Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Fame (3)
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Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji stepped into the waiting room, where familiar faces greeted them warmly.
It was Han Juyeong and Cha Gangju from Infinite Guild.
Even though their connections were limited to the Hunter license exam and the multiple gate incident, Gunja felt an inexplicable fondness for the pair.
"Kim Gunja! It's been a while!"
"How've you been?"
And it wasn't just Gunja—they greeted him and Yeji with genuine friendliness too.
"Yeah, it's been too long. You both look sharp today."
Instead of their usual comfortable gear, they were dressed in neat semi-formal attire that really brought out their features.
Being an official broadcast event attended by celebrities and big shots, they'd clearly put in extra effort.
"Haha... I felt awkward, but thanks for saying that."
"Hmm, looks like you prefer this style, Kim Gunja?"
Han Juyeong rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, while Cha Gangju struck a pose with her hand on her hip, as if asking if it suited her.
Their contrasting reactions drew involuntary smiles from everyone.
Then Sin Yeji peeked out from behind Gunja.
"Hi! Oh? Cha Gangju, you look even more radiantly healthy than before. So cool!"
Cha Gangju's expression turned peculiar.
It was definitely a compliment.
But for her, who'd put on a little weight lately, it didn't land quite right.
A vein pulsed on her forehead as she forced a smile and replied.
"Thanks. Nice to see you too, Sin Yeji. I forgot about the kid tagging along with Kim Gunja—sorry for the late greeting."
"Who's a kid!"
"Oops, my bad. Sorry. It's just that Sin Yeji is so small. And. Cute. The words slipped out."
"You're the one who's too big!"
Yeji's height was solidly mid-160s—not short by any means.
But standing next to Gangju, who towered over 170cm, she looked smaller by comparison. No helping it.
In the midst of their odd tension, Han Juyeong let out an awkward laugh and changed the subject to Gunja.
"Haha... Oh! I was really bummed we couldn't celebrate together after blocking that multiple gate..."
"Things just worked out that way. I regretted it too."
"Han Juyeong. Don't you remember how incredible Kim Gunja was that day? He stormed into the Homunculus lab alone and saved those kids. The party doesn't matter."
It wasn't like he didn't know...
Han Juyeong felt unjustly targeted just for bringing it up.
Just as the four were exchanging(?) cheerful reunions,
"Hello."
The voice was captivating enough to instantly draw every eye in the room.
As if on cue, all heads turned.
"Huh...?"
Han Juyeong, nearest the opposite entrance, spotted her first and gasped.
"Whoa..."
"No way..."
Cha Gangju and Sin Yeji followed suit.
Choi Se-yeon.
The epitome of pure elegance, she entered with a gentle smile.
Utterly different from her stage presence, she drew gasps naturally.
The room felt brighter with just her arrival.
Se-yeon smiled brightly and gave a slight bow.
"Sorry for barging in. I had to come see someone I really wanted to reunite with."
At "someone I really wanted to reunite with," the four exchanged puzzled glances.
No one had a clue, and in that atmosphere, Se-yeon quietly approached.
She stopped right in front of Kim Gunja.
"Gunja... no, Kim Gunja, right?"
Everyone's eyes widened.
They'd all heard her call him "Gunja" so intimately before "Kim Gunja."
'Kim Gunja knows Choi Se-yeon...?'
'No idea? He seemed like he didn't even know her name earlier...'
'You stick to him all the time and don't know?'
'Gah...!'
As the three murmured in confusion, Gunja was equally taken aback.
"Uh, yeah, that's me. What brings you...?"
Se-yeon beamed at his bewildered expression.
'Haha...'
Even a fool could tell.
That smile wasn't from joy.
"Do you remember Jukwonsa Temple in Taebaek by any chance?"
Gunja's eyes widened slightly.
How could he forget?
It was the temple where he and his grandfather had stayed as a child, before moving to the city.
His name "Gunja" was partly inspired by it.
"Of course. But how do you... Ah...!"
Normally, you'd ask if someone "knows" something, not if they "remember" it.
Only then did Gunja spot traces of his childhood playmate from the temple in Se-yeon's face.
"No way... Choi Sunj..."
Gunja's words trailed off unfinished.
Even the oblivious Gunja flinched at the shift in her gaze.
Her eyes warned him.
Don't say her real name here.
As Gunja stopped, Se-yeon clapped in relief.
"Phew, good. I was worried you wouldn't remember, Gunja. It's been forever, hasn't it?"
Matching her casual tone and warmth, Gunja relaxed too.
"Yeah. Gotta be. First time seeing each other since we were kids."
Over twenty years ago.
Memories were fuzzy from such a young age, but he vaguely recalled a girl who feared his grandfather yet always hovered nearby to play with him.
Then Sin Yeji poked his side.
"Uncle, Choi Se-yeon's... a friend from when you were little?"
Yeji looked dying of curiosity, and Han Juyeong and Cha Gangju weren't far behind.
Figuring introductions were in order, Gunja nodded.
"Yeah. When I was really young, I lived at a temple with my grandfather for a bit. She was a close friend from there."
With that, he introduced his companions to Se-yeon.
Se-yeon greeted the Hunters politely but with a hint of puzzlement.
'Grandfather...?'
Did Gunja have a grandfather?
She remembered the scary old man clearly, but no grandfather besides the monks.
'...Well, we were so young, and I didn't know everything about his family.'
But that wasn't what mattered to Se-yeon now.
She'd rushed to him for a different reason.
Just as she finished greetings and turned to Gunja with her business,
"There you are. Took me forever to find you."
A slickly handsome man entered and placed a hand on Se-yeon's shoulder.
Crack.
