By Zephyria “Why has the Rift Management Agency come to my house? There are no Corrupted here.”
Yang Yosep, who had nothing to fear after being cleanly purified by Yohan yesterday, spoke with confidence. The Special Unit operative, who had maintained an overbearing attitude, seemed flustered and hesitated.
It was understandable, as they had barged in after securing not only Park Seung-min’s report of a Corrupted but also witnesses. Above all, they had information that Yang Yohan was on friendly terms with Lee Hyun-muk, so they had considered this matter important. If things went well, it was a good opportunity to gain leverage against the Sun Guild, but the situation was unfolding unexpectedly.
“Awakened Yang Yosep, there was a witness report stating you were Severely Corrupted or worse from a Rift.”
“Me? Whoever it was, they must be mistaken.”
Yang Yosep spread his arms wide as if to show them, slowly turning in a circle. The Special Unit operative watching him grunted. The opponent was too healthy to find fault with. They had rushed over as quickly as possible immediately after receiving the report, fearing he might have been treated through Yang Yohan’s connections, but it seemed he had already been treated with an Eternal Stone in the meantime.
“If you want, I’ll even take off my underwear!”
Yang Yosep was so brazen that the Special Unit operatives could only exchange glances. Yohan thought they would leave at this point, but surprisingly, they didn’t. A Severely Corrupted individual would invariably show physical symptoms. Therefore, even though Yang Yosep was clearly normal, they insisted.
“Procedure is procedure. You’ll have to come with us for an examination.”
“Just a moment, does there seem to be a need for an examination when it’s obvious I’m not Severely Corrupted?”
Yohan, unable to stand it any longer, stepped forward to argue. Although inwardly frustrated by the just claim, the Special Unit operative forcefully blustered. He intended to intimidate the younger opponent first.
“Awakened Yang Yohan. Are you refusing to cooperate?”
“What will you do if I refuse?”
Yang Yohan retorted as if he would charge at them if he had horns, leaving the Special Unit operative speechless for a moment. Yohan then quickly pulled out his phone and made a call. The Special Unit operative, who had intended to drag Yohan along if necessary, asked in great confusion.
“Who… are you calling?”
Without reacting to the operative, Yohan spoke loudly into his phone, which hadn’t even finished dialing, as if to be heard.
“Hyung! Please come here quickly. The Special Unit suddenly broke in and said they’re arresting me and taking me away!”
“What? When did I ever say…!”
It was then, as the Special Unit operative, who hadn’t expected such blatant tattling and was being falsely accused, sputtered in disbelief, that a voice tinged with laughter was heard from behind.
“The Special Unit arresting an innocent citizen without just cause? What a regrettable incident.”
The Special Unit operatives, startled, spun around. They hadn’t sensed any presence, yet Lee Hyun-muk stood behind them as if he had emerged from the shadows. Cold sweat broke out involuntarily.
Yohan was just as surprised. It hadn’t even rung, and he hadn’t actually intended to call anyone, just to bluff, but he never expected Lee Hyun-muk to actually show up. Yang Yosep’s jaw dropped, and he slowly lowered the towel draped over his shoulder to cover himself.
“What business do the Special Suppression Unit operatives have at my guild member’s house?”
Lee Hyun-muk asked in a polite tone, but his eyes were anything but polite. The operatives, who had worked countless times with High-level Awakened like Jeong Si-young, became extremely tense.
They knew better than anyone that there was an insurmountable gap between a High-level Awakened and an intermediate awakened. Even they, who prided themselves on being accustomed to High-level Awakeners, broke out in a cold sweat when faced with Lee Hyun-muk.
This person. Who is this person… He was clearly human, yet looking into his lightless eyes felt like facing a terrifying monster, leaving them breathless and their legs weak. Gritting his teeth, suppressing the urge to retreat and flee, a team member barely managed to reply.
“…We received a report of a Corrupted.”
“I see. If you received a report of a Corrupted, it is only right to safely isolate everyone.”
Lee Hyun-muk, having replied thus, stepped forward, and the operatives hesitantly backed away. Lee Hyun-muk, passing through them as if it were nothing, slowly surveyed the house. He gave a gentle smile to Yohan’s family as if to reassure them, then turned back to the operatives and asked.
“Now, do you see a Corrupted here?”
A heavy silence fell. While those behind Lee Hyun-muk seemed unaware, the Special Suppression Unit operatives were under immense pressure. At that moment, only one thought occupied the operative’s mind.
‘Don’t incur his displeasure.’
