Chapter Text
Tuesday morning kicked off just like any other day. Commuters packed into the 7:18 train, breathing in the stale air mixed with the smell of lukewarm coffee. In the evening, people were busy getting ingredients ready for tomorrow, others were in their offices handling paperwork, and some were just chilling at home.
Then, everything changed.
Not in a way that the world literally stopped, but in the minds of billions, there was a sudden and chilling pause. It felt like a tug, a painful ripping apart as if their very souls were being pulled away.
For Cha Euijae, a new part-timer at Hangover Restaurant, it hit him as a dizzying rush, like he was being yanked upward while his vision faded. One second he was focused on the ingredients for the Hangover Soup, and the next… nothing. Or rather, something completely beyond understanding.
He found himself no longer in the Hangover Restaurant. He was nowhere at all.
Instead, he floated in a vast, starry void. Colors swirled around him, creating an otherworldly aurora that stretched endlessly. He felt both weightless and anchored as if he were walking on something far more surreal than air.
As he looked around, he noticed others with him.
A quick glance told him they were all Hunters.
There were some familiar faces, like Jung Bin.
Well, shit.
Getting dragged into some weird rift with other Hunters, and not just any Hunters, but the top-tier ones? What kind of luck is that!? He was just getting used to being a part-timer instead of a full-on Hunter, and it hasn’t even been a week yet!
Panic was starting to set in. His "Poker Face" and other skills seemed to be out of reach so he made an effort to calm down. After three years as a Hunter, he knew that freaking out wouldn’t help, so he focused on his breathing to regain control.
He also can't get to his inventory, so he doesn't even have a weapon on him at the moment. Being stuck in a rift that easily took down top hunters without any weapon is pretty dangerous.
Fortunately, everyone else seems just as confused and tense as he is.
Better everyone than alone, isn't it?
While the Hunters chatted away, seemingly forgetting about him, or they probably didn't even notice him, Cha Euijae looked down. He felt the solid ground beneath his invisible feet and noticed he wasn’t in any pain.
Then he saw it.
A glowing white path, as narrow as a sidewalk, stretched out from under him, twisting and inviting him like a silent call. It shimmered softly, a light in the endless darkness.
He watched, mesmerized.
What on earth is this place?
"Huh? Is that a civilian?"
Cha Euijae flinched, and when he looked up, the blond woman was pointing at him, looking all confused. It was Yoo Chaehyun, or Honeybee.
"What?"
Jung Bin jumped a bit when his gaze met Cha Euijae's, making Cha Euijae feel a bit on edge.
"Why is a regular person here..."
Luckily, he was just concerned that a civilian had gotten caught up in this mess, not recognizing that Cha Euijae was actually J.
"Wait, aren't you the newly hired part-timer at the Hangover Restaurant?"
Ban Won Woo, Shield Guy, a frequent visitor of the Hangover Soup and the first high-ranking Hunter Cha Euijae met after coming back from the West Sea Rift, recognized him right away. He approached him, worried that someone like him had been dragged into the dungeon.
"Ah... Yeah. I think I ended up here by accident."
He even shook a little, as if the sudden rift entrance had scared him, just like most civilians would react. Well, he was supposed to be a civilian, so he had to play the part.
But then, everyone's eyes shifted to the teenager, probably the youngest one in the room, who gasped while staring at him.
Cha Euijae looked tense again. Did she recognize him or something? Whatever it is, her reaction seems intriguing enough to grab the attention of most people in the room. Could she be someone significant? With all these high-ranking hunters around, it’s likely she is.
"Is something wrong?"
The student snaps back to reality, glancing at Cha Euijae with a worried expression before shaking her head.
"Oh, no... I just thought I saw someone I knew. Sorry about that..."
"It's all good."
Even though Jung Bin reassured her, he was probably keeping a close eye on Cha Euijae now. He’s always been the cautious type, so the student’s reaction likely raised some red flags for him. Great.
"Are you guys done wasting time?"
Everyone turned their attention to the guy who seemed to have caught Cha Euijae's interest the most.
Cha Euijae sensed that the tall man with black hair and violet eyes was more than just your average S grade. There was something about him that he just couldn't put his finger on.
The speaker was, of course, none other than Lee Sayoung, who was already annoyed at being pulled away and was now even more frustrated that these high-ranking hunters were fixating on one civilian when there were plenty of S and A grade hunters around.
Lee Sayoung's violet eyes locked onto Cha Euijae's.
It felt like time stood still as they gazed at each other.
Others noticed the strange tension in the air, but before they could really take it in, the two quickly looked away. Cha Euijae started scanning the area while Lee Sayoung turned his attention to the other hunters.
"Let’s focus on finding a way out instead of chatting."
From what Lee Sayoung could tell, there were no monsters lurking around. It seemed they were just in a bizarre space with no signs of life besides themselves.
Seeing the logic in Lee Sayoung's words, everyone nodded in agreement and began to search the surroundings.
As expected, they all reported back with the same findings: nothing but an enormous empty space. Realizing that wandering off could lead to getting lost, they decided to regroup where Cha Euijae was stuck with the student.
But while everyone else was busy, the student leaned in and whispered something that made him even more anxious.
"Um, I know you're J. But don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret safe."
"..."
Well, busted.
So much for laying low.
How did she figure out he was J? Was it some kind of ability? Even though his own skills were disabled here, the other hunters had mentioned the same thing, so how could she still have hers?
He couldn't ask for more since their bodyguard, Jung Bin, was right there, keeping an eye on them, along with a guy who seemed a bit off, to put it nicely. Hunters have sharp ears, so Cha Euijae had to stay alert and not let Jung Bin catch wind of their chat.
Che Euijae was set on living a quiet life, and there was no way he’d let himself be exposed like this.
While the Hunters were feeling frustrated, it was Yoon Gaeul, the student, who suggested they follow the trail. Everyone started moving along the path, with Cha Euijae keeping his distance and Lee Sayoung leading the way.
As Cha Euijae walked, the vast emptiness began to feel less intimidating. The path was smooth and silent, offering no resistance to his quiet steps. The soft glow around him lit up the swirling cosmic scenery, revealing more details.
Then, the voices began.
"This is the last time."
"Huh?"
Hong Yeseong, I Am An Artisan, a narcissistic person that he is, would recognize his voice anywhere. It was definitely his voice, but it didn’t come from him. The tone was so eerie that it sent chills down everyone’s spines.
"What the heck, Hong Yeseong? Was that you? Cut it out with the creepy voice!"
Honeybee said, rubbing her arms to shake off the chill that crept in when she heard it.
"It's definitely my gorgeous voice, but it wasn't me! Quit blaming me!"
Jung Bin frowned. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation.
"...Let’s keep moving."
Lee Sayoung said, taking the lead. But as he walked, he suddenly halted when a second echo rang out.
"Will you wait for me?"
That voice was all too familiar. Bae Won-woo, the Shield Guy, was about to ask Lee Sayoung what was up, but he held back when he noticed the Guild Leader's trembling eyes.
"Guild Leader?"
