Inside the sturdy defensive curtain wall, the castle looked like a colorful fairy-tale ho blended with natural elents. It also gave off a Western mansion vibe. In the spacious garden, a pretty pond and a swing entwined with flowering vines were arranged.
“Doesn’t it hurt to walk?”
Yuhyun asked, supporting as we moved. Peace must have understood or sensed the mood—he imdiately wriggled free and jumped down. I’m fine.
“I feel fine after that short rest. Can’t keep this up forever, though.”
“Park Ha-yul hasn’t fixed your leg yet?”
Yerim said angrily. Apparently not—and she even took his arm and eye! Playing Sleeping Beauty one mont and Demon King the next.
“Should I kiss you to break the curse?”
“...What? Why all of a sudden?”
“Isn’t that how it usually goes?”
Hyunah laughed.
“To break the spell on the kidnapped princess—”
“I ca out under my own power!”
“Still, it can’t hurt to try, right? Here you go!”
– Kiaang.
Yerim lifted Peace up in front of . He wagged his tail. Well, okay. I pressed my lips to et his.
“See? No change. I told you I’m not a princess.”
Princess my foot. We stepped inside the castle and found a broad hall. In its center, a large table where Gyeol and Mari sat with serious expressions.
“Dad!”
“Han Yujin-nim!”
They jumped to their feet. I scooped up Gyeol as he bounded over.
“I heard the explanation. Park Ha-yul did a number on your leg—oh my, not just your leg?”
“You can tell?”
“I told you—I’m Park Ha-yul’s dream. So even if I’m not fully in it, I can peek around. Han Yujin-nim, look here.”
Mari clapped her hands.
“Once we count to three, you’ll wake from the dream. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ One, two, three!”
Clap! A thunderous round of applause sounded and my body jolted. The sensation returned to my limbs, which had been forcibly held still by mana. Now my vision, which had relied on Yuhyun, rged with my own.
“...That was easy?”
“I’m no longer part of Park Ha-yul’s dream~. Think of it this way: Park Ha-yul superimposed a nightmare on you—part of your body paralyzed. Dreams vanish on waking, but waking can be hard.”
But Mari, being the awakened dream itself, could free from the nightmare. I wiggled my recovered limbs and looked around. Despite the vast castle, few people remained—it was just us.
“I heard there’s a way to stop Park Ha-yul.”
“Yes, there is.”
“So everyone else went out except for a few, Dad.”
Gyeol and Mari nodded in unison, then glanced at the Puppeteer standing behind us.
“So, the explanation is long, but Park Ha-yul is more urgent.”
“Preparations are going smoothly!”
“Everyone’s agreed to help again!”
They hurriedly laid out the plan. It was short and simple.
“Then we just wait until Park Ha-yul appears.”
“We need to prepare to fight. Once Park Ha-yul gets close, I’ll have to dodge.”
“I’ll help Gyeol use items and skills, but not too many.”
I hesitated to leave Gyeol behind, though I needed his power. I looked at the Puppeteer.
“Ancestor, what do you think?”
“You’ve been whining about how unfair this is all the way here.”
I don’t know—if needed, I’d worship even a rolling stone as ancestor at every festival.
“He’s cute, isn’t he? My son. He even resembles Sigma. Technically he’s a distant descendant of his.”
Gyeol muttered, “Dad,” and crossed his arms. Tone it down a bit.
“He’s so young—I can’t involve him in adult fights.”
“Oh, co on.”
“We’ve already gotten plenty of help from Gyeol. Right? Let’s go with Mari-noona. The others are waiting. Ancestor, you must protect the young descendant.”
Once he’s an adult, then we’ll see. The Puppeteer approached Gyeol. Gyeol flinched and looked up at him. Mari whispered in my ear from behind.
“Is he really the ancestor?”
“Sort of.”
He was originally my puppet, but sohow...well, stranger things happen.
“He’ll help even if he doesn’t co out here. We must protect him.”
The Puppeteer looked at Seong Hyunjae, and Gyeol’s golden eyes widened as he stared at .
“You look like Dad...but different.”
Why? I protect Seong Hyunjae instead of abandoning him, too.
“First, Han Yujin.”
The Puppeteer reached out and lifted clear off the ground. Wait—he lifted lightly and laughed.
“You should start liking .”
“Why?”
“So Park Ha-yul can’t attack you. If I help you, your already weakened power will weaken further.”
