“I’m sorry, Hunter Song Jo-heon. I think I have to go.”
“Oh, it’s okay, go quickly. You have to stop it before something bigger happens.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you for understanding!”
The Hunter bowed his head and quickly ran out of the monitor room. Song Jo-heon, left alone in the monitor room, pushed the chair the Hunter had been sitting on away with his cane and stood in front of the monitor. Gripping the handle of his cane tightly, Song Jo-heon stared at the screen with a face devoid of any smile.
Lee Sa-young was already sitting back on the steel chair, crossing his legs again. He leaned his upper body slightly and raised his head, resting his chin on his hand. Purple eyes looked directly at the CCTV. It was a clear and sharp gaze, as if piercing through Song Jo-heon in the monitor room.
His lips curved smoothly. Lee Sa-young moved his lips silently.
‘Not on your watch.’
Song Jo-heon also twisted his lips fiercely.
“Young punk…”
The two glared at each other for a long time. Soon, the Hunter, who had run out of the monitor room, was seen panting as he threw open the door to Lee Sa-young’s interrogation room and entered.
Lee Sa-young turned his gaze to the Hunter as if he had never looked at the CCTV. Song Jo-heon, who was watching the scene, also took out his cell phone. A short ringing tone ended, and someone answered the phone.
“This is Song Jo-heon.”
His face was as cold as if he had never smiled.
“Let’s meet as soon as possible.”
The man, who had scanned the monitor one last time, left the monitor room without any regrets. The sound of his shoes faded away.
Only dim streetlights flickered on the darkened streets. It wasn’t an alley with a lot of foot traffic to begin with, but it was especially quiet today.
Eui-jae deliberately turned up the TV a little louder and placed his phone on the counter, playing an ASMR video of chopping green onions. The small noises filled the store, making it a little better.
A while later, Eui-jae took off his wet rubber gloves and hung them on a clothespin, glancing at the door. Several days had passed since Min-gi Seo had stopped by, but there was still no news from the people who had entered the Invasion Dungeon together.
It was understandable that Jung-bin wouldn’t know his identity, and it was more welcome that Hong Ye-seong was busy and didn’t come looking for him… but he couldn’t let it go. He had something to receive from that bastard. Eui-jae glared at the ceiling.
‘He said it would take a week to make, but that was a lie…’
“It doesn’t take that long to make. It’ll be done in a week. I’ll have Cluck deliver it when it’s done.”
That’s right, the mask.
What was the point of announcing J’s return in style? The Awakened Management Bureau had no intention of announcing his return, and even if he wanted to start activities on his own, he was stuck because he didn’t have a mask. Eui-jae shook his apron and gritted his teeth.
‘And why hasn’t that Lee Sa-young contacted me?’
Whether the Awakened Management Bureau was holding him or something else had happened. Eui-jae sighed as he untied the tightly tied apron strings.
He was also curious about the contents of the Fragment piece that Ga-eul had picked up, but she hadn’t come to visit either. He knew which school she attended, but it was a girls’ high school, so it was difficult to visit.
It was then.
Eui-jae raised his head abruptly. He felt a familiar energy at the door. Without even thinking, Eui-jae ran from the kitchen, past the hall, to the door, and pushed the door open without hesitation.
“Hey, you…!”
However, the alley was still empty. Eui-jae looked around and suddenly lowered his gaze. He remembered that Cluck had been in a BakXus box last time.
And there was a large, black lump next to the door, so much so that he wondered why he hadn’t seen it.
It was Lee Sa-young.
Lee Sa-young, wearing a Gas mask and a black coat, was crouching down by the door. He looked uncharacteristically miserable. Eui-jae lost his words and just opened and closed his mouth, looking at the sky, then back at Lee Sa-young. Lee Sa-young was still huddled quietly.
He carefully took a step out of the store. The particularly chilly night air brushed against his cheeks and hair. Eui-jae stared silently at Sa-young’s curly hair and the crown of his head, then squatted down next to him.
“……”
“……”
Chirr, chirr, a cricket chirped somewhere. It was still chilly, but there were already crickets. Eui-jae rolled his eyes and glanced sideways at Lee Sa-young. Sa-young was still silent. Instead of the moon and stars, a Black Hole was swirling in the night sky, and plump ants were crawling between the paving stones where grass was pushing through.
The part-time job Awakening congratulatory banner, a little worn by the wind and rain, fluttered slightly, as if wondering when it would be taken down. Eui-jae, who was looking at the familiar and ordinary street without anything new, muttered.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Just.”
The answer came back quite quickly, as if the previous silence was meaningless. Just my ass. Eui-jae groaned and stood up from his seat. Then, he stood in front of Sa-young and tapped the toe of his black Walker with the toe of his sneakers. Sa-young slowly raised his head.
Eui-jae put one hand in his apron pocket and held out the other.
“Get up. You’ll ruin your knee joints.”
“……”
The Gas mask lens stared blankly at his hand. Golden chains rippled over the thin scars left on his solid palm. Eui-jae shook his hand once.
“Hurry up and grab it. I have to close the store.”
Even at those words, Sa-young didn’t get up, but instead sat down on the floor. Was he saying he wouldn’t get up? Just as Eui-jae was about to withdraw his hand, a cold leather glove grabbed his hand. And before Eui-jae could put strength into his arm and hold on, the black hand pulled his hand sharply.
Eui-jae momentarily lost his balance and widened his eyes as he collapsed forward. The iron door was rapidly approaching.
‘Is this bastard repaying kindness with evil?’
Before the resentment could reach his head, and before Eui-jae could support himself on the door with the hand he had put in his pocket, something wrapped tightly around Eui-jae’s waist and pulled him back.
In the next moment,
“……”
Eui-jae was tightly embraced in a familiar, firm embrace.