By Zephyria I could tell instinctively.
‘An Awakened.’
Moreover, the boy’s aura was unusual, unlike that of a common Awakened. Jung-bin sent a hand signal to the Hunters. The Hunters, who had been tightening the noose, retreated in an orderly fashion. Jung-bin took out his chain and wrapped it around his hand. The boy must have sensed the sound and presence, but he didn’t turn to look at them.
A chilling feeling ran down his spine. Bae Won-woo, who had received the night vision goggles back, examined the boy, alternating between the goggles and his bare eyes.
The boy still stood tall like a solitary island, without moving. The length of his pants was short, revealing his ankles, and even his two feet standing on the floor were bare. It was a stillness that didn’t fit in with the terrible space where everything had melted.
“…He looks a bit dangerous, Chief.”
Even Bae Won-woo, who would have rushed out to save the boy in normal times, felt something was wrong, the space was so bizarre. Even the air was heavy, as if submerged in black liquid. Jung-bin didn’t answer with words, but just nodded. Bae Won-woo scratched his short hair roughly.
“No matter how I look at it, it seems like he’s the one who made this place like this.”
“……”
“Approaching him seems like it’ll be a disaster… Aish, is this okay? Should we approach him for now?”
“No, wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“We need to check for safety first.”
The research facility, where people were kidnapped and experimented on, was melted by something, and there was only one presence felt. The only survivor, wearing clothes like a patient’s gown, was strangely neat. Only ominous possibilities came to mind. Jung-bin took a moment to catch his breath, then picked up a stone rolling on the floor and threw it into the black liquid.
Tssss… The stone began to melt as soon as it touched the liquid. It soon sank into the swamp with black smoke. Bae Won-woo gaped. Jung-bin replied.
“It’s better not to approach recklessly. We’ll have to find a detour.”
“That, is it acid? Like hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid? Or is it Poison?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to investigate the ingredients to find out… But whatever it is, it’s still a dangerous substance.”
Bae Won-woo frowned and looked at the boy. He realized it a beat late and muttered.
“…He must be an Awakened.”
“Yes, seeing him unscathed among these things.”
“Could he have just Awakened?”
“I don’t know about that. We’ll have to check.”
Jung-bin stood up from his crouched position. Clang, the chain rattled. Bae Won-woo stood up awkwardly, but Jung-bin shook his head.
“Please step back with the others. I’ll try to make contact.”
“No, the surroundings are all Poison. Wouldn’t it be better for me, who’s sturdy, to go?”
“No matter how sturdy Hunter Bae Won-woo’s body is… I don’t think you can withstand these things.”
Jung-bin pointed to the black liquid with his chin. Bae Won-woo, who had been dawdling for a while, waddled backward.
An Awakened who has just Awakened is clumsy at controlling their ability. Moreover, they are extremely sensitive due to their suddenly developed senses. Getting too close is like provoking them. Jung-bin looked around and then climbed onto a rock that was not covered in black liquid.
“Can you hear me?”
The boy slowly raised both hands. Could he be trying to attack? Jung-bin gripped the chain with a tense expression.
However, the boy was just fidgeting with his fingers. As if observing the movement of his own hands, his purple eyes followed the movement of his fingers. Next were his feet. The boy rubbed the white floor with the soles of his feet, then soon took a step. Then he stretched his legs out on the floor and sat down.
Each movement was cautious and doubtful. As if….
‘Like someone who is moving after a very long time….’
Jung-bin suddenly came to his senses. Hair that was shaggy and disheveled as if it hadn’t been cut for a long time, clothes that were too thin to go outside and too short for his body. A laboratory where people are kidnapped and experimented on….
‘He must be a kidnapped victim.’
He had to rescue the boy to find out what had happened. Jung-bin took a deep breath and shouted.
“I am Jung-bin from the Awakened Management Bureau. I’m here to rescue you.”
The boy, who had not paid him any attention, suddenly turned his head and stared at Jung-bin. There was no expression on his pale white face. Jung-bin was about to say something when.
The boy raised both hands and wrapped them around his neck. It was a gesture as if he was strangling himself. Jung-bin was surprised and widened his eyes, reaching out his hand.
“Wait…!”
Fortunately, the boy seemed to be checking something while holding his neck. The hand that had been holding his neck gradually moved upward. The boy, who had been touching his neck, chin, and cheeks, slowly blinked his eyes. His purple eyes did not contain Jung-bin. The boy opened his mouth. A black tongue was revealed.
“…Ah.”
“……”
“Eum, eh.”