“...Heartstrings don’t shift that easily.”
“Then what do we do? Training children, after all.”
He set on the table and produced sothing.
“Snacks.”
Candy. Does this spry old man think I’m Gyeol’s age? He didn’t do this with Sigma, right?
“Hard candy’s too tough for him. He prefers sothing softer.”
Yuhyun, watching, chid in:
“Han Yuhyun’s got a point. He falls for that trick every ti.”
Yerim offered a tip, too. True enough...but still.
“You have a handso little brother.”
“Well...yes.”
“He’s kind.”
“Our Yuhyun—well, that’s true I guess.”
“You two get along so well. He must like you a lot. When we got off the helicopter, he only looked for you. You’re so cute.”
“...Um.”
“You’re kind and cute, too.”
“What are you saying all of a sudden? Those words from that face just sound gross!”
“Here, eat this.”
The Puppeteer offered the treat Gyeol had made. Reluctantly, I accepted—after all, I ought to like him since he’s helping.
“I’ve tasted this before...”
“...I tried to replicate the one you made.”
Gyeol frowned slightly. Seong Hyunjae had indeed cared for the kids diligently.
“Your child is good, too. Listens well, smart.”
“Gyeol’s too good a son for . Right, Puppeteer? He’s so popular.”
I couldn’t help smiling—praising my kids always made happy, and they weren’t lying. The Puppeteer leaned in, studying .
“Do you like now?”
“You underestimate too much.”
“Then you don’t like ?”
“It’s not that. I an, you’re okay.”
I didn’t feel my face blush. Hyunah muttered, “He’s so easy.” Well, he did save . It wouldn’t be odd to feel so gratitude.
“Brother, never accept snacks from soone you don’t know.”
“Sir, praise doesn’t always an they’re good people.”
Yuhyun and Yerim spoke earnestly. I know, I know!
“Of course not anyone! The Puppeteer and I go way back, and he’s protecting Sigma. I’m not that gullible.”
I wouldn’t fall for it so easily if he were a stranger. Past experiences don’t vanish.
“Now that I’m safe from Park Ha-yul’s attacks, I’ll stabilize the surrounding mana with my own power. My stats will return to normal, and even without the system, I can use deeply ingrained skills. That seems best—what do you think?”
The Puppeteer looked around at us.
“Everyone gets one safe shot.”
One chance to strike Park Ha-yul freely. So rather than swinging solo, reviving other hunters’ abilities will work better.
“Then Gyeol can assist with items and skills.”
“Gyeol!”
“I’ll stay put in the castle. Dad, I can wake up anyti.”
His round golden eyes looked up at . I sighed and nodded.
“So when I signal, you wake imdiately, no matter what?”
“Yes. I promise.”
We held a brief strategy eting, and Mari said she’d go notify everyone. Park Ha-yul wouldn’t realize I was gone for another two hours or so. anwhile, Gyeol set up sofas, beds, and food for .
“There are several bedrooms! A bathroom, spare clothes too. Clothes will vanish once Gyeol wakes, so be careful.”
I filled my stomach first, then bathed. Erging from the warm water, I collapsed onto a soft sofa and felt better. Even though I said I was okay, Yuhyun still sat beside , drying my hair.
‘...Even if we catch Park Ha-yul, the Crescent Moon’s still a problem.’
There must be so ulterior motive. But for now, I had no leads.
“Han Yujin-nim.”
Director Song approached with a slightly shadowed expression.
“I heard that Transcendent there was a puppet you made.”
“Oh, yes. Right. Director Song wasn’t with us then.”
He hadn’t gone to Japan, nor entered the dungeon. But soone must have filled him in.
“He was originally my doppelgänger puppet—from a world long ago where Seong Hyunjae stayed. In that world, Sigma, the past Seong Hyunjae, beca real and left with my puppet. Over ti...like a goblin, you know? The puppet gained selfhood and even grew into a Transcendent.”
Yes, that happened.
“......”
Director Song fell silent. Hyunah, sipping beer nearby, giggled.
“...The past one.”
“Seong Hyunjae-nim. But he was more innocent than the current one. Kind.”
“Our moon child was kind. Far younger than Guild Master Sesung! You should have seen him, Director Song!”
“Right! Completely different from Seong Hyunjae now! Only the face is the sa.”
“But his face looked younger back then.”
“Well, Seong Hyunjae still has a youthful face.”
