Chapter 72

After that, I heard from Eun-hyeon that the World Returner Association had taken care of the remaining tasks under their name. They also offered to handle the incident in the forest, which I was grateful for.

Next, I had a call with Baekseolhyang. She explained how the situation had been resolved, including the fact that Asura from Giraseong had taken advantage of Ayu’s visit to escape. I also mentioned to her that Giraseong seemed to be targeting me.

I didn’t want Baekseolhyang or others to worry about me, but staying silent would have been more irresponsible. After hearing me out, Baekseolhyang pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“Ha-chan, honestly, I wish you could quit the company and other responsibilities for a while and stay somewhere safe,” she said frankly. But she probably already knew my answer.

“However, I know you wouldn’t want that. More than anything, I don’t want your life to be ruined because of Giraseong,” she added.

I was deeply grateful for her understanding words.

“Is Eun-hyeon with you?” she asked.

“Yes, she is,” I replied, switching to speakerphone.

“Eun-hyeon, please stay by Ha-chan’s side for the time being,” Baekseolhyang instructed.

“Understood,” Eun-hyeon replied without hesitation.

When I looked at her to check if she was okay, she smiled at me.

“Don’t worry, Kang Ha-chan. If you wish, I can even handle meals and cleaning for you,” she said.

I didn’t need that much, though.

“Of course, I’ll make sure to keep a respectful distance so as not to bother you,” she added, joking.

I felt relieved. From Baekseolhyang’s perspective, having a guard would ease her mind, so I nodded in agreement.

I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks either.

“Thank you, Baekseolhyang,” I said.

“If you’re grateful, then keep the promise you made to make time for me,” she replied.

“Of course,” I assured her.

Hearing my firm response, Baekseolhyang let out a small sigh.

“…I want to come see you right now, but I’ll hold back for that time,” she said.

It felt like she had been holding back from coming here ever since Eun-hyeon informed her about the academy attack.

“Don’t get hurt. Unless you want to get scolded again,” she warned.

“Got it,” I replied.

Hearing my cheerful response, she chuckled lightly before ending the call.

“Then I’ll step out for a bit. Rest well,” Eun-hyeon said, leaving the room.

As I watched her leave, I fiddled with my phone and turned to Baeksan.

“Baeksan, I’m sorry. I’ve been too reckless,” I apologized.

Baeksan had returned to protect me and prevent destruction. Given that, my actions had only drawn Giraseong’s attention, so he had every right to be angry.

Hearing my apology, Baeksan let out a long sigh.

“Why are you apologizing?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“Why is this your fault? You’re not acting for personal gain but out of goodwill. What did you do wrong?” he said, turning his gaze out the window.

“Listen carefully, Kang Ha-chan. What I hate the most are those who sit on the ground, lamenting their lives, claiming they have nothing,” he continued.

It seemed like he was recalling someone.

“I don’t dislike those who struggle, even if they have nothing. Because I was like that too,” he said, running a hand through his white hair.

“So keep struggling. Whether you’re helping others or living your life. I came back to return the life I took from you,” he added.

His words choked me up.

“So cheer up. It doesn’t suit you,” he said.

This Returner was annoyingly kind. What had I done for him in his world?

I couldn’t quite figure it out, but at least I felt that the me in his world hadn’t lived a meaningless life.

“What about Eun-namu?” I asked.

I had no memory while Baeksan was possessing me. When I asked, he scratched his head for a moment.

“Whatever it was, that guy probably did something to her,” he said.

“You mean that hand bundle?”

“Yeah, she suddenly changed, saying you’d come back soon.”

“Come back? To me?”

“If I knew that, I’d be a god, wouldn’t I?”

So much for the all-knowing Baeksan-wagon. I felt a pang of regret but couldn’t shake the image of Eun-namu’s face.

Her tired smile was hard to forget. Despite her dry emotional expressions, she seemed utterly exhausted.

‘Is it because of the rumors about her being my ex?’

Even if she was from Giraseong, she was still my enemy. Why did I feel this way?

“Stop overthinking and rest,” Baeksan said.

He was right. Overthinking wouldn’t help, and I couldn’t recall what Baeksan didn’t know.

I decided to rest and lay down on the bed. Time to sleep.

—

A few days later, I found myself facing the final day of the Hunter Training Academy.