Seo Mingi, more known as A Small Miracle, called out, snapping Lee Sayoung back to the present. Instead of answering, Lee Sayoung just started walking again.
Jung Bin's fists clenched at the sound of that voice, one he hadn’t heard in eight long years since the West Sea Rift closed.
What’s this rift all about? Is it stealing voices from their memories? And who did J ask, "Will you wait for me?" He never said that to Jung Bin, so it must be someone else in the room.
Jung Bin's gaze landed on Lee Sayoung's back, and for some reason, he felt a strong pull towards it as he thought about J.
Cha Euijae, trailing at the very back, flinched at the distorted voice. It was his voice, all twisted and warped by the mask he wore as J.
'Will you wait for me?'
A selfish request he asks the boy.
He remembered it all too well—the boy he had saved, his only success. But now, Cha Euijae realized he was too late. He had broken his promise and saved no one...
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice Lee Sayoung flinch and stop when the voice echoed again.
"J."
"Hyung."
Huh?
Cha Euijae frowned at the scene unfolding before him. Who was that person? They were referring to him as Hyung and J with such deep sorrow that it felt as if they were grieving for someone dear. Since they were familiar with J, it had to be someone from his past. Had they just learned of his death, which would explain their heartbroken tone?
But who could it be? The voice didn’t quite resonate with him... although it felt somewhat familiar, he just couldn’t pinpoint it.
"Was that Lee Sayoung?"
"He knows J?"
"He called him Hyung..."
Choi Go-yo, Kang Jisoo, and Honeybee whispered among themselves.
'Lee Sayoung?'
Cha Euijae glanced at the tall man. He recalled someone mentioning Sayoung earlier, so the voice must belong to him. However, the problem was that Cha Euijae didn’t actually know him.
After a while, everyone realized it had become completely silent.
Mok Taeoh, Matthew, glanced around as he spoke up.
"Hey, do you guys hear anything? I can't hear a thing anymore."
"Yeah, that's true..."
It was definitely odd how the voices just stopped like that.
Ban Gyu-min, Gyu-Gyu, clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Why were we even listening to those voices? They didn't seem important at all."
"Well, not like we can do much right now, right? All our skills are locked, and we can't use our weapons."
Jung Bin's response made Ban Gyu-min just shrug.
"So, do we keep walking then? We only began to hear voices once we started tracking the path after all."
Even though Hong Yeseong has a few lost screws, everyone agreed his suggestion made the most sense, so they kept moving forward. That’s when the echoes of voices started to come back.
"Cha Euijae. Euijae. Euijae."
Cha Euijae flinched slightly when he heard a familiar voice call his name. It was Lee Sayoung.
A shiver ran down his spine.
'How does he know my name?'
Is this some sort of hallucination? A memory? Whatever it is, he really wants to avoid getting involved with high-ranking Hunters, and the fact that Lee Sayoung knows who he is doesn’t bode well.
Lee Sayoung found it odd that his own voice sounded both cheerful and teasing as he called out "Euijae" repeatedly.
His gaze instinctively fell on the only civilian among a group of elite Hunters.
All the Hunters present were ranked in the top 50, with nearly all of the top 10 there, except for Seo Mingi and Yoon Gaeul. But the student was still an S-Class.
Moreover, these were Hunters Lee Sayoung didn’t hold a personal grudge against, unlike that Song Joheon. He might be a bit curt with them, but he didn’t harbor the same hatred he felt for Song Joheon, who had pushed J so hard that he barely had time to check on the people he had saved.
The presence of that civilian raised some eyebrows, but whoever brought him here clearly considered him significant. There was no way he had arrived by mere coincidence.
Their eyes met again, but the civilian acted as if he hadn’t seen him and completely ignored him.
Lee Sayoung found himself more amused than annoyed. The guy didn’t seem intimidated at all. If anything, he appeared more irritated. With his hand casually resting in his pocket, Lee Sayoung tilted his head to get a better look at the man.
Meanwhile, Cha Euijae was busy avoiding Lee Sayoung's gaze, while Jung Bin engaged in conversation with the others.
"It feels like the voices only echo when we’re on the move."
As soon as they halted, the echoes disappeared.
"Do you think this could be some sort of hallucination?"
"I doubt it. Maybe it’s our thoughts?"
"No way."
"Why do you seem so flustered, Seo Mingi? Got a secret or something?"
'Other than trash-talking my Guild Leader in my head? Nope.'
But Seo Mingi kept that to himself since Lee Sayoung has ears like a hawk. Even if he seems a bit distracted right now, he’d probably catch that.
While some of the Hunters debated the sounds they were hearing, a voice interrupted them.
"It’s telling me it’s going to show memories. And when we reach the end of the path, we will return to our bodies."
Yoon Gaeul, the newest S-Grade Hunter still attending high school, possesses a remarkable ability to perceive alternate timelines. She’s boldly asserting that the apocalypse is imminent.
While her assertions may seem far-fetched, her status as an S Grade Hunter selected by the system makes it hard to dismiss her outright. As a result, they opted to let her continue speaking rather than silencing her.
"Is it really that easy?"
"Yes...?"
Are rifts supposed to be this uncomplicated? Unless this is more like a Memorial Dungeon than an actual rift...
"Hold on a moment. Who exactly is "it"?"
Before she could elaborate, Jung Bin interjected with a question.
"Um, it's this place. For some reason, it feels like it's whispering to me, even though that's not part of my ability."
"So it's trying to communicate through you. Understood. Keep going. What is this place trying to convey?"
"Yes. It says these are all memories. What we’re witnessing are merely memories, but they don’t indicate which timeline they originate from. They simply state that they are memories, nothing more."
"That’s quite ambiguous."
"Yeah, but I guess we have to keep going."
"We might stumble upon something useful. You never know."
With that, everyone continued to move forward.
"My only success."
Cha Euijae and Lee Sayoung were both holding their breath.
The words hit Cha Euijae hard, stirring up feelings and memories he thought were long gone. He leaned in, trying to catch more of what was being said, but the whispers slipped away just as fast as they came, blending back into the vastness of space.
Cha Euijae repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, struggling to banish thoughts of the boy—his only success, who might already be dead—to the back of his mind.
Lee Sayoung longs to hear that distorted voice once more. The voice of his Hyung... He’s missed it so much it hurts.
The mood shifted dramatically, turning heavy with sadness, like someone was in mourning, and the hunters around them sensed it, though they couldn't pinpoint the source.
At first, they were just soft murmurs, almost lost in the emptiness around him. Bits of dialogue and pieces of the past floated by like echoes in an old, dusty room. Still, it was mostly just a single line here and there, making it tough to find any real significance in them.
"...Lee Sayoung's dead."
"I won’t lose again."
"Don’t fail this time."
"J is dead..."
"…Did I protect it?"
"How can I believe you, how can I?"
"This is the third time."
"Good night."
Lee Sayoung's death came as a tremendous shock, particularly considering it may have already occurred in a different timeline. However, what stands out even more is that Lee Sayoung seems to have the most echoes of voice and is mentioned the most, aside from J.