A crack appeared in Se-yeon's smile for the first time.
Slap!
"I told you not to touch me."
"Whoa, haha! We're syncing up for the performance soon—standing on ceremony like this is a bit much, don't you think?"
"You should know better about mixing work and personal."
Han Yongjin.
The actor set to perform with Se-yeon at today's ceremony—an Awakener and industry senior.
Though his popularity was... lacking.
Unfazed by his junior's rejection, Yongjin grinned sleazily.
"This industry's all one big continuum. You know that, so why play hard to get? Clear your evening for me, yeah?"
As Se-yeon opened her mouth to snap back at his shamelessness,
"There you both are!"
A staffer burst in.
"We've been looking everywhere. The ceremony's starting soon—head to the performance prep area!"
Se-yeon's manager replied for her.
"Oh, time flew! Sorry about that. We'll get ready right away. Unnie, let's go."
With a soft sigh, Se-yeon ignored Yongjin and addressed Gunja.
"Got time after it ends?"
He'd planned to head straight to training, but glancing at Yongjin, Gunja figured no harm in it and nodded.
"Yeah, sure."
"Thanks. See you then."
"Okay."
With that, Se-yeon exited with her manager.
Yongjin, hands in pockets, watched her go—then his gaze shifted to Gunja.
"Always picking the wrong times to butt in... Hm...?"
His dismissive look turned sticky and unpleasant.
After eyeing Gunja over, the man
"......Tch."
clicked his tongue in disappointment and followed Se-yeon out.
Only then did Sin Yeji shudder and rub her arms.
"What a creep."
"Looks like butter but with the sleaziest eyes. Best to avoid guys like that."
"I was thinking the same... Huh?"
For the first time, Cha Gangju and Sin Yeji locked eyes and shared an awkward laugh.
Meanwhile, Gunja stared after Yongjin, his expression darkening.
Reuniting with Se-yeon was nice, but that gaze was all too familiar.
A slimy, serpentine crawl over his skin.
Gunja had encountered that look twice before.
'...Jin Garyul, and Maneuver.'
—Can I just peel back a bit of the shoulder?
—Ooh—Ecstasy! Whose handiwork is this?
—Peel it open, and kikit! It'll be obvious!
—Dissect! Dissect! Dissect! Dissect!
Homunculus.
He didn't know how they detected it, but they always looked at him that way.
Of course, it could just be a bad vibe.
But the feeling was off enough to not ignore.
'What to do. Hope it's nothing...'
Gunja knew the world didn't always turn kindly.
Best to neutralize preemptively, but no evidence, no justification to convince anyone.
Couldn't exactly reveal Customizing Room.
'...If best isn't viable, go for second best.'
After a moment's thought, he pulled Yeji aside for a quick talk.
Just in case.
#
On a rooftop overlooking the Han River stage, Se-yeon, Yongjin, and staff prepped the performance.
"Double-check that wire!"
"Safety crew, get in position!"
It was one of Lee Youngsik's sleepless-night brainchildren: a moved spirit descending from heaven to commend its juniors.
Thus, Se-yeon was in fairy-like garb, while Yongjin—as the male lead—ogled her blatantly.
'Ah, really... I want her.'
His eyes held more than lust.
The Homunculus craving for perfect flesh.
Untouched beauty in face, voice, and balanced physique.
Yongjin had targeted Se-yeon for years.
Kidnapping her for dissection data would leap him toward the new human.
But she'd given no openings in years.
Always with guards, never alone.
'Wanted to nab her safely, but...'
His patience was gone.
Last chance rejected, time for the final play.
Today's performance left her defenseless in his arms.
A once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Grab her and flee—even if pursued, only flying Yeji could catch up.
'Hmph, one A-rank flyer focused on flight...'
Child's play.
If he reached his prepared hideout, no one would follow.
Licking his lips as Se-yeon checked her costume, Yongjin's eyes gleamed with desire.
#
Sunset faded to twilight.
Lights ignited on the Han River bridge, stage, and buildings, bathing the area in vibrant colors and heightening the buzz.
"It's starting!"
"Whoa, so pretty!"
"Hey, film it!"
Under the night sky.
Two figures in flowing garb descended from a sparkling building—pure fantasy.
Flashes and cheers erupted below.
As all eyes fixed, chaos struck.
Rrrumble—!
From Han Yongjin's back—holding Se-yeon—sprouted a grotesque pair of red wings.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Part of the show?"
"Kinda clashes, though?"
"...Yeah? But it's way too gross."
Unlike the ethereal garb, the dripping, slimy wings were unnatural.
And as spectators thought,
Snap! Whoosh!
The wire snapped with a chilling sound.
Yongjin rocketed higher, veering away.
Safety crew gasped in horror.
"H-Homunculus...?!"
"Safety team, catch that bastard now!"
The director bellowed, but none could act.
How could ground crew snag a flying Homunculus?
They scrambled futilely, knowing it was too late.
But two moved swiftly.
Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji.
Yeji took to the skies with flight, activating Sky Piercer as she charged the Homunculus.
And,
Vroooom—!
Gunja on a "borrowed" bike vaulted over the crowd.
"Whoa...!"
"What the—?!"
Like a stunt rider, he weaved through the masses in seconds.
"Whoa... What was that? Insane."
"How's he riding like that...?"
Abel's Riding skill in action.
Reverse-driving toward the Han River bridge.
Where Yeji clashed midair, blocking the Homunculus's path.
Vroooom—!
Gunja's bike raced up the narrow bridge arch amid flashing lights.
And.
'Ilya.'
At his call, fierce winds enveloped the speeding bike.
To propel it faster, higher into the sky.