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‘Only awakened individuals, including hunters, appeared as flames rather than simple lights.’ Cha Eui-jae recalled.
Although this area had many hunters, such an intense flame indicated someone of extraordinary caliber. It wasn’t a typical hunter; the flame was as sharp and immense as a monster’s.
Cha Eui-jae felt like he had to come check it out himself. ‘Park Ha-eun could be in danger.’ Cha Eui-jae told himself.
As Cha Eui-jae rushed over, he heard muffled thuds of someone groaning. Like someone was getting beaten up.
Right over the corner of the alley wall, an unknown man in black stood towering over a person. The immense aura coming from the figure made Cha Eui-jae uncomfortable.
‘This… he must be an S class like me with this overwhelming aura and size of a flame.’ Cha Eui-jae sweated. ‘I need to get out of here.’
Just as Cha Eui-jae turned, he felt the figure in black sharply turn towards his direction. Cha Eui-jae paused and quickly deactivated his skill.
A man in a black tactical outfit with a gas mask appeared in Cha Eui-jae’s vision. Nobody said anything. After a long silence, the man spoke up.
“You.”
Cha Eui-jae stood completely still. He could feel eyes boring into his face but he felt something was a little different. For some reason, Cha Eui-jae felt like the man recognized him. But how?
Suddenly, the man walked towards him. Cha Eui-jae’s grip on the ladle tightened. The man stood right in front of Cha Eui-jae for a few seconds before putting his arms around Cha Eui-jae. Cha Eui-jae went completely still.
‘Is he okay?’ Cha Eui-jae thought, mechanically turning his eyes from the man to the wall right in front of him.
A deep voice sounded in Cha Eui-jae’s ears. “Hyung.”
Cha Eui-jae started sweating. “I think you are mistaken. I’ve never met you. I’m just here to find my niece. An elementary schooler with a ponytail.”
Just then, the man on the ground twitched, and the gas mask figure in front of Cha Eui-jae kicked the man in the stomach again.
Digging his shoe into the man’s stomach, the gas mask figure took off the gas mask while still staring at Eui-jae. He had violet, purple eyes and a handsome face.
“I am Lee Sa-young, hyung.”
“You… Why are you telling me this?” Cha Eui-jae confusedly asked. ‘Most importantly, why are you calling me hyung? Did this era get a bunch of people with loose screws in their heads as hunters?’
“Hey.” Cha Eui-jae tensed again.
Lee Sa-young backed away from him and stared. “We met before, right?”
Cha Eui-jae was still stiffly holding the ladle. “I don’t know. I’m just a regular civilian.”
Screeeech!
Sharp spikes burst from the back of the man on the ground, shooting towards him. Out of reflex, Cha Eui-jae deflected all of the spikes perfectly.
Cha Eui-jae froze.
‘Civilians are supposed to be the ones protected, not the hunters. I’m still considered a civilian.’ Cha Eui-jae realized before slowly turning his head to Lee Sa-young. An awkward silence hung over them.
“…I’ll be going now. I need my niece.” Cha Eui-jae said after a while.
“Hey.” Cha Eui-jae paused.
“I know your J.” Lee Sa-young said. Cha Eui-jae whipped his head around so fast, he thought he’d snap it.
Cha Eui-jae awkwardly smiled and looked around. “Haha, what are you talking about sir? J has been dead for years.”
Lee Sa-young sighed.
“You can call me Sa-young.” The man said. Cha Eui-jae readied himself to run and so, that’s exactly what he did.
”Hey, wait!” Cha Eui-jae heard over his shoulder before he got yanked into a tight hug. “Why are you running?”
Cha Eui-jae felt Lee Sa-young’s chest against his back. It was warm. “Look. I need to find my niece quickly. Isn’t it dangerous for an elementary schooler to wander around at night?” Cha Eui-jae frustratedly said, desperate to get away.
“Ah. That’s true.” Sa-young breathed against his neck.
“Our guys will find the missing kid. Just wait a bit, okay?”
Just as Cha Eui-jae was about to refute and say that he was just going to go call the police to find her instead, the man tightened his hold. It was suffocating.
Suddenly, Cha Eui-jae felt himself flip and something touch his face. Lee Sa-young gripped onto Cha Eui-jae’s chin and kissed him stupid.
“???” Cha Eui-jae’s brain paused, surprised by the unexpected events.
Cha Eui-jae suddenly tasted blood and then the two stopped.
“You… why.? What.” Cha Eui-jae asked. The ladle somehow long gone on the ground.
Forgotten in the corner a long time ago, a system window glowed.
[Trait: Basilisk’s Venom (S+) activated.]
“I feel like we have many memories together, J.” Lee Sa-young smiled.
Cha Eui-jae groaned. ’How did he even figure out my identity so fast. Great.’
Cha Eui-jae suddenly felt Lee Sa-young’s mouth on his neck.
“You’re mine. Please don’t leave me.”
Cha Eui-jae internally cried as Lee Sa-young gently kissed his neck. ‘Something is definitely wrong!!’
Cha Eui-jae had a stinging feeling that somewhere in the universe, everything happened differently. The fleeting thought vanished the moment Lee Sa-young suddenly picked him up and started peppering kisses all over his face. Cha Eui-jae felt his face heat up as his complaints got ignored.
The system window appeared.
[Warning: Memories reacted to ti...]
The system window quickly erased itself and replaced the text.
[Have fun.]