There’s more happening than just Lee Sayoung and J. It’s Hong Yeseong, who sounds a bit older and wiser than the one they have. He mentioned two phrases: "Don’t mess this up again," and "This is the third time." It gave off an unsettling vibe.
Hong Yeseong tilted his head and spoke casually.
"Why does he keep bringing up 'third time,' 'this time,' and 'last time'? Is there a connection? Feels like someone’s playing with time, right?"
Everyone paused to consider it. Despite Hong Yeseong's relaxed demeanor, his words actually made a strange kind of sense. Again. When did this guy become reliable?
"Messing with time... Isn’t that dangerous?"
Bae Won-woo, typically the cheerful one, looked genuinely worried.
"The world has already been a mess ever since The Day of the Rift."
Nam Woojin remarked with a shrug as if it were no big deal. But it is a big deal, and the Doctor is very intrigued by it.
"Nam Woojin has a valid point."
Jung Bin added, his tone tinged with sadness.
"Let's sleep together."
"Choke me harder. This feels good..."
"..."
"... ..."
Honeybee and Kang Jisoo turned beet red.
"Yah! Lee Sayoung! What the fuck!?"
"Ahhh my ears!! Can we please stop this recording or whatever it is!? Just cut it out! I beg you!!"
Bae Wonwoo, Seo Mingi, and Choi Goyo all look like they've seen a ghost, especially Bae Wonwoo, who was the one who raised Lee Sayoung. He definitely doesn’t want to hear about Lee Sayoung’s romantic endeavors, thanks!
Jung Bin quickly covered Yoon Gaeul's ears while everyone else turned bright red.
"Ha..."
"Oh, this is getting wild."
Nam Woojin let out a sigh as Ban Gyu-min grinned.
"So that's what you're into."
Hong Yeseong hummed at the discovery.
"What about your poison though? Ah, it doesn't matter. I guess someone finally matches your freak."
"Shut up. Damn it."
Lee Sayoung shot them a glare before glaring at nowhere.
But the one who’s probably the most embarrassed is Cha Euijae. He can’t help but squirm and avoid making eye contact with anyone. Lee Sayoung’s voice is probably stuck in his head now.
He really hopes they don’t end up watching someone’s intimate moments because he’d just dash out and leave everyone behind if that happens. Forget acting normal, his sanity is way more important!
***
As they continued along the path, the echoes grew more frequent. What began as mere voices soon evolved into ethereal figures materializing around them—transient forms composed of shimmering light.
Snow was falling. No, it was white ash. The white, crumbling ash piled up and covered the whole world.
The place was eerily silent and ominous. And familiar. Had he returned to the West Sea rift?
Cha Euijae ignored the metallic taste of blood from his bitten tongue. A familiar place.
Although everything was transparent and appeared to be the same shade of blue, he could distinguish that what was falling was ashes, not snow.
The white ash falling like snow, the familiar collapsed buildings covered in ash, the completely destroyed space. Monsters he’d never seen before pouring out from gates opened everywhere.
Wasn’t it strikingly similar to the inside of the West Sea Rift that he’d been navigating for eight years?
‘…’
Thump. Thump.
An indescribable sense of anxiety filled his heart. Cha Euijae took a deep breath.
Everyone looked around and saw someone in a padded jacket scavenging through the ruins.
"Is that...?"
"I think it's me."
Yoon Gaeul confirmed with a nod.
Jung Bin frowned and approached the figure quietly.
It was indeed Yoon Gaeul, who seemed to be in her early twenties. Her chapped face had dried tear marks that she hadn’t yet wiped away.
Yoon Ga-eul’s gaze passed right through them and looked further into the distance. There, a pale monster with thin limbs and no eyes was flapping its wings, wandering the streets.
"Shit."
Honeybee swore under her breath as the Hunters tensed. Even though Yoon Gaeul is an S Grade Hunter, she's not one for fighting and lacks any offensive or defensive abilities.
It was at that moment...
Bang!
With a loud explosion, white dust rose up. When the dust settled, a giant spear had pierced the monster’s heart, leaving it in agony.
Screeeech—
A low voice suppressed the unpleasant scream.
“Yoon Gaeul.”
Cha Euijae swallowed nervously as J got closer. But J passed through him without noticing.
"Is that...?"
"J!"
"So that's what he looks like..."
Even though he still had the mask on, they had never really seen J's figure before. This was the first time they got a clear glimpse of him.
"Wait, seriously!?"
The Hunters who had Awakened up after J's death and had only caught a few blurry images of him were totally surprised and thrilled to see him in person. Well, not in person, but this is the closest they could get.
'Hyung...'
Lee Sayoung's face fell, looking heartbroken. Luckily, everyone was too busy admiring J to notice his expression, except for one person. For some reason, Cha Euijae found himself focused on Lee Sayoung instead of J.
'What’s with that look on his face?'
Che Euijae had never met that man before, so why does his heart feel heavy seeing him make that face while looking at J?
'So that's J...'
Gyu Gyu contemplated as he gazed at the masked figure.
'Damn. He’s incredibly impressive.'
Why did someone like him have to fall, allowing Lee Sayoung to rise to the top? The world would be a better place without Lee Sayoung.
J reached out his hand to Yoon Ga-eul.
“What are you doing here? The base camp is over there.”
“…”
“…Honeybee was worried.”
"Wait, J knows who I am?"
That’s odd. She had never crossed paths with him before.
This also made Cha Euijae frown. By the time Honeybee Awakened, he was already stuck in the West Sea Rift. Something feels off...
"Did we run into each other at some time? I can’t recall... Hey, Jung Bin."
"...Yes?"
"Have I ever met J when I was a Hunter?"
Jung Bin shook his head.
"No. You’ve never met as Hunters."
"Huh..."
Lee Sayoung raised an eyebrow. How does J know Honeybee? A sense of unease began to settle in. He definitely wasn't enjoying this.
Yoon Ga-eul grabbed the debris of the building and avoided J’s gaze.
“…I’m sorry, I was just going to look around a bit more… but I ended up coming here.”
J easily slung the giant spear over his shoulder and stood up. He turned and looked back at Yoon Ga-eul.
“Oh. Don’t tell Sa-young about this.”
“Sorry?”
Cha Euijae’s eyes widened slightly as he watched the unfamiliar scene of J talking to Yoon Gaeul.
'Sa... young...?'
Lee Sayoung is the man with black hair and violet eyes, or at least that's what he gathered. However, he doesn't really know him, so why is he behaving as if they're close to the point this has J worried about how that guy might react?
J put a finger to the mouth of his mask.
“If he finds out, he’ll complain again. Keep it a secret.”
Yoon Ga-eul finally smiled brightly.
“Yes! Thank you!”
The scene before them wavered, and J and Yoon Ga-eul’s figures blurred and disappeared.
"Uh... Lee Sayoung?"
"What?"
Honeybee rolled her eyes at the rude reply before sharing her thoughts.
"Are you close with J? I mean, you called him Hyung..."
"None of your business."
"You bastard!"
