Chapter 110

Hyuk-seo hyung had been with Giraseong until recently.

Given that, he would be the one who knows Giraseong the most and the most suitable person to take them down.

Above all, he is the most cooperative among the Giraseong members.

Now that Eva noona’s issue is resolved, Hyuk-seo hyung has no reason to stay with Giraseong anymore.

As an S-class Returner, his combat prowess is unquestionable, making him the best asset for the World Returner Association.

He’s perfect for cleaning up his own mess.

Come to think of it, what happened to Eun-namu?

I briefly thought about Eun-namu, who hasn’t contacted me since that day, before starting to type again.

[Doremipasolo: That’s good. Really, what a relief.]

After all, knowing him, I was worried about him being locked underground.

I don’t know what he’ll do with the hour I gave him, but I feel like I should do everything I can to help.

[Ediknorjeva: Isn’t it all thanks to you? In all my life, I’ve never seen the Iron-Blooded Demon Horse act so kindly.]

And as expected, Seolhyang’s story came up.

[Ediknorjeva: And that thing, the Brain Dragon Demon Horse, every time your name comes up, it’s like that.]

[Doremipasolo: There’s a bit of a story behind that.]

Thinking of her turning from Brain Dragon to Nyo-ryong, I wondered if her trauma still hadn’t healed.

[Ediknorjeva: Well, it’s easier for me since I listen well. Oh, wait.]

Hyuk-seo hyung’s chat paused for a moment before continuing.

[Ediknorjeva: I have to get back to work now. I just came to say hi since you were online. Thanks.]

[Doremipasolo: I’ve heard enough thanks. You don’t need to say it anymore.]

[Ediknorjeva: Oh, and Se-hee noona mentioned you. If you get the chance, visit the hunter company our son set up. Use that business card I gave you.]

Come to think of it, Eva noona seems pretty busy these days.

The business card he mentioned must be the one with “Beom” written on it.

Considering what Hyuk-seo hyung said, it might be good to visit.

Seeing things wrap up like this, I feel relieved.

‘Now, it’s just noona’s matter.’

About the noona who appeared this time and Seolhyang seeing the worldline.

The former seems hard to resolve for now, but the latter can be settled by asking Seolhyang, so I can focus on training and company work for the time being.

‘I hope things continue smoothly from here.’

But I know too well that things don’t go that easily.

And it all blew up after October 20th, in the latter half.

“So, you’re saying Alters started moving?”

[Yes.]

Sitting in front of the company monitor, I scratched my head at the voice on the phone.

My conversation partner was none other than Seo-ho, Si-ho’s older brother.

The reason Seo-ho called me was about Alters, composed of S-class hunters worldwide.

Mentioned once by Josia, they are a group centered around high-ranking hunters.

I heard through Seo-ho that they started moving.

“How exactly are they moving?”

[Do you remember what Josia said last time?]

“About you and I forming a team, right?”

[Yes.]

“Are Alters thinking the same way?”

[No. They’re not that foolish.]

Good.

I thought they might think that way.

[But they seem to think similarly. Specifically, they see it as Korea’s independence rather than individual teams.]

“Why Korea?”

Hearing that, I was puzzled.

Korean hunters wouldn’t have refused to join Alters.

So why suddenly talk about Korea’s independence?

[Recent events seem to have caused that misunderstanding. During the Jung-gu incident, many hunters were also taken down along with Returners, right?]

“Everyone had a hard time, so it’s natural.”

At that time, hunters also went through hell.

Facing dimensional beings pouring from the sky is no ordinary task.

[It seems the issue is that Returners and hunters were involved together.]

“Do they think Returners and Korean hunters are collaborating?”

[Yes, given a few incidents, they seem to speculate that way. Gwak Sa-yeon’s company, JMC, originally had ties with Alters, but after our incident, it effectively collapsed, reducing Alters’ foothold in Korea.]

The story started to take an odd turn.

[In that situation, a new hunter company, Roadrigue, associated with Returners, absorbed many JMC hunters, growing significantly.]

“Uh, hmm.”

Come to think of it, I’ve seen many unfamiliar faces; that must be why.

Maybe because I’m involved.

It left me feeling uneasy.

[Moreover, a hunter company named Beom was recently established in Korea.]

At that moment, another story related to me came up.

[The affiliated hunters there are quite famous, and their individual combat abilities are high, significantly boosting Korea’s hunter strength.]

“Wow…”

I let out a small exclamation.

[Haa, and lastly, that fool Josia recently left Alters, didn’t he? Excluding Si-ho and me, there are only four S-class hunters in Korea, and the Management Bureau Chief wasn’t originally part of Alters.]

So, with Josia leaving, half have effectively left Alters.

“From Alters’ perspective, it must feel like Korean hunters have completely turned against them.”