“Eh, he was much fresher then.”
“Hyunah-ssi, your guardian is here!”
Hyunah jumped and looked at the Puppeteer, who smiled kindly.
“He still thinks he’s cute.”
“...He says so, hyung-nim!”
I suddenly missed the moon child. As Hyunah and I traded remarks, Director Song’s expression grew darker. No, Director Song, Sigma really is different.
“You look happy.”
I said to Seong Hyunjae, who’d co down after bathing. Hyunah strode up with her beer and stared at his face.
“There really is a difference, huh?”
Yerim followed, “What difference?” They both stared at Seong Hyunjae’s face. Too much—sa face, yet so different.
“What do you an by entrusting that Sigma person to Hunter Hyunah?”
Director Song asked. Hyunah and I both turned to the Puppeteer.
“Literally that. For him to beco independent, he needs a world to belong to. Luckily this world has his counterpart, Seong Hyunjae, so he can enter without rejection. But two identical individuals can’t occupy the sa place—Sigma can’t awaken here.”
“He’s asleep,” I said.
“That’s why he needs a guardian from this world—soone who recognizes Sigma as a separate entity from Seong Hyunjae.”
The Puppeteer looked at Hyunah then at Song Taewon.
“Right now, you two are the best candidates: responsible, won’t harm him; one knows the original Sigma, the other has a deep bond with Seong Hyunjae.”
“But I’m good at caring for him too.”
“That’s enough.”
Yerim cut in quickly. The Puppeteer nodded.
“He’s always hugging him. For the opposite reason, Han Yuhyun can’t do it either. Only Han Yujin’s capacity can contain him—better than Park Yerim.”
“You can’t leave a child in a child’s care. Hyunah-ssi and Director Song are the best choices.”
I’d pick those two too. Seong Hyunjae gazed at Hyunah and Director Song with interest.
“So my opinion doesn’t matter?”
“Seong Hyunjae-ssi, who do you prefer?”
“For stability, Breaker Guild Master; for fun, the Corps Director.”
...I’d honestly like to see Director Song taking Sigma around. He hesitated—he’s not one to refuse soone who needs protection, but it happens to be the young Seong Hyunjae. Hyunah nudged Director Song’s elbow.
“Split it? One month each—mine and the Director’s?”
“Please give ti to think.”
“So how long is the hostay? A year?”
Rumble—earth tremors cut her off. A distant roar grew louder. Everyone got up. Park Ha-yul was coming. Shouts of “She’s here!” rang out.
“Gyeol, stay right here.”
“Okay, Dad. Be careful.”
Peace enlarged. As we stepped outside the walls, ard hunters turned to us.
“Soone go tell Mari not to co!”
At my command, one hunter got doused in ice water by accident. Startled, he vanished. We climbed onto the wall and saw a cloud of dust in the distance. Under the wavering moonlight, a massive army shook the ground.
Thud, thud, thud! The thunder of hooves beat like drums. Flying monsters sward overhead like a dark stormcloud. The scene sharpened into focus.
– Grrr!
At the front stood a gigantic three-headed chira. Each head—lion, dragon, goat—roared fiercely. On the dragon head, Park Ha-yul waved cheerfully.
“Brother! You survived! I’m so relieved!”
You—the one who tried to kidnap !
The army halted before the wall, stirring up dust. Their ragged breaths ca to us in gusts. The sky throbbed with wings and shrieks.
“Just so you know, I like everyone who cos to help . Park Ha-yul, you can’t attack .”
“I know that. That’s why I ca prepared~.”
He laughed and gestured to the monster horde.
“I’ll release them all. That way I’m not the one attacking, right? And...”
He eyed the wall.
“You don’t like walls, do you, brother? You were never human to begin with.”
Strong mana rippled around Park Ha-yul.
“I could destroy them. Right?”
A thick green mist appeared—the power of corrosion. It surged toward the wall. The Puppeteer stepped forward. His white defensive barrier absorbed the green waves as they struck the wall.
“...Huh?”
The Puppeteer’s shield shattered, but the wall stood firm. Park Ha-yul’s face twisted.
“I held back, but here I’m stronger—huh?”
He looked down at his hand.
“...What? It feels weaker...?”
Park Ha-yul’s power had waned. People were waking up.
– Waaaaah!!
Sirens blared everywhere—TVs, phones, alarms screeched.
[Attention, citizens! Wake up from your sleep imdiately!]
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