Honeybee was fuming, but Lee Sayoung just ignored her and focused on J, who was mentioning his name with familiarity.
Jung Bin frowned.
Does Lee Sayoung actually know J well enough to call him Hyung? It’s weird since he never seemed interested in that before. Now that he thinks about it... when he first met Lee Sayoung, he brought up J. Is there a connection there?
Seo Mingi, Bae Wonwoo, and Choi Goyo exchanged glances with their Guild Leader, their expressions unreadable. They had no idea Lee Sayoung was close to J, especially since J was using his name so casually.
Could this be why he was so eager to reopen the West Sea Rift?
"Let's continue."
"Hey, hold on!"
Lee Sayoung was racing ahead like never before, tuning out everyone around him, driven by the need to catch another glimpse of J. Maybe this time he’d find out what really happened to his Hyung.
Even though they were all feeling exasperated at Lee Sayoung's unusual behavior, everyone picked up their speed. This place was throwing confusing things at them, but deep down, they all felt that answers awaited them at the end of the road, so they hurried to see what was next.
In their rush, they almost forgot about Cha Euijae, who was falling behind, except for Yoon Gaeul, the only one who noticed.
Jung Bin usually wouldn't, but he got distracted when he saw J again.
"Are you alright, J?"
She asked quietly, slowing down to match his pace. They both knew it wouldn’t be good if they got separated from the group.
"Don’t call me that. Just call me Cha Euijae."
He replied with a sigh, glancing ahead and realizing the road was still long, meaning there was plenty more to uncover.
"This place is going to reveal everything, isn't it?"
"Yes, I'm sorry... I wish I could do something about it."
She said, feeling helpless, unlike with the Fragments of the World.
Cha Euijae turned to Yoon Gaeul.
"Is this place similar to your ability?"
He had been keeping an eye on everyone, and it looked like she had some kind of skill that made Jung Bin that everything happening here could be real. He even caught her saying it was a bit like the "Shards" she gathers, but that she didn’t have any control over these ones.
"Hmm, it’s pretty similar? I gather the 'Shard of the World,' and these shards give me a peek into a different timeline. The memory we just witnessed was from another timeline too."
"...Ah, that makes sense."
That's how she knew and was certain he was J.
That is also how J knows Honeybee and Lee Sayoung when he never meets them. Does that mean he never visited the West Sea Rift in that other timeline if he was aware of the Hunters who showed up before he vanished?
That thought made him stop for a moment.
What is the deal with that place being similar to the West Sea Rift? Is there some kind of connection? But he couldn’t dive deeper into that idea since everyone had already triggered the next memory.
They found themselves in a massive library this time. Unfortunately, half of the bookshelves were either broken or leaning, and books were strewn across the floor as if they had been abandoned for ages.
In contrast to the lifeless street earlier, this place was alive with activity. Many people were injured, and there was a flurry of movement as folks tended to the wounded and cleared away the wreckage.
"What happened here?"
A hunter in the crowd asked, watching the same scene unfold.
"The Apocalypse, the end..."
Yoon Gaeul replied with a heavy heart.
Yoon Ga-eul was also moving around the library, picking up books and tidying up.
They followed Yoon Gaeul, the version from their memory, as they took in their surroundings. Suddenly, they noticed a dark figure standing apart from the turmoil.
With tousled black hair, striking purple eyes, and full lips marked by a mole, he wore a long black leather coat that reached his knees and black gloves. The only notable difference from their memory was the long sword hanging at his side.
“…”
It was Lee Sayoung.
He appeared slightly older than the version they knew, but there was no mistaking him—his face and presence were unmistakable.
While everyone was focused on the man, Cha Euijae's attention was elsewhere.
Cha Euijae's eyes were drawn to something unexpected. The sword hanging at Memory Lee Sayoung's side looked a lot like the Basilisk’s Fang he had found in the West Sea rift.
'What...'
Could it be that the sword belongs to a different person in another timeline? It’s a possibility, but why does Cha Euijae's instinct feel otherwise? Why does he have this nagging feeling that it’s the same exact sword he currently has?
But if it is the same sword, how did it end up in the West Sea Rift?
Suddenly, Hong Yeseong suddenly chimed in.
"That sword? I made it!"
"Huh?"
"What sword?"
Everyone turned to Hong Yeseong and then back to the sword he was pointing at, which was the one on Lee Sayoung's waist.
Hong Yeseong's then expression shifted to confusion.
"I created that sword, but at the same time, I didn’t? It’s all a bit muddled. Maybe there’s another version of me out there."
That theory seemed reasonable, considering the memories they were experiencing were a mix of various alternate versions of their world.
Lee Sayoung watched the other Lee Sayoung from the memory, who seemed to be ignoring everyone around him.
But his purple eyes were solely…
“…We’re definitely short on medical supplies.”
“We might have to check the hospitals in Gyeonggi-do, J. Can you do that?”
“Hmm… well, we have to.”
…focused on J, who was conversing on one side of the camp.
If it were the Lee Sayoung of today, he'd totally do the same thing. This time, he’s not letting that man get away. He won’t let him wriggle out like the little worm he is.
Cha Euijae suddenly felt a chill run through him, prompting him to rub his shoulders. What was that all about? He was suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful impulse to run away and find somewhere to conceal himself. It’s probably nothing.
Memory Lee Sa-young, who had been silently watching J and the hunter chat, finally made his move and slipped in right behind J as the other hunter started talking seriously about their upcoming plans. It looks like he wasn't too happy about it.
The hunter, who had been going on about the importance of medical supplies, took a step back in surprise.
“L-Lee Sa-young.”
“Ah, Lee Sa-young. You came quickly. How was Dongdaemun?”
Cha Euijae tilted his head in confusion.
Why were they standing so close together? It was like they were about to hug and the atmosphere seemed almost... intimate.
No way.
Cha Euijae shook his head, pushing the memory of the two aside as he tried to concentrate on what was actually happening at that moment.
J also turned around and acknowledged Lee Sa-young, but Lee Sa-young coldly replied only to the hunter standing in front of him.
“Send someone else.”
“What? But…”
“I said send someone else.”
The hunter, who was about to say more, couldn’t withstand Lee Sa-young’s fierce aura and bowed his head, stepping back. Lee Sa-young slightly bent down and whispered in J’s ear.
Jung Bin coughed.
'Way too close for comfort!'
Lee Sayoung couldn't help but frown as he watched the memory. Sure, seeing Memory Lee Sayoung so close to J is nice, but it doesn't change the reality that this isn't the real him, and J is still out there missing.
“Just listening to this nonsense…”
“Don’t be too harsh. Efficiency-wise, it’s better for me to go.”
“Please, don’t you start with the nonsense too.”
“I told you to speak nicely.”
Lee Sa-young mumbled something angrily, as if pouting, but J couldn’t hear it.
Lee Sa-young’s soft black hair nestled between J’s shoulder and neck. Even while looking at the documents, J patted Lee Sa-young’s head with the other hand. It seemed like a very familiar action.
Cha Euijae, who was watching the unfamiliar scene, crossed his arms with a sour expression.
