“Everyone, don’t be late, huh, Chief Song!”
I froze mid-step at the hotel entrance. What in the hell happened to Chief Song? His entire body was drenched in blood, his face drained and exhausted. Noah, by contrast, looked perfectly fine—just soaked through. His expression was actually bright, almost cheerful.
“Mister! I found everyone!”
“Boss Kim Seobaaaang! I was so scaaared!”
Yerim announced proudly while Yun Yun attached herself to with a deeply sullen expression. Was it because of Chief Song’s condition? Still, she’d managed to endure whatever happened and bring him back safely.
“Good job, both of you.”
“That guy was convenient.”
Young Chaos remarked. When had the Old Man arrived?
“Mr. Yujin, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“You too, Mr. Noah. But did sothing good happen to you?”
Noah’s cheek twitched at my question. A smile tugged at his lips. Sothing had definitely happened.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Noah’s smile brightened. More pressing was Chief Song’s state.
“We’re going to need a change of clothes. For the others too.”
If it were just water damage, clothes could dry, but Chief Song’s were beyond salvaging. They were torn in multiple places, soaked through with blood.
“! I’ll go get them right away!”
“ too, too! I love treasure hunting!”
Despite everything they’d been through, Yerim and Yun Yun shot their hands up eagerly, volunteering to venture out again. We still had ti before nightfall, so it should be safe enough.
“Finding clothes in Chief Song’s size might be challenging, though.”
Both Yuhyun and Seong Hyunjae struggled with ready-made clothing, but Chief Song’s situation seed more severe. Regular stores wouldn’t carry anything suitable.
“There should be clothes at my house.”
Song Taewon’s voice was weary.
“Right, of course. Yerim, Yun Yun, please fetch so clothes. You’ll need underwear too, won’t you?”
“Y-yes.”
“Don’t worry! I’ve seen Mister’s underwear before!”
“Yerim! I do the laundry separately!”
I’d deliberately set up three washing machines—one for Yuhyun and , one for Yerim, and one for the monsters. I even dried everything separately. When had she seen anything?
“Is there anything else you need?”
“My clothes would be nice too. Do you want to change, Mr. Noah?”
“I’m fine. Just wet.”
“Let’s go together, angel!”
Yun Yun tugged on Noah’s arm. Angel? Noah did have an angelic quality about him. Since he could fly, it made sense for him to accompany them. Better than sending the children alone, and while Noah looked young, he was still an adult.
After getting Song Taewon’s address, Yerim, Yun Yun, and Noah left the hotel with promises to return soon. At least everyone was safe—that was what mattered.
“Now then, let’s head upstairs.”
I approached Chief Song and grabbed his arm, pulling gently. Naturally, he didn’t budge, and those heavy eyes looked down at .
“Your leg—wasn’t it treated?”
“This? It’s not an ordinary injury.”
Did he think it was sothing from before entering the dungeon?
“More importantly, let’s go. You need to clean up.”
“Washing up would be wise, as Han Yujin suggested.”
Seong Hyunjae erged into the lobby, supporting my suggestion. I had no idea what had happened to Chief Song, but I could guess. The monster in this dungeon that had covered him in blood would have worn a human face.
“Where’s the Secondborn?”
Young Chaos glanced toward the restaurant.
“Preparing dinner.”
“Ah, right.”
Chaos nodded and headed toward the restaurant. He seed to know about the other .
“Mr. Seong Hyunjae, could you hold the elevator?”
“Should we use the suite?”
“Those are all too high up. Let’s find sowhere closer. They all have bathtubs, right?”
Hot water would do him good. Were there any bath bombs available?
“The bathtub sizes vary.”
“Really?”
Before the regression, I’d never stayed in fancy hotels, and after, I’d only used expensive rooms. Two extres.
“Will the regular rooms be too small?”
“It’s fine.”
“They’re probably small. You’ll have to bend your knees quite a bit.”
Considering the size of a typical ho bathtub... it would definitely be cramped.
“Then let’s find the room with the largest bathtub.”
“It’s fine.”
“How about using the sauna instead?”
“The water might not be filled. That would take too long.”
As we rode the elevator up, I explained the precautions to Chief Song. Don’t open the curtains, don’t answer the door for anyone, don’t go to the rooftop, and so on.