Despite the chaos caused by the Artificial Dimensional Gate incident, thanks to the quick actions of Seo-ho, Josia, and others, there were only a few injuries and miraculously no deaths.

The doctors sent by the World Returner Association worked hard, and all the injured recovered within a day. Those who suffered psychological trauma were offered counseling, so the academy continued.

With the graduation process nearing its end, no one wanted to repeat the Hunter Training Academy in the next term. Besides, Hunters are meant to face Dimensional Beings.

This incident served as a way to weed out those unfit for the job.

Thus, the academy proceeded smoothly, and graduation day arrived.

“So, I thought my room would be empty…,” I sighed, looking at the people sitting in my room.

“Are you trying to cheat with Space Movement? Do you want to lose your head?” someone said.

“Shin Sora unnie, you did the same thing with card tricks,” another replied.

“Hey, are you all cheating? Why is my card like this?!”

“Josia, you’re being loud. Quiet down. And I’m done. You’re last.”

“Ah! I only have the Joker left!”

From Ayu to Si-ho, Josia, and Seo-ho, I watched the four of them playing cards in my room, feeling a headache coming on.

Looking out the window, I saw Eun-hyeon in her fox form, resting on a tree branch. Her white fox form with an eye patch caught my eye, and she wagged her three tails at me.

With this many powerful people in my room, it felt like national-level security. Giraseong wouldn’t dare approach.

‘Though that’s probably the real reason.’

The main reason they were here was because Giraseong was targeting me.

Thanks to Baeksan, my body wasn’t fully recovered, and they were here to ensure nothing happened to me.

‘I appreciate it, but…’

Did I just lose all my freedom?

“By the way, Seolsan Iri, can you let me join that team you’re forming with Kang Ha-chan?” Josia suddenly asked Seo-ho.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Seo-ho frowned and looked at me.

“Seo-ho, I heard you formed a Hunter team after leaving Alters. You and I are on the same team, so you came to the academy to hide my existence from Alters,” Josia said.

“Why would that story come up?” Seo-ho asked.

“Ask her directly,” Josia replied.

Seo-ho turned to her, and her face slowly turned red before she threw her cards down.

“Ah, whatever! I’m leaving Alters too! Think about letting me join your team!” she shouted, disappearing through the wall.

I wondered when that misunderstanding would be cleared up, but I let it slide.

Before I knew it, the final day arrived.

Dressed in the academy’s gym uniform, I attended the graduation ceremony. It wasn’t much—just receiving my official Hunter registration, company profile, and Hunter F-class license.

Since the World Returner Association kept quiet about me, I received the license based on the academy’s standards.

After that, it was just a boring speech.

“F-class in lightning…,” I muttered, fiddling with my license.

My actual awakened ability was Weapon Destruction. I looked at my hand, clenching and unclenching it.

The ability I first used against Delpharis. Still unpolished, but as Baeksan said, it was powerful enough to take down Dimensional Beings.

‘What’s the name of my ability, though?’

Since it’s strong against Dimensional Beings, maybe Dimension Break?

‘That sounds lame.’

Maybe I’ll ask Baeksan what my sister called her ability. Speaking of which, I wondered what her title was.

With such an ability, she might have been called the Dimension Breaker.

‘Oh, I’ll call her that when I see her.’

Knowing my sister was alive made me think of her more often. Maybe I subconsciously hoped to find her.

“Hey,” someone called out.

It was then. With Eun-namu gone, I had no friends, so someone sitting next to me spoke up.

Were they going to scold me for not paying attention to the speech? As I turned my head, putting my Hunter license in my pocket, I saw Lee Soo-ho’s girlfriend.

When did she sit next to me?

“Lee Soo-ho’s girlfriend?” I asked.

“I’m not that trash’s girlfriend anymore!” she shouted angrily, drawing everyone’s attention.

Her face turned bright red, and she lowered her head.

“It’s Kim Seo-ah. Kim Seo-ah, remember that,” she said.

“Ah, yes, Kim Seo-ah,” I replied.

Hearing her name, she seemed pleased. Seeing her expression, I felt a strange premonition.

After realizing Ji-eun and Si-ho liked me, had I become more sensitive to people’s affections?

Her actions were clearly a sign of interest.

Great. Just what I needed.