‘…Is this a delusion?’
The J and Lee Sayoung appearing in these memories were both the same and different from the ones Cha Euijae knew. It was like looking at distorted reflections in a warped mirror.
These absurd stories made him question whether he should keep watching, but there was something about them that kept him from brushing them off as just silly nonsense.
Ban Gyumin raised an eyebrow at the intimate scene unfolding between the former number one and the current top Hunter, a smirk forming on his lips.
"So is this what it’s all about? Lee Sayoung?"
Why he take control of the West Sea Rift, despite the fact that both the government and the Hunter Guilds consider it a burden. Why he made a documentary about J to ensure the world remembers him and his contributions to the current peace they have. Why he dove into researching dungeons and poured a ton of resources into it.
All of this was driven by his desire to find J, who vanished along with the West Sea Rift, or at the very least, to recover his remains.
Lee Sayoung met Ban Gyumin's gaze with intensity, but then quickly looked away without a word. That fleeting glance was all Ban Gyumin needed to connect the dots.
'This is too amusing.'
If this gets out, the fact that the leading Hunter is infatuated with the former number one will turn into a massive scandal.
Heh. That’s definitely something to think about later when they leave this place.
While Bae Won-woo and Choi Go-yo appeared confused by the exchange between Lee Sayoung and Ban Gyumin, Seo Mingi had a completely different reaction. He was now staring at Lee Sayoung as if he had just uncovered an astonishing revelation about him.
"What on earth was that about?"
"I'm not really sure."
Honeybee and Matthew exchanged glances and then just shrugged.
The memory started to blur before disappearing so they had to keep moving. After a little while of walking, another memory popped up.
Out of nowhere, everything around them changed. Yoon Gaeul found herself crouched between some crumbled buildings. The streets were swarming with white monsters, and even more were spilling out from strange gates floating in the air. J was right beside her, wrapping up his arm and gripping a spear.
“I’ll hold them off here, so run first.”
“Wait! No matter how strong you are, J, this is too much…”
“If I run, these things will all head to the base camp. Can you handle that?”
Yoon Gaeul was at a loss for words and pressed her lips together. A scarred hand patted Yoon Ga-eul’s head.
“It’s okay.”
“J!”
“I said it’s okay.”
“…”
“I’ll finish this quickly and come back. Trust me.”
Eyes twinkled round through a half-broken mask.
The sound of monsters roaring and footsteps grew louder beyond the buildings. The young man erased his smile. He stood up, holding his blood-stained spear.
Lee Sayoung was glued to the scene before him. It was the first time he caught a glimpse of J's face through the cracked mask, and he was finally seeing a part of him. While he might have touched it before but actually seeing J's face was a whole different experience.
As he concentrated on the blue eyes peering out from the damaged mask, Lee Sayoung's gaze shifted to the only civilian present, or at least that’s what he claimed to be. This civilian wasn’t paying him any mind and instead, he was fixated on the interaction between J and Yoon Gaeul, wearing a blank expression while standing back with his arms crossed.
Lee Sayoung kept his gaze on the civilian for a moment until their eyes finally met.
Cha Euijae flinched at the connection and quickly averted his gaze.
'Why is that guy staring at me?!'
It’s never wise to attract the attention of high-ranking hunters, especially the current top Hunter in Korea.
“When I give the signal, don’t look back and run.”
“…”
“Oh, right. One more thing.”
J put his index finger to his lips, just like in the first fragment.
“Keep this a secret from Lee Sa-young. Got it?”
Lee Sayoung held his breath.
The memory ended there. But even without seeing beyond that, Cha Euijae could tell. J probably didn’t make it back.
"Regardless of the timeline, J continued to face his demise."
"He's not dead yet."
Lee Sayoung retorted sharply to Honeybee, who appeared surprised by Lee's unexpected outburst, especially since he had been so calm since they began hearing voices and revisiting memories.
"She didn't mean to come off as insensitive, Lee Sayoung."
Matthew positioned himself between them, fully aware that Lee Sayoung wasn't genuinely going to confront Honeybee. He's not the type to get aggressive, even if he can come off as rude, but Matthew doesn't want to risk Honeybee firing back and starting another argument. He just wanted to avoid that drama for now.
Lee Sayoung clicked his tongue and brushed off both Matthew and Honeybee.
However, Lee Sayoung's response led Matthew to realize that the guy might not actually harbor any hatred or jealousy towards J.
As everyone resumed walking, Lee Sayoung was surprisingly lagging behind for the first time. Cha Euijae started to think that maybe the guy was just being lazy and began to put some space between them.
Luckily, Lee Sayoung only frowned and didn’t make any effort to catch up. Instead, he just kept pace with Cha Euijae but at least he didn't try talking to him.
'What’s this guy up to?'
Just as he was about to ask, another memory hit them.
In the pitch-black void where not even a foot ahead was visible, only the sound of rough, beast-like breathing filled the air. It almost resembled quiet sobbing.
"What’s going on?"
Everyone began to search the dark space for the source of the sobbing, and they not only found it but also recognized the person.
"Lee Sayoung!?"
"Guild Leader!?"
They all exclaimed in shock. Lee Sayoung was actually crying—the rude guy was in tears!
Cha Euijae was surprised, even though he didn't know Lee Sayoung personally.
'He is crying...?'
The thought that someone like him could shed tears was astonishing.
'He must have deep feelings for that person to be crying so intensely.'
For the first time since meeting Lee Sayoung, Cha Euijae experienced genuine sympathy for him.
Then, without warning, something shattered. A small beam of light pierced through the darkness, followed by another crash as a tree snapped with a loud crunch.
Pointing into the darkness with her bandaged hand, Honeybee shouted.
“You bastard, how long are you going to stay holed up in there!”
"Honeybee!?"
"Wha—What happened!?"
Honeybee was covered in wounds from head to toe. Her once beautiful golden hair was a tangled mess, cut short at the nape.
It's evident that people are taken aback by the unfortunate state of the two top 10 Hunters in Korea. This doesn't bode well.
Bursting through the door with a rough shout was Honeybee,
“Do you know how much power we lose with just you gone? Do you think the ones fighting for their lives are idiots? Get a grip! At least the living have to keep living!”
“…”
“Are you the only one who’s sad? Are you the only one, damn it, are you the only one…! Stop acting like you’re the only one who lost the world!”
Lee Sayoung frowned at what Honeybee said, but he could sense that this situation might be linked to the last time when J...
“Keep this a secret from Lee Sa-young. Got it?”
...J got lost. Again.
It was simple to connect the dots, as the initial memories they witnessed showed Memory Lee Sayoung with lighter violet eyes than his own, dressed in a long black coat, and sporting the sword that Hong Yeseong insisted he had crafted, secured at his side.
Even in an alternate timeline, he was unable to rescue him.
Yoon Gaeul couldn't help but cry as she thought back to the memory they had just seen, where J made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Honeybee, calm down. Your wounds are opening.”
Bae Won-woo, who had followed her in, grabbed Honeybee’s shoulder. But she roughly brushed off his hand and shouted.