He was extremely displeased. He was suppressing it, though it grated on him. But it was like a detonator about to explode. No, it was something more ominous, chilling, and terrifying right before their eyes. Like something about to exceed its limit, filled with pressure, if just a drop of water fell or it was pressed slightly…
Avoiding Lee Hyun-muk’s gaze, an operative looked away from his goggles and replied.
“…No. It appears to have been a false report.”
One intermediate awakened, one low-rank awakened, and two civilians. They could have easily subdued this group, but with Lee Hyun-muk present, it was impossible. Even if Lee Hyun-muk wouldn’t kill them… if a conflict occurred, things would become troublesome. They would be severely reprimanded by the Director, but there was no other choice.
However, they hadn’t gained nothing. They had learned that Lee Hyun-muk cared about that low-rank awakened far more than he had anticipated… With that deeply etched in his mind, he gestured, and the operatives turned and left. Lee Hyun-muk called out to their backs.
“Thank you for your hard work, as always.”
Then, he closed the door and turned back with a smiling face. Yang Hwa-pyeong and Kim Ye-ju, shocked by Lee Hyun-muk’s sudden appearance, didn’t seem to notice, but only Yohan realized it immediately.
‘No… his clothes are the same as that night of the company dinner!’
Come to think of it, his clothes looked strangely grubby. Had he been sleeping rough around here since that night…! Yohan quickly pretended to purify the shoe prints on the floor and cleaned Lee Hyun-muk’s clothes. Lee Hyun-muk smiled, feeling the purifying energy seep into his body.
Seeing Yang Yosep blushing as if naked in front of the Special Unit operatives, and his parents stammering in confusion, Yohan quickly spoke.
“Hyung! Welcome! I’ll get you something to drink!”
He then quickly pulled Lee Hyun-muk towards the kitchen. Yang Yosep’s footsteps could be heard as he dashed into his room. Turning on the water dispenser to a trickle, Yohan asked softly.
“You didn’t go home?!”
“If you’re here, Yohan, how could I go home?”
“You explicitly said you’d see me in a week!”
Yohan jumped. He had thought Lee Hyun-muk meant he would return to his own residence after seeing him home, not that he would wait around outside near his house for a week. As Yohan argued, the ends of Lee Hyun-muk’s eyebrows drooped.
“I’m sorry. It was a rather creepy thing to do.”
“It’s not creepy, it’s because I was worried! Don’t do this again. Why sleep rough outside when you have a nice home?”
Yohan said, habitually purifying the water he poured from the dispenser even further before handing it to Lee Hyun-muk. However, Lee Hyun-muk only smiled awkwardly and didn’t agree. Drinking the water Yohan offered as if it were a sweet beverage, he replied.
“Just in case something dangerous happens. And I wasn’t sleeping rough. I have my car.”
Whether sleeping rough or staying in his car, it made Yohan upset. To stall for more time, Yohan took out fruit from the refrigerator this time, carefully arranging it in a bowl, and whispered.
“What could be so dangerous? This isn’t the Abyss anymore, and I’ve become a High-level Awakened.”
“Yohan, just because you’re a High-level Awakened doesn’t mean you can’t die.”
Yohan froze at Lee Hyun-muk’s words. There had indeed been cases of High-level Awakeners dying after the Rift incident. One such Awakened, a fire-element Dealer, had fought a danger level 10 monster alone to allow people to evacuate a high-rise building, sustaining fatal injuries and dying.
Just like when Lee Hyun-muk disappeared into the Abyss, no new fire-element Awakened appeared for several years until a new High-level fire-element Awakened emerged.
“What if the Rift Management Agency sends the Special Unit to drag us away like today? What if Jeong Si-young or several intermediate Awakeners try to harm us? Or what if a Rift suddenly opens nearby and a monster equivalent to level 10 appears?”
“That’s… but still.”
Yohan had no choice but to concede. No matter how much of a High-level Awakened Yohan was, he only possessed the equivalent physical strength of an intermediate awakened; his offensive capabilities were nonexistent. Monsters could be purified, but against humans, his powers were useless. He couldn’t inflict any harm on people. In fact, he couldn’t even use his abilities now, as he was hiding his identity as a Purifier.
“Then why don’t you just live with us at my house?”
“You need to spend time with your family too, Yohan. I can’t interfere with that.”
Saying this, Lee Hyun-muk naturally took the knife from Yohan and began peeling the fruit. As they bickered over who should peel fruit for a guest, a clearing of the throat was heard. Only then did Yohan turn around and see his family peeking into the kitchen with curious eyes, smiling sheepishly.