Chapter 48

Kang Ha-chan fainted, and Si-ho, who came running, snatched him from Seo-ho.

Even though it was unclear how she planned to support him with her small frame, Si-ho held Ha-chan’s head and diligently wiped away the blood with the sleeve of the cardigan she had brought.

“Ha Seo-ho, what about the labyrinth?”

“We need to get out.”

With those words, Seo-ho raised his hand and pointed forward.

The wall that Ha-chan had struck with his Thunderbolt earlier had not only crumbled but melted away.

Thanks to that, the outside scenery was clearly visible through the gaping hole.

“…Si-ho, what exactly is Brother Ha-chan?”

An output that seemed like he was burning his own body.

Even to Seo-ho, an S-class Hunter, the output was absurd, making it impossible to consider Ha-chan an ordinary person.

“Prince Si-ho.”

At that moment, Seo-ho sighed at Si-ho’s words.

He shot her a look that said, “That’s not what I meant,” but she didn’t even glance at him.

Damn, she’s like a troublesome little sister.

*Crash!*

At that moment, Yekaterina appeared, breaking through the wall.

She was emitting blue lightning from her entire body, revealing hostility like a Thunder Dragon, and in front of her stood Umbrella, holding up his umbrella.

In the midst of this, he glanced at Seo-ho and Si-ho, then noticed his labyrinth had been breached. Clicking his tongue, he retracted his umbrella.

“There’s no point in playing along anymore.”

“Are you trying to run away?”

“Of course. Our time is up.”

As he said that, he slammed his umbrella on the ground, and the space around him began to warp.

“Yekaterina, if you plan to join the Association, I hope you choose wisely.”

Taking off his fedora, he smiled at Yekaterina, who clenched her fists and charged at him.

But he merely bid farewell, as if mocking her foolishness.

However, he had forgotten one crucial fact at that moment.

The technique he used was a lower-tier version of Space Movement, which allowed him to skip through space using the labyrinth.

Normally, no one could stop his escape.

But in this place, there was a genius who surpassed even space-returners, even if he couldn’t output his full power.

When he belatedly realized this fact…

*Snap!*

Si-ho’s thumb and middle finger snapped together precisely.

“The Manager went this far.”

And her eyes glowed with intense killing intent.

“Where do you think you’re running to?”

*Crack!*

At that moment, the Space Movement centered around Umbrella distorted and shattered like glass.

Simultaneously, Seo-ho’s hand touched the ground, freezing Umbrella’s legs.

Umbrella hurriedly raised his umbrella, trying to leap to another labyrinth, but…

Yekaterina’s fist reached his face faster.

*Thud!*

With a crisp sound, the electric current that burst forth electrocuted Umbrella.

He fell to the ground, his head twisted, as Yekaterina looked down at him and proudly declared.

“Those who never give up until the end are the ones who win.”

It was a sense of victory she hadn’t felt in a long time since her crushing defeat against Ha-chan and Baeksan.

Yet, she glanced at Ha-chan, expressing her joy of victory subtly.

At that moment, a large middle-aged man stepped through the wall Ha-chan had destroyed.

As Yekaterina quickly shifted back into a combat stance, he ignored her and walked in barefoot.

Dressed in a black martial arts uniform with a golden tiger embroidered on it, his hair was stark white, but his face looked like that of a man in his mid-40s.

“Are you Geumgang-ho?”

At that moment, Seo-ho asked with a surprised expression.

S-class Returner Geumgang-ho.

His real name is Gye Doo-sik.

A legendary hero known to everyone in Korea had arrived.

He glanced at Ha-chan, who was being held by Si-ho, and scratched his white, flowing hair.

‘I thought about stepping in earlier.’

But seeing Ha-chan’s eyes, which had drawn out his last ounce of strength, he unconsciously stopped.

In his life, people who could give their all were exceedingly rare.

That’s why, despite Baekseolhyang’s request to step in during crises, he respected Ha-chan’s full power more.

“I’ll treat his internal injuries. Show him to me.”

When he spoke to Si-ho, she also seemed to recognize Gye Doo-sik, her eyes widening as she showed Ha-chan to him.

He felt Ha-chan’s body as if taking his pulse, then nodded.

“He should recover with some treatment. Seollsan Iri, was it? You did well with the initial treatment.”

“Se-Seollsan Iri, that’s Ha Seo-ho.”

“Hmm, I’m not good at remembering young people’s names.”

As he said that, Gye Doo-sik thought of Baekseolhyang while looking at Ha-chan.

‘He’s going to get scolded.’