“Do you know Jung Bin is dead? Mok Tae-oh died today. Damn it, Mok Tae-oh… that idiot is dead!”
"What!?"
Honeybee gasped in disbelief, nearly reaching for the Memory Honeybee before Matthew restrained her.
"Hey, take it easy."
"Take it easy!? You’re dead!"
"Just like everyone else. J is gone. Jung Bin is gone. I’m gone. This is the end of the world, and even J couldn’t prevent it."
"I just..."
Honeybee clenched her jaw, at a loss for words in her shock. The Korea she knows is at peace, and Matthew, being the second strongest Hunter in the country, makes it hard for her to accept that someone like him could perish.
Well, J who is the strongest Hunter did die, but his time was marked by great danger, whereas their present time enjoys peace.
"Besides, it’s from a different timeline. It might not affect us."
Kang Jisoo attempted to comfort the Hunter.
Jung Bin rubbed his forehead, realizing that Yoon Gaeul's claims might be more dire than he had anticipated, especially since both he and Matthew had also met their end in a timeline where they experienced the Apocalypse or the end.
Honeybee started to cry, tears streaming down her face. Bae Won-woo, watching her with a troubled expression, turned to the darkness. He was wearing a brown coat, with his left sleeve empty.
“…Lee Sa-young.”
“…”
“I understand how you feel. But…”
Bae Wonwoo's scarred face bore the marks of fatigue, and he appeared to be on the verge of speaking but ultimately chose silence.
Lee Sayoung's brow furrowed as he observed the condition of Pado's Vice Guild Leader, Bae Wonwoo. This was the first time he had seen him in such a sorry state.
Seo Mingi is also concerned, while Choi Go-yo glanced between the weary Bae Wonwoo and the one beside them, who still maintained a positive demeanor. It was hard to reconcile the image of this typically upbeat man with the possibility of him appearing so worn down in another timeline, or perhaps even in the future.
“…Never mind. Let’s go, Honeybee.”
Bae Won-woo almost carried Honeybee out of the room. The sound of her crying grew distant. The room fell silent again.
"Huh... So you’re capable of crying."
"What do you mean by that!? Of course I can! Do you think I'm some kind of alien!?"
Honeybee let out an exasperated huff. Her unusual reaction stemmed from the tension and fear she felt about their uncertain future, particularly concerning that idiot, Matthew.
Hong Yeseong raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"I didn't mean it like that, haha! It's just amusing!"
"What!?"
"Nothing!"
Bae Wonwoo furrowed his brow at Memory Bae Wonwoo's reaction. It looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself, which made him curious about why he held back. Usually, he wouldn't hesitate when it came to Sayoung. After all, he raised that guy, so he knows him inside and out.
“…J.”
A hollow voice came from the darkness. It was a familiar voice. Cha Eui-jae stepped into the darkness as if bewitched. At that moment...
“Hyung.”
A purple light flashed in the darkness.
Cha Euijae was at a loss for words. What was that deeply sorrowful and anguished look on his face? Were they really that close for Lee Sayoung to break down and isolate himself like this after his passing?
"Do I look good when I cry?"
"...What?"
Cha Euijae turned to his side and noticed Lee Sayoung standing there, hands tucked into his jeans pockets.
The man with violet eyes tilted his head and flashed a smirk.
"You were staring so intently at the memory that I wondered if I looked good enough to make you gaze at me like that while I cried."
"..."
"Do I look pretty when I cry?"
"Are you cra—uh, ahem."
Cha Euijae coughed, feeling flustered. He nearly let a curse slip at Korea's top Hunter. If the guy decided to retaliate because a civilian dared to curse at him, Cha Euijae wasn't sure he could hold back. Just because he was keeping a low profile didn’t mean he was okay with being pushed around and beaten up.
'I could totally take them out with a well-placed hit to make them forget all about this.'
That sounded like a solid plan.
With that thought in mind, Cha Euijae coughed again.
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
Cha Euijae rolled his eyes and chose to ignore Lee Sayoung, still reeling from the shocking news that Jung Bin had died in another timeline, which made the man sulk. Nevertheless, this brief interaction allowed Lee Sayoung to draw a bit closer to the civilian, Euijae, without raising his guard up.
Lee Sayoung settled in comfortably next to the civilian, who appeared lost in thought once more.
Meanwhile, Seo Mingi continued to observe his Guild Leader. Yes, he witnessed everything and had a sense of what the man was attempting to achieve.
"J... Hyung..."
"Isn't that what we heard before? Since it was Lee Sayoung's voice, it echoed so much that I can't forget it. Disgusting."
Jung Bin echoed Lee Sayoung's words as Ban Gyumin reminded him of that moment.
"Indeed."
Jung Bin started to wonder if they would be able to see the memory where Hong Yeseong talked about the "third time" and "last time." It felt significant enough that it linger to his mind. Now that they were revisiting the memory of Lee Sayoung saying "J" and "Hyung," he felt a bit more optimistic.
"Still not going to share anything with me, huh? Tsk. So boring."
Jung Bin simply smiled at Ban Gyumin, who was rolling his eyes at the public servant.
The next memory was rather interesting. It featured Jung Bin and J.
Lee Sayoung frowned at the scene.
J, who seemed like a young guy, was chilling at the end of a red slide, wearing a cap and a plain black mask. He had a relaxed vibe, with his arms draped over his knees. His outfit was pretty basic—a thick jacket zipped all the way up, black track pants, and sandals with three white stripes.
Honestly, he looked so ordinary that you might think he was just another person if it weren't for the mask.
Jung Bin let out a sigh.
He tried not to dwell on it too much, but he really missed the guy. Seeing J like this made him realize how young he was, even while carrying so much on his shoulders. If only he could turn back time, he would do everything to shield J's youthful innocence. But, of course, that's just wishful thinking... or maybe not entirely impossible, especially with those alternate timelines and Hong Yeseong's eerie words hanging in the air.
Beneath the flickering streetlight, insects buzzed about busily. The air around the young man seemed to hang still. As if sensing Jung Bin’s presence, the young man looked up.
“Oh.”
The distorted voice let out a short exclamation. He nodded slightly as if in greeting.
“Long time no see. I hope you’ve been well.”
"Is this the past, Jung Bin?"
Nam Woo-jin asked, and Jung Bin shook his head, sharing his thoughts.
"Considering I look exactly the same as I do now, this probably isn't from my memories."
"Hm, I see."
Lee Sayoung's intense stare at the side of his face made Jung Bin turn to him.
"What is it?"
"...Do you two always talk like this?"
There was a hint of annoyance in his voice that puzzled Jung Bin.
"No, not really. I mean, we might have at some point? But honestly, we’ve been too busy to even talk much..."
Lee Sayoung huffed but seemed to accept the answer, at least for the moment.
With his hands behind his back, Jung Bin smiled faintly.
“Yes. Long time no see.”
“…”
This time, the young man didn’t answer.
Jung Bin raised an eyebrow at the unfolding situation.