“The bathtub is spacious. I’ll run the water for you, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) so please undress. What temperature would you prefer?”
“He’s S-Rank, right? Make it hot. That way his body can actually relax.”
I turned the faucet all the way to hot. Water began filling the tub. Where had Chief Song gone? Had he encountered himself? And how much had he learned?
“I can undress myself.”
Song Taewon entered the bathroom with a quiet sigh. He’d only removed his shirt. Blood had seeped below his collar, staining his skin with faint traces. And really...
Wow. Really. Wooow... Dear god, waaaah.
“I’ll wash myself.”
“Right, yes. I’ll leave your clothes outside the bathroom when they arrive.”
“Thank you.”
I stepped out and closed the door behind . Only then did it hit —I’d been planning to tell Chief Song about the regression.
“You’re being rather obvious about liking what you see.”
“What? I’m not doing anything.”
Seong Hyunjae regarded quietly. Why that look?
“I’m just... envious. And it’s like appreciating a work of art.”
“If it’s a work of art—”
“Fine, I know you’re handso too. Yes, if I placed you in the Louvre, no one would realize you’re alive. I’ll donate you under my na, so please wrap yourself in bubble wrap and get in a shipping box.”
I should send Seong Hyunjae away and keep Yuhyun safely at ho.
“Bubble wrap?”
You don’t know what that is? I shooed Seong Hyunjae from the guest room, telling him to check if the children had returned with clothes. anwhile, the water stopped running—the bathtub must be full. I went to the bathroom door and knocked.
“Chief Song, are you in the tub?”
“Yes. Please don’t co in.”
Had I been staring too obviously? I had no choice but to lean against the bathroom door, then slide down to sit. With less strength in one leg, the healthy one bearing more weight, it ached slightly. I really needed more exercise.
“Did you see soone?”
“Yes.”
“It was probably the future. And Chief Song...”
“He told I was dead.”
His voice remained calm. Chief Song didn’t yet know that the people in this dungeon represented the real future and past. Or perhaps he was simply indifferent to his own death.
What could I say about Song Taewon? He struck as soone who wouldn’t hesitate to throw away his life if necessary. And that necessity would never be for his own sake.
“That’s right. Did you also hear it was connected to the Sesung Guild Leader?”
“Yes. He said there were suspicions that the Sesung Guild Leader had killed .”
The sound of water splashing reached faintly. Had he gotten out, or just shifted position?
“It was the Awakened Managent Office.”
Song Taewon continued slowly.
“The monsters there had human forms.”
Damn it. I clenched my teeth unconsciously. Of all the places he could have gone. Since everyone had been drawn to locations connected to them, it wasn’t unexpected, but still.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re obviously not fine.”
I had to stop him from claiming he was okay. What was okay about any of this?
‘Should I tell him now?’
I raised my hand and scratched my head. Even if he believed the people in the dungeon were just monsters, it would be disturbing since they resembled real people so closely. But if he learned this was based on pre-regression information—on reality itself...
Wouldn’t that make things harder for Chief Song?
But now that it had co to this, I couldn’t keep hiding the truth.
“There’s sothing I need to tell you, Chief Song.”
“You don’t have to say anything you don’t want to.”
Were we so kind of “it’s okay” parrots?
“I’m worried about you, Chief Song, not myself.”
“Then please tell .”
“How about trying to value yourself a little more? You don’t even flinch at your own death.”
“I—”
“Say ‘it’s okay’ one more ti. I’ll open this door and pat you on the back. My wrist will break in the process.”
Silence fell. If I could escape this dungeon right now, I could have this conversation back in Korea, after Chief Song returned to the Awakened Managent Office and was surrounded by normal people again.
But the dungeon remained uncleared. Since I didn’t know what would happen next, it seed better to tell him now.
“This dungeon... it’s what actually happened.”
I spoke in a low voice.
“It’s both the future and the past. I was really thirty years old. The thirty-year-old Han Yujin turned back ti by five years. The traces of those five years—this is what remains.”
Quiet settled between us again. I was curious about Chief Song’s thoughts, but also afraid to know them.
“Was I dead?”
“Yes. I don’t know the details. The from that ti was just an ordinary F-Rank Hunter.”
