By Zephyria A Good Day
“This Rift is in Namyangju. It’s not particularly large in scale, but its rank is high, so the number of Hunters who can be deployed is very limited. That’s why we’re requesting J-nim’s assistance…”
The words that followed were the same repertoire he always heard. The rescue team was on standby, so once J arrived, rescue operations and Rift resolution could begin immediately. He was to deal with the Monsters while waiting for the rescue team to finish their work, and when the signal was given, kill the Master of the Rift.
J nodded mechanically. Song Jo-heon smiled with satisfaction and patted J on the shoulder.
“I always trust you, J-nim. I’m counting on you this time as well.”
Well, whether he truly trusted him or not was another matter. J knew it too. That most tasks were being funneled to him. He couldn’t not know. But he simply endured it. Because that was the way to save more people.
“J!”
As J exited the conference room and crossed the corridor, he jerked his head up at the familiar voice. A middle-aged woman with a kindly appearance was standing at the end of the hallway, arms spread wide with a beaming smile.
After scanning his surroundings and confirming no one was there, J’s steps quickened slightly. His voice held a hint of laughter.
“Auntie.”
The civil servant ID hanging from the woman’s neck swayed. Park Hye-kyung. As J approached her, he momentarily stiffened, then took a step back. The frowning expression of the rookie Hunter from earlier came to mind.
‘If I smell like blood…’
But Hye-kyung stepped forward without hesitation and pulled J into a tight hug. She showed no sign of distaste. A warm hand patted his back lightly. Only then did J relax his tense body.
“Oh my, I called out because I knew there was no one around. All you do is worry me.”
“Yes.”
“My, you’ve grown so much. Have you gotten taller again since I last saw you?”
“Yes, a bit.”
“Seeing you after so long, you seem to grow every day. Aren’t you too busy? Huh?”
“I guess so. I’ve hardly seen you since you went to the Incheon branch, Auntie.”
A warm conversation, the kind you’d expect between relatives meeting after a long time, continued. However, they only used the terms ‘auntie’ and ‘nephew’; they weren’t real relatives.
Apart from being the only two survivors who had lost their families in the same Rift, they had no other connection. But the bond between survivors was thicker than anything else.
J studied Hye-kyung’s face. Her complexion was much better than when she was at headquarters. A branch where you only had to manage a fixed region would naturally be more comfortable than the headquarters, which required traveling all over the country. It was a relief. J smiled.
“What brings you to headquarters?”
“Seokjung called, so I came for a bit. He said he wanted to talk.”
The brief hug ended. Worried hazel eyes scanned J’s entire body.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? Are you sleeping well? Eating well? I saw the news; it seems like you’re traveling all over the country these days.”
“I’m fine.”
“Honestly, they should use you in moderation… A kid who just turned twenty.”
Hye-kyung clicked her tongue and let out a deep sigh.
“I’m thinking of talking to Seokjung and coming back to headquarters. I can’t stand leaving you alone; it worries me too much.”
“Ah, why would you come back to headquarters? Incheon must be much more comfortable. I’m fine.”
“……”
Despite his sincere words, the worry didn’t fade from Hye-kyung’s face. Just then, the watch on J’s wrist rang loudly. Probably a prompt from the helicopter team. They were likely asking why he wasn’t coming quickly. J pressed his in-ear device and bowed his head slightly.
“I’m sorry, I’d like to talk more, but I have to go.”
“…Where are you going this time?”
“Namyangju. It’s close, at least.”
Hye-kyung moved her lips as if she wanted to say something. But J was faster. He grabbed her hand and said emphatically.
“I’m fine.”
Even as he spoke those words, the vibration from his watch didn’t stop.
I’m fine.
“Kreeeeek!”
‘I am fine.’
The giant avian creature flapped its wings and slumped down. J skillfully retrieved his massive spear. The bird, with a large hole pierced through its heart, thudded to the ground.
He was standing before the tightly sealed door of a massive ruin. The surroundings were already piled mountain-high with Monster corpses. Blood flowing from the bodies had formed small puddles that were gradually widening. J stepped back, avoiding the rippling blood, and stared beyond the forest.
Cries, moans, and screams were faintly audible. An impulse to cover his ears arose.
‘…I have to be fine.’
J placed a fist near his heart and took a ragged breath.
That’s when it happened.
Boom! With a sound of something exploding, a red flare burst beyond the forest. A signal flare. It was the signal that the rescue team had finished their life-saving operations.
This was primarily the role assigned to J in missions. A member of the disposal team: kill Monsters while waiting for the rescue team to finish saving lives, and when the rescue was over, deal with the Master of the Rift.
J lightly leaped over the mountain of corpses and stood before the closed door. Then, putting force into his leg, he kicked the door. Crash! With a tremendous roar, the stone door shattered into pieces.