It was evident that Memory Jung Bin was cautious around J, maintaining his distance and appearing ready for a confrontation. Are they not allies for Memory Jung Bin to feel this way about J?
The "long time no see" remark implies they haven't encountered each other in quite a while. Is it possible that this J also disappeared in the West Sea Rift, but unlike their J, he managed to return? It's difficult to determine exactly what's happening, especially since this is all from an alternate timeline.
J rested his chin on his hand and muttered.
“Is your arm okay?”
“Pardon?”
“You injured your right arm back then, protecting the others from the golem.”
“…”
Jung Bin’s eyes widened, but he quickly masked his expression.
Kang Jisoo tilted her head.
"A golem dungeon?"
Have they ever come across one? It doesn’t seem like it, since she’d likely remember if they had.
Nam Woojin's eyes sparkled with interest. He looks intrigued by the golems.
Jung Bin looked worried. If he got hurt, that could mean this dungeon is riskier. He’s not sure if it’ll show up in their timeline, but it’s always better to be cautious.
At that moment, J let out a deep sigh.
“Oh man, how does that guy manage to twist his words so much… I can’t deal with it.”
With a groan, J stretched and stood up. He slipped his hands into his pockets and stood crookedly, his gaze sweeping over Jung Bin from head to toe, lingering on the scars on his arms exposed beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
J shrugged.
“You’ve grown a lot more suspicious.”
“I apologize. Given the current circumstances.”
Jung Bin lightly bowed his head. J paced in front of the slide, seemingly deep in thought, before crossing his arms.
“Shall we talk about that time when we had a chat on the outdoor stairs of the headquarters?”
Nostalgia washed over Jung Bin.
Outdoor stairs. The familiar location brought back memories. He exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, feeling the tension in his shoulders start to fade.
“What? Are you two hiding some secret romance from everyone?”
Lee Sayoung’s blunt but sharp comment caught Jung Bin off guard. He glanced over at the man, who was glaring at him from near the only civilian present.
“What? What are you talking about? We’re just…”
Jung Bin hesitated. Were they even friends? They had so much on their plates back then that casual conversations were rare. In fact, Jung Bin really doesn't know much about the man at all.
Cha Euijae secretly watched the bewildered and tense expression on Jung Bin’s face.
With a sigh, Jung Bin replied.
“We’re just coworkers.”
Lee Sayoung still looked skeptical, but thankfully, he let the topic go.
"But imagine though... Alright, I'll stop."
Lee Sayoung shot a fierce look at Kang Jisoo, who immediately surrendered to her Guild Leader.
"Oh, a love triangle, huh?"
Ban Gyumin said with a teasing tone, knowing Jung Bin could hear him. Jung Bin just let out a sigh.
Cha Euijae observed the entire interaction with a strange look on his face.
Jung Bin ran his hands over his face and muttered.
“Ah… So you really are him.”
“Of course, I’m not a fake.”
“…”
After rubbing his face for a while, trying to regain his composure, Jung Bin suddenly lifted his head.
Jung Bin urgently asked.
“Has something serious happened?”
Everyone suddenly tensed.
Hearing about Lee Sayoung, Matthew, and Jung Bin's deaths makes them uneasy whenever a topic like this comes up. What if there’s another tragedy?
Luckily, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening, as J nervously rubs the back of his neck. He seems a bit... shy.
“Oh… that. It’s nothing too big.”
The streetlight flickered precariously. Late at night, two young men, who seemed out of place at a playground, were standing tensely, facing each other.
“Give me all the information you have on Prometheus and Lee Sa-young.”
J straight-up asked for confidential info.
Silence fell.
And then...
"Shit."
Several of the Hunters shifted uneasily as they glanced at Che Euijae.
The entire Prometheus matter is meant to be a closely guarded secret among the top Hunters, yet here they were, discussing it so casually in a playground. Fortunately, there was only one civilian present, making him easy to handle, and Yoon Gaeul, despite being a student, is still an S Grade Hunter.
Cha Euijae frowned at the unusual term, but noticing the anxious expressions on the Hunters' faces, he understood that it was classified information, and they were worried about it getting out through him.
To ease their minds, he zipped his lips and shook his head, and they all breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he wouldn’t spill anything.
Jung Bin rubbed his chin.
‘Information about Prometheus and Lee Sayoung.’
If he’s aware of Prometheus when they only showed up after he died, that just proves that the Memory they have now is from a different timeline. However, what connection did he have with Lee Sayoung to request information about him? He still can't quite understand what their relationship is.
"Oh?"
Rather than feeling intimidated by J, who is extremely high-ranking and powerful, Lee Sayoung appeared... excited? It was as if a wave of happiness emanated from him, almost like flowers blooming in his presence.
'Is he for real?'
They couldn’t help but think as they observed Lee Sayoung beaming at the Memory, completely immersed in his joy.
“Hmm, is this really that difficult? Do you really have to agonize over it this much?”
Jung Bin quickly lifted his head. J, with his hands thrust into the pockets of his black jacket, was standing crookedly, tilting his head. He innocently asked,
“Isn’t it strange? Back in our day, there were no secrets, were there?”
"No secrets, huh?"
Lee Sayoung clenched his jaw while Jung Bin stood there, totally at a loss for words.
Cha Euijae shot a disapproving look at the guy. What’s his deal with J and Jung Bin chatting? Just because he’s close with J in whatever timeline this Memory was taken from doesn’t give him the right to act like a total bastard.
'Absolute cinema.'
Ban Gyumin chuckled quietly to himself.
J muttered to himself,
“Hunter Song might have kept me out of the loop a bit… but anyway.”
He shrugged.
“It would be nice if you could give it to me in a report… but if you’re worried about leaks, just tell me. I can memorize it. And you’re really busy, right? I saw you recently shot a commercial about earthquake safety.”
Honeybee laughed lightly.
"Looks like even in a different timeline, Jung Bin is still hogging all the ads."
Jung Bin just smiled back at her, but he felt a bit awkward.
What would J, the one from their timeline who didn't make it out of the West Sea Rift, think when he saw Jung Bin looking more like a celebrity than a real hunter?
Memory Jung Bin rubbed his face with both hands, trying to brush off the tension.
Jung Bin got where he was coming from. He was great at keeping a straight face while gathering intel, but staying calm in this moment was a whole different story.
After a moment, Memory Jung Bin lifted his head. His face was visibly exhausted, but his mouth moved mechanically.
“I recommend searching online for information about Lee Sa-young, J. It’s very well documented on the internet wiki.”
J replied in a disinterested tone,
“Who asked about his personal details? I’m asking about something else, that’s why I called you all the way here. You know everything; why are you acting like this?”
Bae Wonwoo shot a look at Lee Sayoung, who still had that pleased smirk plastered on his handsome face.
"Shouldn't he be a bit more concerned about all this?"
Bae Wonwoo let out a sigh.
Kang Jisoo and Choi Goyo just shrugged. If Bae Wonwoo, the one who knows Lee Sayoung best, couldn't figure out what was going on in his head, how could they?
"What if they're enemies in this timeline? Maybe the Guild leader is actually the bad guy!"