[Yes, that’s about it.]

Haha, this is something.

“…Seo-ho, could this cause any problems?”

[Alters might impose sanctions on the Korean hunter market or send personnel to monitor the situation.]

“Sorry. This might be because of me.”

I want to think it’s self-consciousness, but everything is related to me.

I can’t say it’s not my fault.

After all, it all started with me.

[What? Hyung-nim, what fault do you have? It’s wrong for you to apologize when you’re just trying to help us.]

I was grateful for his words.

[What I’m worried about is Si-ho and you, hyung-nim.]

“Me and Si-ho? Si-ho is registered as an A-class hunter, right?”

[This time, there was a large-scale movement in Jung-gu. Alters must have noticed Si-ho.]

So, Alters might try something with Si-ho.

Si-ho seems destined to be troubled by many things; I frowned.

“Why can’t they leave her alone?”

[I think so too.]

After all that happened with her mother and then suffering for our sake, Si-ho is finally resting.

I sighed and told Seo-ho I didn’t want her involved again.

“Got it. Si-ho aside, what about me?”

[You shot at a dimensional being, right?]

“You saw it.”

[Any competent hunter would have noticed.]

Indeed, my firepower is abnormally high due to Baeksan.

Since I’m registered as a hunter, it’s not strange for Alters to take notice.

If they investigate further, they might soon find out I’m related to Returners.

‘Is it going as Baeksan said?’

The master piece in the Returner puzzle.

I’m gradually realizing that’s me.

But Baeksan’s world and this world are different.

I have Baeksan as my biggest card, and I’ve grown much stronger recently.

Moreover, Eun-hyeon noona is subtly protecting me.

I greeted Eun-hyeon noona in her fox form last time, so she must be somewhere nearby.

“Okay, I got it all. Seo-ho, sorry, but can you keep me updated on Alters’ movements?”

[Sure. Please be careful, hyung-nim. They can be quite reckless.]

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I ended the call with Seo-ho.

Just as Giraseong, the Returners, ended, now it’s Alters, the hunters.

Damn, things never stop.

“Baeksan, what do you think?”

When I asked Baeksan, who was yawning next to me, he smacked his lips and answered.

“Alters are self-destructing, so I don’t know. Things have changed too much from what I knew, so my advice might not mean much.”

“That’s true.”

I slowly recalled Baeksan’s world as I had heard and pieced together.

In Baeksan’s world, Giraseong succeeded in kidnapping Si-ho, and when Gwak Do-ryeon, a JMC executive, refused to sell artificial dimensional gates, they teamed up with his sister, Gwak Sa-yeon.

The condition offered to Gwak Sa-yeon was to mediate the sale of artificial dimensional gates in exchange for making Seo-ho hers.

Guaranteeing Si-ho’s safety, Seo-ho was forced to marry Gwak Sa-yeon.

Meanwhile, Hyuk-seo hyung used Si-ho’s abilities to bring Eva noona but failed to save her due to Juk-sim’s absence.

After that, Hyuk-seo hyung went berserk, lived with Giraseong, and was eventually killed by the World Returner Association.

Meanwhile, Si-ho was being blackmailed by Giraseong using Seo-ho.

Over time, Si-ho’s abilities would have grown stronger, making it hard for even Giraseong to control her.

Seo-ho, realizing he was a burden to Si-ho, committed suicide.

Gwak Sa-yeon went mad, and Si-ho, learning of Seo-ho’s death, eventually went berserk.

…That’s what I’ve gathered about Baeksan’s world so far.

‘It’s terrifying just imagining it.’

I sighed in relief, having prevented such a world from happening.

Everyone connected to me was entangled in Baeksan’s world.

At the same time, it’s clear why the person who sees the worldline marked me as the master piece.

I was too easily connected to them.

“Besides, there’s one more thing to worry about.”

“What’s that?”

“Originally, after Giraseong succeeded in dimensional invasion, the dimensional rifts became extreme. Earth’s coordinates were widely known, and dimensional invaders flocked in my world.”

“…What the hell. That’s hell.”

“That’s why I’m here now.”

“What about the others? Seolhyang wouldn’t have just stood by.”

Hearing my question, Baeksan looked at the distant mountains.

“Eventually, everything gets resolved. It’s just that some things, like people’s hearts, remain unresolved even after the issues are settled.”

The emotional rift between people.

That’s something that remains deep and unfilled even after everything is resolved, Baeksan said.

“That’s why you’re important.”

“Me?”

“You’re exceptional at filling that rift.”

Hearing that, I made an awkward expression.

At least now I know I’m an important figure to those around me.

“By the way, what’s today’s date?”

“October 20th.”

“Soon, huh.”

Baeksan suddenly stroked his chin, lost in thought.

“Soon what?”

“My return.”