“Hunter Moon Hyunah didn’t seem to know much about Han Yujin.”
“You t Ms. Hyunah?”
“Yes. She said she knew Han Yujin was on bad terms with his brother.”
“It was like that back then. Everyone knew us that way.”
I wanted to et the pre-regression Ms. Hyunah too.
“She also ntioned that the Sesung Guild Leader sent Han Yujin a postcard.”
“Oh, really? So that was true after all.”
I’d never been sure if it was a joke or real. So he had actually sent one.
“And she said that I and Hunter Moon Hyunah were engaged.”
“What?!”
What? I tried to jump up but my leg protested, so I rose slowly instead. Engaged? Really?
“Ms. Hyunah and you, Chief Song—my goodness!”
I’d had no idea! Incredible! Had they gotten engaged in secret? That would explain why I didn’t know. The two of them together—I’d thought they’d make a good match, but they were actually dating?
“Do you have feelings for Ms. Hyunah now? She’s a wonderful person. Cool, dependable, reliable. But really, when did this happen? Who confessed first?”
My heart raced. Was it real? Were they truly...? But Chief Song had died early. Ms. Hyunah...
“The Sesung Guild Leader was married to Hunter Evelyn, and the Haeyeon Guild Leader and Hunter Kang Soyeong—”
“What?”
Huh? What? Wait a minute.
“Seong Hyunjae has never been married!”
I shouted, flinging the door open. My Yuhyun had never even been in a relationship! I’d seen his mories—there was no way I wouldn’t know! Seong Hyunjae was old enough to have secretly married once, but to think his partner was Evelyn! The sa went for Kang Soyeong—she wasn’t interested in anyone but her sister!
“And Yuhyun is cold as ice too!”
My foot slipped on the wet floor. Normally I wouldn’t fall, but with my balance off...
“Han Yujin!”
Water splashed loudly, followed by the crack of part of the bathtub breaking. Song Taewon’s hand caught as I fell, supporting my weight.
“Thank you. But were you joking just now?”
A joke from Chief Song. I should have recorded it.
“That’s what Hunter Moon Hyunah told . And Han Yujin...”
His heavy, downcast eyes looked at .
“Your reaction isn’t that of soone who’s lying.”
“Ah...”
So he’d been testing , mixing lies with truth. My feet felt warm from the water that had spilled from the tub. I breathed in the hot, humid air.
“It sounds like Ms. Hyunah was her usual self.”
There was no way Chief Song would have invented that story himself—it had to be Ms. Hyunah’s joke.
“Yes. She said the Breaker Guild was gone and she’d left Korea, but she was still the sa. She said she was active overseas.”
I suddenly missed Ms. Hyunah terribly. I’d thought the Breaker Guild Leader had failed too, but she hadn’t. Moon Hyunah remained herself.
Song Taewon continued his account.
“A cigarette? So you developed that kind of skill too.”
Ms. Soyeong as well. Yuhyun had been very cold back then, but still...
Song Taewon calmly recounted his experience. Though he seed composed, most of his story centered around Moon Hyunah. Perhaps without her appearance, he wouldn’t have been able to confess what had happened at the Awakened Managent Office so easily.
“So Hunter Moon Hyunah told to return with my companions.”
“The people here seem to be one rank higher than in reality. Is Ms. Hyunah at the Awakened Managent Office then?”
“No. At that ti—”
Song Taewon’s voice cut off abruptly. Goosebumps raced down my spine at the sa instant. Even though my Fear Resistance skill was definitely active, my chest felt as though it had been sliced with a blade. What was this?
BOOM!
Sothing struck the glass wall beyond the bathtub. The drawn curtain shook violently. I gasped and threw my arms around Chief Song’s arm, clinging to him.
“What... what is that?”
“The moonlight.”
Song Taewon’s arms encircled protectively, his expression tense as he stared at the swaying curtain.
“It beca a silver chain and attacked . Hunter Moon Hyunah disappeared while trying to block it.”
Moonlight. Could it be Crescent Moon?
“It seems like it can’t enter this hotel.”
“Yes... it appears so.”
Perhaps because we faced a transcendent opponent, my heart continued pounding violently. Damn it, what kind of ss was this?
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