I ascended to the rooftop garden. I saw two helicopters landed there. Yerim, Moon Hyunah, and the Hunter Association people were unloading cargo from one helicopter. New helicopters arrived in turn. From the adjacent Haeyeon Building, more helicopters were taking off.
“We’ve brought an awful lot of A-rank and above gear!”
Yerim said excitedly. Hyunah sent a file via my phone.
“All the item data is there. Everyone’s still on the move.”
“Thank you.”
Once Gyuri wakes, the items I’ve created will disappear. But after the System finishes applying, dream-world copies of real items will regain their original performance. Since they’re just in a dream, they’re not real—might as well use every extra piece instead of letting them sit.
“Director Han!”
Sisio leapt down from the helicopter. He asked to let Gyuri use his translation item right away.
“These are items I’d been saving. I didn’t bring them even into battle with Guildmaster Haeyeon.”
He handed a hefty box, then removed his ornate cloak.
“SS-rank gear: Millennium Ironwood Leaf. A defense-specialized set.”
“...That was armor?”
“It was plain bronze originally, but I dyed and decorated it. Took over a month!”
Sisio laughed proudly. I’d assud it was custom clothing—but armor it was. SS-rank, though kind of embarrassing to wear. It’s too big for , and its size-adjust feature has limits...
“Um, Hyunah, want to wear this?”
“...SS-rank?”
“Yes. Stat-wise, it should suit you.”
Hyunah, a close-combat fighter, needed defense. She took the cloak with a bit of reluctance and draped it on. The red fabric patterned with white and gold and trimd in tal and fur was flashy, but surprisingly suited her. It looked great.
“I also brought S-rank weapons. More than enough for Director Han’s sister to lt down as she likes. There are SS-rank daggers, too.”
Sisio’s regret at not joining us was apparent in his gaze. I smiled broadly in thanks under that weighty look.
“The Puppeteer said he can help connect one hunter for Hyunah.”
The newcor warned that using Mari and Gyuri’s abilities to pull S-rank hunters into the dream would be dangerous for now—mana would surge from Transcendent interference. But Hyunah would be assisted by the Puppeteer, probably because of Sigma.
‘I guess they really trust Hyunah.’
I glanced at Director Song, standing near the garden entrance. She’d resolved to protect Seong Hyunjae, even at the risk of her life. She couldn’t take on another ward easily, so the Puppeteer must prefer Hyunah.
A helicopter landed near Seong Hyunjae as well. After Kang Soyeong and Evelyn, Mr. Vantes was aboard. He placed a locked case before Hyunjae. They spoke, but the rotor noise drowned out their words.
“No sign of Hunter Noah yet,” Emily said with regret, having co with the European gear.
“I regret I can’t help either,” she added.
“We’ll just use potions like crazy. Maybe they took different routes.”
Musashi is still at large. Given the lack of news, perhaps they saw our ssage and headed together to France. I worried, but I’m sure they’ll manage—Transcendents are after Hyunjae first, anyway.
The tir in the System window continued to count down. One by one, those who’d brought all these items departed. About thirty minutes remained. I looked up at the sky. Stars flickered in and out.
‘He said Elder would help.’
Boy Chaos severed the Transcendents’ paths. Light on one side of the pitch-black sky was swept away in an instant. New pinpricks appeared, but about half as many as before. Relief ward my chest each ti the darkness grew. Even in that vast void, I had an ally. It’d been just days, but I already missed ho.
“Gyuri.”
Gyuri, perched on my shoulder, lifted her head.
“It’s ti for you to go, too.”
...Okay.
A pink faerie hopped up and fluttered. Worried eyes looked at . She wiggled both forepaws, then spoke.
I’ll wait, Daddy.
“Right, Gyuri.”
No words of reassurance ca aloud. Gyuri knew as well as I did; I couldn’t offer empty promises. My chest felt tight.
“I’ll go ho, too.”
I know. Don’t worry about ho.
She nodded and hugged tightly once, then faded away. I exhaled sharply. Now...
I used Teacher Skill. At once, a golden flash struck before my eyes.
Caro laan!
Sisio’s spear appeared in front of . Its shaft was wrapped in golden chains, and the Puppeteer’s hand covered my own around the grip. Crackle! A current of electricity arced—but was nullified by Grace. The Puppeteer at my side suffered no harm either. Gripping the taut chain, Hyunjae smiled faintly.
“You have longing in your eyes, yet you’re so cold.”
“Stand back. I said so. Peace, you too.”
Yuhyun, Yerim, and Peace backed off. None of the three had regained rank or skills yet. Hyunah sprang backward as well, crossing her arms. Director Song’s brow furrowed. Her gaze shifted to Hyunjae.
“That’s that, but this is this. You treated how? Not even a year ago?”
Even if past events feel unbelievable now, you’ve done a lot of violent things.
“You once crushed soone underfoot, didn’t you?”
“...Brother?”
“That man did that?!”
Yerim exploded in anger.
“He once thought to eliminate you and Yuhyun both. If we’d gone back then, you know what would happen.”
If it’d been the old Hyunjae...
“To , you were...”
“Useful items.”