It was an awkward way of speaking. Like a child learning to speak for the first time, he mumbled syllables that could not be turned into words for a long time. And, finally, the first word he uttered was.
“J…”
It was an unforgettable, familiar name.
Jung-bin opened his mouth. The boy continued to speak with difficulty.
“How… long.”
But that was only for a moment, as the boy began to cough violently. Jung-bin jumped off the rock without realizing it and ran to him.
Swish… Water pours from the red rubber hose. Ugh, Jung-bin spat out what had come up onto the floor. Dark red blood mixed with clear water and flowed down.
To be in this state even after taking the Antidote. No, should I be thankful that I took the Antidote? Jung-bin self-deprecated as he rinsed his mouth with water. He raised his head. His face was pale blue.
‘It’s a relief that the others didn’t approach.’
Jung-bin wiped the wet corners of his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up.
What covered the research center was Poison, as expected. What he didn’t expect was that the Poison was more powerful than he thought. Enough to affect even the body of an S-class, which is unshakable in the face of most abnormal conditions. Since it was covered in such a potent Poison, there would be no information to be found.
Jung-bin swallowed the rising bitter blood and thought.
‘It’s too dangerous to take him to the Awakened Management Bureau right away….’
The alternative he chose was to stay for a while in an abandoned house at the foot of the mountain, where there were no people. On the Day of the Rift, a Rift opened in a valley near the mountain, and the civilians living nearby hurriedly packed their bags and moved to a safe place. Thanks to this, it was easy to find an abandoned house with running water.
Heavy footsteps approached from behind. Jung-bin turned around. Bae Won-woo, who had rolled up his black short sleeves to his shoulders despite the chilly weather, scratched his head.
“Are you okay, Chief? The Antidote I gave you earlier is all I have…”
“I’m fine. What about the target?”
“I told him to go in after cleaning one of the rooms, and he went in on his own. He’s more docile than I thought. I’m going to chop some firewood and start a fire now.”
After J entered the West Sea Rift and went missing, the Awakened Management Bureau was greatly shaken. J’s absence was too great. So much so that no one could dare to replace him. J alone handled several times more Dungeons and Rifts than other Hunters, so it was understandable.
The Management Bureau massively recruited Awakened to fill the void in any way possible. Bae Won-woo was also a Hunter who was hastily brought in as a special recruit. Jung-bin asked.
“Hunter Bae Won-woo, are you sure you don’t have to go back to headquarters? I’m capable enough on my own.”
“Ah, I’m fine, this much is nothing.”
All the other Hunters had returned to headquarters. The boy’s ability was dangerous, and with the Management Bureau’s severe manpower shortage, they couldn’t afford to have too many people away from their posts. However, Bae Won-woo volunteered to stay here. Bae Won-woo cheerfully joked.
“There’s one room left, so I think the Chief and I can use it. Or I can pitch a tent in the yard and sleep there.”
“Let’s use it together. Have you talked to the target?”
“Yes, I just asked him if he was okay? If he had any pain? And he answered well, saying yes or no. But strangely, his speech is a bit awkward.”
Bae Won-woo crossed his arms and frowned.
“He looks neat, and he’s taller than I thought. But his speech is awkward. It’s like he had a gag in his mouth or something…”
“……”
“Well, it’s useless for us to speculate like this. How long will we stay here?”
Jung-bin, who had been squatting, stood up and turned off the faucet. The stream of water that had been trickling out subsided.
“Until the target regains stability and can reliably control his ability.”
“…Pardon?”
“We’ll stay here until then. Taking a target who can’t properly control Poison to headquarters is too risky. Not only the headquarters but also civilians could be harmed.”
“This is completely…”
“You can go back first.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Jung-bin stared at the tightly closed door. The boy was sitting still inside, so there wasn’t much of a presence. A kidnapped victim, the only survivor, the one who destroyed the research center…. The first words the boy with awkward speech uttered.
‘J…’
J.
Why did the name of the hero trapped in the West Sea Rift come out of that boy’s mouth? Was there any relationship between the two?
Jung-bin quickly moved and stood in front of the tightly closed door. He cleared his throat lightly in front of the door, and the boy stirred rustlingly. Jung-bin carefully opened the door. The boy, who had been sitting in the corner of the room, raised his head. Jung-bin asked politely.
“How are you feeling?”
“Never mind that.”
Jung-bin’s eyes widened at the cold voice. The boy’s purple eyes were fierce.
“How… long has it been.”
“What….”
“Rift.”
The boy asked as if spitting it out.
“How long has it been.”