Our Association President’s granddaughter had her eye on him as a potential groom, and now he’s in this state. She’s going to be furious.

—

21

An unfamiliar ceiling, for the second time.

I woke up and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The last thing I remembered was Seo-ho extinguishing the heat from my body. I tried to lift my arm, but it wouldn’t move.

What, did I lose my arm from the injuries?!

Panicking, I tried to sit up, only to freeze at the sight of my arms.

On my left and right arms, there were people clinging to me.

One was Ayu, with her short black hair and mischievous face.

The other was Si-ho, a petite high school girl with a ponytail, who had wrapped herself around my arm using both her arms and legs.

What kind of situation is this?

In this nightmare-inducing scenario, I was too stiff to do anything. Ayu wriggled and rested her chin on my chest, then smiled with half-closed eyes.

“Darling, last night was great.”

Is she crazy?

Immediately, I headbutted her in retaliation, and Ayu held her forehead, pouting.

Meanwhile, Si-ho clung even tighter to my arm, so I awkwardly tried to wake her.

“Si-ho? Si-ho, wake up.”

“Mmm, five more minutes.”

“Hey, you’re already awake. Get off me now.”

Si-ho buried her face in my shoulder, making a small sound, and Ayu gave me a sharp look.

Si-ho squirmed a bit more before finally sitting up.

“Manager, good morning.”

With a sleepy smile, Si-ho looked like a bride who had just completed a night’s work.

“…Can you both call Baekseolhyang for me?”

I decided to call for help.

—

22

After my call for help, Baekseolhyang arrived at the hospital room immediately.

She was relieved to see me awake but frowned when she saw Ayu.

“Where have you been? Hiding here? Didn’t I tell you? Ha-chan needs rest. Leave him alone.”

“Having pretty me by his side is rest enough.”

“You! I don’t want to…!”

Baekseolhyang was about to scold Ayu but stopped after glancing at me, her ears turning red.

Then she turned to Si-ho and said, “And I told Ha Si-ho the same thing.”

“Si-ho doesn’t understand difficult words.”

“Both of you, come with me. It seems you need a lesson in common sense.”

I wholeheartedly agreed.

Those two definitely needed someone to teach them basic common sense.

“And Ha-chan, you too.”

The problem was that Baekseolhyang’s sharp words weren’t just directed at those two.

“I told you to run away with Ha Seo-ho, not to fight. Do you know how I felt when I saw you come back in such a mess after overexerting yourself?”

Baekseolhyang clenched her fists and glared at me.

Her eyes were filled with worry, and I couldn’t say anything.

“I know. If you hadn’t pushed yourself, it would have been dangerous. And Ha Seo-ho might have been in big trouble. But just as Ha Seo-ho shouldn’t be in danger, neither should you.”

She said that and slowly unclenched her fists.

“So, take care of yourself. There are so many people worried about you.”

When I looked around after her words, Ayu and Si-ho also seemed to agree.

Though they were excessive, they had stayed by my side the entire time I was unconscious.

Since all their actions stemmed from concern for me, I bowed my head, feeling guilty.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll take better care of myself from now on.”

“Promise me.”

Baekseolhyang finally relaxed a bit and started asking me about my condition.

She seemed very worried, but I was fine, having received timely treatment.

“Fine, my foot! You need to rest for a week, you idiot! I taught you Aura to protect your body, not to burn yourself out! Thinking about how my regression almost went down the drain because of you makes me want to explode!”

Baeksan was shouting next to me, pounding his chest, but he seemed fine.

Really?

“Your internal injuries will heal with time, and you look fine on the outside. That’s a relief.”

Baekseolhyang said that, showing relief, and brought a chair to sit next to me.

“So, let’s get to the main point. There’s a lot to talk about, but first.”

She carefully chose her words and looked at me.

It was probably about the battle with Giraseong and the aftermath.

As I waited for her to speak, she finally opened her mouth.

“Ha-chan, your sister has appeared.”

An answer I never expected came out.

For a moment, my mind went blank as I stared at Baekseolhyang’s face.

There was no lie in her expression.

It was real.

“How, suddenly… Where is she?”

“…She disappeared before we could catch her.”

“Did she appear during the encounter with Giraseong?”

Baekseolhyang nodded at my question.

Why did my sister appear there?

And why had she been hiding all this time, only to show up now?

There were so many things I wanted to say, but my mind was too chaotic to think clearly.

“Shall I explain the situation to you now?”

As if waking me from my confusion, Baekseolhyang covered my hand with hers, reassuring me.

Gradually, my mind cleared, and I nodded slowly.

And Baekseolhyang began her story.