"You might be onto something there."
Kang Jisoo replied, nodding thoughtfully.
"My Sayoung would never do that!"
Bae Wonwoo had to defend the Guild Leader.
"..."
Seo Mingi decided to keep his thoughts to himself.
“It’s a violation of personal information protection laws.”
“I’m not asking for his ID and password.”
“What’s forbidden is forbidden, J.”
“Lee Sa-young aside, Prometheus wouldn’t fall under that law, would they?”
“Prometheus is top-secret classified. J. I need the director’s approval to tell you about it.”
'What’s the deal with this 'Prometheus' thing anyway?'
Cha Euijae thought to himself. They keep bringing it up, and it's making him curious, which could really mess up his plan to live a quiet life as a part-timer at Hangover Restaurant.
A long sigh escaped. J was now bowing his head deeply.
Lee Sayoung shot a glare at Jung Bin, upset that he had made his Hyung sad and hadn’t shared anything about Lee Sayoung.
Resting his forehead on his palm, J murmured gloomily.
“I didn’t want to do this…”
“What?”
“…But I guess I have no choice.”
It was a foreboding warning.
Moments later, thud, his slippers hit the green floor. The way he stood and the vibe he gave off were definitely not typical.
Jung Bin looked at J with anxious eyes.
J, standing crookedly like a thug with one leg bent, shouted,
“How can you not tell the hero who saved the country!”
Jung Bin’s jaw dropped.
It was a trap!
It was a surprising declaration that left him questioning what he just heard. Wasn’t this the same guy who used to brush off the thought of being a hero? And now, he was completely embracing his power.
Jung Bin hadn’t anticipated this kind of situation. He stammered,
“What, what did you say?”
“How many monsters I’ve caught, how many rifts I’ve closed!”
“Wait a minute, J!”
“How many dungeons I’ve cleared, I say!”
“Please calm down!”
“I’m not asking for anything unreasonable! I’m not even asking you to summarize the past 8 years! I’m just asking about two things, reasonably! And an old colleague can’t even tell me that!”
“I’m sorry, please calm down!”
People who don’t know J personally were totally shocked. Can you believe it? J is actually that bold! Is this for real? Is this really the same person from all those stories? How can someone like him guilt trip someone into giving them information!?
Even Cha Euijae was taken aback by this. Was he always this shameless? He couldn't believe he’d resort to such tactics to dig up info on Lee Sayoung of all people.
While everyone was in disbelief, something J said caught the ears of two individuals: Seo Mingi, and Ban Gyumin.
“I’m not asking for anything unreasonable! I’m not even asking you to summarize the past 8 years! I’m just asking about two things, reasonably! And an old colleague can’t even tell me that!”
Isn’t this alternate timeline a bit too similar to theirs? J wasn’t inquiring about what went down in the last eight years, but he’s been absent for that long, which means this J has spent just as much time at the West Sea Rift as their own J. While it could be a mere coincidence, these two who excel at gathering intel don’t think so. Their instincts are telling them this is significant.
Lee Sayoung stayed quiet, watching Cha Euijae from behind, taking note of his height and build.
Thankfully, J’s rampage ended with a rant about how, in his day, he had no time to rest, going from dungeon to rift and back to dungeon, using monster carcasses as pillows…
Jung Bin staggered to the bench and collapsed into it.
J, too, slumped down, his head lowered near the exit of the slide.
“…”
“…”
Silence fell again.
Jung Bin figured eight years was plenty of time to transform a young man into a cranky old man. After all, it had been a battle filled with losses.
For a long time, neither of them spoke. It would be more accurate to say that neither dared to break the silence.
Glancing sideways, Jung Bin saw that J was twisting his body restlessly.
After a while, Jung Bin, hunched over with his face in his hands, muttered weakly.
“…I will tell you.”
“…”
“But before that… May I say something?”
“…Yes.”
A similarly weak response came back.
Jung Bin brushed his lips, then sighed.
“J, when you officially start your activities, all eyes will inevitably be on you. To be honest, I… hope you don’t reveal yourself. I’m saying this as Jung Bin, not as the team leader of the Awakened Management Bureau.”
“…”
“People can be cruel at times. Back then…”
Jung Bin totally understood what Memory Jung Bin was getting at. Back then, he couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind as he watched J, looking completely worn out and covered in blood he didn’t even bother to clean up, wandering around the Bureau.
Everyone acted like they didn’t see his tired figure, ignoring the youthful look that the mask couldn’t completely conceal. It was just a way for them to survive.
This might be a bit selfish of him, but if J actually made it out of the West Sea Rift, all Jung Bin really wanted was for him to take a break and enjoy a peaceful life, free from being used as a sacrifice again. And he really doesn't want him to get pulled back into the chaos of the hunters, dungeons, rifts, and all those monsters again.
Che Euijae’s eyes went wide, and his fingers shook a bit. Without his skill "Poker Face" and just a week after coming out of the West Sea Rift, he was still feeling a lot. Hearing this from Jung Bin, someone he’s known for eight years and who shared the struggle of being one of the only two S-Grade Hunters in Korea, struck him emotionally.
For the first time, Lee Sayoung didn’t say a word or even shoot a glare at Jung Bin. He just stood there quietly, arms crossed over his chest.
Jung Bin muttered,
“Haven’t you experienced enough of that?”
“Oh man, what are you even talking about…”
After a long silence, J responded with unwavering certainty,
“I already finished worrying about that a long time ago. I’ve made my decision.”
J scowled at the confident reply. From what he could see, this J had gone through the same struggles that he had, so why would he give up his peace to become a Hunter again when the world didn’t even need him anymore? He hadn’t saved anyone, and he...
His thoughts wandered back to a boy wrapped in bandages.
...And he couldn’t save his only success, the boy he had promised to come back for, only to find him dead because he got caught.
Cha Euijae clenched his shaking hands as he looked down.
'Damn it.'
Where's that useless skill when you really need it?
Kang Jisoo coughs to catch other's attention.
"Is it just me, or is this Memory the longest one we've seen yet?"
"Yeah, it really is..."
The previous Memories kept switching scenes and never showed a full conversation, but this one seems different. It's the first time they're seeing a complete Memory.
"Kind of makes you think it might depend on who owns the memory."
Honeybee tilted her head in curiosity.
"So, does that mean it really does depend on the owner?"
"Eh, not really sure."
Hong Yeseong shrugged.
"But if that's the case, this could either be Jung Bin's memory or..."
Or it could belong to J.
If it’s J’s, they might finally get a glimpse of what he experienced at the West Sea Rift, what went down after the rift closed that day, and what happened to J...
Seo Mingi pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"Hard to tell. In all the Memories we’ve seen so far, J is always with someone. The Memory might actually belong to them, not J."
"Yeah, that makes sense..."
In the first and third Memories, he was with Yoon Gaeul, and the third one cut off right after J told Yoon Gaeul to run while he handled the monsters. In the second Memory, he was with Lee Sayoung. And now, in the fourth Memory, he’s with Jung Bin.