Groooowl….
The Master of the Rift, crouching in the dim temple, roared. Crimson eyes glowed brightly from within the darkness. Not only the temple, but the ground itself shook.
A shiver ran through his entire body, but J didn’t retreat. He merely adjusted his grip on the massive spear and charged. He could feel blood coursing through his entire body. J bared his teeth and laughed.
“……”
…After that, his memory grew hazy.
A short while later, J slowly blinked. The dark temple was gone, and only the collapsed streets entered his view. Hunters with white armbands were bustling about. He could see corpses covered with white sheets and people clutching them, crying.
“……”
J grabbed his head. His temples throbbed. Lately, the instances of his memory cutting out had increased. Whether it was due to adrenaline, excitement, or if he was entering a state of selflessness like in martial arts novels.
More than once or twice, by the time he came to his senses, he was already outside the Rift, sitting blankly near the Rift entrance, covered in blood.
‘This time too…’
He slowly clenched and unclenched his hand. It was soaked in blood, but it was fine. His massive spear was lying beside him. His limbs moved fine, and there were no major injuries.
‘…Well, that’s that, then.’
Even thinking deeply was a drain on his mental energy. He wanted to leave this noisy place and just be alone somewhere quiet. Just as J closed his eyes again, someone was approaching his vicinity.
“G-good work, J! You were amazing again today!”
It was the rookie Hunter he had seen on the stairs some time ago. He looked a mess, as if he’d been rolling around in a dirt pit. J didn’t bother to respond. The rookie cautiously edged closer.
“Are you hurt anywhere, by any chance? Should I give you an Elixir? It’s, well, from supplies, so there isn’t much…”
It seemed like he would keep hovering around if he didn’t get an answer. J slowly opened his mouth.
“…No, I’m fine.”
Just then, a mechanical voice flowed from the in-ear device he was wearing.
―Dungeon occurrence in Chungju, support needed. A helicopter has been prepared for you at headquarters, J.
It was time to go save people again. Part of him wanted to just lie down like this and not move. But his body was already moving mechanically. As he heaved his heavy body upright and stood, the rookie Hunter spoke worriedly.
“But J, the blood…”
“It’s not my blood.”
J replied curtly, then staggered forward, pressing his in-ear device firmly.
“I will return immediately.”
The massive spear bumped against the ground with a thud, thud. Drops of blood collected on the spear tip dripped down, one by one.
J, who had hastily splashed water on himself in the shower room, headed straight for the outdoor staircase. It was the place he had chosen because he needed time alone, even if only for a moment.
But it seemed there was already a guest on the stairs. Peeking cautiously, he indeed saw someone’s silhouette. The back of a man in a black suit looked familiar.
His ash-gray hair fluttered in the casually blowing wind. Sigh. A small sigh escaped from the man’s back. White smoke dispersed into the air. J, resting his chin on the outdoor staircase railing, opened his mouth.
“Jung-bin.”
“Yes?”
Jung-bin, whose name was called abruptly, straightened his posture sharply and turned his head. Having attended the police academy, his every movement was still sharp and precise. Recognizing who it was, Jung-bin relaxed his tension slightly. He pulled a portable ashtray from his pocket, extinguished his cigarette, and smiled awkwardly.
“It was J-nim. I didn’t notice because there was no presence. My apologies.”
“What are you doing? Here.”
“I had a bit of free time, so I was resting.”
“Rest in the break room.”
“Um…”
Jung-bin rolled his eyes slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
“That place is a bit… Yes. Other people need to rest there.”
He trailed off, but it was clear what he meant to say. J, who had also sought out sparsely populated places and ended up on the outdoor staircase for the same reason, spoke as usual.
“It’s uncomfortable, isn’t it?”
Jung-bin didn’t answer verbally, instead giving an ambiguous smile.
Three years had passed since the Day of the Rift. It was still a chaotic situation with Monsters appearing everywhere, but South Korea seemed to have regained stability on the surface. Thanks to the two S-rank Hunters who appeared like comets.
J and Jung-bin. They traveled across the country, responsible for Dungeons and Rifts, and Awakened crimes, respectively. However, while the exterior might seem fine, the interior was still a mess.
The Awakened Management Bureau had been established, but Awakened crimes were still frequent. Because Jung-bin was the only one who could restrain those criminals. Furthermore, since the number of Monsters, Dungeons, and Rifts far exceeded the number of active Hunters, a chronic manpower shortage persisted.
Most first-generation Awakened had lost their lives or become incapacitated fighting Monsters, and those who had recently Awakened lacked experience. Fighting Monsters was a war of attrition. With a numerical disadvantage, gaps were bound to appear somehow.
But it wasn’t a situation that could be left unattended. Someone had to work to fill those gaps.
‘That would be the two of us.’
J gazed intently at Jung-bin.