“Yes, wasn’t that so? In a fight, I’m an item to keep.”
Double damage on attack skills, usable as armor via Grace, L-rank detox, and even partial intel on opponents. And Teacher Skill could assist combat foresight.
“Easier to smuggle out before System applies.”
Gyuri’s power is a hassle; he’d be glad when she vanished. Hyunjae feigned disappointnt.
“I thought Han Yujin liked quite a bit.”
“You wanted to be careless and dragged along? Then you should’ve pretended from the start. Don’t lay bare your wants, then complain.”
“I did say I valued myself.”
Right, you would’ve told him if you wanted your emotions back. The old Hyunjae was unbearable. How was I ever friends with him? I’m strange too.
Clink—the chain coiled slowly around the spear shaft. Faint sparks marred the tal. Rebellion from Teacher Skill buffed its defense, but I held firm. The Puppeteer looked down at . Though reduced to about an S-rank, I’d used Teacher Skill on him. My skull rang. I gasped for air.
“You’re reckless. But that’s why you’ve co this far.”
With a whisper, the Puppeteer’s arm gripped «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» my waist. Crack! The sash bearing the chain on the spear shaft cracked under tension and snapped. Wood splintered, thunder bood. Crackling currents scorched the garden in black tracks, gathering at the Puppeteer’s touch. Then I stepped forward.
Thud.
Grace nullified the current, but the recoil pounded my chest. Clatter—the golden chains fractured into pieces. So flew toward us, others toward those at a distance. Damn Hyunjae!
Softly, threads unraveled from the Puppeteer’s sleeve. The wisps spread rapidly, weaving golden rings. Currents imbued in the rings stalled in midair, but their master...
“Good boy.”
A gloved hand shot out. Grasping a thick thread, the Puppeteer spun, nearly grazing my hair, then let go. Simultaneously, he teleported backward. Fingertips that raked the air withdrew smoothly.
“Stop!”
Director Song cried out.
“My reason for helping Hunter Seong Hyunjae includes Han Yujin’s safety!”
“And?”
Hyunjae tilted his head.
“Even if I killed Han Yujin, Song Tae-won would save . Wouldn’t you?”
“...Hunter Seong Hyunjae!”
“So we should capture and use Han Yujin, shouldn’t we?”
Clack—the rings twined back together and returned to their master.
“You lack any enthusiasm.”
“Why—have I already pleased you?”
“You’d escape if taken.”
Golden eyes blinked slowly, tinged with mild chagrin.
“The problem is that you rember Han Yujin’s past.”
“I did stir up trouble.”
“Logically, using Han Yujin as an item would have a high chance of success.”
Yet an F-stat reaching this point is extrely unlikely—and has repeated. Even Hyunjae can’t be certain he can control completely.
“These mories are quite a nuisance.”
Hyunjae murmured. Even if emotions are stripped, the mories still matter. He glanced at the System tir: nineteen minutes.
“Just ask for help. You know I will.”
“Well.”
Hyunjae’s gaze drifted skyward. “Well” indeed—mories intact, you said. I haven’t given up on him, not once.
“Those around Han Yujin won’t agree.”
“Well, they’ll at least vote to abandon . Still, there are Transcendents targeting —”
“They’re breaking.”
Golden eyes fixed on anew. Director Song flinched.
“The Crescent Moon already knows. When the System applies, they will too. Fewer obstacles is better.”
“...What are you saying?”
“Han Yujin’s body.”
I swallowed dryly. Director Song averted her eyes. Yuhyun and Yerim seed to sense sothing and approached .
“A conscious being contains a fragnt of Origin.”
A tiny shard of Origin. If the ratio is high, one might be born S-rank or beco a near-nonhuman entity like Yuhyun.
“Human Origin—the core that returns a soul to Origin.”
Hyunjae’s voice continued quietly.
“Han Yujin, have you ever felt your own essence was off?”
“I don’t know.”
Her reply was swift—too swift. Hyunjae smiled.
“There was one more condition for to reclaim my emotions.”
“...Yes?”
“Precisely, a condition where no one ever asked about emotions.”
“What do you an?”
“If before I died, Han Yujin had spoken honestly about his condition.”
My heart lurched.
“To rely on him for hope, he must first survive. So if he’d hidden even his abnormal state, how could I trust him?”
“...Brother, what does that an?”
Yuhyun gripped my arm. Her eyes trembled larger than I’d ever seen.
“Weren’t you okay?”
“I am.”
“Brother!”
“You said your lifespan even increased....”
The feeling when the System disconnected might have been my illusion. The Elder said nothing.
“Yes, if anything were wrong, the Elder would have reprimanded again, right?”
Ti dwindled. I felt mana in the air shift—seeping in steadily, broad and even.
[Honey! Not much ti left! Soon I can’t send ssages, so I’ll prioritize managing you first!]
Following the newcor’s ssage:
[Treasure yourself.]
Another Transcendent’s ssage appeared—it must be the Crescent Moon. Imdiately beside :
“I... a ssage window!”
Yerim said. Yuhyun and Hyunah stared at the window. I couldn’t block it. More text followed:
[You are cracked.]
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