People were growing tired of the endless cracks. They survived today. But what about tomorrow? The day after that? How long will this tedious battle go on?
None of us have the answers. We could only swallow our despair and continue to fight the day.
Naturally, Cafe Rieul was closed for business.
I had been in contact with Ki Yoohyun a few tis by phone. He asked to never leave the store. I had never heard him speak so sternly before.
Afterward, I couldnt even get through to him on the phone. Instead, I saw him on the television news every day. The calm and refined way he spoke, the confident expression on his face, the overwhelming strength and achievents that showed his status..
He was everything the world imagined and hoped for in an idealized No. 1 Ranker. Gone was the awkward smiling man over coffee in our cafe. It was as if he had foreseen this situation and revealed his identity.
As I gazed at the sight, I rembered Ki Yoohyuns blackened arms and raging fever. I rembered his weak laugh, the way he was embarrassed to be found out by , more than his own pain.
Was he still enduring the pain alone?
Waeooong (What are you thinking about)!
Uh, its nothing.
The news moved on to the next topic. A group of madn claiming to be the true heirs of the Church of Starry Wisdow had appeared. There was also news of scamrs who were scamming people out of money by promising to take them abroad.
.Haaa.
The news brought down the moral spirit of humanity. I turned off the TV and pushed myself up. For one last ti, I checked the cafes walk-through counter. It was stocked with thermoses and disposable cups, filled with all kinds of coffee. This should be enough for a decent number of people to drink in my absence.
It was rather unsettling to be stuck doing nothing in such a chaotic ti. The system didnt give any quests, and there wasnt much information on the Ether-Wiki. So I offered coffee to the hunters coming in through ConnectAnywhereMysteriousDoor. I hoped it would give them a little extra strength.
But that ended today. When it looked like the situation was going to be prolonged, the Dungeon Managent Office advised to move to an evacuation center. I hesitated for a while, but decided to follow their advice and head for the shelter.
Although it is currently only emitting a red glow, there was a chance that the collapsed dungeon, Abyss, could cause an upheaval. This is an unprecedented situation. Just because it was okay today doesnt an it will be okay tomorrow.
Ive made plenty of coffee, packed my bags, and all I need to do now is head to a shelter in the city. However, I was faced with one obstacle.
Are you sure you guys arent coming with ?
Kkyuuu!
ow, dont worry.
Thats because our house flora and fauna, Li and Mieum, refused to move to the shelter.
How can I not be worried? Didnt you hear the monsters are coming?
Kkyuuu..
Dont just kyuuu! No matter how much a hobody you are, now is not the ti.
Im still not going, waeoong!
..Hash!
I gave up trying to convince them and just threw myself at them, but Mieum and Li quickly dodged my touch.
.Waeoolg! The cat is very sneaky, spinning in circles and dodging my hand.
Ash, catch Li!
I got it!
Kkyuuuu!
Li bounced and ran away.
Hah, huhh, huh huhh.
We chased each other for a while, but I eventually failed to catch up to Mieum and Li. After running for a while, I was out of breath halfway. I sat down on the ground, took a deep breath, and asked, Lets say Li is not going because of Corong. What is your reason, Mieum?!
Waeoong this is our house. Shouldnt soone stay to protect our house?
Mieum.
Wow, I was almost touched. But the most important thing is safety first, second, and third. I couldnt leave them behind, not knowing when a monster would appear. The shelter is barricaded and safe from the rift. Besides, the red gate that appeared after the collapse of the Great Dungeon Abyss was ominous. Its quiet now, but I wouldnt be surprised if sothing happened at any ti.
Im also bothered by what Li said before.
The words Heir of the rightful power, it is ti to move on to the .
I grabbed Li and shook her, asking her what she ant, but to no avail. She had returned to her science sli mode and and recited the ratio of pi.
Please, when you say sothing, give the full information. I dont want you to speak in cryptic and ambiguous ways like the Saintess. This Eonni didnt raise you that way.
Back to the topic I tried to convince these stubborn animals again.
What if monsters show up?
Dont worry. We will be in the space.
Kyuuu!
Surely, the space will be a safe place I reluctantly dropped my shoulders and asked, Really? You promise that you will only stay inside the space?
Go, return safely, waeooong!
It was impossible to break the stubbornness of Mieumm and Li. Eventually, I decided to go to the shelter with Ash. I locked the door and took one last look back at the store. This place had beco very dear to . I felt very lonely, even though I was only going to be gone for a few days.
In a few days Ill be able to co back, right?
.What are you doing, not going?
Uh, Im coming!
I pushed my anxiety aside and walked after Ash.
***
The streets were deserted. The aftermath of the rift was evident, with broken buildings scattered all around. Uncollected monster corpses, the groans of the wounded, and Hunters heading sowhere, swallowing their sighs. .
It was a scene that you wouldnt expect to see in the downtown Seoul area in the middle of the day. Still, so people were trying to go about their daily lives. A shopkeeper opened his shop as usual and handed a cold bottle of water to a tired-looking Hunter.
Ash, its this way. If we go straight this way, well be there.
There were several shelters in the city. I was assigned to the shelter at the nearest one, in the City Hall Station.
It was then when Ash and I were walking toward the shelter.
Weeee woo, weee wooo
A siren was heard from sowhere. The distance is close. As we ran toward the shelter to avoid the danger, I gasped.
Krrrr! A giant monster erged from a gap in the building. It was quite a distance away from . Enough to avoid it if I run. But.
Aaaaah!
I heard a loud scream. There was a child in the monsters path. The child limped and rolled on the ground as if her leg was injured. A person who appears to be the parent stretched out a hand but couldnt reach her. Excited, the monster opened its big mouth.
No!
Hiss!
I didnt have ti to think long. I stopped in my tracks and used Cthughas Ring on the monster.
Krrrr..! Red flas engulfed the monsters body. The monster scread and twisted its body, a pungent odor emanated from it.
Done!
No, Noona, be careful!
As I was hurriedly trying to approach the fallen child, Ash caught . The monster didnt go down imdiately, even though it was on fire. Instead, it writhed more violently, still burning. The monster attempted to bite , and I panicked.
Poof! A sharp sword flew out of nowhere and pierced the back of the monsters neck. The monsters massive body fell to the side with a thud.
Who-whoaa haahh, tha-thank you . huh?
I tilted my head toward the direction the sword had co from and gasped. It was a familiar face.
Yichan-ah.
Im glad youre safe, Rieul. Cheekly, Choi Yichan smiled.
The parents of the child who had collapsed earlier thanked us repeatedly. After they left, I looked back at Choi Yichan. Choi wasnt alone; he was joined by soone in a distinctive yellow padded suit. I couldnt see their face because of the hood and mask, and I couldnt tell if his companion was a man or a woman.
Its rude to think like this at first sight, but sohow..
I feel uncomfortable.
An indescribable feeling of discomfort washed over , making my skin crawl and my hair stood on end. Just looking at it made feel bad. Ash must have felt sothing similar to , because he grimaced.
Yichan, that person who is that?
Eh? Ah! Dont mind him. Hes leaving now. Choi Yichan waved his hand roughly, as if to shoo away a salesman.
He didnt say hes leaving..
Now, go, its ti to go.
Tsk. The man in yellow clicked his tongue at Choi Yichans urging, then he walked away.
Is everything okay with Choi Yichan? Hmm, its a bit weird to find a stranger unpleasant for no reason. Lets not be nervous. I glanced in the direction the yellow-robed man had left and returned my gaze.
Youre heading to the shelter, right? Ill take you there.
Im fine.
There might be monsters again.
Despite my response, Choi Yichan offered to accompany and Ash to the shelter. I was glad to see him, so I walked with him for a while. The distance was short, so we quickly arrived in front of the shelter. However, instead of turning around, Choi Yichan pursed his lips at the entrance for a mont.
.Yichan-ah?
Rieul, I I have sothing to tell you.
Huh? Uh, go ahead.
Thats.
However, he didnt say anything at all and just kept his lips quiet for a long ti.
Weeeee. Choi Yichans cell phone vibrated. When he checked the ssage, he realized it was about a rift, and his eyebrows drooped.
Next ti. Next ti I see you, Ill tell you.
What? Yichan, Choi Yichan!
Wooosh! Without waiting for to answer, Choi Yichan ran across the street.
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